CIGRE C4 Colloquium on

Power Quality and Lightning

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 13 – 16 May, 2012
Paper 05.

Switching Transient Analysis of EHV Shunt Reactor using Computer Software

M.Hassan Ejaz
ABB Pvt Ltd
Pakistan

SUMMARY

This paper deals with the theoretical analysis of de-energization of EHV Shunt Reactor along
with computer modelling / simulation of problem using EMTP-ATP Draw. After modelling
of particular power network, different simulations with different switching conditions, circuit
configurations and varying parameters have been done in order to analyze the worst situation
and to propose the optimum solution to limit the over-voltages due to de-energization of EHV
Shunt Reactor. During simulations it was observed that over-voltages across shunt reactor and
circuit breaker depends mainly on “chopping level” of circuit breaker which is circuit breaker
dependant. Results obtained from all simulation show that these type of over voltages can
only be reduced by using either surge arrester across shunt reactor, by installing capacitors
across shunt capacitors, by using surge arrester across circuit breaker or by using point on
wave switching in order reduce the probability of re-ignitions by circuit breaker due to short
arcing time.

KEYWORDS

Chopping-level,Re-Ignition,Arcing-time,EMTPATP-Draw.

hassan.ejaz@pk.abb.com
hassan.kamal82@gmail.com
1. INTRODUCTION

In, Pakistan, there is an ever increasing demand for power in the urban and rural areas for
domestic, industrial agricultural and commercial usage. Due to this fact, an interconnected
power system came into being. In Pakistan, interconnection of 500kV, 220kV, and 132kV
network exists. In the mid 80’s when first 500kV transmission substation was commissioned,
the load on the network at that time was not so high as it is today. So, in order to compensate
the MVAR’s supplied by the capacitive effect (Ferranti Effect) of EHV transmission lines due
to which voltage increases at the receiving end (light loads/night), shunt reactors were
installed at EHV (500kV) transmission substations.[1]
Those shunt reactors absorbed the MVAR’S generated by the capacitive effect of long EHV
lines during low loads. The rating of the shunt reactors was calculated after detailed study of
network. Due to frequent switching (on/off) of shunt reactors during light/heavy loads
respectively, switching transients are produced which damaged many shunt reactors and their
related bushings, circuit breakers and surge arresters. In order to analyze the harmful
switching transients produced in shunt reactors, computer modelling/simulation will be done
on computer software. This simulation will help to identify the parameters, which affects
switching transient response of shunt reactors and in return improves the reliability of the
network.[1]
Shunt reactors normally have iron cores with integrated air gaps. Due to the air gaps, the iron
core cannot be significantly saturated, and the reactors therefore will have reasonably linear
behaviour during energizing events. In addition to the inductance of the winding, a shunt
reactor always has some stray capacitance in the windings, bushings and in the connecting
leads. When a reactor is de-energized the voltage across it will oscillate with the natural
frequency determined by the inductance and stray capacitance. The oscillation frequency (fn)
is typically a few kHz. [2]

fn = 1 [Hz]
2..L.C

Due to chopping (pre mature interruption) of the current slightly before the natural current
zero, the oscillating reactor voltage will have higher amplitude than the supply voltage.[2]
Due to the oscillating reactor voltage, there will be high voltage stress across the circuit
breaker, if the contact gap is still small, i.e. if the arcing time is short, the circuit breaker will
probably re-ignite. A re-ignition will generate high frequency transients (typically hundreds of
Hz) in both reactor voltage and current. The very steep voltage transients caused by re-
ignitions will be unevenly distributed across the reactor windings with highest stress on the
internal turns. There is a risk that voltage stress will lead to the puncturing of the winding
insulation in the reactor, which in the long run may lead to complete breakdown. Insulation of
nearby equipment may also be damaged. Surge arresters will only protect to limited extent,
since the severity of the voltage stress is related both to the rate of change and to the
amplitude.[2]
In this research paper, modelling of a particular EHV network will be done using Transient
simulation tool called EMTP-ATP Draw while considering all the possible parameters
affecting the whole network. After modelling, switching phenomenon of shunt reactor will be
simulated. Switching transient’s waveforms will be analyzed on software oscillograph.

1
Different variation in the modelling of the network will be made for e.g. changing circuit
parameters, changing type of circuit elements, installing/de-installing surge arresters etc.
At the end, the most optimum configuration and situation will be proposed which will be
technically and economically feasible for the safe operation of EHV shunt reactors in
WAPDA.

2. EVALUATION OF OVER-VOLTAGES DUE TO DE-ENERGIZATION

TRANSIENTS IN SHUNT REACTOR

Normally shunt reactor is switched in and out depending upon the load in power system. In
this research, we have only simulated de-energizing switching transient phenomena in shunt
reactor which is very important as shunt reactor energization.

LINE DATA

Guddu 1 Single Circuit 500kV Line 294kM

+

ZnO
+13

+ CP
+

CP

+
CP

+ CP
500//3kV 3 x 33 MVAR Shunt Reactor

+ CP + CP + CP + CP + CP + CP
+

+ + + +
CP

CP

2 500kV Bus Bar II

500kV Bus Bar 1 1

3
3 x 150 MVA YNad
525/231/25kV
ZnO
+ + +11
+

+ +

+
CP

+ CP + CP + CP + CP + CP + CP
+

+ CP + CP
CP

ZnO
+1

500//3kV 3 x 22 MVAR Shunt Reactor

LINE DATA

Jamshoro Single Circuit 500kV Line 152kM

Fig. 1. Single Line Diagram of Simulated Network

First step is to evaluate the over-voltages due to shunt reactor switching at different conditions
using mathematical formulas.
For directly grounded reactor installations, the recovery voltage peak over-voltage is equal to
or less than the suppression peak over- voltage as shown in Fig.2 The magnitude of the
suppression peak over-voltage (ka in pu) is given by the following equation:

____________________
k.a = √(1 + Lr * I2)/(Cr *V2)

where

Lr is the inductance of the reactor

Cr is the capacitance of the reactor
V is the peak phase to ground system voltage
I is the chopped current

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 Fig. 2. Chopped Current , Chopping Over-Voltage [ 3 ]

1) Current Through Circuit Breaker

2) Voltage Across Circuit Breaker
3) Natural Power Frequency Current Zero
4) Example of Arc Instability not leading to Current Chopping
5) Example of Arc Instability leading to True Current Chopping
6) Instability Oscillation
7) Chopping Current
8) Suppression Peak
9) Recovery Peak
10) Supply Voltage

For a chopping over-voltage of k.a amplitude as shown in Fig.3 the interrupter peak recovery
voltage be 1 + ka. If the re-ignition occurs at the recovery voltage peak, the voltage will swing
from (1 + k.a) p.u of one polarity to (1 + ka) p.u pf reverse polarity and the voltage at the
reactor terminal can reach a maximum value of:

k = 1 + (1 + k.a) p.u

Fig. 3. Chopping Over-Voltage, Re-Ignited Current [ 3 ]

 is a factor of value less than 1 which takes into account the circuit damping and the charge
redistribution between the source and the load side capacitances (Cs and Cr). [4]
Following interruption, the circuit breaker is stressed by the difference between the source
side voltage and the load side voltage. If no re-ignition occurs, the per unit crest value of this
recovery voltage (krv) is given by:

3
 k.a = (1 + k.a)p.u

In the event that a new interruption occurs during the first, second, or main circuit oscillation
modes, the load side oscillation will start again. Due to energy transfer between the source
and load sides, the oscillating energy may have changed. A new re-ignition may occur close
to the recovery voltage peak, and if the energy has increased, the re-ignition voltage may be
higher than at the first re-ignition. This procedure may be repeated several times, giving
multiple re-ignitions with increasing over-voltage magnitude. This is referred to as “voltage
escalation” and is a significant characteristic of vacuum circuit breakers due to their ability to
interrupt high frequency currents. Voltage escalation may also occur on other circuit breaker
types, particularly where the frequency of the re-ignition transient is low, i.e., less than
approximately 100 kHz
If the re-ignition occurs near the recovery voltage peak , the over-voltage could approach a
maximum value k = (ka + 2)p.u which means as over-voltage of 3p.u with zero
chopped current and 4.27 p.u for a chopped current of 12A.
In reality the damping of the re-ignition oscillation and the charge re-distribution between the
system capacitance and the reactor capacitance will limit the over-voltage to a lower value,
which can be calculated with the following equation. [4]

k. = 1 + (k.a + 1) p.u
where  takes into account the damping and the charge redistribution.

A typical value of  is 0.5 with which the re-ignition over-voltage will be 2.p.u for zero
chopped current and 2.64p.u with a chopped current of 12A.
Using above-mentioned formulas, the summary of different over-voltages generated during
de-energization of shunt reactor at specified chopping level is as follows: They should be
compared to the switching surge insulation level (1175k.V) for the chopping over-voltage and
to the lightning surge insulation level (1550k.V) for the re-ignition over-voltage.

TABLE I Chopping Over-Voltage

Ich (A) p.u kV
0 1 408
12 2.27 926

TABLE II Re-Ignition Over-Voltage

Ich Maximum Typical
(A) p.u kV p.u kV
0 3 1224 2 816
12 4.27 1742 2.64 1077

TABLE III Transient Over-Voltage

Ich Maximum Typical
(A) p.u kV p.u kV
0 4 1632 3 1224
12 6.54 2668 4.91 2003

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From these preliminary calculations we can draw the following conclusions:

1) The switching of a shunt reactor with a circuit breaker is a source of over-voltage

applied to the reactor.
2) Inserting resistors at the circuit breaker closing is useless for the over-voltage
limitation.
3) The lightning surge arrester installed on the overhead line terminal is not close enough
to the shunt reactor to ensure an effective protection against the re-ignition over-
voltages.

The above-mentioned over-voltages can be reduced mainly by using:

1) Surge Arrester across Shunt Reactor

2) Installation of Capacitors across Shunt Reactor to reduce the frequency of oscillation.
3) Application of Varistors across circuit breaker interrupters to reduce TRV.
4) Using Point on wave switching technique.

Summary of reduction in over-voltages using the above-mentioned techniques is as follows:

TABLE IV REDUCTION IN OVERVOLTAGES

Chopping Re- Peak to
Over- Ignition Peak
Voltage Over- Voltage
Solution Voltage Excursion
SF6 C.B with 945k.V 1146k.V 2091k.V
high chopping
number and no
surge arrester
SF6 C.B with 820k.V 1084k.V 1904k.V
low chopping
number without
surge arrester
SF6 C.B with a 730k.V 966k.V 1696k.V
surge arrester
SF6 C.B with 730k.V 966k.V 1235k.V
Varistors and
surge arrester
Shunt Reactor 1175k.V 1550k.V 2015k.V
Test Voltage (for
comparison)

It is therefore evident from those values that the best solution for shunt reactor switching
would be a surge arrester across the reactor terminal and Varistors on the circuit breaker,
which has the switching duty.

3. COMPUTER MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF DE-ENERGIATION

TRANSIENTS IN SHUNT REACTOR

The second step of this research is to model the system based on the data and characteristics
available for the equipment and the simulation.

5
In this research only 66 MVAR(3 x 22MVAR) shunt reactor is considered which is connected
to 500k.V JAMSHORO single circuit transmission line. Characteristics of all the connections
will be determined using J.Marti Line Model as described in ATP-Draw Rule Book. [4] Also,
all those parameters will be computed at 500k.Hz because of expected high frequency
oscillations produced due to re-ignitions.[6]
Network Modelling for which shunt reactor de-energization transient simulation will be done
is based on the Single Line Diagram as shown in above Figure 1.

A. Results of Final Simulation

1) Current Chopping Level 12A, Cs = 2.5nF
2) Typical Circuit Breaker Model with Di-Electric Characteristics which will re-ignite
depending upon the contact separation time and TRV.
3) With / Without Surge Arrester across shunt reactor.
These re-ignitions may produce over-voltages across the circuit breaker interrupters and shunt
reactor windings, which may lead to their failure. [7]
Shunt Reactor Chopping Over-Voltage Phase A
800

[kV]

460

120

-220

-560

-900
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [s] 0.10
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) v :XX0009-

Fig. 4a. Shunt Reactor Chopping Over-Voltage (k.V) for Breaker Opening start
at 0 msec Without Surge Arrester Phase A

TRV Across Circuit Breaker Phase A

0.6

[MV]

0.3

0.0

-0.3

-0.6

-0.9

-1.2
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [s] 0.10
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) v :X0001A-X0002A

Fig. 4b. TRV Across Circuit Breaker (k.V) for Breaker Opening start
at 0 msec Without Surge Arrester Phase A

6
 Chopped Current Phase A
120
[A]
100

80

60

40

20

-20
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [s] 0.10
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) c:XX0013-XX0009

Fig. 4c.Chopped Current (12A) for Breaker Opening start

at 0 msec Without Surge Arrester Phase A

Shunt Reactor Chopping Over-Voltage Phase A

600

[kV]

340

80

-180

-440

-700
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 [ms] 32
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) v :X0011A-

Fig. 4d. Shunt Reactor Chopping Over-Voltage (k.V) for Breaker Opening start
at 0 msec With Surge Arrester Phase A
TRV Across Circuit Breaker Phase A
0.50

[MV]

0.25

0.00

-0.25

-0.50

-0.75

-1.00
0 10 20 30 40 [ms] 50
(file Models-Breaker.pl4; x-var t) v:X0001A-X0002A

Fig. 4e TRV Across Circuit Breaker (k.V) for Breaker Opening start
at 0 msec With Surge Arrester Phase A

7
 Surge Arrester Current Phase A
1

[A]

-1

-3

-5

-7

-9
7 8 9 10 11 12 [ms] 13
(file Models-Breaker.pl4; x-var t) c:X0011A-

Fig. 4f. Surge Arrester current for Breaker Opening start

at 0 msec Phase A
Shunt Reactor Chopping / Re-Ignition Over-Voltage
700

[kV]

500

300

100

-100

-300

-500

-700

-900
5 10 15 20 25 30 [ms] 35
(file Models-Breaker.pl4; x-var t) v:XX0009-

Fig. 4g. Shunt Reactor Chopping over-voltage (kV) for breaker opening start
at 6msec without surge arrester Phase A
TRV / Re-Ignition Over-Volage Across Circuit Breaker
1.0

[MV]

0.5

0.0

-0.5

-1.0

-1.5

-2.0
5 10 15 20 25 30 [ms] 35
(file Models-Breaker.pl4; x-var t) v:X0001A-X0002A

Fig. 4h. Re-Igntion / TRV across circuit breaker (kV) for breaker opening start
at 6msec without surge arrester Phase A

8
 Re-Ignited Current Through Shunt Reactor Phase A
2000
[A]
1500

1000

500

-500

-1000

-1500

-2000
9.9205 9.9682 10.0160 10.0640 10.1110 10.1590 [ms] 10.2060
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) c:XX0009- c:X0003A-

Fig. 4i. Re-Ignited Current Through Shunt Reactor for Breaker Opening start
at 6 msec Without Surge Arrester Phase A
Shunt Reactor Chopping Over-Voltage Phase A
600

[kV]

340

80

-180

-440

-700
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 [ms] 35
(file Models-Breaker.pl4; x-var t) v:XX0009-

Fig. 4j. Shunt Reactor Chopping over-voltage (kV) for Breaker Opening start at 6 msec With
Surge ArresterPhase A
TRV Across Circuit Breaker Phase A
0.50

[MV]

0.25

0.00

-0.25

-0.50

-0.75

-1.00
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [s] 0.10
(f ile Models-Breaker.pl4; x-v ar t) v :X0001A-X0002A

Fig. 4k. TRV across circuit breaker (kV) for breaker opening start
at 6msec with surge arrester Phase A
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4. RESULTS

After detailed network modelling under observation, different conditions for transient
simulation were applied and results of the final simulation are summarised below as shown in
figure 4(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i., j, k):

 Magnitude of Chopping over-voltage and TRV across circuit breaker increases with
the increase of chopping level.
 Rate of rise (Frequency) of chopping over-voltage across shunt reactor and TRV
across circuit breaker decreases with the increase in shunt reactor bushing/inter-
winding and shunt reactor connection capacitance i.e Cs.
 Magnitude of chopping over-voltage across shunt reactor and TRV across circuit
breaker decreases with the increase in shunt reactor bushing/inter-winding and shunt
reactor connection capacitance.If a varistor is connected across circuit breaker without
any surge arrester across shunt reactor then the magnitude of TRV at the instant of
contact separation can be decreased which can reduce the possibility of re-ignition of
circuit breaker main contacts.
 If only a shunt reactor is protected by surge arrester then only the magnitude of
chopping over-voltage across shunt reactor will be reduced to appreciable value but
magnitude of TRV across the main contacts of the circuit breaker will be slightly
reduced and probability of re-ignition will not be reduced.
 The best way to reduce both chopping over- voltage and TRV is to install surge
arrester across both circuit breaker and shunt reactor.
 If the arcing time of circuit breaker is small while interrupting shunt reactor current the
circuit breaker may re-ignite several times (multiple re-ignitions) due to low di-
electric strength as compare to TRV, until it interrupt the high frequency current
depending upon its characteristics.
 As we increase the inductance of shunt reactor i.e shunt reactors with smaller MVAR
rating, the chopping over-voltage and transient recovery voltage (TRV) across circuit
breaker contacts increases because larger the inductance of shunt reactor larger will be
the energy that will be transferred to the stray capacitance of shunt reactor and
neighboring bus bars.
 For longer connections between circuit breaker and shunt reactor, there will be lesser
chopping over-voltage and hence lesser will be the TRV (Transient Recovery Voltage)
across the main contacts of circuit breaker.
 When circuit breaker re-ignites during de-energization, high frequency current flows
into the shunt reactor, which is normally three to four times the normal shunt reactor
current.The most dangerous situation is multiple re-ignitions. This can happen if the
circuit breaker will interrupt the high frequency current at non-zero value i.e. chopp
the current again after re-ignition.

5. REMEDIAL MEASURES

At 500k.V level in WAPDA, Pakistan all the transmission lines are shunt compensated at both
ends using shunt reactors, which are now connected to the transmission lines using circuit
breakers which was not the case in past. In order to avoid any damage in future to both shunt
reactor and its circuit breaker, following precautionary measures should be adopted:

10
  The increase in shunt reactor stray capacitance (n. F) by installing parallel capacitors
with shunt reactors can reduce the frequency of the re-ignition over-voltages.
 Installation of surge arresters on the shunt reactors. A protective level of at least 25%
is recommended between the maximum protection level of the arrester and the
insulation level of the shunt reactor and bushing. This surge arrester will have very
little effect on steepness of over-voltages. [8]
 Limitation of over-voltages may be achieved through the installation of ZnO surge
arresters across every circuit breaker for shunt reactor after detailed study.The
chopping level of a specific circuit breaker depends upon the number of interrupters in
series per pole. So two interrupters per pole circuit breaker should be preferred instead
of circuit breaker with four interrupters per pole due to its low chopping level.
 The connections between shunt reactor and circuit breaker should be long enough to
reduce chopping over-voltages and TRV as low as possible. But for longer connection
lengths between the circuit breaker and the reactor, beating of the recovery oscillation
will occur. If, however, the units are three-phase (in one tank), the phase-to-phase
coupling is significant and results in beating such that the maximum recovery voltage
peak can occur late in the oscillation. If the circuit breaker successfully withstands the
recovery voltage peak, then no re-ignition will occur later even if subsequent peaks
exceed the chopping over-voltage peak value due to beating.
 In order to eliminate the probability of re-ignition of circuit breaker during opening
operation, point on wave switching (synchronous switching) of shunt reactor is very
reliable technique. In this way it is possible to control the instant of contact separation
of each circuit breaker pole. So, that the contact distance at the time of interruption is
enough so that the dynamic dielectric strength of the gap is greater than transient
recovery voltage across circuit breaker main contacts.
 Circuit breaker for shunt reactor switching application should be type tested in order to
make sure that the circuit breaker is capable to withstand severe stresses during shunt
reactor current switching before putting it into service.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Laszlo Prikler , Gabor Ban , Gyorgy Banfai “EMTP models for simulation of Shunt
reactor switching transients”
[2] Jules Esztergalyos, Senior Member, IEEE, “Relay protection of EHV Shunt reactors
based on the travelling wave principle” IPST’05 in Montreal, Canada on June 19 –
23,2005.
[3] Julio Munoz Florez , “Benefits for Shunt Reactor Applications” Seminar / Workshop
on Controlled Switching , 8th May 2003 – St.Pete Beach - Florida (USA)
[4] IEEE Application Guide for Shunt Reactor Switching IEEE. Std C37.015-1993
(R2006)
[5] ATP Rule Book, EMTP User Group.
[6] Z.Ma , C.A Bliss , A.R.Penfold , A.F.W.Harris , S.B.Tennakoon,”An investigation of
Transient overvoltage generation when switching high voltage shunt reactors by SF6
circuit breakers. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery , Vol.13 , No.2 , April 1998
[7] Laszlo Prikler , “Disconnecting EHV shunt reactors by SF6 and air-blast breakers”, ATP Case
Study Book , 1990
[8] B.Vahidi , A.Ghtrehsamani , S.A Kashi , Tehran ,Iran , “Shunt reactor switching
simulation of EMTP” IEEE MELECON 2004,May 12 – 15,2004 ,
Dubrovnik,Croaatia.

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