Arresters (MOV) Objectives and Main Data

The arresters (Varistors, Metal Oxide Varistors MOV) are connected in parallel to the capacitor bank They protect the capacitors from overvoltage by diverting the capacitor current They have non linear voltage / current characteristic Several units are connected in parallel to accommodate the required energy accumulation capability They can have porcelain or polymer housings

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters Bank-PORCELAIN

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters Bank-POLYMER

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Design Considerations

Steady state operating conditions
Input:

capacitor impedance rated line current overload current magnitude and duration swing currents during network disturbances

Types

of simulation:

fault clearing in parallel line fault clearing in other lines voltage versus time stresses v(t) maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV) minimum number of discs in series connection

Check:

Results:

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Typical v/t Characteristic

Voltage Time Characteristics (preheated to 60C due to nominal energy discharge) 1,3 1,25 1,2 Rated Voltage / pu 1,15 1,1 1,05 1 0,95 0,9 0,85 0,8 0,1 1 10 time / sec 100 1000

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Design Considerations

Transient operating conditions

Input

External and internal fault cases (type, sequence, number and duration) By-pass device operation sequence By-pass switch closing cycles Fault clearing cycles Re-closing cycles

Establish and coordinate an appropriate control & protection strategy Simulate external fault cases and calculate MOV energy Establish appropriate MOV energy rating including redundancy Simulate internal fault cases and calculate MOV energy Check MOV voltage protective level

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) v/i Characteristic

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Design Considerations

Fault Classification Number of internal / external faults the System must withstand e.g. two external faults plus one internal, plus breaker failure Use maximum energy for any fault conditions Evaluate maximum external fault current to define an internal fault

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Design Considerations

Siemens Arrester for Series Capacitor Installations
3EP3

...-4CZ8 are porcelain arresters

Are normally four columns arresters Use the SIOV-E78 SR123 Metal Oxide (MO) block Rated energy withstand capability of one block is 36 kJ Maximum current per column 1600 A

3EQ3

-5CZ7 are composite arresters:

Are normally three columns arresters Use the SIOV-E99 SR 113 Metal Oxide (MO) block Rated energy withstand capability of one bock is 64 kJ Maximum current per column 2100 A The three digit figure in the middle of the type identification denote the rated voltage: 3EQ3 127-5CZ7 has a rated voltage of 127 kV

PTD H 112 Reactive Power Compensation

Arresters (MOV) Rating

The FSC Bareilly arresters are rated Type Rated voltage MCOV Protective level Coordinating current Total Housing per phase No. of Column per Housing Actually installed without spares Actually installed with spares 3EQ3 056-5CZ7-E 56 kV 39 kV 123.8 kV 27.1 kAp 12 3 32 MJ 35 MJ

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Arresters (MOV) Operation

Operation of the arresters is automatic, no operator interface is possible
No No

operation counters exist on the arresters leakage current measurement exist, or is possible operation may result in temporary by-pass of the bank

Arrester Failure If

of arresters result in permanent bypass of the bank

one or more of the parallel arresters fail, the protection settings have to be adjusted via the human machine interface

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Arresters (MOV) Maintenance

Arresters do not require special maintenance
During

annual maintenance the units shall be checked for pollution and cleaned if required vent opening shall be checked if they are still intact

The

Electrical

and mechanical connections shall be checked for correct torque units shall be removed form platform

Damaged Do

not open arrester units

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Arresters (MOV) Maintenance

Arresters

age with time of operation and magnitude of fault

currents
If

the number of units on one platform falls below the minimum number, all units have to be exchanged at the same time mixing arresters of different phases consult the manufacturer consult the manufacturer on failure of arresters of arrester to higher energy accumulation is not

Before

Always

Upgrading

possible

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