Gas Insulated Substations

INTRODUCTION
• For maintaining proper voltage levels at transmission and
distribution level and for providing greater stability a number of
electrical transformation and switching setups have to be created
in between generating station and consumer ends. These
transformation and switching setups are generally known as
electrical substations.
• Based on nature of dielectric medium a substation is of two types
as following :
1. AIS (Air insulation sub-station )
2. GIS ( Gas insulation sub-station )
 Substation:
• An assembly of apparatus installed to control
transmission and distribution of electric power.

A:Primary power lines' side B:Secondary power lines' side

1.Primary power lines 2.Ground wire 3.Overhead lines 4.Transformer for measurement of electric
voltage 5.Disconnect switch 6.Circuit breaker 7.Current transformer 8.Lightning arrester 9.Main
transformer 10.Control building 11.Security fence 12.Secondary power lines

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10-Sep-12 4
CONVENTIONAL SUBSTATION
 Air Insulated Substation(AIS):
• Air used as a dielectric.
• Normally used for outdoor substations.
• In very few cases used for indoor substations.
• Easy to expand (in case that space is not an issue)
• Excellent overview, simple handling and easy access.

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 LIMITATION OF AIS
• Physical factor
• Infrastructure factor
• Social & Environmental factor
• Commercial factor
 Limitations of AIS:
• Large dimensions due to statutory clearances and poor
dielectric strength of air.
• Insulation deterioration with ambient conditions and
susceptibility to pollutants.
• Wastage of space.
• Life of steel structures degrades.
• Seismic instability.
• Large planning & execution time.
• Regular maintenance of the substation required.

8
 NEED OF GIS
• Non availability of sufficient space. It is very much required to
establish a substation at load center. Establishing a substation at
load center is quite economical and profitable in following ways :
A. Reduction in length of feeders
B. Improvement of the quality of voltage regulation due to short
length feeders
 Difficult climatic and seismic conditions at site, like high altitude and
atmospheric pollution
 Aesthetically “superior” to air insulated substations
 The higher the voltage, the more favorable gas insulated
technology becomes
 Overcomes or decreases the magnitude of limitations of AIS site
selection
 The need for G.I.S:
• Non availability of sufficient space.
• Difficult climatic and seismic conditions at site.
• Urban site (high rise building).
• High altitudes.
• Limitations of AIS.

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 Gas Insulated Substation:
Introduction:
• Compact, multi-component assembly.
• Enclosed in a ground metallic housing.
• Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) gas – the primary insulating
medium.
• (SF6) gas- superior dielectric properties used at
moderate pressure for phase to phase and phase to
ground insulation
• Preferred for voltage ratings of 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 300 kV
and 420 kV and above.
• Various equipments like Circuit Breakers, Bus-Bars,
Isolators, Load Break Switches, Current Transformers,
Voltage Transformers, Earthing Switches, etc. housed in
metal enclosed modules filled with SF6 gas.
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 CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Conventional substation ( AIS )
• Limitation of AIS
• Need for GIS
• Introduction to GIS
• GIS unique features
• Components of GIS substation
• Advantages of GIS over conventional open air substation
• Disadvantage of GIS
• Next presentation work
Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)

INTRODUCTION :

INTRODUCTION Conventional substations requires, small

installation size, protection against atmospheric pollution
and moisture, noiseless operation, nonexplosive and flame
resistant, reduced maintenance, minimal radio interference,
but totally enclosed substations using SF6 gas as insulation
that are also known as GIS is now in widespread use in the
electrical power industry .
 INTRODUCTION OF GIS
• Gas insulated substations (GIS) have been used in power systems over the
last three decades because of their high reliability, easy maintenance,
small ground space requirement etc. In India also, a few GIS units are
under various stages of installation.
• Gas insulated bus has a surge impedance (70Ω) more than that of the
conventional oil filled cables, but much less than that of an over head line
(300Ω - 400Ω). Further, the average bus run for a compact GIS is much less
than that for the conventional station.
• life of GIS is affected by several factors such as:
A. conductive particles
B. particle discharges
C. contamination
• The GIS require less number of lightning arresters than a conventional
one. This is mainly because of its compactness.
 CONTI….
• The basic consideration for insulation coordination is V-T characteristic.
The V-T characteristic of SF6 is considerably flat compared to that of air.
• Air can withstand to very high voltages for very short time. However, as
the duration of voltage increases, the withstand voltage falls off
considerably.
• On the other hand, SF6 exhibits a flat characteristic, thus the ratio of basic
lightning impulse level is close to unity for GIS, whereas for the
conventional substations this ratio varies between 0.6 and 0.86.
• Gas insulated substations are in service up to the highest voltage of 800
kV, meeting almost all the requirements in urban, industrial as well as
rural areas.
 GIS UNIQUE FEATURE
1. Wide spread application of aluminium enclosure materials for
standardized component models for all voltage ranges
2. The light weight enclosures have good conductivity, low eddy-
current losses and a high resistance to corrosion
3. Easy handling, as well as reduced stresses on foundation and
support structure are additional features
4. Standard arrangements can be easily modified and extended with
good co-ordination between the manufacturer and the user.
5. A gas- tight barrier insulator in switchgear serve for the separation
of gas compartments and prevents neighbouring switchgear parts
from being affected during maintenance.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• Definition :
• A gas insulated substation (GIS) is a substation that uses a superior
dielectric gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), high-voltage.

• The basic principle of gas-insulated equipment :

• Is that the high-voltage current- carrying parts are within a metal

enclosure and are held in a concentric configuration by cast epoxy
spacer insulators.

• The space between the conductor and the enclosure is filled with
sulfur hexafluoride gas under moderate pressure.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• Usage :
• Gas insulated substation mainly
used for a power transmission
system or a substation system,
of which outgoing bus-bar is
shortened to reduce
consumption of the outgoing
bus-bar.

• The equipment can be designed

for any bus scheme.
Components of GIS substation
1. Circuit breaker
2. Disconnector switch
3. Earthing switch
4. Current transformer
5. Voltage transformer
6. Bus bar & connectors
7. Power transformer
8. Surge arrester
9. Cable termination
10. SF6 / air or SF6 / oil bushing
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• Components :
• 1 → Circuit breaker.

• 2 → Disconnector (Isolator).

• 3 → Ground switches.

• 4 → Bus-bar.

• 5 → Transformer.

• 8 → Outgoing bus-bar for electr-

ically connecting the gas insul-ated
substation with bus-bar.
• 9 → Outgoing portion of the tra-
nsformer being arranged in accor-
dance with extendingdirection of
outgoing bus-bar.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• (SF6) gas :
• The dielectric medium is the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas,

• SF6 has been used as an insulating medium inelectronic devices, power

apparatus, and HVDC converter stations.

• Its excellent properties make it ideally suited both as an insulating and as

an arc-quenching agent.

• SF6 gas is colorless, odorless, chemically inert, nontoxic, nonflammable,

and non-corrosive.

• Its dielectric strength is greatly superior to that of air, and it is close to 100

• times as effective as air in quenching an electric arc.

 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• Safety :
• The live parts and supported on at resin insulators. Some of the
insulators are designed as barriers between neighboring modules such
that the gas does not pass through them.

• The GIS has gas-monitoring system. The gas density in

eachcompartment is monitored.

• If pressure drops slightly, the gas is automatically tapped up with further

gas leakage, the low-pressure alarm is sounded or automatic trippingor
lock-out occurs.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
GIS Assembly:
ESSENTIAL PART OF GIS
1.Bus bar
2.Circuit breaker
3.disconnector(line or bus)
4.Earthing switch(line or bus)
5.Current transformer(feeder/bus)
6.Voktage transformer(feeder/bus)
7.Feeder disconnector
8.Feeder earthing switch
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS advantages and disadvantages :
• GIS Disadvantages :

• 1. Excessive damage in case of internal fault. Long outage periods as the

repair of damaged part at site may be difficult.

• 2. Requirement of cleanliness is very stringent. Dust or moisture can

cause internal flashovers.

• 3. Such substations are generally indoor, so they need a separate

building. This is generally not required for conventional outdoor
substations.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS advantages and disadvantages :

• GIS Disadvantages :

• 4. Procurement of gas and supply of gas to site is problematic, adequate

stock of gas must be maintained.

• 5. Project needs almost total imports including SF6 Gas. Spares

conventional substation is totally indigenous up to 400 kV.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS advantages and disadvantages :
• GIS Advantages :

• 1. Reduced required space: The space occupied by SF6 installation is only

about 8% to 10 % of that a conventional outdoor substation. High cost is
partly compensated by saving in cost of space. A typical (420/525) kV
SF6 GIS requires only 920m2 site area against 30000 m2 for a
conventional air insulated substation.

• 2. Reliable: The complete enclosure of all live parts guards against any
impairment of the insulation system.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS advantages and disadvantages :
• GIS Advantages :

• 3. Reduced maintenance and consequently, lower costs.

• 4. The safety is increased: As the enclosures are at earth potential

there is no possibility of accidental contact by service personnel to live
parts.

• 5. From 30 kV to 500 kV they might result cheaper than conventional

units. High flexibility and application versatility provide unique, and
economic overall concepts.
ADVANTAGES OF GIS OVER CONVENTIONAL
OPEN AIR SUBSTATION
• Area and volume saving in construction for over or underground
applications.
• Greatly improved safety and reliability due to earthed metal housing of
all high voltage parts and much higher intrinsic strength of SF6 gas as
insulation.
• Short on site erection times
• Fulfilment of aesthetic requirements with indoor applications
• High service reliability
• Reduction in radio interference with the use of earthed metal
enclosures
• Use as mobile substations for transportation to load centres on
standard tracks.
• More optimal life cycle costs
• Not necessary that high voltage switchgear has to be installed out
doors.
 Advantages :
• Occupies very less space (1/10th) compared to
ordinary substations.
• Hence, most preferred where area for
substation is small (eg: Cities)
• Most reliable compared to Air Insulated
Substations.
• Number of outages due to the fault is less
• Maintenance Free.
• Can be assembled at workshop and modules
can be commissioned in the plant easily.
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 DISADVANTAGE OF GIS
• Switching operation generate Very Fast Transients Over
Voltages (VFTOS).
• VFTOS may cause secondary breakdown inside a GIS
and Transient Enclosure Voltages (TEV) outside the GIS.
• Field non-uniformities reduce withstanding levels of a
GIS.
• Prolonged arcing may produce corrosive/toxic by-
products.
• Support spacers can be weak points when arc by-
products and metallic particles are present.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• Hence, to solve this problem, smaller installations are needed, which
should also comply the following requirements:

• 1. They shall be insensible to climatic influences.

• 2. They can be raised outdoors, inside a building or underground.

• 3. They require reduced maintenance.

• 4. They are silent.

• 5. They should not generate radio-electric disturbances.

• 6. They shall not imply danger for the nearby populated.

 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS Requirements :
• The following requirement are important to satisfy, the
requirement of GIS can be summarized as :
• 1. Conductors which conduct the main circuit current and transfer power
these are of copper or aluminum tubes.

• 2. Conductors need insulation above grounded enclosures, conductors

also need phase to phase insulation, in SF6 requirements are met by
cast resin insulators and SF6 gas insulation. GIS these insulation

• 3. Gas filled modules have nonmagnetic enclosures, enclosures are of

aluminum alloy or stainless steel, aadjacent modules are joined
bymeans of multi-bolts tightened on flanges.
 Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)
• GIS Requirements :
• 4. Various circuit components in main circuit are: CB, Isolator,
Earthingswitches for conductors, CTs, VTs, cable-ends, Bushing-ends and
Bus-Bars, each of these main components has its own gas -filled metal
enclosed module.

• 5. Gas filling, monitoring system.

• 6. Auxiliary low voltage DC and low voltage AC supply system, control,

protection and Monitoring systems.

• 7. The bus-bars are conducting bars to which various incoming

andoutgoing bays are connected. In SF6 GIS the bus-bars are
laidlongitudinally in GIS hall. The bays are connected to bus-bars cross-
wise, bus-bars are either with a three-phase enclosure or single phase
enclosure.
Gas Insulated Substations
(G.I.S)

CONCLUSION :
CONCLUSION GIS are some important areas to be studied include more
conservative designs better particle control&improved gas
handling&decomposition product management techniques
Achieving&maintaining high levels of availability requires a more
integrated approach to quality control by both users and manufactures
 Properties of SF6:
• Non-toxic, very stable chemically.
• Man-made.
• Lifetime – Very long (800 to 3200 years!).
• Insulating properties 3-times that of air.
• Colorless & heavier than air.
• Almost water insoluble.
• Non inflammable.
 Gas insulated substation

10-Sep-12 36
 GIS Assembly:
ESSENTIAL PARTS OF GIS:
1. Bus bar
2. Circuit Breaker
3. Disconnector (line or bus)
4. Earthing switch (line or bus)
5. Current transformer (feeder / bus)
6. Voltage transformer (feeder/ bus)
7. Feeder Disconnector
8. Feeder Earthing switch
9. Lightning / Surge Arrester
10. Cable termination
11. Control Panel.
Fig: essential parts of Gas insulated substation
Fig:36 KV Gas insulated substation with 3-phase
double bus
 Fig: Gas insulated substation with double bus
arrangement
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GIS assembly:
10-Sep-12 42
 Design Challenges:
1. Safety:
• Optimizing operating electrical stresses to safe
levels by better inter electrode spacing .
• Increasing the gas volume and the thermal inertia
of the system to enhance cooling and retain
insulation strength.
2. High reliability:
• Superior contact systems for Circuit Breakers and
Disconnectors.
• Multi-contact and friction free surfaces
incorporated for long operating cycles.
• Rugged, time proven operating drives used.
10-Sep-12 43
 GIS Failure Statistics:

12.30%

12.40% INSULATION FAILURE

57.30%

18.10% MECHANICAL TROUBLE

GAS LEAK

OTHERS
 Main Drawbacks:
• High cost compared to conventional substation(AIS).
• Excessive damage in case of internal fault.
• Diagnosis of internal fault and rectifying takes very
long time (high outage time).
• SF6 gas pressure must be monitored in each
compartment.
• Reduction in the pressure of the SF6 gas in any
module results in flash over and faults.
• SF6 causes ozone depletion and global warming.

10-Sep-12
SF6 – Environmental Concerns:
• Currently, 80% used by Electrical Power industry.
• Other Uses – micro-electronics; Al & Mg production.
• 7000 metric tons/yr in 1993.
• Reached 10,000 metric tons/yr by 2010.
• Two areas of Health and Environmental impact:
I. Through its normal use in a work place – Arcing
byproducts.
II. Global Environmental impact - Ozone depletion and
Global warming.
 SF6/N2 Mixtures for GIS?

• SF6 gas – specifically mentioned in Kyoto protocol.

• Small quantities of SF6 in N2 can improve dielectric
strength drastically.
• All of the dielectric strength of SF6, nearly, can be
achieved by adding less than 20% SF6 into N2.
• SF6/N2 mixtures less susceptible to effects of field non
uniformity than pure SF6.
• Thus mitigating the effects of particles and surface
protrusions.
 Future trends:
• Compact design of switch gear by using three phase
modules.
• Use of vacuum circuit breaker cells in the medium high
voltage GIS.
• Optimization of GIS design to allow easier
maintenance.
• Development of DC GIS for incorporating into
expanding national/international HVDC systems.
• Search for replacement gases for SF6.
• The most promising - an 80%/20% N2/SF6 mixture.
• Replacement of existing AIS by GIS will accelerate
especially near urban centers.
 CONCLUSION:

• GIS – necessary for Extra HV & Ultra HV

• Some important areas to be studied include:
• More conservative design.
• Improved gas handling.
• Decomposition product management techniques.
• Achieving & maintaining high levels of availability
require – more integrated approach to quality
control by both users and manufactures.

10-Sep-12 51
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QUERIES…