Study on VFTO in UHV GIS Substation
WAN Yiru, CHEN Guang, ZHOU Hao
College of Electrical Engineering
Zhejiang Univ
Hangzhou, China
Abstract—In GIS substations, operations of disconnectors
may cause very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO) with high
amplitude and steep wave front. Considering the narrower
insulation margin of UHV GIS equipments and larger absolute
magnitude of VFTO in UHV GIS systems, VFTO in UHV GIS
systems could cause larger damage than those in EHV and lower
ones. Therefore study on VFTO in UHV GIS systems is of great
significance to choose more economical and more effective
measures to prevent VFTO, in order to finally improve the safety
and reliability of UHV GIS systems. In this paper, characteristics
and hazards of VFTO in UHV GIS systems are analyzed by
comparing it to that of EHV GIS systems. Comparison shows
that the absolute value of VFTO in UHV GIS system is almost as
twice as that of EHV GIS systems, but the insulation level of
UHV GIS equipments is only 1.55 times as that of EHV ones,
resulting in much more danger in the UHV GIS equipments.
Then, several preventive measures are analyzed and summarized
in this paper, by simulating Jindongnan UHV GIS substation
based on EMTP. The maximum amplitude of VFTO with no
suppressing measures is up to 2.72 p.u., dangerously exceeding
the limit level of insulation, which is about 2.32 p.u. in UHV GIS
systems. Analysis shows that installing proper shunt resistors in
disconnectors is the most feasible and effective preventive
measure at present. In spite of the lack of practical applications,
ferromagnetic rings have great prospects of effectively
suppressing VFTO. All possible switching sequences in
Jindongnan UHV GIS substation are analyzed and simulated,
among which the one that generates the severest VFTO is found
out. Because the transformer of Jindongnan UHV GIS substation
is connected to bus through overhead lines for long distance, the
steepness of wave front is effectively reduced, thus VFTO will not
threaten the transformer.
Keywords-UHV, GIS, VFTO, disconnector, shunt resistor
I. INTRODUCTION
At present, study on UHV GIS is inadequacy. Except
China, former Soviet Union and Japa, few countries have built
or designed 1000kV AC transmission lines. Because former
Soviet Union adopted AIS arrangement mode, their
engineering design, key technology and practical experience
are not related to VFTO of UHV GIS substations. Japan has
built a double-circuit UHV AC transmission line in 1992,
which has been operating at 500kV ever since its
establishment, therefore VFTO is relatively low.
In 2009, the 1000kV Jindongnan - Nanyang - Jingmen
UHV AC pilot project has been formally put into practical
operation. Its GIS substation arrangement is different from
those of former Soviet Union and Japan. Therefore, study
based on the actual situation of Jindongnan GIS substation is
necessary[1-5].
978-1-4577-0365-2/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE 1756
Compared to 500kV systems, characteristics of VFTO in
1000kV GIS are analysed in this paper. The preventive
measures are analyzed and summarized. Based on practical
Jindongnan UHV GIS substation arrangement, a simulation
model is established by EMTP. The VFTO waveform and
amplitude generated by operating disconnectors are simulated
and analyzed. The suppressive effect of shunt resistor is
discussed, and preventive measures are suggested.
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF VFTO IN UHV GIS
Firstly, as the system voltage increases from 500kV to
1000kV, the absolute VFTO value in 1000kV GIS substation
is almost twice as that in 500 kV GIS substation. However, the
insulation level of 1000kV GIS equipments only increases by
55% compared with 500kV GIS. Due to the narrower
insulation margin of 1000 kV GIS, VFTO could cause larger
damage to the insulation structure of UHV GIS than that of
500 kV and lower systems.
Secondly, owing to the simpler arrangement of 1000kV
UHV GIS system, high-frequency components in VFTO are
much larger and the overvoltage front is steeper, making the
VFTO is much severer.
Thirdly, the transformer turn-to-turn insulation suffers
more from VFTO in UHV GIS than in 500kV GIS. The
extremely steep front of VFTO will produce uneven interturn
voltage distribution in transformer windings and cause severe
damage to the turn-to-turn insulation, especially the insulation
of the first several windings at the transformer entrance
directly connected with GIS. The absolute value of VFTO in
1000kV GIS is about twice as that in 500kV GIS, and its
steepness is larger, making the transient voltage distribution in
the first several windings of transformer more uneven, which
causes greater threat.
Fourth, because of the great significance of 1000kV GIS
substation in the UHV transmission system, 1000kV GIS
substation requires higher safety and reliability. Thus it’s
necessary to pay sufficient attention to the VFTO of 1000 kV
GIS.
III. SUPPRESSIVE MEASURES
Considering the threat of 1000 kV GIS VFTO, taking
effective measures to suppress VFTO become particularly
important. Because of the constraints of measuring conditions
and methods, a number of suppressive measures have many
technical problems. Practical applications are limited, making
many of them unfeasible to be applied into practice yet.
A. Shunt Resistor in Disconnector
Among a variety of suppressive measures for VFTO, shunt
resistor has the most obvious effect and mature technology,
and has been widely applied. Taking operating cost into
consideration, 500kV system does not necessarily need shunt
resistor. With narrower insulation margin, higher VFTO
amplitude and steeper wavefront, installation of shunt resistor
is recommended in 1000kV GIS.
series with GIS conductor as shown in Fig.3 above. The ferrite
rings show different magnetic property in the low and high
frequency working conditions.In the low frequency working
condition,the ferrite rings mainly show inductance
characteristic, the non-linear resistor Rd is short-circuited,
magnetic loss is little.In the high frequency working condition,
the ferrite rings mainly show resistance characteristic,most of
the current flows through the resistance Rd, and the high
frequency energy transforms into heat energy, which plays the
role of overvoltage suppression.
Currently, the ferrite material is mainly used for high-
frequency attenuator, etc, the application for the suppression
of VFTO still needs further study and experimental
verification.

(a) Internal structure of disconnector with shunt resistor;

(b) Disconnector in closed position; (c) Middle position 1;
(d) Middle position 2; (e) Complete breaking position;
(f) Equivalent citcuit of disconnector with shunt resistor
Figure.1. Internal structure and the operate process of disconnector with shunt
resistor

Fig.1 shows the internal structure and the operating

process of disconnector with shunt resistor. The on and off
resistor may share the same one. When the disconnector
breaks, the main contact breaks first, the remaining charge on Figure.2. Ferrite rings Application Diagram
the stationary contact leaks through the shunt resistor branch,
then the vice contact breaks. When the disconnector closes,
the vice contact closes first, current flows through the shunt
resistor branch, then the main contact closes. In both
operations, the shunt resistor acts as an buffering element to
the transient process, leaking the remaining charge and
absorbing the overvoltage energy[6-8].

B. Coupling Capacitors
Installation of parallel coupling capacitors on the
transformer’s high-voltage side can reduce the voltage Figure.3. Equivalent circuit of ferrite rings
amplitude and the steepness of wave front at the transformer E. Improvement of GIS Arrangement and Operating
entrance and filter the high-frequency components of VFTO.
Procedure.
However, in some cases, it may cause maximum over-voltage
in the substation increase remarkably.
IV. ANALYSIS OF VFTO IN JINDONGNAN GIS
SUBSTATION
C. Wave Trapper
Connection of wave trapper on the transformer high side
can filter high-frequency components significantly, but the Fig.4. shows the main circuit of Jindongnan GIS
effect of reducing voltage amplitude is not obvious and it may substation, which is in double-breaker and single-bus
induce high-frequency harmonics in the substation. connection mode, with one outgoing line and one transformer.
Based on the main circuit diagram, the systematical simulation
model is built. Considering the worst situation, the remaining
D. Ferrite Rings
load side voltage is regarded as -1.0pu when reignition
Ferrite is a kind of high-frequency magnetic material, happens, while the source side voltage is regarded as +1.0 pu.
which is nonlinear. Putting ferrite rings around a GIS Multiple reignition is ignored[9].
conductor as Fig. 2, can absorb the transient energy when the
disconnecting switch restrikes to inhibit the VFTO.
The ferrite rings around a GIS conductor can be simplified
to a set of nonlinear inductance and nonlinear resistance, in

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 In addition, the transformer connects to the GIS conductor
through overhead lines for long distance. So the VFTO
generated by breaking the four disconnectors will be
effectively reduced to about 1.0 p.u. at the antrance of
transformer, and the steepness of wave front is also more
gentle.In fact, it can not be called VFTO anymore. Thus the
VFTO generated by breaking the disconnectors will not
threaten the transformer insulation.

CVT
If one of the circuit breakers needs maintenance, and the
other circuit breaker still keep running, tnen the routine
operation sequence is: firstly break the circuit breaker that
needs maintenance, secondly break the disconnector of the bus
side, last break the disconnector of the outgoing line side. The
Figure.4 Main circuit of Jindongnan GIS substation VFTO generated by breaking the disconnectors when
maintaining circuit breaker CB1 and CB2 were calculated,
Before breaking the four disconnectors theresults was shown in Table 2.
(DS11,DS12,DS21,DS22)on the high voltage side of the
transformer, circuit breakers CB1, CB2 must be broken. When
breaking the four disconnectors (DS11,DS12,DS21,DS22), TABLE II. MAXIMUM VFTO IN JINDONGNAN GIS SUBSTATION BY
BREAKING THE DISCONNECTORS WHEN MAINTAINING CIRCUIT BREAKER
one side of the disconnector is connected to the power source,
and the other side of the disconnector is connected to a branch Maintain CB1 Maintain CB2
conductor with a fracture. So there is huge voltage difference
between two sides of the disconnector, thus when operating operation maximum operation maximum
these disconnectors, large VFTO will be ganerated. GIS sequence VFTO/p.u. sequence VFTO/p.u.
internal maximum VFTO appears at the fracture between the
disconnector oprated and the circuit breaker nearby. The high DS1B 1.78 DS2B 1.75
voltage at the branch end is the result of repeated refraction
and reflection of the voltage waveform. There are four DS1A 2.27 DS2A 2.39
different operation sequences when breaking these four
disconnectors, table 1 shows the four kind of operation
sequences and the maximum VFTO every kind generated. From the table 2 it can be seen that, the maximum VFTO
When calculation the remaining load side voltage is regarded appears when breaking the disconnector DS2A for maitenance
as -1.0pu when reignition happens, while the source side of circuit breakers CB2, the amplitude is 2.39p.u., exceeding
voltage is regarded as +1.0 pu. the limit level of insulation, which is about 2.32 p.u. in UHV
GIS systems. And the VFTO generated by breaking the
TABLE I. MAXIMUM VFTO IN JINDONGNAN GIS SUBSTATION FOR disconnector DS1A when maitenance of circuit breakers CB1
EVERY OPERATION SEQUENCE is 2.27p.u.. The amplitude is under the limit level of insulation
operation sequence sequence sequence sequence
in UHV GIS systems, but it is extremely close to the limit
level (2.32 p.u.). So The VFTO generated by breaking the
steps A B C D disconnectors when maintaining circuit breaker will cause
great damage to the GIS insulation.
1 DS1B DS1A DS2A DS2B
In addition, the transformer connects to the GIS conductor
2 DS1A DS1B DS2B DS2A through overhead lines for long distance. So the VFTO at the
antrance of transformer will be effectively reduced.In fact, it
3 DS2B DS2A DS1A DS1B can not be called VFTO anymore. Thus the VFTO generated
by breaking the disconnectors when maintaining circuit
4 DS2A DS2B DS1B DS1A
breaker will not threaten the transformer insulation.
maximum the VFTO generated by Closing the disconnectors is
2.72 2.39 2.39 2.45
VFTO/p.u. similar to above situation of breaking the disconnectors, so the
review of VFTO is Omitted.
the bold disconnector is the one generate maximum VFTO during the operation sequence
Meanwhile, the VFTO at arresters, CVT, reactors and
other equipment in Jindongnan GIS substation is all under the
From the table 1 it can be concluded that the sequence A limit level of insulation, it will not threaten the insulation of
generated the most severe VFTO, and no matter in which these equipment.
operation sequences, the VFTO generated by breaking the It can be summarized that the VFTO generated by
disconnectors will exceed the limit level of insulation, which operating the disconnectors in Jindongnan GIS substation will
is about 2.32 p.u. in UHV GIS systems, causeing great cause great damage to the GIS insulation. Because the
damage to the GIS insulation[10]. transformer connects to the GIS conductor through overhead

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lines for long distance, the VFTO at the antrance of
transformer will not threaten the transformer insulation.
V. SUPPRESSIVE EFFECT OF SHUNT RESISTOR STALLED
IN DISCONNECTORS
Fig.5 shows waveform comparison between disconnectors
with and without a 500Ω shunt resistor. Without the shunt
resistor, the voltage waveform mutates during the
disconnector’s reignition, generating very steep pulses with
maximum amplitude of 2.72pu and high oscillation
frequencies.
After the installation of 500Ω shunt resistor, the VFTO
reduces to 1.24pu, The installation of 500Ω shunt resistor
effectively reduces the over-voltage amplitude, oscillation
frequency, wave-front steepness and high-frequency
component.
(a) Without shunt resistor
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(b) With 500Ωshunt resistor
Figure. 5 Maximun VFTO waveforms
VI. CONCLUSION
In UHV GIS substations, the operations of disconnectors
will generate VFTO with larger voltage amplitude, frequency
and wave-front steepness than in 500kV GIS. VFTO has much
more threat to the 1000kV GIS insulation than to 500kV GIS,
therefore the shunt resistors in disconnectors is recommended
to be installed.
In Jindongnan GIS substation, without suppressive
measures, the maximum VFTO in GIS is up to 2.72pu,
causing great damage to the GIS insulation. After the
installation of 500Ω shunt resistor, VFTO maximum drops to
1.24pu, and at the same time the steepness and high frequency
both reduce. The suppressive effect is obvious.
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