International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386) Volume 3 No 11 November 2013

http://www.ijsat.com

7

Particle Contamination in Dielectric Coated
Three Phase Gas Insulated Busduct with Various
Gas mixtures
M.Raghavendra Rao
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
V.R.Siddhartha Engineering College
Vijayawada, India.
raghav_m99@yahoo.com
Dr.J.Amarnath
Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
JNTUH College of Engineering
Hyderabad, India.
amarnathjinka@yahoo.com


Abstract The only insulating gas used in gas insulated
substations is Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF
6
) because of excellent
combination of its physical and chemical properties.
However, the fact that SF
6
is one of the strongest man made
greenhouse gases has promised a search for substitute gases
with lower or no environmental impact. Thus, it is needed to
develop the alternative dielectric gas or gas mixtures having
better insulating characteristics and no green house effect.
The main issue concerning the practical use of such mixtures
is their behavior in the presence of metallic particle
contamination. In this paper particle movement is determined
in epoxy coated three phase gas insulated busduct with
combination of mixture of SF
6
and other gases as insulating
medium. In the gas mixture, conducting particle material
considered for study is Aluminium. The results have been
analyzed and presented.

Keywords - Sulphur Hexafluoride, Gas Insulated
Substations, Metallic Particle Conamination, Gas Insulated
Busduct.
I. INTRODUCTION
The excellent dielectric properties of Sulphur Hexafluoride
(SF
6
) have long been recognized for various high voltage
applications. Speedy urbanization and overgrowing
population is making the task of expanding transmission
network very difficult due to right of way problem and
limited space availability. In addition, conventional air
insulated substations have many problems such as
pollution by salt or dust, meteorological difficulties and
safety. Hence, there is a need to replace the conventional
transmission lines and substations with underground cables
and Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) to overcome the
above problems. Due to its many advantages, most of the
utilities and industrial units are opting for Gas Insulated
Substations. In this context GIS have found a broad range
of applications in power systems for more than two
decades because of their high reliability, easy maintenance
and small ground space requirement. Free conducting
particles are most dangerous to GIS. These free conducting
particles may have any shape or size, may be spherical or
wire like or in the form of fine dust. Particles may be free
to move or may be fixed on to the surfaces. They may be
of conducting material or of insulating material. Particles
of insulating material are not harmful as they have little
effect on the insulating properties of gases. So wires like
particles made of conducting material are more harmful
and their effects are more pronounced at higher gas
pressures. The source of these particles may be from the
manufacturing process, from mechanical vibrations or
from moving parts of the system like breakers or
disconnectors. Insulating particles are found to have little
effect on the dielectric behaviour of the gases [1-4].
Conducting particles placed in uniform ac field lift-off at
a certain voltage. As the voltage is raised, the particles
assume a bouncing state reaching a height determined by
the applied voltage. With a further increase in voltage, the
bounce height and the corona current increase until
breakdown occurs [5].
The main reason for coating an electrode surface with a
dielectric material is to increase the breakdown voltage of
the system. The dielectric coating decreases the high local
fields caused by conductor roughness. It impedes the
development of pre-discharges in the gas due to the
resistance of the coating. It reduces the charge, which a
particle colliding with the coated enclosure will acquire,
and increases the lift-off field of metallic particles. which in
turn reduces the risk of a breakdown at lower volages.
Moreover, in the case of GIS, by using a coating with a
light shade on the inside of the enclosure, it is easier to
detect impurities such as metallic particles or pieces of
dielectric material in the system. Charging of metallic
particles in contact with a coated electrode is mainly based
on two different charge mechanisms [6-9]
(i) Conduction through a dielectric coating.
(ii) Micro discharges between the particle and the coating
(for higher electrical fields and lower gas pressures).
From the view point of environmental protection, as SF
6

has strong greenhouse effect, the use of SF
6
should be
carefully controlled. Thus, it is needed to develop the
alternative dielectric gas or gas mixtures having better
insulating characteristics and no greenhouse effect. In this
paper particle movement is determined in epoxy coated Gas
Insulated Busduct (GIB) with combination of SF
6
with
other gases like N
2
, CO
2
, Ar, Kr and Xe as insulating
medium.

International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386) Volume 3 No 11 November 2013
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8

II. MODELING OF METALLIC PARTICLES ON COATED GIB
Figure.1 shows a typical horizontal three phase coated
Gas Insulated Busduct (GIB). The enclosure is filled with
combination of SF
6
with other gases like N
2
, CO
2
, Ar, Kr
and Xe gases at high pressure. A particle is assumed to be
at rest at the coated enclosure surface, just beneath the
busbar, until a voltage sufficient enough to lift the particle
and move in the field that is applied. After acquiring an
appropriate charge in the field, the particle lifts and begins
to move in the direction of field having overcome the
forces due to its own weight and air drag.

A, B, C are conductors
Figure.1 Typical 3-phase common enclosure GIB with dielectric coating
The simulation considers several parameters like the
macroscopic field at the surface of the particle, its weight,
Reynolds number, coefficient of restitution on its impact
to enclosure, viscosity of the gas mixture and conductance
and capacitance of the coating. During return flight, a new
charge on the particle is assigned based on the
instantaneous electric field.
III. THEORETICAL STUDY
Many authors [1-4] have suggested solutions for the
motion of a sphere or a wire like metallic particle in an
isolated busduct system. The theory of the particle charge
and the electrostatic force on the particle is discussed
elsewhere [5]. The motion equation is given by

d e 2
2
F - mg - F
dt
y md
= (1)
Where, y is the displacement of particle and F
d
is the drag
force. The direction of the drag force is always opposite to
the direction of motion. For laminar flow, the drag force
component around the hemispherical ends of the particle is
due to shock and skin friction.
IV. SIMULATION OF ELECTRIC FIELD IN GAS INSULATED
BUSDUCT WIH VARIOUS GAS MIXTURES
In this paper, particle movement with combination of
SF
6
and other gases like N
2
, CO
2
, Ar, Kr and Xe gases has
been simulated and results have been presented in a three
phase coated GIB. The viscosity of a mixture of two gasses
can be approximately calculated from the following
equation. Where, x
1
and x
2
are proportions,
1
and
2
are
viscosities and m
1
and m
2
are molecular weights of SF
6
gas
and other gases respectively[6]. m
1
=146 g/mole for SF
6
,
m
2
=28 g/mole for N
2
, 44 g/mole for CO
2
, 28.97 for Air,
39.95 g/mole for Ar, 83.8 g/mole for Kr, 131.3 g/mole for
Xe.
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
4
1
1
1
2
4
1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
m
m
m
m
x
x
m
m
m
m
x
x

After calculating the viscosity of gas mixtures, the value
can be substituted in the particle motion equation. The
simulation results have been presented and analyzed.
V. SIMULATION OF PARTICLE MOTION
Computer simulations of the motion of metallic
particles were carried out on three phase common
enclosure GIB of 250 mm radius with epoxy coating
thickness of 200 m. The radius of three inner conductors
is 32 mm placed in busduct as shown in Fig.1. Power
frequency voltage of 400 kV is applied to inner conductor.
Aluminium wire like particle having length of 12mm and
radius of 0.01 mm is considered to be present on the epoxy
coated inner surface of busduct. A conducting particle
motion, in an external electric field will be subjected to a
collective influence of several forces [10-12]. The forces
may be divided into
Electrostatic Force (Fe)
Gravitational Force (mg)
Drag Force (Fd)
Software was developed in C language considering the
above equations and was used for all simulation studies.
VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
From Table.I it is observed that in uncoated busduct
containing 0% Xe and 100% SF
6
for an applied voltage of
400 kV the maximum movement was recorded as 11.56
mm for Aluminium particle. For 40% Xe and 60% SF
6

mixture it was observed that the maximum movement for
the same voltage is 11.49 mm. From Table.II it is observed
that in dielectric coated busduct containing 0% Xe and
100% SF
6
for an applied voltage of 400 kV maximum
movement was recorded as 5.7828 mm for Aluminium. In
case of 40% Xe and 60% SF
6
mixture the corresponding
value is recorded as 5.333 mm respectively. From Table.I
and Table.II it is evident that as the percentage of Xe in the
SF
6
/ Xe gas mixture changes the variation in the
maximum radial movement changes in both uncoated and
epoxy coated busduct. Table III and Table IV represent
the maximum movement of Aluminium particle in epoxy
coated three phase gas insulated busduct filled with SF
6./
N
2

and SF
6
/CO
2
gaseous mixtures respectively. Fig.2 shows
the movement of Aluminium particle in radial direction for
an applied voltage of 400 kV rms for SF
6./
N
2
gas mixture,
for coated busduct.

The highest displacement in radial
direction during its upward journey is simulated to be
5.7828 mm. Fig.3 shows the movement of Aluminium
particle in radial direction for an applied voltage of 400 kV
rms for SF
6
and Air mixture. The highest displacement in
radial direction during its upward journey is simulated to
be 5.7828 mm. Graphical representation of radial
movement of Aluminium particle in dielectric coated three
International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386) Volume 3 No 11 November 2013
http://www.ijsat.com

9

phase gas insulated busduct with combination of SF
6
with
other gases like N
2
, Air, CO
2
, Ar, Kr and Xe as insulating
medium containing are shown from Fig.2 to Fig.7. From
the figures it is evident that Aluminium particle is
experiencing maximum radial movement of 5.782899 mm
in coated busduct filled with 100% SF
6
gas. Whereas the
Aluminium particle is experiencing minimum radial
movement in the same coated busduct with a mixture of
SF
6
and 40 to 60% of other gas.
TABLE.I
%SF6 %Xe Ymax
100 0 11.56
90 10 11.54
80 20 11.53
70 30 11.51
60 40 11.49
50 50 11.60
40 60 11.54
30 70 11.57
20 80 11.59
10 90 11.61
0 100 11.63

Table I. VARIATION OF MAXIMUM MOVEMENT (Ymax in mm) OF
ALUMINUM PARTICLES (L=10mm, R=0.01mm) IN THREE PHASE
UNCOATED GIB WITH SF6 AND Xe GAS MIXTURE FOR 400 kV .
TABLE.II
%SF6 %Xe Ymax
100 0 5.782899
90 10 5.573398
80 20 5.585725
70 30 5.413885
60 40 5.333967
50 50 5.51811
40 60 5.239315
30 70 5.294968
20 80 5.290336
10 90 5.410101
0 100 5.452278

Table II. VARIATION OF MAXIMUM MOVEMENT (Ymax in mm) OF
ALUMINUM PARTICLES (L=10mm, R=0.01mm) IN THREE PHASE
COATED GIB (coating thickness = 200 m ) WITH SF6 AND Xe GAS
MIXTURE FOR 400 kV.


TABLE.III
%SF6 %N
2
Ymax
100 0 5.782899
90 10 5.768696
80 20 5.628578
70 30 5.613841
60 40 5.32641
50 50 5.569907
40 60 5.290828
30 70 5.301577
20 80 5.346693
10 90 5.450446
0 100 5.58352

Table III. VARIATION OF MAXIMUM MOVEMENT (Ymax in mm) OF
ALUMINUM PARTICLES (L=10mm, R=0.01mm) IN THREE PHASE
COATED GIB (coating thickness = 200 m ) WITH SF6 AND N2 GAS
MIXTURE FOR 400 kV.
TABLE.IV
%SF6 %CO
2
Ymax
100 0 5.782899
90 10 5.547419
80 20 5.575611
70 30 5.585941
60 40 5.550867
50 50 5.49303
40 60 5.368736
30 70 5.382431
20 80 5.419738
10 90 5.321928
0 100 5.802069

Table IV. VARIATION OF MAXIMUM MOVEMENT (Ymax in mm) OF
ALUMINUM PARTICLES (L=10mm, R=0.01mm) IN THREE PHASE
COATED GIB (coating thickness = 200 m ) WITH SF6 AND CO2 GAS
MIXTURE FOR 400 kV.









International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386) Volume 3 No 11 November 2013
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10


Fig. 2. Movement of Aluminium particle with SF6/N2 gas mixture in a
3-ph coated GIB for 400 kV/10mm/0.01mm radius/200m coating
thickness.


Fig. 3. Movement of Aluminium particle with SF6/Air gas mixture in a
3-ph coated GIB for 400 kV/10mm/0.01mm radius/200m coating
thickness.



Fig. 4. Movement of Aluminium particle with SF6/N2 gas mixture in a
3-ph coated GIB for 400 kV/10mm/0.01mm radius/200m coating
thickness.

Fig. 5. Movement of Aluminium particle with SF6/Ar gas mixture in a 3-
ph coated GIB for 400 kV/10mm/0.01 mm radius/200m coating
thickness.

Fig. 6. Movement of Aluminium particle with SF6/Kr gas mixture in a 3-
ph coated GIB for 400kV/10mm/0.01mm radius/200m coating
thickness.


Fig.7. Movement of Aluminium particle with in SF6/Xe gas mixture in a
3-ph coated GIB for 400 kV/10mm/0.01mm radius/200m coating
thickness.
VII. CONCLUSIONS
A model has been formulated to simulate the movement
of wire like particles in a three phase uncoated and epoxy
coated GIB with various gas mixtures. The maximum
movement of Aluminium particle is drastically reduced
with dielectric coating, the radial movement is observed to
be varying with concentration of other gas in SF
6
gas
mixture. Maximum radial movement happens with 100%
SF
6
gas and minimum radial movement with a mixture of
SF
6
and other gases. For better insulating characteristics
and no green house effect, mixture of 60% to 40% of SF
6

with other gases is highly reliable for the operation of GIS.
International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386) Volume 3 No 11 November 2013
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11

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors are thankful to managements of JNTUH
College of Engineering, Hyderabad and V.R.Siddhartha
Engineering College, Vijayawada for providing facilities to
publish this work.

REFERENCES

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Raghavendra Rao Maarisetti
graduated from V.R.Siddhartha
Engineering College, Vijayawada, India
in the year 2000 and received M.Tech
from JNTU College of Engineering,
Hyderabad, India in the year 2007. He
is currently pursuing Ph.D from
JNTUK, Kakinada, India and working
as Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering at V.R.Siddhartha Engineering
College, Vijayawada, India. His areas of interest are Gas
Insulated Substations, High Voltage Engineering,
Renewable Energy Sources, Power System Protection.

Amarnath Jinka graduated from
Osmania University in the year 1982,
M.E from Andhra University in the
year 1984 and Ph.D from J.N.T.
University, Hyderabad in the year
2001. He is presently Professor in the
Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, JNTU
College of Engineering, Hyderabad, India. He presented
more than 60 research papers in various national and
international conferences and journals. His research areas
include Gas Insulated Substations, High Voltage
Engineering, Power Systems and Electrical Drives.