Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008
VFT Study for EHV-GIS Substation
Amit Kumar and Mahesh K. Mishra, Member, IEEE

Abstract— One of the primary requirements in the planning and
design of the power system is reliability. The major cause of power
system interruption is due to insulation failure resulting from over
voltages in the power system. The objective of this paper is to
simulate an EHV-GIS substation and to study what is effect of the
generated VFT (very fast transient) in EHV-GIS system. The
system has been modeled and simulated using PSCAD 4.2.1.
I. INTRODUCTION
Gas insulated substations (GIS) have found an increasingly
wide range of application during the last three decades
because of their remarkable advantages over their
conventional counterparts. These advantages include
compactness, freedom from environmental influences, high
reliability and minimum maintenance, excellent protection
against atmospheric over voltages and flexibility in choice of
arrangement and for future expansion. The development of
GIS technology has made it competitive and, in many cases,
preferable in techno- economic comparison with the open-air
type substation. In spite of these merits, GIS has its unique
problems, among which is the susceptibility of the insulation
system under very fast transients (VFT) caused by
disconnector operation [1].
For accurate and reliable study of the transients it is essential
to replicate the system corresponding to frequency range in
which transients occur. Very fast transients belong to highest
frequency range. This means that the model used should be
suitable for the frequencies 100 kHz to 50 MHz [2]. Main
subject of very fast transients are effects in Gas insulated
substations (GIS). Modeling and effects of GIS are therefore
main subjects of this paper. This paper summarizes the results
obtained with the help of computer simulation.
II. MODELLING OF EHV-GIS SUBSTATION
The quality of the simulation depends on the quality of the
model of each individual GIS component. In order to achieve
reasonable results even for longer time periods of some micro-
seconds or for very complex GIS structures highly accurate
models for each of the internal equipment and also for
components connected to the GIS are necessary. Due to
traveling wave nature of VFT, modeling of GIS components
make use of electrical equivalent circuits composed of lumped
elements and distributed parameters lines. At very high
frequencies, the skin losses can produce a noticeable

Amit Kumar (e-mail: amitthakur13@gmail.com) and Mahesk K.
Mishra (e-mail: mahesh@ee.iitm.ac.in) are with the department of Electrical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
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attenuation. However due to geometrical structure of GIS and
the enclosure material, skin losses are usually neglected [3].
Very fast electromagnetic transients caused by switching
operations in gas insulated substations (GIS) cannot be
calculated if conventional techniques of modeling and
simulations are used. Choice and adjustments of the most
suitable models as well as determinations of their limitations
in digital simulations of very fast transients in GIS are very
important. Results obtained from very extensive field tests as
well as from digital simulations for different types of GIS
have been used for development of more accurate models for
GIS components and GIS as whole. A comparison between
field test and calculation results enables development of a
model which takes into account the most decisive physical
phenomena inherent to the very fast transients in the GIS.
Modeling can be divided into different parts which as a whole
make the complete system [2] - [6]. Equivalent circuits of
various GIS components have been given in Table I. Busbar
can be modeled as the lossless distributed parameter
transmission line with an impedance of 95 ȍ. Spacer can be
represented by a capacitance of value exceeding 20 pF. For
elbows a capacitor of value 6 pF can be used. The modeling of
closed switch and disconnector can be done using distributed
parameter lines with surge impedance of 42 ȍ has been used.
Open disconnector is represented by a capacitor of value 4 pF.
Bushing has been modeled using a short transmission line in
series with a capacitor. The surge impedance of the line is 126
ȍ and capacitor has been taken of any value greater than 10
pF. A fixed resistance in series with a variable resistance
represents the modeling of spark resistance. Capacitive
voltage transformer is represented by a capacitor. Aerial line
is modeled using the surge impedance of line.
III. SIMULATION STUDY OF EHV-GIS SUBSTATION
For the purpose of modeling and simulation a 420KV GIS has
been taken. It consists of one incoming line feeder bay and
one outgoing feeder with transformer. Block diagram of this
system is shown in Fig.1. The system used consists of a
double bus bar with sectionalizers. According to their internal
design all parts of GIS has been represented thoroughly by
line sections with the corresponding surge impedance and
traveling time and by lumped capacitance for spacers and
additional capacitance caused by shielding devices [5]. The
behavior of the spark in the disconnect switch during closing
operation is represented by a fixed resistance of Rf =0.5 ohm
in series with an exponentially decreasing resistance R=R0e-t/T,
R0 = 1012 and T=1 ns resulting in a time duration of voltage
breakdown of about 10 ns. After the successful modeling of
the GIS substations voltages are measured at different points
as Em1 to Em5. Em1 shows the voltage stress at connection
 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

inside the transformer between bushing and transformer Em2, Em3, Em4, and Em5. These points have been shown in
winding. Em2 shows the high frequency oscillations at the appendix B.
GIS side of transformer bushing. Em3 shows the voltage
oscillations at the end of busbar ss2. Em4 shows the voltage at Incoming Line
oscillations at busbar ss1 and Em5 shows the voltage
oscillations in the transformer feeder at the end of closed
disconnector. This system has been modeled using the Gas to ai r
electromagnetic transient program PSCAD 4.2.1 and will be Bushing
used for the further study. The actual simulated system has
been given in Appendix A.
DS
TABLE I DS- Disconnector
EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT OF GIS COMPONENTS
Component Equivalent Notes CB-Circuit Breaker
circuit CB
Bus bar Loss free distributed
parameter transmission line
of Z=95 ohm
Spacer C > 20 pF DS DS DS

Elbows C= 6pF

Surge arrester

Closed switch Short transmission line with

surge impedance = 42 ohm BusbarSS1
Open switch n= no. of breaking
chambers
Closed Short transmission line with
Disconnector surge impedance = 42 ohm BusbarSS2
Open Capacitor with C=4 pF
Disconnector
Disconnector r=r(t) ; R=0.5 ohm, c=1μF
during sparking
Bushing(capaciti n =number of equivalent
ve type) shields
Bushing (gas C >10pF , Zs = 126 ohm
filled)
DS DS DS

Current Can be represented by a

transformer surge impedance only ,
sometimes negligible
Capacitive Value depends on the CVT
voltage used
transformer
CB
Earth connection

Aerial line r =surge impedance

DS

IV. RESULTS
Simulation results of the VFT studies have been taken in three
different cases. The time step for simulation is 0.01ms In case Transformer Gas to oil
1, normal lengths of the system given in appendix A have Load
Bushing
been used, In case 2, the length of busbar has been changed to
the double of the given length and In case 3, lengths of the
disconnector and bushing have been changed.
Fig. 1. Block diagram of the system used for the simulation
Case 1: There are five points at which VFT over voltages have
been measured. These VFT Over voltages are given by Em1,

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

Fig. 2 (a). VFT over voltage Em1

Fig. 4 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em3

Fig. 2 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em1

Fig. 5 (a). VFT over voltage Em4

Fig. 3 (a). VFT Over voltage Em2

Fig. 5 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em4

Fig. 3 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em2

Fig. 6 (a). VFT over voltage Em5

Fig. 4 (a). VFT over voltage Em3 Fig. 6 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em5

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

420 Em5 600 1 1.43

The voltage stress Em1 measured at the connection inside the
transformer between bushing and the transformer winding is From the Table IV, we observe that with the change in
shown in Fig. 2 (a) and (b). The voltage stress Em2 which disconnector and bushing length there has not been any major
represents the high frequency oscillations at the GIS side of change in magnitudes at transformer end. The VFT
transformer bushing is shown in Fig. 3 (a) and (b). The magnitudes Em1 and Em2 are almost same as in case 1. The
voltage stress Em3 measured at the end of switched busbar VFT magnitudes at busbars Em3 and Em4 are also almost
can be seen in Fig. 4 (a) and (b). The voltage stress Em4 same. From the above results we can also observe that has not
measured at the switched busbar is shown in Fig. 5 (a) and
been any change in transient frequency at any of these five
(b). The voltage stress Em5 measured at the disconnector end
points.
of the system is shown in Fig. 6 (a) and (b). The transient
frequency of the very fast transients measured is 1 MHz at
V. CONCLUSIONS
each location in this case. Results obtained in this case are
given in Table II. From the results obtained in all the cases we can observe that
in case 1 where the length of the lines and components are
TABLE II taken as given in appendix A, the values of the VFT over
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS voltages measured at different locations are Em1, Em2, Em3,
Base VFTO VFT Transient PU values
Em4 and Em5. The voltage stress measured at all of these
value MagnitudE frequency locations is less than 2 pu which means the system is protected
420 Em1 610 1 1.45 from the damage caused by the VFT over voltage. In this case
420 Em2 600 1 1.43 the transient frequency is 1 MHz at each of the measuring
420 Em3 650 1 1.55 location. In case 2, where the length of GIS busbar has been
420 Em4 450 1 1.07 changed, the magnitude is decreased for Em1 and Em2 but
420 Em5 600 1 1.43
frequency remains unchanged. There is no change in the VFT
magnitude Em5 and transient frequency at the disconnector
Case 2: In this case the length of the busbar has been changed end. But at the busbar ends the magnitude and transient have
to double of the given length and GIS components have same increased in this case. In case 3, where the lengths of
values as discussed. The results obtained in this case are given disconnector and busing have been changed, the VFT
in Table III. magnitudes are almost same as in case 1. There has not been
TABLE III any change in the transient frequency at any of the location in
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS SYSTEM FOR this case. In case 2 and case 3 also the VFT magnitudes are
CHANGED BUSBAR LENGTH less than 2 pu at each location, so system is protected from
Base VFTO VFT Transient PU values any kind of damage due to generation of the VFT. From these
value MagnitudE frequency
420 Em1 564 1 1.34 3 cases we can conclude that change in the lengths of
420 Em2 560 1 1.33
disconnector and bushing does not affect the VFT magnitude
420 Em3 735 1.6 1.75
and transient frequency, but the change in busbar length
affects the VFT magnitude and transient frequency. So busbar
420 Em4 481 1.4 1.15
is the critical component in VFT study for EHV-GIS
420 Em5 600 1 1.43
substation. From the results we can also see that the obtained
are very consistent, so this model can also be used for the
From Table III we can see that when the lengths of busbars VFT study in any GIS system.
have been doubled, the VFT magnitudes and transient
frequencies, Em3 and Em4 have gone up, while at the APPENDIX A
transformer end the VFT magnitudes Em1 and Em2 have A. 1- Details of simulation data for transformer feeder
come down. There is no change observed in transient Branch Length Z (ȍ) C (pF)
frequencies at these points. 1-2 1.28 95 --
Case 3: In this case the lengths of disconnector and bushing 2-3 0.75 42 --
have been changed, while other components have same 3-4 -- -- 4
lengths as discussed. The results obtained in this case are 4-5 0.30 42 --
given in Table IV. 5-6 0.45 95 --
6-7 0.45 95 --
TABLE IV
7-8 0.15 42 --
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS SYSTEM FOR
CHANGED DISCONNECTOR AND BUSHING LENGTHS 7-9 0.75 42 --
Base VFTO VFT Transient PU values 9-10 0.15 42 --
value MagnitudE Frequency 10-11 0.30 42 --
420 Em1 617 1 1.47 11-12 1.10 95 --
420 Em2 594 1 1.41
12-13 1.15 95 --
420 Em3 622 1 1.48
420 Em4 454 1 1.08 13-14 1.20 95 --
13-15 0.75 42 --

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

15-16 -- -- 4 11-E -- -- 12
16-17 0.30 42 --
17-18 0.65 95 --
18-19 0.40 42 --
19-20 1.10 42 -- A. 3- Details of simulation data for transformer feeder
20-21 0.30 95 -- Branc
21-22 0.70 95 -- Length Z (ȍ) C (pF)
h
22-23 1.10 66 -- 1-2 1.20 95 --
23-24 1.15 66 -- 2-3 0.75 42 --
24-25 0.70 95 -- 3-4 0.15 42 --
8-25 2.30 95 -- 4-5 0.30 42 --
17-26 0.80 95 -- 5-6 0.45 95 --
26-27 0.90 72 -- 6-7 0.45 95 --
7-8 0.15 42 --
27-28 0.80 95 --
7-9 0.75 42 --
28-29 0.90 95 --
9-10 -- -- 4
29-30 1.50 95 -- 10-11 0.30 42 --
30-31 0.80 95 -- 11-12 1.10 95 --
31-32 0.60 95 -- 12-13 1.15 95 --
32-33 0.60 25 -- 13-14 1.20 95 --
31-34 11 25 -- 13-15 0.75 42 --
34-35* 2.30 126 -- 15-16* -- -- 4
2-E -- -- 10 16-17 0.30 42 --
17-18 0.65 95 --
5-E -- -- 14
18-19 0.40 42 --
6-E -- -- 10
19-20 1.10 42 --
8-E -- -- 10 20-21 0.30 95 --
11-E -- -- 24 21-22 0.70 95 --
13-E -- -- 10 22-23 1.10 66 --
17-E -- -- 10 23-24 1.15 66 --
22-E -- -- 10 24-25 0.70 95 --
23-E -- -- 32 8-25 2.30 95 --
24-E -- -- 32 17-26 0.80 95 --
26-27 0.90 72 --
25-E -- -- 32
27-28 0.60 95 --
26-E -- -- 10
28-29 0.60 25 --
27-E -- -- 10 27-30 4 95 --
28-E -- -- 16 30-31 0.15 95 --
29-E -- -- 10 31-32 0.1.5 95 --
30-E -- -- 10 32-33** 4.9 95 --
31-E -- -- 10 2-E -- -- 10
33-E -- -- 10 5-E -- -- 14
34-E -- -- 14 6-E -- -- 10
8-E -- -- 10
11-E -- -- 24
(*) special bushing arrangement 17-E -- -- 10
A. 2- Details of simulation data for busbar 21-E -- -- 10
Branch Length Z (ȍ) C(pF) 22-E -- -- 10
1-2 1.8 157 -- 23-E -- -- 32
2-3 2.7 157 -- 24-E -- -- 32
3-4 5.6 157 -- 25-E -- -- 32
4-5 0.90 157 -- 26-E -- -- 10
5-6 0.85 104 -- 27-E -- -- 10
6-7 0.15 104 -- 28-E -- -- 10
7-8 0.20 104 -- 29-E -- -- 10
7-9 1.80 157 -- 30-E -- -- 16
9-10 7.4 157 -- 31-E -- -- 16
10-11 1.8 157 --
1-E -- -- 12 (*) by-pass disconnector switch
2-E -- -- 3 (**) special bushing arrangement
3-E -- -- 3
4-E -- -- 3
8-E -- -- 3
Note—These values given in appendix A are used in
9-E -- -- 3 simulation purpose for different sections of the circuit.
10-E -- -- 3

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 Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

APPENDIX B

Actual simulated model


Fig.7. Simulated Circuit

REFRENCES
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485-490, September 1994.
[2] IEEE TF on Very Fast Transients (D. Povh, Chairman), "Modeling and
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[3] Hirohiko Yatsuzuka, Manabu Takamoto, Masaharu Matsuyama, “New

550-kV Gas-insulated Switchgear,” Hitachi Review vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 285-
289,1999.
[4] ABB-Insulation Co-ordination Maharani bag, New Delhi, 2007.
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modeling of gas insulated substation components in digital simulations of
Very fast transients,” Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 7 no. 1, pp. 434-
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[7] M. Mohan Rao, M. Joy Thomas, and B. P. Singh, “Frequency
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