INSULATION

COORDINATION
- a small overview
S. POORNIMA, RESEARCH
SCHOLAR

Why Insulation
Coordination?

INSULATION
COORDINATION (IC)
DEFINITION

The selection of suitable values for the

insulation levels of the various components in
any electrical system and their arrangement
is called Insulation Coordination
The insulation level of an apparatus is defined
as that combination of voltage values (both
power
frequency
and
impulse)
which
characterize its insulation with regard to its
capability of withstanding the dielectric
stresses.

IC ensures
Insulation provided shall withstand all normal
working stresses and a majority of abnormal
stresses
The efficient discharge of overvoltages due to
internal and external causes
Breakdown shall occur only due to external
flashover.
The position at which breakdown occurs shall
be those where breakdown may cause no or
comparatively little damage

IC involves

Determination of line insulation

Selection
of
Basic
Impulse
Insulation level and insulation levels
of other equipment
Selection of lightning arrestors

Dry flash over voltage :

Power frequency voltage which will cause
flashover of the Insulation

Wet flash over voltage:

Power frequency voltage which will cause
flash- over when sprayed with water of a
resistance 9000-11000 ohm-cms drawn
from a source of supply at a temp within
10c of the ambient temperature in the
neighbourhood of insulation under testing
and directed at an angle of 45 the
volume of water being equivalent to
precipitation of 0.305 cm /min

Terms used in IC
Impulse flash over voltage:The voltage which will cause flash over of an
Insulation When subjected to a 1.2x50s impulse
British standards - 1x50s
American standards - 1.5 x 40s

Terms used in IC
Basic Insulation level :The crest voltage of standard wave that will not
cause flashover of the insulation is referred to as
Basic insulation level
Basic impulse insulation voltages are reference
levels expressed in impulse crest voltage with a
standard wave not longer than 1.2x50 s (Indian
standards)
Equipment insulation as tested shall be equal or
above the BIL

Impulse spark over volttime characteristic

This characteristic is obtained by plotting

Time which elapses between the moment

the voltage wave is applied and the moment
of spark over on abscissa
Voltage at the movement of spark over
(i) Occurring on the wave front
(ii) Occurring on the wave peaks
(iii) Crest of the voltage for spark over
occurring on the wave tail

Impulse spark over volttime characteristic

-contd.
This characteristic is established by means of a 1/50
impulse wave
A line drawn meeting the three B/D values is the
characteristic
Proper insulation co-ordination will ensure that the
voltage time Curve of any equipment will lie above the
volt -time curve of the protective equipment, say,
Lightning arrestor

The overvoltage factor (transient voltage amplitude/operating voltage ratio) varies

between 1.2 and 1.5.

A) LINE INSULATION
Extra high voltage line can be made lightning proof by

Efficient shielding
Transmission lines up to 220kV
400 kV at and above

30
20

Low tower footing resistance equal to or less

than 10 ohms
Line insulation shall be sufficient to prevent a
flashover from the power-frequency over voltages and
Switching Surges.
It shall take into consideration the local unfavourable
circumstances which decrease the flash over voltage
(rain, dirt, Insulation pollution etc.,)

OVER VOLTAGE FACTORS

Line
Voltages

Switching
Surge flash
over

Power frequency flash

over (Dry & Wet)

220kV
6.5 Vpn
3.0
400kV
3.3
5.0 Vpn
Vpn = Phase to Neutral Voltage (rms)
Add one or two more Insulators for each string.

OVER VOLTAGE FACTORS

Contd.
-To take care of one disc in the
string becoming defective.
-Facilitate hot line maintenance
Up to 220 kV Line 1 disc for
each string
400 kV Line 2 discs for each
string

FLASH OVER VOLATAGE(FOV)

OF DISCS 254 X 145 mm
NO OF
DISCS
9
10
14
15
25
7

DRY
WET
Impulse FOV
FOV
FOV
(Standard full wave)
( kV rms) ( kV rms) ( kV rms)
540
590
785
830
1280
435

375
415
565
600
900
295

860
945
1265
1345
2145
695

RECOMMENDED INSULATION
LEVEL OF LINE
Normal Vpn
Switching over No of
system In kV
volt. (Wet) kV * discs
Voltage (Vph/3)
required
132kV 76
76 x6.5=495
5
220kV 127
127x6.5=825 9
400kV 231
231x5=1755
13
* Compared with Impulse FOV (Value)

RECOMMENDED INSULATION
LEVEL OF LINEcontd.
Normal
system
Voltage

Vpn
In kV

Power freq.
over volt
(wet)
(kVrms)

No. No. of As per

of
discs practice
discs recom.
req.

132kV

76

76x3=228

9/10

220kV

127

127x3=381

10

11

13/14

400kV

231

231x3=762

20

22

23/24

Example
Tower footing resistance 10ohms
severest lightning discharge 50kA (rms)
Impulse strength of Insulation=2x50x10x10=700kV
As per the standard table for 7 discs, the impulse FOV
( kVp =695kVp)
For better performance tower footing resistance shall be
brought down for 132kV is 7 ohms

Co-ordination of line
Insulation and Sub-Station
Insulation

Line Insulation is not directly related to the Insulation of

equipment within the Sub-Station.
Impulse flash over voltage of line Insulation determine the
highest surge voltage that can travel into the sub-station.
Current through lighting arrestor can be calculated from
Surge impedance of line
Surge voltage arriving over the line
Discharge voltage of the LA on that current is the basic
protective level of the substation equipment.
Discharge voltage across LA varies with surge current.
Overhead shielding ground wires and tower footing
resistance protects the line from the impulse surges
entering the station.

B) BASIC INSULATION LEVEL AS

PER
IS (2165 1962)

Nominal
system
volt kV
(rms)

Highest
system
volt kV
(rms)

Impulse withstand
volt kVp for test

132 kV
220 kV
400 kV

145
245
420

650
1050

One minute power

frequent volt kV
(rms)

Full
Reduced Full
Reduced
insulation insulation insulation insulation

550
900
1550

275
460

230
395
680

1425
630
Reduced insulation is used where system is effectively earthed.

B) INSULATION LEVELS OF
EQUIPMENT

Transformers,
Isolators,
Instrument
Transformers are manufactured for the
standard Insulation level.

Some
times
transformers,
are
manufactured for one step lower insulation
level for the sake of economy. (LAs will be
designed for a still lower level)
Where LAs are provided right on the top of
the transformer, some of the equipment may
lie well out side the protective zone of the LA.

INSULATION LEVELS OF
EQUIPMENT
Protective zone is determined based on
With stand level of equipment
Discharge volt of LA
Distance between LA and equipment.
Such equipment shall be designed for one step higher BIL.
Generally BIL of substation equipment other than
transformer are designed for10% higher BIL than that of
Transformer .

BIL of Open poles of a disconnect switch shall

be 10 to 15% higher than that provided
between poles and earth.

c) Lightning Arrester
selection
1. To determine the magnitude of the power frequency phase to ground voltage
expected at the proposed arrester location during phase to ground fault, or
other abnormal conditions which cause higher voltages to ground than normal.
2. To make a tentative selection of the power frequency voltage rating of the
arrester. This selection may have to be reconsidered after step (6) is completed.
3. To select the impulse current likely to be discharged through the arrester.
4. To determine the maximum arrester discharge voltage for the impulse current
and type of arrester selected.
5. To establish the full-wave impulse voltage withstand level of the equipment to
be protected.
6. To make certain that the maximum arrester discharge voltage is below the full
wave impulse, withstand level of the equipment insulation to be protected, by
adequate margin.
7. To establish the separation limit between the arrester and the equipment to be
protected.

Step1: Power System

overvoltages
EHV system must be designed to operate
under stresses associated not only with
normal operating power frequency voltage
but also those caused by transient over
voltage.
These transient over voltage rise principally
from lightning over voltage and switching
operations
The former is predominant in system at 100
kV and below whereas Switching over voltage
are of concern in system at 220 kV and above

INSULATION COORDINATION
Over Voltage

Let Un = line to line normal RMS voltage

Let Um = Rated highest system voltage rms

line to line
2 Un / 3 = Peak of rms voltage phase to
ground for nominal system voltage
2 Um / 3 = Peak of rms voltage phase to
ground voltage for highest system voltage
Any voltage higher than 2/ 3 Um is
called over voltage

Voltage rating of LAs

For purpose of selection of voltage rating of a LA three types of earthing
are considered
Effective earthed system:

A system is effectively earthed if under any fault condition the line to

earth voltages of healthy phases do not exceed 80 % of the system line to
line voltage
Non effectively earthed system:

a) if the line to earth voltage in healthy phases in case of a fault exceed

80% of the line to line voltage but does not exceed 100% of it, the system
is called non effectively earthed system
b) System with few solidly earthed neutrals
c) Systems with neutral Earthed through resistors or reactors of low ohmic
value or arc suppression coil
Isolated or un earthed neutral systems :System neutrals are not earthed.
Line to earth voltage of healthy phases exceed 100% of the line to line
voltage.

Arrestor Voltage rating shall not be less than

system highest voltage x co-efficient of earthing

Co-efficient of earthing :

Effectively earthed system

Non effectively earthed system
and isolated earth system

80%
- 100 %

In a 220 kV effectively earthed system

Highest system voltage

=
245 kV
Co-efficient of earthing
=
80%
Arrestor voltage rating >= 245x0.8 = 196 kV
As per IS 3070 (part I) 1965 the rating is 198 kV

By going for a higher voltage rating for a surge arrestor, the

degree of protection for equipment gets reduced.

Step 3:Selection of arrestor

discharge current
Ia = 2E- Ea
Z
Ia = Arrestor discharge current
E = Magnitude of incoming surge voltage
Ea = Residual discharge voltage of an arrestor
Z = Surge impedance of the line

In a 220 kV system using 11 insulators Transmission line will

not permit a traveling wave of a value more than 1025 kVp
As per IS 3010 (Part 1) -1965 the residual voltages of LA at a
discharge current of 10kA is 649 kV.
Considering the surge impedance as 450 ohms
Maximum value of discharge current of LA =

2(1025000)-649000
= 3100 Amps
450
The LAs normally in 200 kV and 400kV system have a discharge
current rating of 10 kA.

Step 4: Selection of Arrestor

Discharge Voltage
Most important characteristic of LA determining the
protection level
The arrestor discharge voltage shall be less than BIL of
equipment for effective protection
Discharge voltage depends on
(I) discharge current
(II) rate of rise of current applied
(III) Wave shape of current applied
Discharge voltage of LA increases with discharge current.
But increase is much restricted due to non linear resistance
property.
Increase in discharge from 5 kA to 20 kA produces only 25%
rise in discharge voltage.
Increase in rate of current from 1000 to 5000 Amps per
micro second increases discharge voltage by only 35%.

Step 6:Protective
margin of LA
Protective margin of LA =
BIL of the equipment - maximum discharge voltage of LA

While determining protection level offered by a LA 10%

allowances towards drop in lead length and manufacturing
tolerance shall be allowed.
Protective margin shall be 20% of the BIL of the equipment when
closely located
In a 220 kV system

Discharge voltage of LA = 649 kV

Allowing 10 % margin protection level = 713 kV

BIL of equipment = 900 kVp

Protection margin = 900-713 = 187 kVp

There is more than 20 % of the BIL of 180 kV

The L.A. voltage rating

Rated system
voltage KV

Highest system Arrester rating

voltage KV
in KV

132
220

145
245

120/132
198/216

400

420

336

Step 7:Establishment of
Separation Limit
When arrestor are to be located away from equipment, additional voltage
components will be added which instantaneously increased to arrestor discharge
volrage.
Voltage imposed on the equipment may rise due to
A traveling wave coming into the station is limited at the arrestor location to
the discharge voltage of the arrestor.
If a wave with the same rate of voltage rise and a magnitude equal to discharge
voltage travels on the station terminus where it reflects to the twice value if the
line dead ends or almost teice its value when it terminates with a transformer
Any difference in ground potential between the apparatus ground and arrestor
ground - uses 1 to interconnect the grounds normally
Presence of multiple lines on station busbars
Proximity to transformer or breakers.
- Transformer is most expensive price.
- Repair to transformer is costly and

with higher revenue loss.

- Transformers are always at the end of a circuit where voltage regulation.

For circuit breakers and disconnecting switches flash over distance between
terminals when in open position in grater than between terminals and ground.
. Short time coordination with a separation of transformers and arrestors ensures
safe voltage imposed on the equipment.

Location of Lightning
Arresters
The electrical circuit length between L.A. and the
transformer bushing terminal (inclusive of lead length in
metes for effectively earthed) should not exceed the
limits given below:

Rated syst.
voltage KV

BIL KV
Peak

Max.
distance

132kV

550
650

35.0
45.0

220kV
400kV

900/1050
1425/1550

Closer
to
Trans.

Insulation Co-ordination
Scheme
For 220 KV system.
L.A. Voltage rating=system highest voltage x co-efficient of earthing
=245x.8=196Kv.
Selecting standard rating from Table 12.1 column 1,L.A. voltage rating=198
Kv
Discharge current rating= 10KA (assumed)
Residual voltage, from standard table,=649Kv (peak)
Protection level of the L.A. =649x1.1=714Kv
For a margin of 20% between the B.I.L. and the protection level of L.A., the
B.I.L. should be =714x1.2=857Kv.
Choose BIL from standard Table=900 Kv,
The corresponding power freq. I minute test voltage =395kv
Switching surge flashover voltage =220 x6.5=825kv
3
Check it is less than B.I.L. of 900kv.
Power frequency over voltage=220x3=228kv rms
3
This is less than 395kv.
B.I.L. of CBs, instrument transformer, busbars etc,.=900x1.1=990kv.
Choose standard B.I.L for disconnect switches.=1175kv.

Suggest a method :

Reference
A Text Book on Power System Engineering by M L
Soni, A Chakrabarti, P V Gupta and U S Bhatnagar
Substation equipment & operation by Satnam & P V
Gupta