Gas Insulated Substation

(GIS)

by
P. Sunil Kumar
Contents:

o Substation
o Conventional substations (AIS)
o Limitations of AIS
o The need for GIS
o Introduction to GIS
o GIS assembly
o Properties of SF6
oAdvantages of GIS
o Design features
o Drawbacks
oFuture trends in GIS
o Conclusion.
what is a Substation ?
An assembly of apparatus installed to control transmission and
distribution of electric power.
what is Air insulated Substation ?
The conventional Substations use air for insulation between
various live parts and ground in the substations are called Air
Insulated Substations. These substations require more space.

Air Insulated Substation(AIS):

o Air used as a dielectric.

o Normally used for outdoor substations.
o In very few cases used for indoor substations.
o Easy to expand (in case that space is not an issue)
o Excellent overview, simple handling and easy access.
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

Limitations of Air Insulated Substation :

o Large dimensions due to statutory clearness
o Life of steel structures degrades
o Regular maintenance is required
o poor dielectric strength of air
o More Time consuming
o Less life span
o Less reliability
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

The need for G.I.S:

o Non availability of sufficient space.

o Difficult climatic and seismic conditions at site.
o Urban site (high rise building).
o High altitudes.
o Limitations of AIS.

what is Gas insulated Substation ?

The Substations which use gas for insulation between various

live parts and ground in the substations are called Gas Insulated
substation. These substations require less space.
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

Essentials of AIS / 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. Cable termination
10. Lightning / surge arrestor
11. Control panel
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

Which Gas is used in GIS?

A gas-insulated substation (GIS) uses a superior dielectric gas, SF6,
at moderate pressure for phase-to phase and phase-to-ground
insulation. The high voltage conductors, circuit breaker
interrupters, switches, current transformers, and voltage
transformers are in SF6 gas inside grounded metal enclosures.
Why SF6 ?
1. Sulfur hexafluoride is an inert, nontoxic, colorless, odorless,
tasteless, and nonflammable gas.
2. It is about five times as dense as air.
3. SF6 is used in GIS at pressures from 400 to 600 kPa absolute. The
pressure is chosen so that the SF6 will not condense into a liquid at
the lowest temperatures.
4. SF6 has two to three times the insulating ability of air at the same
pressure.
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
• SF6 gas is highly electronegative.
• SF6 has very excellent dielectric property.
Density at 20oC 6.14 kg/m3

Color of Gas colourless

Molecular Weight 146.06

Thermal Conductivity 0.0136 w/mK

Critical Temperature 45.55oC

Critical Density 730 Kg/m3

Critical Pressure 3.78 MPa

Sound Velocity in SF6 136 m/s. It is 3 times less than that in air

Refractive Index 1.000783

Formation Heat -1221.66 Kg/mol

Specific Heat 96.6 j/mole K

Breakdown Field Relative to Pressure 89 V/m Pa

Relative Dielectric Constant at 25oC and 1 bar absolute 1.00204

Dissipation Factor or tanδ at 25oC and 1 bar absolute <2 × 10-7

 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

Advantages of Gas Insulated Substation :

o Occupies very less space (1/10th) compared to ordinary Substations.

o Most reliable compared to AIS

o Maintenance free

o Good dielectric strength

o Less time consuming

o more life than AIS

 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

Main Drawbacks:

o High cost compared to conventional substation (AIS)

o Excessive damage in case of internal fault.

o Identification of internal fault and rectifying takes long time.

o The gas pressure must be monitored in each compartment.

o Other gas causes ozone depletion and global warming.

o Reduction in the pressure of the gas in any compartment results

in flash over & faults.
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

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.
 GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION

The final implementation will be like this:

References:

• G.F. Montillet, E. Mikes et al. "Underground transmission anddistribution GIS solutions"

IEEE/PES T&D Exposition and Conference, Dallas USA, 2003.

• E. Mikes, Ch. Tschannen, et al. "GIS substation extensions and upgrades" CEPSI Paper T1-
068, 2000, Manila, Philippines.

• CIGRE WG 23.10; Paper 23-102, 1998, Report on the Second International Survey on High-
Voltage Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) Service Experience, Paris, France 1998.

• E. Mikes, H. Aeschbach et al. "Innovative GIS based solutions for substations" CIGRE SC23
Colloquium Venezuela, Paper 3.1, 2001.

• D. Dufournet, C. Lindner et al. "Technical Trends in Circuit Breaker Switching Technologies"

CIGRE SC A3 Colloquium paper, Sarajevo, Bosnia, 2003.

• H. Aeschbach, E. Mikes, et al. "Space saving GIS based hybrid modules and innovative
solutions influencing substation space and life cycle cost judgments" CEPSI Paper T2-A-7,
2002.
Thank
you