Neutral Grounding Reactors For Shunt Compensated

EHV Transmission Lines

Meera K.S Puneeth Bhurat
Power Systems Division High Voltage Division
Central Power Research Institute, Central Power Research Institute,
Bangalore, India Bangalore, India
meera@cpri.in puneeth_jrf@cpri.in

Abstract—Single Pole Reclosing is a widely accepted practice pole only and reclosing is done after a certain dead time. If the
for improving the transient stability in EHV transmission fault persists, the relaying scheme trips all three phases and
systems. Successful single phase reclosing requires some means of recloses again or blocks reclosing.
ensuring interruption of the secondary arc currents produced by
capacitive and inductive coupling with the two energized phases When one phase of the transmission line is opened at both
of the same circuit or with the parallel circuit in case of double ends to clear the fault, this faulted phase is coupled
circuit lines. One of the ways to achieve successful reclosure is to capacitively and inductively with the other two healthy phases
use a Neutral Grounding Reactor in the already available line
connected shunt reactors to reduce the magnitude of the
of the same circuit (Fig 1) and also with the second circuit
secondary arc current, thereby ensuring its rapid extinction. (Fig 2) in case of a double circuit line. Thereby, opening of the
Steady state and transient system studies help in selection of circuit breakers on the faulted phase at either ends of the line
properly sized NGR. This paper discusses the results of studies does not necessarily guarantee arc extinction, even if the fault
carried out for selection of an optimal sized NGR for a typical is a temporary arcing fault. This coupling feeds current to the
765 kV single circuit and double circuit line. fault arc before its extinction and thus tries to maintain the arc
and it also causes a recovery voltage across the fault path after
Keywords—EMTP; Secondary Arc Current; Recovery Voltage; its extinction. The arc on the faulted conductor after it has
Single Pole Reclosure;Neutral Grounding Reactor.
been switched off is called the secondary arc. It is much
smaller than the primary fault current which exists before
I. INTRODUCTION opening the circuit breakers. The Recovery voltage is the
The application of shunt reactors for controlling the voltage existent across the fault path after extinction of the
overvoltages in power systems is a well-known practice in secondary fault arc and before reclosure of the circuit
EHV systems. The large amount of reactive power generation breakers. The dead time adopted for single pole reclosure
by EHV transmission lines (400 kV and above) causes power should be sufficient enough to allow the secondary arc to
frequency overvoltages during load rejection and line extinguish. Thus, the magnitude of secondary arc current and
charging. Thus line connected shunt reactors are used on long the recovery voltage are the prime factors for the success of
EHV lines for the purpose of line energisation and load single pole reclosure.
rejection. They are typically rated to compensate 40 to 90 %
of the line shunt capacitance. Use of Neutral Grounding
Reactors (NGR), connected at the neutral of these shunt
reactor facilitates single pole reclosure adopted in EHV
systems.
In many of the power systems, tripping and reclosing of all
three phases for a single-line-to-ground fault can cause the
system to lose synchronism. Majority of the power system
faults are predominantly single-phase-to-ground faults and, as
such, can be successfully isolated by opening only the faulted
phase (Single Pole Switching – SPS)while the remaining two
healthy phases remain in service. By adopting this, the
transmission line is still capable of transferring two-thirds of
the power. Additionally SPS applications demand a smaller
amount of reactive power from the system during the single
pole operation period (compared to three pole opening),
thereby improving voltage stability margins. SPS and Auto
reclosing is thus adopted for maintaining power system Fig. 1. Secondary arc current – single circuit line
reliability, where in the relays trip the faulted phase breaker

978-1-5090-2597-8/16/$31.00 2016
c IEEE 1489
 As the primary cause for secondary arc current and the where,
associated recovery voltage is the capacitive coupling between
phases of the same circuit and inter circuit capacitive coupling B1 – Positive sequence line susceptance
in case of double circuit line, neutralizing this capacitive B0 – Zero sequence line susceptance
current by an inductive current will enhance the success of h – Degree of shunt compensation
SPS, especially on long EHV lines. In practice, with 400 kV Xn– Reactance of neutral reactor
lines and above, special compensation schemes are adopted to
limit the secondary arc current and recovery voltage to ensure
successful high speed single phase reclosing. Various In case of double circuit lines the inductance of the neutral
compensation schemes based on the use of additional reactors reactor - Ln is given by (2).
called as Neutral Grounding Reactors (NGR), connected
between line reactor neutrals and ground, are being in use. In
this paper, the results of a study that has been carried out for a
typical 765 kV single circuit and double circuit line for
determining the values of the secondary arc current and the where, M = 1/( ω2CL1)
recovery voltages and thereby the value of NGR that
facilitates successful SPS is discussed. The study has been
carried out using the transient analysis software package –
Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP), which is
universally accepted as industry standard for computation of C = C1 +Cm
power system transients [2]. C1 and C0 are the positive and zero sequence capacitances of
the transmission line
Cm – Mutual capacitance between circuits
R – Degree of coupling
L1– Positive sequence inductance of the transmission line

B. High Speed Grounding Switches

When shunt reactors are not provided on transmission
lines, use of high speed grounding switches is an effective
method for extinction of secondary arc current associated with
single pole switching.

C. Increase in Dead Time

The method of increasing the dead time for facilitating
single pole reclosure can be adopted for short line lengths (less
capacitive coupling) and when stability is not a major concern.
Fig. 2. Secondary arc current – Double circuit line
III. SELECTION OF NGR RATING
The initial value for the neutral grounding reactor is first
II. SINGLE POLE RECLOSURE determined based on the steady-state analysis without
Some of the approaches used by utilities for successful considering detailed arc models. Later, parameters of the
single pole reclosure are, use of (a) Neutral Grounding selected reactor (i.e. BIL, short term current rating, protection
Reactor (b) High speed Grounding Switches or (c) Increase in of the reactor etc.) are determined based on the transient
dead time. performance considering detailed secondary arc model.
Based on the shunt reactor size employed, ohmic value of
A. Neutral Grounding Reactor
the NGR necessary to compensate the inter-phase capacitance
One of the methods adopted for secondary arc extinction is and inter-circuit capacitance (in case of double circuit line) is
to use a single-phase reactor in the neutral of the shunt to be determined. Based on review in various literatures
reactors, when the transmission line is compensated with shunt available on the subject matter, successful secondary arc
reactors. Reference [1] discusses the effectiveness of the extinction would apparently be expected for double circuit
neutral reactor in reducing the secondary arc current and the EHV lines, if the secondary arc current is less than 40 Amp
recovery voltage. By appropriate selection of this reactor, arc (for shunt compensated line) and rate of rise of recovery
current gets reduced and extinguishes faster. Theoretically for voltage (RRRV) less than 10 kV/ms [2].Thus, some means
a single circuit line the value of Xn [1] is given by (1) such as NGR is to be adopted to reduce secondary arc currents
and thereby ensure successful single pole reclosure.

1490 2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) — Proceedings of the International Conference
 IV. SYSTEM MODELING B. Shunt Reactors
In the study reported here, 765 kV transmission lines The phase reactors have been modeled by reactance in
which generally produce large reactive power and thereby series with a resistance. Neutral grounding reactor is modeled
have line connected shunt reactors for line compensation have by a single-phase reactance. The resistance of neutral reactor
been considered. A 765kV single circuit and double-circuit is ignored due to its negligible effect.
transmission line with tower configuration as shown in Fig 3,
adopting three transpositions and of length 270 km and 350 C. Source Impedance
km, is considered for the study. Each phase conductor bundle The source impedances have been modeled as constant
has four subconductors for single circuit line and six voltage source behind series impedance. The series
subconductors for double circuit line and the bundle spacing impedances have been calculated based on the short circuit
between two adjacent sub-conductors is 45.7 cm. The single contributions from the network behind the bus.
circuit line is provided with shunt compensation of 240 MVAr
at each line end and the double circuit line with 330 MVAr.
D. Arc Modeling
Using the conductor (phase and ground) heights, conductor
diameter, ground resistivity etc. the line parameters are The secondary arc model available in EMTP is used. This
computed. These line parameters are used for the line models model is based on the differential equation of the arc
in the simulation. Fig. 4 below shows the single line diagram conductance given by the following equations, [4].
of the network under study. The modeling of the various
power system components under study is described below.


A. Transmission Line
Frequency-dependent models are used for exact modeling
of transmission lines in transient studies. The JMarti model of
EMTP is used for modeling of transmission lines under study.
The lines transpositions used are as shown in Fig 3. The line
parameters (positive and zero sequence resistance, reactance
and susceptance matrices) are calculated using the tower
configuration and conductor details in the line parameter where,
calculation module of EMTP.
τ - Time constant of the arc
τ0 – Initial time constant of the arc
g - Instantaneous arc conductance
G - Stationary arc conductance
l(t)- Instantaneous arc length
l0 – Initial arc length
r0 – Arc characteristic resistance
u0– Arc characteristic voltage
α - Coefficient in a range: -0.1 to -0.6

V. SIMULATION STUDIES
As mentioned earlier the initial value of NGR is selected
based on the steady state simulation studies. The two main
steady state studies carried out are the (a) Single pole
Fig. 3. 765 kV Single circuit and double circuit tower configuration switching and (b) Induced voltages on the de-energised circuit,
described below.

A. Steady State Studies

1) Single pole switching: The network considered for the
steady state analysis is shown in fig 4. In case of studies for
single circuit only one circuit has been considered. Single Line
to Ground faults were created at various locations along the
transmission line with varying ratios (Xn/Xsh) of neutral
grounding reactor (Xn) to shunt reactor (Xsh). Single pole
switching is simulated by opening of the line circuit breakers
in the faulted phase at either ends. Values of steady state
secondary arc current, recovery voltage, rate of rise of
Fig. 4. SLD of the network studied

2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) — Proceedings of the International Conference 1491
 recovery voltage, neutral currents and voltages for all the four The final choice of NGR and its parameters is made based
line connected shunt reactors are recorded. on the various important transient studies that will be carried
out such as (a) Load rejection (b) Single pole switching and
Figure 5 (a) and 5(b) shows the secondary arc currents, and (c) Induced voltages on de-energised circuit. For all these
fig 5(c) and fig 5(d) shows the recovery voltage and the studies the detailed secondary arc model has been considered.
RRRV for a midpoint fault on the 765 kV single circuit and
double circuit line respectively.

Fig. 5(c). Recovery voltage and RRRV for a midpoint fault – S/C 765 kV line
Fig. 5(a). Secondary arc currents for a midpoint fault S/C 765 kV line

Fig. 5(b). Secondary arc currents for End B fault D/C 765 kV line
Fig. 5(d). Recovery voltage and RRRV for a midpoint fault – D/C 765 kV line
2) Induced voltages on de-energised circuit: A shunt
compensated de-energised circuit of a double circuit line may
be subjected to high resonance overvoltages due to parallel
resonance between the line shunt reactor and line shunt
capacitance [3]. Depending on the line length and percentage
of shunt compensation, high induced voltages may occur on
the deenergised circuit. This case is simulated by keeping one
circuit of the double circuit line open at both ends, while the
other circuit is energised. SLG fault is considered at various
locations on the energised circuit. The induced voltages on the
deenergised circuit are shown in Fig. 6 for a fault at sending
end (A) of the line for varying values of Xn/Xsh.
Based on the steady state simulations carried out, it is
evident that 30 % NGR in case of single circuit line and 40 %
NGR for double circuit line yields secondary arc currents ” 40
A rms and RRRV < 10 kV/ms. The induced voltage Fig. 6. Induced voltages on the de-energised circuit – 765 kV D/C line
computations shows that the voltages induced on the
deenergised circuit are of the order of 0.56 p.u. only and thus B. Transient Studies
do not indicate any resonance problems. Thus the required
criterion(s) has been met and further transient studies are The system considered in these studies is as shown in Fig 4
carried out with these chosen values of NGR. and all studies are for the selected initial value of NGR only.

1492 2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) — Proceedings of the International Conference
A single-phase fault (Phase Y to G) occurs at 200 ms and at
320 ms the faulty phase is isolated from both ends by opening
the breakers. The arc extinction criterion is considered to be
the time when the absolute magnitude of the arc current
amplitude reduces to almost zero.
1) Load rejection: These studies are carried out to
determine the short time current rating (10 seconds),
continuous current rating, peak current rating, surge arrester
rating and the insulation level for the NGR.
A fault followed by load rejection is simulated at either
ends of the transmission line. The neutral current and neutral
voltage is recorded at all neutrals of the shunt reactor based on Fig. 7(c). Neutral voltage for a fault at End B of the D/C line
which the above mentioned parameters for the NGR are
selected. Table I shows the parameters for the chosen value of 3) Induced voltages: In case of double circuit line, the
NGR for both single circuit and double circuit line. transient induced voltages on the deenergised 765 kV line
were computed by varying the line shunt compensation by ±
2) Single pole switching: The transient analysis for single 10% from its nominal value of 330 Mvar and the
pole switching is carried out by simulating faults at various manufacturing tolerance of the reactor (2.5 %) among the
locations on the line, followed by opening of the faulted phases has also been taken into account. Figure8 (a) shows
phases and reclosure after a chosen dead time. For each of the the graph of induced voltages vs. the shunt reactor values and
Fig. 8(b) and 8(c) shows the neutral voltage and currents.
simulation the highest magnitude of secondary arc currents,
recovery voltage, neutral voltage and neutral currents at each
of the shunt reactors are recorded. Fig 7(a) shows the
secondary arc currents for a fault at substation B for the case
of double circuit line and Fig 7(b) and 7(c) shows the neutral
current and neutral voltage for the same fault. As seen from
fig 7(a) the dead time is around 450 ms.

Fig 8 (a). Induced voltages on the de-energised circuit for 765 kV D/C Line

Fig. 7(a). Secondary arc current for a fault at End B of the D/C line

Fig. 7(b). Neutral current for a fault at End B of the D/C line
Fig. 8(b). Neutral voltages on de-energised 765 kV D/C Line

2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) — Proceedings of the International Conference 1493
 VI. CONCLUSIONS
Single-Pole reclosing is the method by which only the
faulted phase is taken out of service and reclosed after a
certain dead time. SPR poses few challenges to the power
system, such as the extinction of the secondary arc resulting
from the coupling between the faulted phase and healthy phase
conductors of the same circuit and also from parallel circuit in
case of a double circuit line.
The results brought out in this paper based on the studies
carried out clearly shows that properly sized Neutral
Grounding Reactors facilitate in successful single pole
reclosure. This is ensured due to the reduction in secondary
Fig 8 (c). Neutral currents on de-energised 765 kV D/C Line arc currents and thereby the dead time.

Considering the rated value of the shunt reactor 330 MVAr The calculated value of the neutral reactor from steady
on the double circuit line and the 40 % NGR the induced state analysis could be chosen as the initial value of the
voltages on the 765 kV line are of the order of 0.5 pu, which is reactance of the neutral reactor. Later, transient analysis
well within the rated voltage. should be performed to investigate the performance of the
chosen neutral reactor for the system under study. Proper
Based on the steady state and transient studies carried out choice of the NGR ratings will help in preventing frequent
for typical 765 kV Single circuit and Double circuit lines a failures of the NGR.
final choice has been made on the values of NGR and its
various parameters to ensure succesful single pole reclosure.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TABLE I. NGR PARAMETERS The authors are thankful to their organization, Central
Recommended Ratings - NGR , 765 kV Lines Power Research Institute for having permitted to publish this
S/C D/C paper. Thanks are also due to Dr. N. Vasudev, JD & HOD,
Rated Impedance 730 Ÿ 710 Ÿ High Voltage Division, CPRI for facilitating in getting the
Rated Short term 181A rms 316 Arms
typical data for 765 kV systems. The opinions expressed in
Current (10 secs) this paper are of the authors and not necessarily of the
Continuous 15 Arms 15 Arms Institute.
Rated Short term 132 kVrms 224 kVrms
Voltage (10 secs) REFERENCES
Continuous 11 kVrms 10.65 kVrms
Rated Peak Current 768 A Pk 1.34 kA Pk [1] E.W. Kimbark, “Suppression of Ground-Fault Arcs on Single-Pole
Switched EHV Lines by Shunt Reactors,” Paper 4-56. IEEE Winter
BIL at Neutral of Reactor 650 kV peak 650 kV peak
Power Meeting, New York, NY, Feb. 2-7, 1964.
Surge Arrester Voltage 132 kVrms 144 kVrms [2] EMTP Rule book and EMTP Theory book. Bonneville Power
Class Administration, Branch of System Engineering. Portland, Oregon
Class 3 4 97208-3621, United States of America.
[3] S.R. Atmuri, R.S. Thallam, “Neutral Reactors on EHV shunt
compensated transmission lines’, Transmission and Distribution
conference, 1994, Proceedings of the 1994 IEEE Power Engineering
society.
[4] M. Kizilcay, T. Pniok, Digital simulation of fault arc in power system,
ETEP, 1991, Vol. 1, No.1, 55-60

1494 2016 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON) — Proceedings of the International Conference