IEEE Transdctiotls on Powcr Dclivcry, Vol. 14, No.

4, Octobcr 1999

1295

SUMMARY OF THE IEEE SPECIAL PUBLICATION ON

"SERIES CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION " TP-126-0

By The Series Capacitor Bank Protection Working Group, K13, of the IEEE Power System Relaying Committee:
A.F. Elneweihi, Chair; F.P. Plumptre, Vice-Chair; J. L. Batho, H. Bilodeau, S.R. Chano, S P. . Conrad, L. L. Dvorak, G. Fenner, P. Lindberg, G. L. Michel, K. K. Mustaphi, M. Nagpal, R.V. Rebbaprgada, S.D. Rowe, S.Weiss, B. Wikstrom

ABSTRACT
This paper summarizes the Power Systeni Relaying Committee special publication [l] which encompasses the protection and control philosophies of capacitor banks used on series-compensated transmission lines. Topics discussed include capacitor bank protection, MOV Protection, system studies, duty cycle, protection and control philosophy, platform power and signal transmission, and capacitor equipment testing before and after installation.

fault) can cause overvoltages across the capacitor bank for the duration of the fault. It is not economically feasible to design series capacitors to withstand the transient overvoltages caused by all line faults. Instead, protection is provided to limit the capacitor overvoltage. This section covers features of different protection schemes ranging from the older bypass spark gap schemes, where spark gaps flash over when the voltage across the capacitor reaches an unacceptable limit, to the more recent schemes using metal oxide varistor (MOV) which start conducting under the same condition. The MOV sections cover both the gap scheme, where the gap is used to protect the MOV against excessive energy absorption , and the gapless scheme where the MOV is designed for worst case energy absorption. Discharge cunent limiting devices which are used to restrict the discharge current to the rating of the series capacitor equipment are described.

Keywords:

Series capacitor bank protection

1.O INTRODUCTION
Series compensation for the positive sequence reactance of trensmission lines provides an economical means of maximizing power transfer and improving the efficiency of transmission over long distances. The application of protection of a transmission series capacitor bank requires a thorough understanding of the interrelationship of the utility system requirements, the equipment design, and the installation of the equipment. The special publication provides the protection engineer with a comprehensive overview of this interrelationship to aid the selection of an adequate protection scheme. The protection and control of distribution system series capacitors as well as variable series capacitors are not covered in the publication. The numbering system and headings used in this summary .paper are those used for the special publication.

3.0 SYSTEM STUDIES AND DUTY CYCLE

The capacitor bank's protective equipment should tolerate any specified normal or contingency duty cycle without damage or undesired operation. This section explains the different factors that should he considered when determining the duty cycle to be used in the design of the capacitor bank and its protection and control settings. Examples from typical duty cycles for internal and external faults are provided. This section also discusses the factors that system studies should consider in selecting bank location.
Also discussed at length is the MOV model

2.0 MAIN PROTECTIVE SCHEMES

A Fault on the series compensated line (internal fault) or external to the series compensated line (external
PE-483-PWRD-2-11-1898

representation in the system studies.

A paper rewmmended and approved by

the IEEE Power Qslem Relaying CommiUee of lhe iEEE Power Engineering Society for publimtion in the IEEE Transactions on Pow0r
D B I I Y B ~ . Manuscript submined Odober 8, 1998: made available for printing Demmber2, 1998.

0885-8977/99/$10.00 0 1998 IEEE

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4.0 PROTECTION AND CONTROL PHILOSOPHY

The basic functions incorporated in different protection and control systems of series capacitor installations are similar. The details of these systems can he very different, however. This sec.tion addresses similarities and variations in protection and control philosophies among utilities and explains how the philosophy differences affect the selection of the various protection functions. The issue of protection and control redundancy has a great influence on the series capacitor installation cost. This important issue is discussed in this section.

platform hult protection - to detect an insulation failure to the platform. capacitor unbalance protection - to detect unbalances in the capacitor bank branches due to blown capacitor fuses, short circuits and defective capacitor units. capacitor overload protection - to protect the capacitor unit dielectric from high voltage gradients, and thermal overheating (on older capacitor units). subhannonic and subsynchronous resonance considerations - both subharmonic and subsynchronous resonance effccts are briefly discussed as thcy relatc to series capacitor banks. Bypass switch failure protection - to detect failure to respond to a close initiation within the expected time and to detect prolonged pole disagreement between bypass switch phases. lockout protection functions which will block all automatic arid manual bypass switch opening. key interlocks which prevent unauthorized access and control of the bank.

5.0 - MOV PROTECTION

The MOV must be protected against therinal stresses when it bypasses the capacitor bank during fault and overload conditions. Typically, MOV protection is based on detecting: MOVenergy MOV high current
.

MOV tcmperature overload

MOV failurc

8.0 METHODS OF PROVIDING

This section explains in detail each of the above and includes cquations used for MOV energy calculations. Factors affecting the determination of MOV energy requirements are explained. These includc the duty cycle philosophy, accuracy of current measurement, and the delays in measurement, detection, and execution of control signals.

PLATFORM POWER AND SIGNAL TRANSMISSION

Measures should be taken to ensure safety of the bank on loss of platform power. Since equipment on the platform is energized at linc potential, the protection and control equipment on the platform is powered using sevcral techniques which are described in this section. These are: Current transformer supply Optically powered supply CCVTsupply Batlev supply Power supplies specific to spark gap firing circuits Ground-mounted supply Platform to ground signalling techniques invariably involve fibre optic cable transmission methods. This section focuses on the various methods available to transform electrical signals on the platform to ones suitable for fibre optic cable transmission.

6.0 PROTECTION OF THE BYPASS GAP

Gaps ill% designed to withstand gap conduction for a limitcd time. This section discusses the protection against prolonged gap conduction in both gap only scheme and MOV scheme.

7.0 OTHER SERIES CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION

In this section, the following protections are discussed: capacitor unit failure protection for externally and internally fused capacitor units.

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9.0 - CAPACITOR BANK RELAYING ISSUES

Capacitor bank protection atid control equipment located on the platform is subjected to a more severe environmental problems than equipment installed at ground level in the control room. A discussion of environmental issues in this section includes: proximity of protection and control equipment to spark gap firing circuits. high frequency discharge currents present during bypass switch closure or gap firing. Various mitigating measures to reduce the impacts of these factors on protection and control circuits and bypass gap firing circuits are discussed in this section.

APPENDIX 2 SUMMARY OF SUGGESTED ALARMS, INDICATIONS, CONTROL ACTION

This appendix outlines in a tabular format, thc desired indication and control action for the various protection and control elements applied lo a series capacitor bank. The table provides specifics as to whether indication should be basis.
011

a pcr bank or phase

the protection and control action should initiate an alarm, a bypass operation, a lockout operation, or gap firing.

10.0 TESTING BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLATION

Testing of the capacitor hank equipment is an important factor in ensuring reliable operation of the bank when it goes into service. The section discusses the following testing aspects: Manufacturers tests - these include design tests (including functional, environmental, and interference type tests) and routine production tests. Field commissioning tests - these include pre-energization tests and operational tests. Staged fault tests - the benefits and disadvantages of staged fault tests are discussed.

APPENDIX 111 - A BRIEF SUMMARY OF LINE RELAYING CONSIDERATIONS

This appendix explains the main considerations that should be looked into when selecting a line protection scheme for a series compensated line. The appendix explains the fundamentals behind current and voltage inversion. Also, transients aspects associated with the use of series capaLitors , are mentioned.

CONCLUSIONS
This paper has briefly described some highlights from the special publication on Series Capacitor Bank Protection prepired by working group K13 o f the Substation Protection Subcommittee of the Power System Relaying Cotinnittee of the IEEE PES. The Power System Relaying Committee believes that the publication will be very helpful as a guide to the protection engineer in all areas related to the application of protection and control of series capacitor banks. Moreover, the publication covers areas of great importance to system engineers as well.

11.O MULTI-SEGMENT SERIES CAPACITOR BANKS

Capacitor bank equipment may consist of more than one series segment per phase. This section briefly discusses the major variations in protection and control aspects for a multi-segment design.

REFERENCE
[l]IEEE SPECIAL PUBLICATION ON

APPENDIX I SUPPORTING CALCULATIONS FOR MOV PROTECTION FUNCTIONS

This appendix analyses of the effect of tolerance in the MOV energy monitoring devices on the energy threshold setting.

SERIES CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION TP- 126-0