GIS vs AIS Substation Earthing

AEG GIS gas insulated switchgear up to 420 kV Compressed SF6 gas used in MV and HV switchgears as an insulating medium has led to the development of compact gas-insulated substation (CIS) technology (figure 1). GIS , having many advantages over often used and conventional air-insulated substations (AIS), have been receiving wide application. However, this alternate technology has inevitably lead to a different set of problems to resolve. in the case of substation earthing, we can discern three major aspects of the GIS substation design which need a different approach to those used in AIS. 1. The use of a 10 times better insulating gas makes it possible to design a much more compact substation. This also means a significant reduction in the grounded area of the substation. 2. This compact design means the phase conductors are much closer than in AIS and with metal enclosures, for gas containment, electromagnetically induced currents appear in the earthing system. 3. Compressed SF6 gas insulation facilitates small dielectric clearances in the GIS. As a result breakdown occurs rapidly in the nanosecond range. The rapid collapse of voltage results in the generation of very fast travelling wave transients which propagate throughout the CIS. The coupling of these transients with the earthing system provokes a transient ground potential rise (TGPR).

Figure 1 - GIS double bus-bar section view

Explanation: CB: Circuit Breaker D: Disconnectors ME: Metal Enclosure BB: BusBars CT: Current Transfomers VT: Voltage Transformers S: Steel structures