Statistical Analysis of Switching Overvoltages and

Insulation Coordination For a 500 kV

Transmission Line
A.H. Hamza Samy M. Ghania Ahmed M.Emam Ahmed S. Shafy
Benha University Benha University Cairo University Benha University
Cairo, Egypt Cairo, Egypt Giza, Egypt Cairo, Egypt
abdelsalam.hafez@yahoo.com samy_ghania@yahoo.com ahmedspower@yahoo.com

Abstract--The modern methods of insulation coordination
make use of probabilistic concepts and statistical procedures
especially for very high voltage systems. This paper presents, a
proper approach to calculate the switching surge flashover rate
(SSFOR) using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Interface System (ANFIS).
The switching overvoltages distribution along the power
transmission line under different conditions are investigated. The
statistical distributions of energization overvoltages for a typical
Egyptian 500 kV double-line from HighDam to Samalut are
derived based on the results of 100 energization scenarios by
randomly switching using alternate transient program (ATP). The
statistical distributions and its key values, such as mean value,
standard deviation and 2% statistical overvoltages values have
been recorded. The effects of the line length, source strength and
shunt reactors for controlling the switching surge overvoltages are
demonstrated. The developed ANFIS system is used to estimate the
SSFOR for different input parameters for both of the switching
overvoltages and the insulation strength distributions with high
and comparable accuracy.
Index Terms Switching overvoltages, insulation
coordination, transmission lines.
I. INTRODUCTION
During the planning and pre-design stages, the insulation
levels of power systems are evaluated based on the peak values
switching surge flashover rate (SSFOR) using Adaptive Neuro
Fuzzy Interface System (ANFIS). To achieve this target, the
statistical distributions of overvoltages for a typical Egyptian
500 kV double-line from HighDam to Samalut are derived
based on the results of 100 energization scenarios with
randomly switching using alternate transient program (ATP).
The statistical distributions and its key values, such as mean
value, standard deviation and 2% statistical overvoltages values
have been recorded.
II. SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
The developed ATP model of a typical Egyptian 500kV double-
line from HighDam to Samalut test system considered for
simulation studies is presented as in Figure 1. The operating
transmission line voltage is 500 kV meanwhile, the base
value is the maximum phase to ground voltage of 449 kV.
Power transmission line is modelled frequency dependently,
and the main parameters are given in Table I. Phase conductors
are to be ideally transposed and two ground wires are existing
over each tower. The soil resistivity is 100 .m. The tower
configurations and dimensions are shown in Figure 2.
H-DAM
NAG-H
ASSUIT
SAMALUT

of transient overvoltages [1]. Recently, the higher operating LC C LC C LC C

voltages, the higher increase of the switching overvoltages STAT 236 KM

202 KM 142KM
500 KV
rather than lightning surges is used to determine the insulation.
STAT

Consequently, for extremely high voltages (EHV) and ultra- H-DAM LC C LC C LC C

high voltages (UHV) systems insulation levels are basically STAT

236 KM 202 KM 140.5

determined by the switching overvoltages (SSFOR)) [2, 3]. The KM

main switching surges of the power transmission line are

simulated by initially closing of the circuit breaker to energize 2*165 MVAr
the line, then opening of the circuit breaker for very short 2*165 MVAr 3*165 MVAr

interval and then re-closing the circuit breaker to re-energize. Fig.1. The simulated model for the transmission system under study.
Moreover, Surges can be simulated by initiating a faulted line.
Nowadays, attention has been moved to the surge
overvoltages resulting from energization of long lines since
these are considered to be the most dangerous[4]. For power
transmission systems with EHV and UHV, The insulation
coordination is essentially estimated using the insulation
strength characteristics of a typical air gaps. Due to the cost-
effectiveness of the air gaps for all types of overvoltages, The
UHV transmission line design should be characterized on the
base of a probabilistic procedure. Besides, the UHV design
should consider the statistical characteristics of overvoltages Fig.2. 500 kV transmission line towers.
[5]. In this paper a developed algorithm is used to estimate the

978-1-4673-9063-7/16/$31.00 2016 IEEE

Table I. DATA OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UNDER STUDY SSFOR = 1 q f (V)dV (3)
Voltage level 500 kV
Number of circuits 2 Where: E1: the minimum voltage (1 pu)
Number of bundle conductors 3 Em: the maximum SOV
Diameter of a single conductor 30.6 mm P(V): the flashover probability under a given voltage level for
Spacing between bundle conductors 47 cm q: the probability of no flashover under a given voltage
Number of sky wires 2
The part of ( ) in the Equations (2) and (3) means ,
Diameter of sky wire 11.2 mm
the only flashover probability of the positive polarity is
Number of circuits per tower 1
Span 400 m
considered because the negative polarity switching surge
strength is much higher [9]. To get the effect of the switching
Table II shows the lengths of different sections of the over voltage profile which means that the overvoltage changes
transmission line under study. Table III shows the values of the from one tower to another replace n in Equation 3 with n (the
shunt reactors placed at High-Dam, Nagh-Hamady and Samalut equivalent number of towers in parallel) which can be
substations. shown in the simulated model in Figure 1. calculated from Equation (4) and (5) [10].
Table II. LENGTHS OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE .
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UNDER STUDY n = n (4)
FROM TO Circuit no. Length(km)
H-DAM NAG-H 1 236 = (5)
H-DAM NAG-H 2 236
NAG-H ASSUIT 1 202
Where E : sending end voltage vale
NAG-H ASSUIT 2 202
ASSUIT SAMALUT 1 142 E receiving end voltage value
ASSUIT SAMALUT 2 140.5
IV. SIMULATION RESULTS

Table III. DATA OF THE SHUNT REACTORS OF THE The statistical distributions and (2% statistical over
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UNDER STUDY voltages, standard deviations) of overvoltages have been
Bus name Capacity (MVAR)
derived based on the results of 100 energization scenarios. Two
H-DAM 2* 165
kinds of statistical variations are considered. The first is the
NAG-H 2* 165 phase angle when the line circuit breakers receive the command
ASSUIT No shunt reactors to close. A uniform distribution from 0 to 360 degrees is
SAMALUT 3* 165 assumed. The second is the difference in closing time between
the three phases. A normal distribution with standard deviation
III. RISK OF FAILURE CALCULATION of 1 ms is assumed for this variation. The insulation strength
characteristic data for one tower used for the risk of failure
The insulation strength distribution of one 500 kV tower calculation is CFO equal to 1255, 1140 kV and standard
is described by the cumulative Gaussian distribution P(V) with deviation of 55, 58 kV for dry and wet conditions respectively
the mean value denoting the critical flashover voltage (CFO). and the base voltage for PU calculation 449 kV.
The standard deviation () is about 5% of the CFO as shown
in Figure 3 for both dry and wet conditions [6]. The distribution a. Line length effects
of the switching overvoltages (SOV) can be presented by The The longer line length, the higher total line shunt
Gaussian probability density function f (V) that has the familiar capacitance increases. So that, with long transmission lines the
bell shape [7]. The density function equation can be as in peak overvoltages reaches to higher value. Figures 3 and
Equation (1). Figure 4 show the statistical distribution and the best fitted
normal probability density functions of the overvoltages at
receiving ends when 236 km line( from High-Dam to Nagh-
( ) = (1) Hamady) and 438 km( from High-Dam to Assuit) are energized

with source strength of 6000MVA without shunt reactors
respectively. Table IV summarize the overvoltages distribution
Where : Mean value, : Standard deviation
parameters (mean value, standard deviation, 2% statistical
overvoltages) and the total switching surge flashover rate for
The switching surge flashover rate or the risk of failure under
both of dry and wet conditions for the three sections of the line.
switching surge for 1 tower ,and number of n towers in parallel
can be calculated using equation 2, 3 respectively [8] .

SSFOR = P(V) f (V)dV (2)

 1

25 0.8

Comulative frequency
0.6
20
0.4
Frequency

15
0.2

10
0
1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8
Overvoltage (p.u.)
5
Fig.5. Cumulative probability Distribution of Energization Overvoltage at Nag-
0 H Bus, 4000 MVA, and Without Shunt Reactor.
1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8
Overvoltage (p.u.) 1

0.8

Comulative frequency
Fig.3. Statistical Distribution of Energization Overvoltages at Nag-H Bus,
6000 MVA, and Without Shunt Reactor. 0.6

20 0.4

0.2

15
0
1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8
Frequency

Overvoltage (p.u.)
10
Fig.6. Cumulative probability Distribution of Energization Overvoltage at Nag-
H Bus, 8000 MVA, and Without Shunt Reactor.
5
TABLE V. EFFECT OF SOURCE STRENGTH ON THE RISK OF
FAILURE
0
1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 2% SSFORn SSFORn
Overvoltage (p.u.) BUS GVA
SOV DRY WET
4 2.03 0.14 2.33 2.6E-03 0.110
Fig. 4. Distribution of Energization Overvoltages at Assuit Bus, 6000 MVA, NAG-H
and Without Shunt Reactor. 6 1.86 0.11 2.09 2.6E-06 5.4E-03
8 1.85 0.13 2.12 1.7E-05 9.1E-03
TABLE IV. EFFECT OF TRANSMISSION LINE LENGTH ON THE RISK OF FAILURE 4 2.56 0.13 2.82 0.437 0.500
5 2.36 0.20 2.78 0.207 0.434
ASSUIT
2% SSFORn 6 2.33 0.21 2.77 0.179 0.407
KM SSFORn DRY 8 2.23 0.17 2.58 0.078 0.350
SOV WET
236 1.86 0.11 2.09 2.6E-06 5.4E-03 9 2.20 0.16 2.53 0.053 0.334
438 2.33 0.21 2.77 0.179 0.407 4 3.23 0.15 3.54 0.500 0.500
542 2.82 0.16 3.15 0.498 0.500 6 2.82 0.16 3.15 0.498 0.500
7 2.74 0.19 3.14 0.478 0.500
SAMALUT 8 2.67 0.20 3.08 0.453 0.498
b. Source strength effects 9 2.57 0.23 3.04 0.383 0.486
100 2.59 0.24 3.07 0.394 0.487
Figures 5 and 6 show the cumulative distribution and the best 12 2.56 0.24 3.04 0.373 0.483
fitted normal cumulative distribution functions of the
overvoltage at receiving ends when 236 km line( from High-
c. Shunt reactor effects
Dam to Nagh-Hamady) is energized with source strength 4000
MVA, 8000 MVA respectively . It is clear that the low source Figure 7 shows the cumulative distribution and the best fitted
strength 4000 MVA produces higher switching overvoltages normal cumulative distribution function of the overvoltages at
and hence higher risk of failure. So the switching overvoltages receiving end when the transmission line from High-Dam to
and the risk of failure can be alleviated by maintaining the Samalut is energized in the presence of the shunt reactors listed
suitable source strength to energize the transmission line. Table in Table 3. It is clear that, with the shunt reactors at both ends
V summarizes the effect of source strength on the overvoltages of transmission line, the magnitude of switching peak
distribution parameters and the calculated switching surge overvoltages and the risk of failure are reduced. The expected
flashover rate. shunt reactor combinations for the different energized sections
are studied and summarized in Table VI.
 -4
1 x 10
3
Training error
Comulativefrequency

0.8
Checking error
2.5
0.6

rror
2

E
0.4

0.2 1.5

0
1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Overvoltage (p.u.)
Epochs

Fig. 7. Cumulative probability Distribution of Energization Overvoltage at Fig.8. The developed ANFIS system training and checking errors
Samalut Bus, 6000 MVA, and With Shunt Reactor.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
TABLE VI. EFFECT OF SHUNT REACTOR ON THE RISK OF
FAILURE
Simulation studies show that the switching surge overvoltages
2% SSFORn SSFORn and the switching surge flashover rate increase with increasing
BUS SR
SOV DRY WET
the number of switched sections of the transmission line, so the
1 1.75 0.10 1.96 5.4E-09 1.5E-04
NAG-H
2 1.71 0.12 1.96 6.2E-08 3.2E-04
line must be switched section by section. The risk of insulation
4 1.63 0.14 1.92 4.0E-08 1.4E-04 failure can also be reduced during 500 kV line energization by
1 2.16 0.19 2.54 0.049 0.277 using proper source strength and installing shunt reactors at
ASS-UIT
2 2.11 0.20 2.52 0.037 0.234 both terminals of the line. The switching surge flashover rates
4 1.97 0.18 2.34 5.1E-03 0.099 increase for wet conditions and can reach to very dangerous
1 2.63 0.15 2.94 0.465 0.500 values due to the weakness of the insulation strength under wet
2 2.49 0.16 2.83 0.358 0.493
conditions. The developed ANFIS system estimated the SSFOR
SAM- 3 2.13 0.17 2.47 0.029 0.256
ALUT 4 2.33 0.16 2.65 0.167 0.448 for different input parameters for both the switching
5 2.02 0.14 2.31 2.8E-03 0.123 overvoltages and the insulation strength distributions with high
6 1.95 0.14 2.24 7.7E-04 0.063 accuracy.
7 1.82 0.14 2.12 4.0E-05 0.012
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