Repeated Strike Process During Disconnector Operation in Ultra-High Voltage Gas-Insulated Switchgear

Very fast transient over-voltage （VFTO）, induced by disconnector operations in gas- insulated switchgears, has become the limiting dielectric stress at ultra-high voltage levels. Much work has been done to investigate single-strike waveforms of VFTO. However, little study has been carried out investigating the repeated strike process, which would influence VFTO significantly. In this paper, we carried out 450 effective experiments in an ultra-high voltage test circuit, and conducted calculations through the Monte Carlo simulation method, to investigate the repeated strike process. Firstly, the mechanism of the repeated strike process is proposed, based on the ex- perimentai results. Afterwards, statistical breakdown characteristics of disconnectors are obtained and analyzed. Finally, simulations of the repeated strike process are conducted, which indicate that the dielectric strength recovery speed and polarity effect factor have a joint effect on VFTO. This study enhances the understanding of the nature of VFTO, and may help to optimize the disconnector designed to minimize VFTO.

Discharge Characteristics of Long SF6 Gas Gap with and Without Insulator in GIS Under VFTO and LI

Gas insulator switchgears(GISs),widely used in electric power systems for decades,have many advantages due to their compactness,minimal environmental impact,and long maintenance cycles.However,very fast transient overvoltage(VFTO)increases caused by a rise in voltage levels can lead to GIS insulation failures.In this paper,a generating system of VFTO and standard lightning impulse(LI)is established.The insulation characteristics of SF6 gas with and without insulators under VFTO and standard LI are investigated.Experimental results show that the 50%breakdown voltages of the inhomogeneous electric field rod-plane gap under positive VFTO and standard LI are higher than that under negative VFTO and standard LI.The research shows that the 50%breakdown voltage under VFTO could be lower than that under standard LI at 0.5 MPa for the negative polarity.Moreover,the polarity effect of the insulator without defect is different from that with defect.Similarly,the breakdown voltage of the defective insulator under VFTO could be lower than that under standard LI by 8%.The flashover channel under VFTO is seen as more than that under standard LI.Based on the analysis of discharge images and experimental results,it is concluded that the polarity effect is related to the distortion effect of ion clusters formed by SF6 on the electric field.Additionally,the steepness and front time of impulse plays an important role in the initiation and further development of discharge on insulator surface.Finally,the research shows that different discharge characteristics between VFTO and standard LI may be caused by different wave fronts and oscillation on the tails of the impulses.