624

INFLUENCE OF SHUNT CAPACITOR

BANKS ON CIRCUIT BREAKER
FAULT INTERRUPTION DUTIES

Working Group
A3.26

June 2015
 INFLUENCE OF SHUNT CAPACITOR BANKS ON
CIRCUIT BREAKER FAULT INTERRUPTION DUTIES

Working Group
A3.26

June 2015
Members
R. Alexander (US), A. Bosma (SE, convenor), R. Campos (BR), A. Canhôto (PT), L. Collete (US),
C. Creusot (FR), Y. Filion (CA), J. Hu (CA), S. Huang (CN), A. Kalyuzhny (IL), J. Mantilla (CH),
M. McVey (US), S. de Azevedo Morais (BR), J. Nelson (US), F. Richter (DE), H. Rörvall (SE),
R.P.P Smeets (NL, guest), B. Sunga (CA), C. Watier (FR), L. Violleau (FR), D. Yoshida (JP)

Copyright © 2015

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ISBN: 978-2-85873-327-9
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations have been used in the document:

CB Circuit Breaker

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

EMTP ElectroMagnetic Transient Program

ITRV Initial transient Recovery Voltage

L 90 Short-line fault 90 %

MOV Metal Oxide Varistor

RLC Circuit consisting of a resistance (R), inductance (L) and capacitance (C)

RRRV Rate-of-Rise of Recovery Voltage

SW Switching device

TRV Transient Recovery Voltage

WG Working Group

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

CONTENTS

1  Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7  
1.1   General .............................................................................................................. 7  
1.2   Capacitor bank configuration ................................................................................ 7  
1.3   Fault interruption near a capacitor bank ................................................................ 7  
2   Capacitor bank switching ............................................................................................. 9  
2.1   General .............................................................................................................. 9  
2.2   Energisation of capacitor banks ........................................................................... 9  
2.2.1  General ....................................................................................................... 9  
2.2.2  Single capacitor bank ................................................................................. 10 
2.2.3  Back-to-back capacitor bank ....................................................................... 11 
2.3   De-energisation of capacitor banks .................................................................... 13 
2.3.1  General ..................................................................................................... 13 
2.3.2  Capacitive current ...................................................................................... 14  
2.3.3  Recovery voltage ....................................................................................... 14 
2.3.4  Considerations for transient inrush (outrush) currents .................................. 17  
3   Influence of shunt capacitor banks on line circuit breaker TRVs and potential
effect on fault interrupting times ................................................................................. 18 
3.1   Introduction ....................................................................................................... 18 
3.2   Analytical study ................................................................................................. 19 
3.2.1  General ..................................................................................................... 19 
3.2.2  Analytical study of the maximum TRVpeak................................................... 19  
3.2.3  Parallel RLC circuit ..................................................................................... 29  
3.2.4  EMTP simulations ...................................................................................... 38 
3.3   Influence on fault interrupting times .................................................................... 50  
4   Influence of outrush currents on line circuit breakers during fault switching
sequences ................................................................................................................. 51 
5  Influence of capacitor bank configuration, component topology and fault type on
fault interruption by both line and capacitor bank circuit breakers ................................. 52  
5.1   Capacitor bank configuration .............................................................................. 52 
5.2   Capacitor bank switching device ........................................................................ 52 
5.2.1  TRVs ......................................................................................................... 52 
5.2.2  Mitigation means ........................................................................................ 56 
5.3   Transmission line circuit breaker ........................................................................ 56  
6   Circuit breakers of different types and their applicable characteristics .......................... 56  
6.1   General ............................................................................................................ 56 
6.2   Oil circuit breakers ............................................................................................ 56 
6.3   Air-blast circuit breakers .................................................................................... 56  
6.4   Vacuum circuit breakers .................................................................................... 57 
6.5   SF 6 circuit breakers .......................................................................................... 57 
7  Mitigation of the effects of the interruption of short-circuit currents in the presence
of a capacitor bank .................................................................................................... 57 
7.1   Mitigation at the capacitor bank .......................................................................... 57 
7.1.1  Installation of damping reactors .................................................................. 57 
7.1.2  Fixed or switched resistor in parallel with a reactor ...................................... 58  

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

7.1.3  Varistor in parallel with the series reactor .................................................... 58  

7.2   Mitigation external to the capacitor bank ............................................................. 59  
7.2.1  Voltage rating of the line circuit breaker ....................................................... 59  
7.2.2  Opening resistor ......................................................................................... 59 
7.2.3  Varistor in parallel with the breaking chamber .............................................. 59  
7.2.4  Controlled fault interruption ......................................................................... 59  
8   Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 60 
8.1   General ............................................................................................................ 60 
8.2   Existing installations .......................................................................................... 60 
8.3   New installation ................................................................................................. 61 
8.4   Simulations ....................................................................................................... 61 
8.5   For existing switching devices ............................................................................ 61 
8.6   Using dedicated line circuit breakers .................................................................. 61 
8.7   Testing ............................................................................................................. 61 
9   References ................................................................................................................ 61 
Annex A Influence of the presence of a series reactor in the vicinity of the circuit
breaker ..................................................................................................................... 63  
Annex B Derivation of the equations for a series RLC circuit ............................................... 64  
Annex C Inrush current limits ............................................................................................ 65 
Annex D Capacitive inrush currents in cable networks ........................................................ 70  

Figure 1 – Transmission line circuit breaker interrupting a fault near a capacitor bank ............ 8  
Figure 2 – Alternative location of damping reactor L 1 in Figure 1 .......................................... 8  
Figure 3 - Parallel capacitor banks .................................................................................... 12  
Figure 4 – Single-phase equivalent circuit for capacitive current interruption ........................ 14  
Figure 5 – Voltage and current shapes at capacitive current interruption ............................. 15  
Figure 6 – Voltage and current wave shapes in the case of a restrike .................................. 16  
Figure 7 – Voltage build-up by successive restrikes ............................................................ 17  
Figure 8 – Single-phase representation of Figure 1 ............................................................ 20  
Figure 9 – TRV waveforms after clearing of the first pole during a terminal fault in a
170 kV substation ............................................................................................................. 25  
Figure 10 – Maximum TRV peak versus k pp ....................................................................... 26 
Figure 11 – Maximum TRV peak versus the equivalent inductance Lc ................................. 27  
Figure 12 – Maximum TRV peak versus the reactive power of the capacitor bank ................ 28  
Figure 13 – Influence of the neutral earthing of the capacitor bank on the maximum
TRV peak ......................................................................................................................... 28 
Figure 14 – Basic circuit for TRV calculation ...................................................................... 30  
Figure 15 – Generalized damping curves ........................................................................... 30 
Figure 16 – Base TRVs for T100, T60, T30 and T10 ........................................................... 32  
Figure 17 – Base TRV for T100 and TRVs with additional capacitance ................................ 32  
Figure 18 – Base TRV for T60 and TRVs with additional capacitance .................................. 33  
Figure 19 – Base TRV for T30 and TRVs with additional capacitance .................................. 33  
Figure 20 – Base TRV for T10 and TRVs with additional capacitance .................................. 34  
Figure 21 – Base TRVs and TRVs with added capacitance of 1 F ...................................... 35  

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 22 – Hydro-Québec EMTP study: TRVs without added shunt capacitor banks ............ 36  
Figure 23 – Hydro-Québec EMTP study: TRV without shunt capacitance (blue trace)
and with added shunt capacitance (red trace) .................................................................... 37 
Figure 24 – Comparison of Hydro-Québec EMTP and parallel RLC circuit TRV
calculations ...................................................................................................................... 37  
Figure 25 – Circuit diagram used for 72,5 kV simulation ...................................................... 38  
Figure 26 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank
with isolated neutral .......................................................................................................... 40  
Figure 27 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of an effectively earthed neutral source and a capacitor
bank with solidly earthed neutral ....................................................................................... 41 
Figure 28 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank
with isolated neutral .......................................................................................................... 42  
Figure 29 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of an effectively earthed neutral source and a capacitor
bank with solidly earthed neutral ....................................................................................... 43 
Figure 30 – Circuit diagram used for 245 kV simulations ..................................................... 43  
Figure 31 – Comparison of transient recovery voltage with no capacitor bank, with
capacitor bank and no damping reactor, and with capacitor bank and damping reactor ......... 44  
Figure 32 - Trace of the current interrupted by the circuit breaker for the case with a
capacitor bank without damping reactor ............................................................................. 46 
Figure 33 - Trace of the transient recovery voltage across the circuit breaker for the
case with a capacitor bank without damping reactor ........................................................... 46  
Figure 34 - Trace of the current interrupted by the circuit breaker for the case with a
capacitor bank and a 1000 H damping reactor .................................................................. 47  
Figure 35 - Trace of the transient recovery voltage across the circuit breaker for the
case with a capacitor bank and a 1000 H damping reactor ................................................ 47  
Figure 36 – Circuit diagram used for 362 kV simulations ..................................................... 48  
Figure 37 – Two capacitor banks with isolated neutral – Restrike on phase B followed
by a restrike on phase A ................................................................................................... 49 
Figure 38 – Inrush current versus instant of fault initiation on first phase to close ................. 51  
Figure 39 – Short-circuits resulting in high-frequency TRVs ................................................ 52  
Figure 40 - Field test measurements on 0,23 mH damping reactor in a 120 kV
installation ........................................................................................................................ 53 
Figure 41 – 40 kA three-phase asymmetrical fault at 120 kV – Currents and TRVs ............... 54  
Figure 42 – Initial TRV of the fault case described in Figure 41 ........................................... 55  
Figure 43 – Solution with a damping resistor ...................................................................... 58  
Figure 44 – Solution with a switched resistor ...................................................................... 58 
Figure 45 – Solution with a MOV in parallel to the damping reactor ..................................... 58  
Figure 46 – Solution with a MOV in parallel with the damping reactor .................................. 59  
Figure C.1 – Comparison of It integral for different currents .............................................. 68  
Figure C.2 – Difference between inrush current frequencies ............................................... 68  
Figure D.1 – Switching of a capacitor bank bank-to-back to underground cables .................. 71  
Figure D.2 – Waveforms of the total inrush current and the inrush current through the
voltage source .................................................................................................................. 72  

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.3- Single-phase circuit for analysis of the capacitive inrush current ....................... 73  
Figure D.5 -Circuit for analytical study of the inrush current due to initial traveling
waves in the alongside cables ........................................................................................... 75 
Figure D.7 - Inrush current waveform obtained in EMTP simulation ..................................... 79  
Figure D.8 - Inrush current peak versus the number of underground cables ......................... 80  
Figure D.9 – Curves of the inrush current peak versus equivalent inductance L ................... 81  
Figure D.11 – Curves of I peak versus equivalent inductance L at different values of l c ......... 82  
Figure D.12 – Curves of I peak versus the length of the shortest cable ................................. 82  

Table 1 - Typical values of inductance between capacitor banks ......................................... 18  

Table 2 – Expressions for clearing a three-phase fault in the presence of a capacitor
bank ................................................................................................................................ 23  
Table 3 – Expressions for Lc and C in relation to the earthing of the capacitor bank
neutral ............................................................................................................................. 24  
Table 4 – Results of calculations, 3-phase fault, capacitor bank connected .......................... 29  
Table 5 – TRV requirements for 245 kV circuit breaker ....................................................... 31  
Table 6 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, non-effectively earthed neutral source, full
short-circuit ...................................................................................................................... 39  
Table 7 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, effectively earthed neutral source, full short-
circuit ............................................................................................................................... 39  
Table 8 – EMTP simulation results for 72,5 kV, single-phase fault, non-effectively
earthed neutral source ...................................................................................................... 41 
Table 9 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, single-phase fault, effectively earthed neutral
source .............................................................................................................................. 42  
Table 10 - Simulation results for 245 kV circuit breaker with a single-phase to earth
fault ................................................................................................................................. 45  
Table 11 – Simulation results in the case of an effectively earthed source, three-phase-
to-earth fault ..................................................................................................................... 49 
Table 12 – Simulation results in the case of an effectively earthed source, single-
phase-to-earth fault .......................................................................................................... 50  
Table 13 – Inrush current peak versus initiation of short-circuit ........................................... 52  
Table 14 - Comparison of initial TRV values between SLF L 90 and a fault involving
damping reactor for 145 kV, 40 kA breaker – HQ case ........................................................ 55  
Table 15 – Influence on line circuit breaker ........................................................................ 56 
Table C.1 - Suggested inrush current limits ........................................................................ 65 
Table C.2 – Distribution of capacitive discharge energy for an SF 6 circuit breaker ............... 66  

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

1 Introduction
1.1 General
Shunt capacitor banks are being applied worldwide in substations in ever increasing numbers.
At voltage ratings up to and including 52 kV capacitor banks are either fixed or switched. At
voltage ratings of 75,5 kV up to and above each individual bank is typically switched with its
own switching device and may incorporate either active (controlled switching, pre-insertion
impedance) and/or passive (series reactors) means to limit the effects of inrush and/or outrush
currents.
NOTE Harmonic filters consist of a capacitor bank with a series reactor. Their behaviour will be similar.

From the perspective of line circuit breakers during fault interruption, the banks represent a
large source side capacitance and also a source of outrush currents, both of which may
influence the fault interrupting time. If a capacitor bank incorporates series current limiting
reactors between the capacitor bank circuit breaker and the capacitor bank, the circuit breaker
will be exposed to significant fast transient recovery voltages (TRVs) for faults between the
reactor and the capacitor bank. Exposure to fast TRVs applies to all circuit breakers installed
immediately in series with the reactor.

Against this background Study Committee A3 established Working Group (WG) A3.26. The
tasks assigned to the WG were as follows:

– To study the influence of shunt capacitor banks on line circuit breaker TRVs and potential
effect on fault interrupting times;
– To study the influence of outrush currents on line circuit breakers during fault interruption
sequences;
– To study the influence of capacitor bank configuration, component topology and fault type
on fault interruption by both line and capacitor bank circuit breakers;
– To study the influence of the presence of a series reactor in the vicinity of the circuit breaker;
– To investigate which potential remedies that may be applied by users to mitigate or avoid
the above influences;
– To make recommendations (as applicable) as to how the applications need to be addressed
in the standards.
The analysis considers circuit breakers of the different types (oil, air-blast vacuum and SF 6 )
and their applicable characteristics.

This document is the complete and final report from the working group.

1.2 Capacitor bank configuration

The neutral of a capacitor bank is either solidly earthed or isolated. Effectively earthed capacitor
banks also exist.
NOTE Delta connected capacitor banks are covered by the isolated capacitor bank.

Some capacitor bank installations are fitted with series reactors (so-called damping reactors)
to limit the inrush/outrush current. Annex A provides some more details about series reactors
in general.

1.3 Fault interruption near a capacitor bank

Figure 1 shows a single-line diagram in which a transmission line circuit breaker (CB) interrupts
a fault (i s ) on the transmission line. The presence of a capacitor bank (C 1 ) represents a large
source side capacitance and also a source of outrush currents. Both source side capacitance
and outrush currents influence the fault interrupting process and may also influence the fault
interruption time.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

SW1 C1
L1

Us L'
Ls
CB
Transmission line

is

Key
Us Source voltage L' Busbar inductance

Ls Short-circuit inductance L1 Series (damping) reactor

CB Transmission line circuit breaker SW 1 Capacitor bank switching device

is Short-circuit current C1 Capacitor bank

Figure 1 – Transmission line circuit breaker interrupting a fault near a capacitor bank

Figure 2 shows alternate locations of the damping reactor.

Figure 2 – Alternative location of damping reactor L 1 in Figure 1

The capacitor bank (C 1 ) reduces the rate-of-rise of recovery voltage (RRRV), making it easier
for the transmission line circuit breaker (CB) to interrupt. Additionally, the capacitor bank will
increase the amplitude factor, i.e. will increase the TRV peak. When the ITRV is negligible, the
circuit breaker CB may be successful in interrupting with a shorter minimum arcing time than
obtained during the type tests (i.e. a small contact gap). As the recovery voltage increases
across the gap, a dielectric re-ignition may occur and the capacitor bank will discharge into the
fault through the circuit breaker CB. The amplitude of the discharge current depends on the
instantaneous voltage of the capacitor bank at the time of re-ignition and the frequency of the
discharge current is determined by the capacitance C 1 of capacitor bank C 1 and the inductance
(L 1 + L') between the capacitor bank and the fault location.

NOTE 1 If the ITRV is not negligible, the minimum arcing time will be similar to that obtained during the type tests
and the case described above may not occur.
NOTE 2 The influence of the stray capacitance is neglected since its capacitance is small compared to the
capacitance of the capacitor bank.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

The high frequency discharge current is superimposed on the fault current, which creates
additional current zeros if the high frequency current amplitude exceeds the momentary
amplitude of short-circuit current from the source. Depending on the type of circuit breaker (oil,
air-blast, vacuum or SF 6 ), this high frequency current may be interrupted causing high
overvoltages.

A similar situation may occur, when circuit breaker CB closes into a fault (e.g. a reclosing
operation). The capacitor bank discharges into the fault and depending on the magnitude of the
inductance between the capacitor bank and the fault location (i.e. L 1 + L'), the discharge current
can reach high peak values and frequencies. Especially when the damping reactor L 1 is not
installed, the inrush current parameters can exceed those given in Table 9 of IEC 62271-100
[1] and Tables 4, 8 and 14 of IEEE C37.06 [2].

2 Capacitor bank switching

2.1 General
The theory and application considerations associated with the switching of capacitive currents
are adequately covered by publications such as IEC 62271-306 [3] and IEEE C37.012 [4].

Publications [3] and [4] address among others the energisation, de-energisation and application
considerations of shunt capacitor banks mainly under normal switching conditions (i.e. without
faults present). The case where a line circuit breaker switches a fault on the line in the presence
of a capacitor bank is briefly addressed, but a detailed analysis of the influence on the circuit
breaker TRV or the effects of the contribution of the capacitor bank to the fault current is not
provided.

Other cases that are not addressed by [3] and [4] are switching of a single capacitor bank and
back-to-back to parallel cables and switching of parallel cables. Those cases are addressed in
Annex D.

To understand the phenomena associated with the switching of fault currents in the presence
of capacitor banks the theory of inrush and outrush current is provided.

2.2 Energisation of capacitor banks

2.2.1 General
Energisation of capacitor banks is usually associated with transient voltages and currents.
Those transients are the following:

- inrush currents;
- overvoltages caused by the system response to the voltage dip when energising capacitor
banks (see 2.2.2);
Since the use of capacitor banks for compensation purposes is increasing, it is common that
more than one capacitor bank is connected to the same bus. This has no influence on the
conditions at interruption of the capacitive current. The current at closing, however, is affected
to a high degree. Two different situations may occur:

a) The capacitor bank is energised from a bus that does not have other capacitor banks
energised. This is called single capacitor bank switching.
b) The capacitor bank is energised from a bus that has other capacitor banks energised. This
is called back-to-back capacitor bank switching.
The conditions for single and back-to-back capacitor bank switching are given in 2.2.2 and
2.2.3. Even energised capacitor banks in nearby substations may contribute to the inrush
current such that a back-to-back situation occurs.

Back-to-back capacitor bank switching may give rise to inrush currents of very high amplitude
and frequency and they sometimes have to be limited in order not to be harmful to the switching
device, the capacitor banks and/or the network. The magnitude and frequency of this inrush
current is a function of the following:

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

– applied voltage (point on the voltage wave at closing);

– capacitance of the circuit;
– inductance in the circuit (amount and location);
– any charge on the capacitor bank at the instant of closing;
– any damping of the circuit due to closing resistors or other resistances in the circuit.
It is assumed that the capacitor bank is discharged prior to energisation. This is a reasonable
assumption, as capacitor units are fitted with discharging resistors that will discharge the
capacitor bank. Typical discharge times are in the order of 5 - 10 minutes.

The transient inrush current to a single bank is less than the available short-circuit current at
the capacitor bank terminals. It rarely exceeds 20 times the rated current of the capacitor bank
at a frequency that approaches 1 kHz. Since a switching device must meet the making current
requirements of the system, transient inrush current is not a limiting factor in single capacitor
bank applications. A rule of thumb used as a criteria for determining the maximum size of a
capacitor bank is that it should not result in a steady state voltage variation more than 3 % of
the system voltage: i.e. the size of the capacitor bank in Mvar/short-circuit power in MVA should
be less than 3 %.

When capacitor banks are switched back-to-back, that is, when one bank is switched while
another bank is connected to the same bus, transient currents of prospective high magnitude
and with a high natural frequency may flow between the banks on closing of the switching
device. The effects are similar to that of a re-ignition or a restrike on opening. This oscillatory
current is limited only by the impedance of the capacitor bank and the circuit between the
energised bank or banks and the switched bank. This transient current usually decays to zero
in a fraction of a cycle of the system frequency. In the case of back-to-back switching, the
component supplied by the source is at a lower frequency and so small it may be neglected.

2.2.2 Single capacitor bank

A bank of shunt capacitors is considered single when the inrush current on energisation is
limited by the inductance of the source and the capacitance of the bank being energised.

The case of energising a single capacitor bank is equal to energisation of C 1 in Figure 1 when
there is no fault present on the transmission line. The circuit consists then of the source
inductance L s , the busbar inductance L' and the inductance of damping reactor L 1 in series with
the capacitor bank C 1 . The inductance of L' + L 1 can be disregarded here, since L s >> L' + L1 .
In this case, the peak of the inrush current (I i peak ) and inrush current frequency (f i ) are limited
by the inductance of the source impedance L s .

Assuming that bank C 1 is to be connected to the busbar (ignoring the damping):

C1
ii  Î i sin it  Û s sin it (1)
Ls  L' L1

and

1
fi  (2)
2 ( Ls  L' L1)C1

where

ii time depending inrush current, in A

Îi inrush current peak, in A
Ûs peak of the source voltage, in V

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

i = 2f i angular inrush frequency in rad/s, where f i is the inrush current frequency, in
Hz
with L s >> L' + L 1 , equations (1) and (2) transfer to:

C1
ii  Û s sin  it (3)
Ls

1
fi  (4)
2 LsC1

The maximum inrush current peak is obtained when switching the capacitor bank at the peak
of the supply voltage.

C1
I i max  U s 2 (5)
Ls

Us
With I sc  and I1  sU sC1 , equations (4) and (5) transform to
s Ls

I i max  2 I sc I1 (6)

and

I sc
fi  f s (7)
I1

where

fs power frequency, in Hz
I sc short-circuit current of the source, in A (r.m.s.)
I1 current through the capacitor bank C 1 , in A (r.m.s.)
Ii max maximum peak of the inrush current, in A
In the three-phase case the same equations may be applied. The voltage U s is then the rated
phase-to-earth voltage U r / 3 .

The derivation of the inrush current using the series RLC circuit is given in Annex B.

2.2.3 Back-to-back capacitor bank

2.2.3.1 General
Capacitor banks are considered back-to-back when the inrush current on energisation is limited
by the inductance between the banks which is lower than the short-circuit inductance. Back-to-
back capacitor bank switching occurs when the capacitor banks are installed in the same
substation at the same voltage.

In back-to-back application the inrush current seen by a single bank will be increased when
other capacitor banks are already connected to the same bus. Some considerations regarding
the limits of inrush/outrush currents are given in Annex C.

The single-phase equivalent of a circuit where two capacitor banks are connected to a busbar
is shown in Figure 3. L' represents the busbar inductance and L 1 and L 2 represent the additional

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

damping inductance (if used). The inductance L s of the supply network will be several orders of
magnitude higher than L', L 1 or L 2 .

Key
Us Source voltage SW 1 , SW 2 Capacitor bank switching device

Ls Short-circuit inductance C1, C2 Capacitor bank

L' Busbar inductance L1, L2 Damping reactor, also including the bus
inductance between the banks
is Short-circuit current CB Transmission line circuit breaker

Figure 3 - Parallel capacitor banks

2.2.3.2 Two banks in parallel

If in Figure 3 capacitor bank C 1 is connected to the busbar and capacitor bank C 2 is to be
connected, the inrush current associated with the charging of capacitor bank C 2 is supplied by
capacitor bank C 1 (back-to-back switching). As stated in 2.2.2, capacitor bank C 2 is discharged
prior to energisation. The maximum peak and frequency of the inrush current are now limited
by L 1 and L 2 , in equation:

Ceq
I i max  U s 2 (8)
Leq

1
fi  (9)
2 LeqCeq

with
C1C 2
C eq  (10)
C1  C 2

and

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Leq  L1  L2 (11)

I i max and f i can reach extreme values since the magnitude of L eq can be arbitrarily small (i.e.
when no damping reactors are installed).

Inserting Equations (10) and (11) in Equations (8) and (9) gives the following equations for the
maximum inrush current peak and frequency:

I 1I 2 U s I 1I 2
I i max  U s 2  2 (12)
U s s Leq ( I1  I 2 )  s Leq ( I1  I 2 )

1 U s ( I1  I 2 ) 1 2f sU s ( I1  I 2 )
fi   (13)
2 Leq I1I 2 2 Leq I1I 2

In Equations (12) and (13) it is assumed that I1  sC1U s and I 2   s C 2U s .

In a three-phase case the same equations may be applied. The voltage Us is then the rated
phase-to-earth voltage U r / 3 .

2.2.3.3 n banks in parallel

Assume that bank Cn with series inductance L n is to be switched in with banks C 1 to C n -1 and
associated series inductances L 1 to L n -1 already in-service. The calculation procedure is given
in IEC 62271-306 and the results are given in Equation (14) and (15).

n 1 C
ii peak  U s 2 (14)
n L

and

1
fi  (15)
2 LC

In a three-phase case the same equations may be applied. The voltage Us is then the rated
phase-to-earth voltage U r / 3 .

2.2.3.4 Inrush current limits

Typical amplitudes of the inrush currents for back-to-back energisation of capacitor banks are
given in Table 9 of IEC 62271-100 and Tables 4, 8 and 14 of IEEE C37.06. IEEE C37.06
recognises the limitation of vacuum circuit breakers by specifying a current amplitude of 6 kA
irrespective of rated voltage. Capacitors can normally withstand amplitudes up to 100 times
their rated current.

In case the inrush current amplitude and frequency need to be limited, this can be done by
insertion of additional series inductance in the circuit, or by using pre-insertion resistors.
Another possibility is to use controlled switching.

2.3 De-energisation of capacitor banks

2.3.1 General
With no fault present on the transmission line, a single-phase equivalent circuit of Figure 1 may
be used to illustrate the conditions when switching out a capacitor bank. The single-phase
equivalent circuit is shown in Figure 4.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Key
Us Source voltage (r.m.s.) u cb Voltage across the circuit breaker (r.m.s.)

Ls Source inductance uL Voltage across the capacitor bank (r.m.s.)

R Resistor representing the losses in the ic Capacitive current (r.m.s.)

circuit
Cs Source side capacitance (stray C1 Capacitive load (capacitor bank)
capacitance)

Figure 4 – Single-phase equivalent circuit for capacitive current interruption

2.3.2 Capacitive current

The capacitive current i c flowing in the circuit is given by the following equation:

sC1  U s  C U
ic   s 1 s (16)
2
1   LsC1 s2
1
 i2

with

 s  2f s , where f s is the system frequency in Hz

1
i   2f i , where f i is the inrush current frequency in Hz (see also 2.2.2).
LsC1

With i >> s , Equation (16) transforms to ic  sC1  u

2.3.3 Recovery voltage

Figure 5 shows the current and voltage shapes at interruption.

Page 14
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

u, i
us

t
ucb

uL

t
ic

Key
ic Capacitive current

uL Voltage on the load side of the circuit breaker

u cb Voltage across the circuit breaker

us Voltage on the source side of the circuit breaker

Figure 5 – Voltage and current shapes at capacitive current interruption

After interruption of the current, the supply side voltage u s will be more or less unaffected. There
is only a minor decrease in amplitude, associated with the removal of the capacitive load. The
transition to the new amplitude value is associated with a slight oscillation, the frequency of
which is determined by L s and C s .

The interruption of the current leaves a trapped charge u L on the capacitor bank. The voltage
u L will therefore remain constant at the value it had at current zero (namely the peak value of
the supply voltage).

Together with the low current amplitude to be interrupted, the low initial rate-of-rise of the
recovery voltage makes it relatively easy for the circuit breaker to interrupt. Some circuit
breakers may interrupt even if the current zero occurs immediately after contact separation.
Half a cycle after current zero, the recovery voltage increases to an amplitude of twice the peak
value of the supply voltage. Consequently, a rated frequency of 60 Hz is more severe than
50 Hz. The circuit breaker may then not be able to withstand the high value of the recovery
voltage across a relatively small contact gap. Dielectric breakdown may occur between the
contacts and the current is re-established between the contacts.

Figure 6 shows current and voltage wave shapes in a case where voltage breakdown occurs
relatively close to the recovery voltage peak. The load side voltage will swing up to a voltage
that ideally (without damping present) reaches three times the supply voltage peak u p . The
oscillation frequency of the current and voltage after the breakdown is determined by L s and C 1
(assuming C 1 >> C s ). The circuit breaker may easily interrupt the oscillatory current at one of
its current zeros, with the result that the voltage across the capacitor may attain a new constant
value, perhaps higher than before. Further breakdowns associated with even higher
overvoltages across the load may then occur (Figure 7).

Page 15
Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Key
up Peak of the source voltage

ic Capacitive current

i cb Current through the circuit breaker

uL Voltage on the load side of the circuit breaker

u cb Voltage across the circuit breaker

us Voltage on the source side of the circuit breaker

Figure 6 – Voltage and current wave shapes in the case of a restrike

Page 16
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Key
1 p.u. is the peak value of the phase-to-earth voltage

Figure 7 – Voltage build-up by successive restrikes

Voltage breakdowns at capacitive current interruption are divided into re-ignitions and restrikes.
Re-ignitions and restrikes are defined in IEC 62271-100 [1] and IEEE C37.100 [5].

The definitions of re-ignition and restrike are valid only when the recovery voltage has a
1-cosine waveshape based on the power frequency of the network.

Restrikes will lead to overvoltages across the capacitive load (maximum 3 p.u. for a single
restrike, where 1 p.u. is the peak value of the phase-to-earth voltage) while re-ignitions will not
produce any overvoltages (theoretically maximum 1 p.u.). Re-ignitions are acceptable but may
cause power quality problems.

2.3.4 Considerations for transient inrush (outrush) currents

2.3.4.1 Inrush current
The inrush currents of different types of compact multi-section banks with minimum spacing
between the individual sections may differ by as much as 20 %. Consequently, these inrush
currents can be reduced significantly by increasing the lengths (inductance) of the circuits
between the sections. Table 1 contains some typical values of inductance between capacitor
banks.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 1 - Typical values of inductance between capacitor banks

Rated maximum Inductance per Typical inductance

voltage phase of busbar between banks a
(kV) (  H/m) (  H)
17,5 and below 0,702 10-20
36 0,781 15-30
52 0,840 20-40
72,5 0,840 25-50
123 0,856 35-70
145 0,856 40-80
170 0,879 60-120
245 0,935 85-170
a
Typical values of inductance per phase between capacitor banks.
This does not include inductance of the capacitor bank itself.
Values of 5  H for banks below 52 kV and 10  H for banks above
52 kV are typical for the inductance of the capacitor banks.

Another effective measure to reduce transient inrush currents is to add inductance in the circuit
between the capacitor banks.

2.3.4.2 Outrush current

IEEE C37.100 [5] states the following definition for outrush current. “The high frequency, high
magnitude current discharge of one or more capacitors into a short-circuit, such as into a failed
capacitor unit connected in parallel with the discharge units or into a circuit breaker closing into
a fault”.

Consider the situation given in Figure 1 or Figure 3. Depending on the position of the circuit
breaker (open or closed) the following situations associated with outrush current may occur:

a) The circuit breaker re-ignites during interrupting of a short-circuit current;

b) The circuit breaker closes into a fault.
The phenomena associated with the interruption and closing into a fault are detailed in 3 and
4.

3 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on line circuit breaker TRVs and potential
effect on fault interrupting times
3.1 Introduction
The phenomena occurring during interruption of a short-circuit near a capacitor bank are given
in 1.3.

Janssen and van der Sluis [6, 7] studied these phenomena in a 170 kV grid and tests were
conducted to establish the behavior of different circuit breaker types (air-blast, oil and SF 6 )
when exposed to high frequency current zeros. The authors concluded that damping of the high
frequency current (i.e. reducing the number of current zeros) in combination with a circuit
breaker that does not clear in any of the high frequency current zeros will avoid the occurrence
of high overvoltages. In the case described a damping resistor was inserted in series with the
capacitor bank in combination with an SF 6 puffer type circuit breaker.

Other means than series resistors can be used to mitigate the effects of the presence of the
capacitor bank. These means are presented in detail in Chapter 7 and are summarized here.

– Addition of series reactors in the circuit of the capacitor bank. This is illustrated by the
inductances L 1 and L 2 in Figure 3;
– Sabot et al [8] present a damping circuit for shunt capacitor bank switching consisting of a
damping reactor with a parallel Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) in series with a resistor;

Page 18
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

– Mysore et al [9] present a damping circuit consisting of a series reactor with a parallel
capacitor;
– J. Sawada and G. Polovick [10] of British Columbia Hydro (Canada) propose a damping
circuit consisting of a series reactor having a parallel capacitor and surge arrester on the
low voltage side (neutral) of the capacitor bank;
– Martin et al [11] analyzed a filtered capacitor bank, where a filter is inserted in series with
the capacitor bank. By a proper choice of the components the high frequency component
can be eliminated;
– Controlled fault interruption [12]. This method can be used to avoid breaking with short
arcing times.
3.2 Analytical study
3.2.1 General
To analyse the phenomena associated with the interruption of a fault near a capacitor bank (i.e.
TRV and outrush current waveforms), several methods can be used. Some of these methods
are:

– Closed form solutions: TRV analysis by means of a set of equations;

– Parallel RLC circuit: TRV analysis using an equivalent parallel oscillating circuit;
– Electro-Magnetic Transient Program (EMTP) or Alternative Transient Program (EMTP) are
software tools used for analysis of transients in circuits.
The three methods have been used and results of the analysis are given.

3.2.2 Analytical study of the maximum TRVpeak

The TRV during the clearing of a fault near a capacitor bank was studied by van der Sluis and
Janssen [6]. The capacitor bank modifies the TRV to a 1-cos waveform having a moderate rate-
of-rise and increased peak value.

In order to evaluate the TRV peak, a closed form solution is derived to evaluate the TRV
waveform after the clearing of the first pole during a three-phase terminal fault near a capacitor
bank.

The system presented in Figure 1 can be represented by a Thévenin equivalent as shown in

Figure 8. The source side stray capacitance is ignored since it is small in comparison to the
capacitance C 1 of the capacitor bank. The single-phase circuit shown in Figure 8 is used for the
TRV modelling.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Key
us (t) Source voltage Lc Inductance between the capacitor bank and
the fault location
Ls Source side inductance Rc Resistance representing the losses
between the capacitor bank and the fault
location
Rs Resistance representing the losses in the C1 Capacitor bank
source circuit
CB Circuit breaker ic(t) Capacitive current

u TRV ( t ) TRV across the circuit breaker u c( t) Voltage across the capacitor bank

Figure 8 – Single-phase representation of Figure 1

In Figure 8 L c is the inductance between the capacitor bank and the fault location. For the
analysis of a terminal fault the inductance between the capacitor bank and fault location is given
by Lc  L1  L' , where L 1 and L' are the inductances (in H) of L 1 and L' given in Figure 1.

The source voltage is presented as follows:

us  ûs cost (17)

The peak of the source voltage û s , the source side inductance L s and the resistance R s in the
single-phase circuit for the TRV calculation after clearing of the first pole is given by:

2 X
ûs  kppU r , Ls  kpp 1 , R s = k pp R 1, (18)
3 

where

k pp is the first-pole-to-clear factor

U r is the rated voltage

X 1 is the positive sequence short-circuit reactance

R 1 is the positive sequence short-circuit resistance

For effectively earthed neutral systems k pp = 1,0 - 1,3 and for non-effectively earthed neutral
systems k pp = 1,5.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

For a capacitor bank with earthed neutral the values of C 1 , Lc and R c are given by:

C 1 = C ph , L c = L ph , R c = R ph (19)

For a capacitor bank with isolated neutral the values of C 1 , L c and R c are given by:

C 1 = 2/3C ph , 2/3 L c = L ph , R c = 2/3 R ph (20)

In Equations (19) and (20) C ph is the capacitance of a capacitor bank phase, L ph and R ph are
the phase inductance and phase resistance of the circuit between the capacitor bank and the
fault location, respectively.

The TRV across the circuit breaker after clearing of the first pole can be determined using
Equation (21).

c 2   2  2  2
uTRV (t )  ucp cos(t )  c 2 0 Ucpe 0t cos(0t ) (21)
c 2 c

With

1 1
c  , 0  (22)
Lc C1 ( Ls  Lc )C1

2 0 2
U cp  kppUr (23)
3 ( 0 2   2 )

Rs  Rc
0  (24)
2( Ls  Lc )

Note that  c is the natural angular frequency of the capacitor bank discharge current into the
short-circuit.  0 is the natural frequency of the capacitor bank inrush current, Ucp is the peak
voltage across the capacitor bank phase after clearing of the first pole and  0 is the damping
factor of the circuit in Figure 8.

The TRV reaches its maximum peak u TRVmax at a time t peak given by:


tpeak    ( Ls  Lc )C (25)
0

Substitution of t peak in Equation (21) gives the following result:

  2   2  2  2  
uTRV max  kppU c peak  c 0  c cos(  ) (26)
 c 2 c 2  0 

In Equation (26) U c peak is the peak of the phase-to-earth voltage across the capacitor bank
under normal conditions,

2 02
U c peak  U r (27)
3 02   2

Page 21
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

To analyse the parameters that influence the maximum peak value of the TRV waveform,

Equation (26) is simplified by expanding cos(  ) into a MacLaurin series using the first two
0
terms.

 Lc ( )2 
uTRV max  kppU c peak 2   ) (28)
 Lc  Ls 2 0 2 

As can be seen in Equation (28), the maximum TRV peak depends on the following parameters:

– The first pole-to-clear factor k pp ;

– The equivalent inductance L c between the capacitor bank and the fault location;
– The reactive power Q c of the capacitor bank;
– The neutral earthing of the capacitor bank.
Assume that at time instant t = t peak , the TRV peak u TRVmax exceeds the TRV peak value of the
circuit breaker TRV envelope. A re-ignition of the circuit breaker will occur. The capacitor bank
will discharge into the short circuit. The peak voltage across the capacitor bank U CPmax at time
instant t = t peak , is as follows:

  
U CPmax  k ppU cpeak 1  cos(  ) (29)
  0 


Expanding cos(  ) into a MacLaurin series and limiting the expansion to the first two terms,
0
the following equation is obtained:

 ( ) 2 
U CPmax  k ppU cpeak 2 -  (30)
 2 0 2 

The capacitor bank discharge current peak I out can be calculated using the following Equation
(31):

C
I out U (31)
CPmax
Lc

The derived expressions for the maximum TRV peak u TRV max , the time instant t peak , the outrush
current peak I out and the outrush current frequency f out are summarised in Table 2.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 2 – Expressions for clearing a three-phase fault in the presence of a capacitor

bank

u TRVmax (kV)
kppU r
2 0 2 
2 -
Lc

 2 

3 02   2  Ls  Lc 2 0 2 

t peak (s)  L s  L c C

I out (kA) 2   2  C

2 0
kppU r 2 - 
2
3 0   2  2 0 2  Lc

f out (Hz) 1
2 Lc C

NOTE I out is calculated under the assumption that a re-ignition occurs at t peak

The variables in the equations given in Table 2 are as follows:

k pp is the first-pole-to-clear factor (p.u.)

U r is the rated voltage (kV r.m.s.)
L s is the short-circuit inductance (H)
L c is the inductance between the capacitor bank and the fault (H)
C is the capacitance of the capacitor bank (F)
1
 0 is the angular frequency of the capacitor bank inrush current,  0  (rad/s)
Ls  Lc C
The first-pole-to-clear factor for effectively earthed neutral systems can vary from 1,0 to 1,3. It
is 1,5 for non-effectively earthed neutral systems.

X1
The short-circuit inductance Ls  k pp , where X 1 is the positive sequence short-circuit

reactance.

Parameters L c and C depend on the earthing of the capacitor bank neutral, see Table 3.

Page 23
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 3 – Expressions for L c and C in relation to the earthing of the capacitor bank
neutral

Earthing of the capacitor bank neutral Lc C

(H) (F)
Solidly earthed neutral L ph C ph
Isolated neutral bank 3 2
Lph Cph
2 3
L ph is the phase inductance of the circuit between the capacitor and
the fault location
C ph is the capacitance of a capacitor bank phase

Equations (26) and (27) enable to perform a parametric study of the maximum TRV peak as a
function of k pp , L c , Q c and the neutral earthing of the capacitor bank.

The developed equations have been used for analysis of the TRV in a 170 kV, 50 Hz system.
The system is presented by the following data:

– U r = 170 kV;
– I sc = 50 kA;
– DC time constant  = 45 ms;
– k pp = 1,0, on other substations of the utility k pp varies between 1,0 and 1,3.
The capacitor bank with Q c = 222,9 Mvar at U r = 170 kV is connected to the substation busbar
through a damping reactor of 1,2 mH. The reactor resistance is determined under the
assumption that its qualify factor is 14,1. The capacitor units are Y connected with solidly
earthed neutral.

The values of the system presented here give the following single-phase values:

– Source: U peak = 138,8 kV, L s = 6,25 mH, R s = 0,139  (see equations (18));
– Capacitor bank: C 1 = 24,56 µF, L c 0 1,2 mH, R c = 0,027  (see equations (19)).
The parameters for the calculation of u TRV (t) are

–  c = 5824 rad/s (see Equation (22));

–  0 = 2328 rad/s (see Equation (22));
– U cp = 141,36 kV (see Equation (23));
–  0 = 11,11 (see Equation (24));
– t peak = 1,34 ms (see Equation (25));
– u TRV max = 247,2 kV (see Equation (26)).
Two types of circuit breakers are considered for installation in this substation:

a) A 170 kV circuit breaker with the following TRV data: u 1 = 135 kV, t 1 = 68 µs, u c = 253 kV,
t 3 = 272 µs (based on k pp = 1,3);
b) A 245 kV circuit breaker with the following TRV data: u 1 = 195 kV, t 1 = 98 µs, u c = 364 kV,
t 3 = 392 µs (based on k pp = 1,3).

Page 24
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

To validate the developed equations, the TRV waveform given by Equation (21) was compared
to the waveform obtained using EMTP for the three-phase model in Figure 1. The TRV
waveforms are shown in Figure 9 together with the TRV envelope of a 170 kV circuit breaker.

Comparison of TRV waveforms

300

250
TRV voltage [kVpeak]

200

150

100

50

 50

 100
0 1 2 3 4 5

time [ms]

Solid red line – Analytical waveform

Dotted blue line – EMTP waveform

Figure 9 – TRV waveforms after clearing of the first pole during a terminal fault in a 170
kV substation

Figure 9 shows that the analytical waveform (the solid curve) is in good agreement with the
EMTP waveform (the dotted curve). The analytical waveform practically coincides with the
EMTP waveform near the maximum TRV peak. That very good agreement justifies using the
derived analytical equations for evaluation of the maximum TRV peak. Figure 9 shows that the
maximum TRV peak u TRVmax is very close to the TRV peak value u c of the TRV envelope for a
170 kV circuit breaker. For higher values of k pp , u c will be proportionally higher and this
increased TRV peak may cause a restrike during the clearing of a three-phase terminal fault.

The curves of u TRVmax resulting from clearing of the three-phase terminal fault in the presence
of a 222,9 Mvar capacitor bank versus the first pole-to-clear factor k pp are shown in Figure 10.
The curves are calculated for the following values of the equivalent inductance L c : L c = 1,2 mH
and L c = 10 mH. Both values are selected taking into account possible resonance phenomena
as well as power quality aspects.

Page 25
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

TRV peak versus kpp

TRV peak [kVpeak]

300

200

100
1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3

First-pole-to-clear factor [pu]

Dashed green line: TRV peak value u c for 170 kV and k pp = 1,3

Dashed black line: TRV peak value u c for for 245 kV and k pp = 1,3

Figure 10 – Maximum TRV peak versus k pp

Figure 10 shows that the maximum TRV u TRVmax is proportional to k pp . The increase of
u TRVmax with k pp may require a 245 kV circuit breaker in 170 kV substations where capacitor
banks are installed. It is evident that application of a 10 mH damping reactor instead of 1,2
mH may significantly reduce the maximum TRV peak.

The curves of u TRVmax versus the equivalent inductance Lc are shown in Figure 11. The curves
are calculated for the following values of the first pole-to-clear factor: k pp = 1 and k pp = 1,3.

Page 26
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

TRV peak versus equivalent inductance

TRV peak [kVpeak]

300

200

100
2 4 6 8 10

Equivalent inductance Lc [mH]

Dashed green line: TRV for 170 kV and k pp = 1,3

Dashed black line: TRV for 245 kV and k pp = 1,3

Figure 11 – Maximum TRV peak versus the equivalent inductance L c

Figure 11 shows that an increase of L c results in significant reduction of the maximum TRV
peak. It is assumed that L c includes a stray inductance of 0,1 mH and the inductance of the
damping reactor. If the damping reactor is not installed, the maximum TRV peak exceeds the
TRV peak value for the envelope of a 170 kV circuit breaker even if k pp =1.

Applying a damping reactor of 10 mH reduces the TRV peak significantly. For example, for a
170 kV power system with k pp =1,3, the maximum TRV peak decreases from 348 kV to 230 kV
making it possible to apply a 170 kV circuit breaker.

The curves of u TRVmax versus reactive power of the capacitor bank Q c are shown in Figure 12.
The curves are calculated under assumption that k pp = 1 for the following values of the
equivalent inductance: Lc = 1,2 mH and L c = 10 mH.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

TRV peak versus Qc

280

250

TRV peak [kVpeak]

220

190

160
50 100 150 200 250

Capacitor bank reactive power [MVAR]

Dashed green line: TRV for 170 kV and k pp = 1,3

Figure 12 – Maximum TRV peak versus the reactive power of the capacitor bank

Figure 12 shows that an increase of the reactive power of the capacitor bank results in an
insignificant reduction of the maximum TRV peak. For example, for L c =1,2 mH, a change of Qc
from 50 Mvar to 250 Mvar results in decrease of u TRVmax from 253 kVpeak to 223 kVpeak.

The influence of the neutral earthing of the capacitor bank on the maximum TRV peak is
illustrated in Figure 13.

TRV peak versus kpp

350

310
TRV peak [kVpeak]

270

230

190

150
1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3

First-pole-to-clear factor [pu]

Solid lines: solidly earthed neutral

Dotted lines: isolated neutral

Figure 13 – Influence of the neutral earthing of the capacitor bank on the maximum TRV
peak

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 13 shows that using capacitor banks with isolated neutrals (ungrounded – Y-connected
banks) results in insignificant reduction (3 – 7 %) of the maximum TRV peak.

When L c << L s , the equations given in Table 3 can be simplified. The result is given in Table 4.
The equations given in Table 4 are used to compare the values obtained using EMPT
simulations with those obtained using the analytical analysis

Table 4 – Results of calculations, 3-phase fault, capacitor bank connected

Effectively earthed Effectively earthed Non-effectively Non-effectively

source, earthed bank source, isolated earthed source, earthed source,
neutral bank solidly earthed bank isolated neutral bank
u c (kV)
2 2 2 2
2kpp  Ur 2kpp  Ur 2kpp  Ur 2kpp  Ur
3 3 3 3
T p (µs)  1000 k pp  Ls C 2  1000 k pp  Ls C 2
 1000kpp  Ls C  1000 kpp  Ls C
3 3

I out 2C 4 2C 2C 4 2C
2k pp  U r kpp  U r 2kpp  U r kpp  U r
(kApeak) 3000 L1 3 3000 L1 3000 L1 3 3000L1

f out 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(kHz) 2 103  L1C 2 103  L1C 2 103  L1C 2 103  L1C

NOTE The calculation of I out assumes that the re-ignition occurs at the peak of the TRV.

Where

k pp is the first pole-to-clear factor – 1,3 for effectively earthed neutral source and 1,5 for
non-effectively earthed neutral source (p.u.)
U r is the system voltage (kV r.m.s.)
L s is the short-circuit reactance (mH)
L 1 is the reactance between the capacitor bank and the line (mH)
C is the capacitance of the capacitor bank (µF)
In case of a single-phase fault with the capacitor bank connected, the results are as follows:

a) Isolated neutral bank: outrush current is negligible;

b) Solidly earthed neutral bank:
2C  
I out  2U r
3000 L1

1 1
fout 
2 103  L1C

These simplifications are meant to provide a first approximation of the phenomena that occur
close to or at the TRV peak.

3.2.3 Parallel RLC circuit

Circuit breakers are applied in general based on the IEC 62771-100 and IEEE C37.06 transient
recovery voltage (TRV) requirements without regard to existing or future station elements that
may influence the actual in-service TRV. A frequently asked question relates to the influence
of large capacitance values associated with shunt capacitor banks on TRVs.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

TRVs can be calculated using the circuit shown in Figure 14 [13]. R, L and C elements of the
actual circuit can be reduced to form an equivalent parallel oscillating circuit with C sh being the
additional capacitance due to the presence of a shunt capacitor bank. The TRV for the basic
RLC case is first calculated and then various values of C sh can be added to determine their
effect on the TRVs.

Figure 14 – Basic circuit for TRV calculation

The TRV is calculated using the current injection method described in [14]. The resulting
solution has three possible outcomes depending upon whether the circuit is over-damped,
critically damped or under-damped. Generalized damping curves can be derived as shown in
Figure 15 [15].

Figure 15 – Generalized damping curves

The parameter used in the curves is R/R cd where R cd is the value of R which results in critical
damping, i.e. R/R cd = 1. The three cases can be summarized as follows:

 R > R cd the TRV is underdamped and oscillatory.

 R = R cd the TRV is critically damped.

Page 30
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

 R < R cd the TRV is overdamped and exponential.

The time axis is generic where one unit is the angular period of the underdamped oscillation
given by LC .

R cd is given by Equation (32):

L
Rcd  0,5 (32)
C

It is clear from Equation (32) that any increase in the value of C will increase the value of R/R cd .
The effect is therefore twofold:

– the peak value of the TRV will increase;

– the time to the peak will increase due to the longer angular period with a corresponding
decrease in the rate-of-rise of the TRV. This effect is illustrated by taking the case of a
245 kV circuit breaker.
The TRV requirements for a 245 kV, 50 kA circuit breaker are shown in Table 5 taken from
Table 26 of IEC 62271-100. For each of the test cases T100, T60, T30 and T10, a 60 Hz single-
phase test circuit with an applied voltage of k pp times 245/3 is first derived. With R, L and C
now known, the equations for each TRV can be developed [15]. The effect of added capacitance
is determined by simply using the new value for C and modifying the equations accordingly.
This is considered for C sh values in the range 0,1 to 5 μF.

Table 5 – TRV requirements for 245 kV circuit breaker

Rated Test- First Amplitude First Time TRV Time Time Voltage Time Rate-
voltage duty pole- factor reference peak delay of-
to- voltage value rise
clear
factor

t 2 or u1/t1
Ur k pp k af u1 t1 uc td u' t'
t3 uc/t2

kV p.u. p.u. kV s kV s s kV s kV/  s

2 51
T100 1,3 1,40 195 98 364 392 98 2
(27) (76)
35-
245 T60 1,3 1,5 195 65 390 390 2-20 98 3
52
T30 1,3 1,54 -- -- 400 80 12 133 39 5
T10 1,5 0,9  1,7 -- -- 459 66 10 153 32 7

The TRVs for T100 and T60 are four-parameter over-damped exponential functions with the
first part being local and the second part due to the return of the reflected travelling wave [13].
Only the first part of these TRVs is considered in this analysis. The TRVs for T30 and T10 are
two-parameter underdamped oscillatory functions.

Figure 16 shows the base TRV cases with no added capacitance and Figure 17 through Figure
21 show the base TRV cases and the cases with the above noted capacitance values,
respectively. For the T100, T60 and T30 cases, 1 p.u. equals 260 kV while for the T10 1 p.u.
equals 300 kV.

Page 31
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 16 – Base TRVs for T100, T60, T30 and T10

1,6
TRV (p.u.)

1,4

1,2 T100: no capacitor

T100: C = 0,1 µF
1
T100: C = 0,2 µF
0,8 T100: C = 0,5 µF
T100: C = 1 µF
0,6
T100: C = 2 µF
0,4 T100: C = 5 µF

0,2

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Time (µs)

Figure 17 – Base TRV for T100 and TRVs with additional capacitance

Page 32
Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 18 – Base TRV for T60 and TRVs with additional capacitance

Figure 19 – Base TRV for T30 and TRVs with additional capacitance

Page 33
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 20 – Base TRV for T10 and TRVs with additional capacitance

The effect of the added capacitance is obvious. The lower values of C sh represent situations
where added capacitance might be required to provide TRV control.
NOTE The upper limit of added capacitance of 5 µF is a practical limit for TRV/surge capacitors.

The following observations can be made:

 For T100, the TRV becomes underdamped at C sh = 1 F.

 For T60, the TRV becomes underdamped at C sh = 0,2 F.

 For T30 and T10, the TRV values approach high amplitude factors quite rapidly with
increasing C sh values; additionally, the oscillations will ring for some cycles of the power
frequency voltage.

Figure 21 shows the migration of the base family of TRVs with the addition of a 1 μF capacitor.
The blue curves are without added capacitance and show the TRVs for T10 to T100 from left to
right. The red curves are with the additional capacitance and show the TRVs for T100 to T10
again read left to right.

Page 34
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 21 – Base TRVs and TRVs with added capacitance of 1 F

In general, the actual existing TRVs in any substation will not be known. However, the TRV
capability of the existing circuit breakers is known and can be used as the base TRV. For
example, if the circuit breakers are rated at 50 kA, and the actual fault level is 40 kA, the base
“T80 TRV” is extrapolated from the T100 and T60 values and used to determine the base circuit.
The effect of added capacitance is then determined as discussed above.

The question now is: how accurate is an RLC calculation as compared to using a transients
program such as EMTP. Hydro-Québec carried out an EMTP study for a 735/315 kV substation
to determine the effect of adding two 315 kV, 384 Mvar shunt capacitor banks, the three-phase
to earth fault level being 42,4 kA rms. The calculated TRVs without added shunt capacitor banks
are shown in Figure 22.

Page 35
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

80

60

40

20

-20

-40

-60

-80
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
Time (ms)
2
1,5

0,5

-0,5

-1

-1,5

-2
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
Time (ms)

Red lines: Current and voltage in A-phase

Blue lines: Current and voltage in B-phase

Green lines: Current and voltage in C-phase

Figure 22 – Hydro-Québec EMTP study: TRVs without added shunt capacitor banks

Expressed in IEC terms, the characteristics of the first-pole-to-clear two parameter TRV values
are: u c = 1,82 p.u., k af = 1,4 and u c /t 3 = 2,2 kV/s. The TRV is underdamped. With the two
added shunt capacitor banks, the TRV characteristics become: u c = 2,23 p.u., k af = 1,72 and
u c /t 3 = 0,5 kV/s. The two TRVs are shown in comparison in Figure 23 for the first-pole-to-clear.
The effect of the added capacitance is as expected and the longer term ringing noted above is
evident.

The TRV as modified by the presence of the capacitor banks can be compared to the TRV for
out-of-phase switching given in IEC 62271-100. The two-parameter values for the out-of-phase
TRV are: u c = 1,91 p.u. and u c /t 3 = 1,54 kV/µs. The peak of the modified TRV is more severe
than that for out-of-phase switching, whereas the rate-of-rise of the modified TRV is much lower
than that for out-of-phase.

Using the EMTP calculated TRV values with no added shunt capacitor banks, a basic RLC
circuit can be calculated as for the 245 kV circuit breaker case discussed above. The effect of
the added capacitance is then readily determined as shown in Figure 24. The RLC calculation
compares well with the EMTP calculation but exhibiting less damping.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 23 – Hydro-Québec EMTP study: TRV without shunt capacitance (blue trace) and
with added shunt capacitance (red trace)

Figure 24 – Comparison of Hydro-Québec EMTP and parallel RLC circuit TRV

calculations

From Figure 24 the conclusion can be drawn that the parallel RLC analysis is more conservative
than that of an EMTP calculation.

Page 37
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

3.2.4 EMTP simulations

3.2.4.1 72,5 kV
3.2.4.1.1 General
EMTP simulations have been performed using the circuit given in Figure 25 considering a three-
phase-to-earth fault and a single-phase-to-earth fault.

The results of the EMTP simulations were compared to the analytical result obtained using the
equations given in Table 4.

The circuit consists of two sources, the short-circuit current is set at 31,5 kA when both sources
are connected.

The following cases are considered:

– Non-effectively earthed source and capacitor bank with isolated neutral;

– Effectively earthed source and capacitor bank with isolated neutral;
– Effectively earthed source and capacitor bank with solidly earthed neutral.

Figure 25 – Circuit diagram used for 72,5 kV simulation

The capacitor bank is a 17,9 Mvar capacitor bank (capacitance 10 µF) connected via a damping
reactor of 100 µH.

3.2.4.1.2 Three-phase-to-earth fault

The results of the simulations and analytical analysis are given in Table 6 and Table 7.

Page 38
 Table 6 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, non-effectively earthed neutral source, full short-circuit

Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Parameter Unit No bank connected 10 µF bank connected, isolated
neutral, damping reactor 100 µH
Simulation Analytic Simulation Analytic
I sc kA 31,5 31,50 31,5 31,5
uc kV 125 125 170 174
tp µs 187 187 622 590
RRRV kV/µs 0,77 0,77 0,31 0,34
Outrush current I out kA peak - - 38 37,8
Outrush current frequency f out kHz - - 4,9 5,08

Table 7 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, effectively earthed neutral source, full short-circuit
Page 39

Parameter Unit T100, three-phase-to-earth fault

No bank connected 10 µF bank connected, solidly earthed 10 µF bank connected, isolated neutral,
neutral, damping reactor 100 µH damping reactor 100 µH
Simulation Analytic Simulation Analytic Simulation Analytic
I sc kA 31,5 31,50 31,5 31,50 31,5 31,5
uc kV 106,7 102,9 148,6 153,9 147,3 153,9
tp µs 174 188,3 704 672,5 585 549,1
RRRV kV/µs 0,70 0,63 0,24 0,26 0,29 0,32
Outrush current I out kA peak - - 48,5 49,16 32,95 32,8
Outrush current frequency f out kHz - - 5 5,08 5 5,08
t p is the time to peak, t p = t 3 /0,87
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

From the results given in Table 6 and Table 7 the following conclusions can be drawn:

– The outrush current peak and frequency from EMTP simulations are in line with the analytic
values as well as the TRV peak value.
– An isolated neutral capacitor bank allows to reduce the amplitude of the outrush current.
– Simulation of a restrike at the peak of the TRV, will give the outrush current and the TRV
that the circuit breaker has to withstand if the circuit breaker clears at the first high frequency
current zero.
Figure 26 shows an example of a re-ignition at the TRV peak on the green phase. The case
considered is a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank with isolated neutral. The
results are as follows:

– An outrush current of 37,5 kA peak with a frequency of 4,95 kHz occurs. This current is
cleared at the first high frequency current zero;
– The result is that an even higher voltage peak (300 kV peak instead of the original 170 kV peak )
appears between the circuit breaker terminals.
Figure 27 shows an example of a re-ignition at the TRV peak on the blue phase. The case
considered is an effectively earthed source and a solidly earthed capacitor bank. The results
are as follows:

– An outrush current of 48,4 kA peak with a frequency of 4,95 kHz occurs. This current is
cleared at the first high frequency current zero;
– The result is that an even higher voltage peak (appears between the circuit breaker
terminals, in that case 263 kVpeak compared to the original 170 kV peak .

Figure 26 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank with
isolated neutral

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 27 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of an effectively earthed neutral source and a capacitor bank
with solidly earthed neutral

3.2.4.1.3 Single-phase-to-earth fault

The circuit shown in Figure 25 is used, the load current is 2 500 A.

The results are summarized in Table 8 and Table 9.

Table 8 – EMTP simulation results for 72,5 kV, single-phase fault, non-effectively
earthed neutral source

Parameter Unit Single-phase to earth fault

10 µF capacitor bank with 10 µF capacitor bank with isolated
No bank solidly earthed neutral neutral
simulation Damping reactor 100 µH Damping reactor 100 µH
I sc kA (rms) 4,9 4,7 4,9
uc kV 116,5 123,8 124,3
tp µs 786 2894 792
RRRV kV/µs 0,17 0,05 0,18
Outrush current peak I out kA - 40,2 6,1

Outrush current frequency f out kHz - 4,95 Aperiodic a

t p is the time to peak, t p = t 3 /0,87

a Aperiodic: The outrush current does not create additional current zeroes.

Page 41
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 9 – Results of analysis for 72,5 kV, single-phase fault, effectively earthed neutral
source

Parameter Unit Single-phase-to-earth fault

No bank 10 µF capacitor bank with 10 µF capacitor bank
connected solidly earthed neutral, with isolated neutral,
damping reactor 100 µH damping reactor 100 µH
Simulation Simulation Analytic Simulation
I sc kA 31,5 31,5 31,5 31,5
uc kV 125 114 118,4 96,6
tp µs 187 620 589 353
RRRV kV/µs 0,77 0,21 0,23 0,31
Outrush current I out kA peak - 36,8 37,4 3,97
Outrush current kHz - 4,95 5,03 N.A.
frequency f out
t p is the time to peak, t p = t 3 /0,87

From the results given here the following the conclusions can be drawn that the amplitude of
the outrush current is strongly reduced when the capacitor bank has an isolated neutral.

Figure 28 shows an example of restrike at the TRV peak on the blue phase. The case
considered is a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank with isolated neutral. The
results are as follows:

– An aperiodic outrush current of 6,1 kA peak appears, the current is cleared only after the next
power frequency current zero.
Figure 29 shows an example of restrike at the TRV peak on the blue phase. The case
considered is an effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank with solidly earthed neutral.
The results are as follows:

– An outrush current of 37,4 kA peak at a frequency of 4,95 kHz appears. The current is cleared
at the first high frequency current zero;
– The result is that an even a higher voltage (204 kV peak compared to the original 114 kV peak )
appears between the circuit breaker terminals.

Figure 28 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of a non-effectively earthed source and a capacitor bank with
isolated neutral

Page 42
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 29 - Trace of the recovery voltage (left) and outrush current (right)
corresponding to the case of an effectively earthed neutral source and a capacitor bank
with solidly earthed neutral

3.2.4.2 245 kV
3.2.4.2.1 General
EMTP simulations have been performed considering a single-phase-to-earth fault.

The EMTP model for the simulations is given in Figure 30. The circuit consists of a combination
of two short-circuit equivalent circuits (i.e., transformer and transmission line circuit) to obtain
63 kA short-circuit current and a transient recovery voltage response representative of the T100
short-circuit test-duty for 245 kV, 63 kA rated circuit breaker with a first pole-to-clear factor of
1,3. The shunt capacitor bank used for the simulations is 100 Mvar (5,014 F at 230 kV).

Short-Circuit Equivalent
Circuit Breaker
Transformer Circuit ~60% Contribution Interrupting Fault.
from Transformers

100% Terminal Fault - T100

(Single-Phase to Earth 63 kA)

~40% Contribution from

Transmission Lines
Capacitor Bank
Circuit Breaker

Damping
Short-Circuit Equivalent Reactor
Transmission Line Circuit
Shunt
Capacitor Bank

Figure 30 – Circuit diagram used for 245 kV simulations

3.2.4.2.2 Single-phase to earth fault

To illustrate the impacts of a shunt capacitor bank and the transient recovery voltage (TRV)
imposed on the circuit breaker interrupting the fault, the following cases are simulated:

– Single-phase to earth fault without capacitor bank;

– Single-phase to earth fault with a 5,014 F capacitor bank without damping reactor;

Page 43
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

– Single-phase to earth fault with a 5,014 F capacitor bank and 1000 H damping reactor.
Figure 31 shows a comparison of the three simulated cases.

As shown in Figure 31, the addition of the shunt capacitor bank significantly reduces the rate-
of-rise of the TRV, especially in the first few µs. However, if a damping reactor is used with the
capacitor bank, the initial rate-of-rise of the TRV is fairly consistent to the case with no capacitor
bank.

Figure 31 – Comparison of transient recovery voltage with no capacitor bank, with

capacitor bank and no damping reactor, and with capacitor bank and damping reactor

If a restrike occurs at the peak of the TRV an outrush current will flow through the circuit breaker
interrupting the fault current. To quantify the outrush currents for the case with a restrike at the
peak of the TRV, the following cases are simulated:

– Single-phase to earth fault without capacitor bank;

– Single-phase to earth fault with a 5,014 F capacitor bank without damping reactor (10 H
of buswork inductance included);
– Single-phase to earth fault with a 5,014 F capacitor bank and 1000 H damping reactor.
Table 10 provides a summary of the TRV and outrush currents for the three cases.

Page 44
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 10 - Simulation results for 245 kV circuit breaker with a single-phase to earth fault

Parameter Unit T100 single-phase to earth fault, effectively earthed source

TRV No bank 5,014 µF capacitor 5,014 µF capacitor
(IEC/IEEE) simulation a bank with solidly bank with solidly
earthed neutral earthed neutral and
without damping damping reactor
reactor a 1000 µH

I sc kA (rms) 63 63 63 63
uc kV 364 337 384 365
t2 µs 392 341 594 657
RRRV kV/µs 2,0 2,0 0,7 1,2
Outrush current peak I out kA - - 206,0 31,5
Outrush current frequency f out kHz - - 16,0 2,2
a 10 µH included to represent buswork

The presence of a capacitor bank results in an outrush current component added to the current
through the circuit breaker interrupting the fault. The outrush current may potentially result in
high frequency current zeros that the circuit breaker could interrupt before the next power
frequency current zero. To illustrate this concept a simulation is performed with a restrike at the
peak of the TRV with the circuit breaker interrupting at a high frequency current zero.

Figure 32 shows a plot of the current through the circuit breaker interrupting the fault with a
single capacitor bank without damping reactor. Figure 33 shows a plot of the transient recovery
voltage for the same case.

Damping reactors are often used to reduce the peak and frequency of inrush and outrush
currents from shunt capacitor banks especially where back-to-back switching may occur.
However, because of the lower frequency from the damping reactor the circuit breaker may be
able to interrupt the high frequency current more easily. Figure 34 shows a plot of the current
through the circuit breaker interrupting the fault with a single capacitor bank and a 1000 H
damping reactor. Figure 35 shows a plot of the transient recovery voltage for the same case.

Page 45
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 32 - Trace of the current interrupted by the circuit breaker for the case with a
capacitor bank without damping reactor

Figure 33 - Trace of the transient recovery voltage across the circuit breaker for the
case with a capacitor bank without damping reactor

Page 46
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 34 - Trace of the current interrupted by the circuit breaker for the case with a
capacitor bank and a 1000 H damping reactor

Figure 35 - Trace of the transient recovery voltage across the circuit breaker for the
case with a capacitor bank and a 1000 H damping reactor

3.2.4.3 362 kV
3.2.4.3.1 General
EMTP simulations were performed considering a 3-phase-to-earth fault and a single-phase-to-
earth fault. The simplified network is a typical 362 kV substation represented by a Thévenin
equivalent source. The substation has 4 overhead lines at 362 kV with a total load of 450 MW.
The substation has two shunt capacitor banks of 457 Mvar each. The capacitor banks are either
with solidly earthed neutral or isolated neutral.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

The source is represented by a Thévenin equivalent with an impedance calculated to for a

three-phase short-circuit current of 50 kA (academic case). The zero sequence impedance Z 0
in relation with the positive sequence impedance Z 1 is adjusted for a single-phase short-circuit
current of 50 kA as well in order to get an effectively earthed circuit (Z 1 = 3Z 0 ). At this voltage
level, the source is effectively earthed, therefore the case non-effectively earthed source as for
72,5 kV is not performed.

The following cases are considered:

– Capacitor bank with solidly earthed neutral;

– Capacitor bank with isolated neutral.
The circuit used for the simulation is given in Figure 36.

Line CB clearing the fault

RESTRIKE 0.01
+ +
362_kV_Busbar
CB_Clear
Fault
+ +
fault location

0.5
overhead lines 248.90/_-4.9

+
R1
GND
PI
LF
3063 +
150MW
PI 30MVAR
3062 +
248.98/_-4.8
362_KV_Source
+ PI 248.73/_-5.0 LF
+
+ 150MW
30MVAR
PI
+

LF
150MW
CB_CAP1 30MVAR
+
+
1mH
C3
+

SW1
3484uS
+ +VM
GND
Bus_Bar

CB_CAP2
+
+
+

1mH C4
3484uS
GND
shunt capacitor banks

Figure 36 – Circuit diagram used for 362 kV simulations

The capacitance value of the banks is 9,24 μF. The capacitor banks are connected via a
damping reactor of 1 mH.

3.2.4.3.2 Three-phase-to-earth fault

The results of the simulations are summarised in Table 11.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 11 – Simulation results in the case of an effectively earthed source, three-phase-

to-earth fault

Parameter Unit T100 three-phase to earth fault, effectively earthed source

TRV No bank 2  9,24 µF banks, 2  9,24 µF banks,
(IEC/IEEE) simulation a solidly earthed, isolated neutral,
damping reactor damping reactor
1 mH 1 mH
I sc kA (rms) 50 50 50 50
u1 kV 288 205 431 463
uc kV 538 360 520 520
t1 µs 144 85 992 850
t2 µs 578 230 1 345 1 025
RRRV (u 1 /t 1 ) kV/µs 2 2,4 0,44 0,60
a
Outrush current peak I out kA - - 96 106
Outrush current frequency f out kHz - -
a
After the first restrike on phase B, a severe overvoltage appears on the other two phases (> 3 p.u.) causing a restrike
on phase A (see Figure 37).

Figure 37 – Two capacitor banks with isolated neutral – Restrike on phase B followed
by a restrike on phase A

3.2.4.3.3 Single-phase-to-earth fault

The same circuit is used as for the three-phase case. The circuit is effectively earthed with
Z 1 = 3Z 0 .

The results are summarized in Table 12.

Page 49
 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 12 – Simulation results in the case of an effectively earthed source, single-phase-

to-earth fault

Parameter Unit T100 single-phase-to-earth fault, effectively earthed source

TRV No bank 2  9,24 µF banks, 2  9,24 µF banks,
(IEC/IEEE) simulation solidly earthed isolated neutral,
neutral, damping damping reactor 1
reactor mH
1 mH
I sc kA (rms) 50 50 50 50
u1 kV 288 240 420 93
uc kV 538 352 521 444
t1 µs 144 97 1 010 75
t2 µs 578 237 1 440 1 335
RRRV ( u 1 / t 1 ) kV/µs 2 2,5 0,42 1,24
Outrush current peak I out kA - - 96 87
Outrush current frequency f out kHz - - 1,6 0,06

3.2.4.3.4 Discussion of the simulation results

The rate-of-rise of recovery voltage (RRRV) for the cases simulated without shunt capacitor
banks are a little higher than the standard IEC values for single-phase and three-phase fault
(2,4 to 2,5 kV/µs compared to 2,0 kV/µs as per IEC). The cases simulated are for test-duty
T100s with a strong source (I sc = 50 kA). The RRRV is a function of the derivative of the short-
circuit current (di/dt) and the equivalent impedance (Z) seen from the faulted point. In the cases
simulated with I sc = 50 kA, the equivalent impedance is mainly driven by the impedance of the
source which is much smaller than the impedance of the 4 overhead lines. Even with a number
of 4 overhead lines, it has a little impact on the RRRV.

The effect of adding two large shunt capacitor banks (2  457 Mvar) in the substation is twofold:

– The RRRV is greatly reduced (< 0,6 kV/µs for test-duty T100s);
– The peak value of the TRV is increased by roughly 50 %.
In the case of capacitor banks with isolated neutral, a restrike of the circuit breaker during
interruption of a T100s would not cause a high frequency outrush current. For the case of a
capacitor bank with solidly earthed neutral, a restrike during interruption of a single-phase or
multi-phase fault will automatically expose the circuit breaker to high frequency outrush
currents.

3.3 Influence on fault interrupting times

The low RRRV may result in a shorter minimum arcing time. If there is no re-ignition, this would
result in a shift of the extinguishing window towards shorter break times than the rated break
time. When the circuit breaker reignites, the extinguishing window may shift towards longer
break times, but still in the order of the rated break time. This depends on the capability of the
circuit breaker to interrupt in one of the high frequency current zeroes. If the circuit breaker
interrupts in a high frequency current zero, it will most likely reignite again causing voltage
escalation. If the circuit breaker is not capable of interrupting in a high frequency current zero,
another loop of power frequency current will follow and the circuit breaker will interrupt at the
next current zero, resulting in a break time close to the rated break time.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

4 Influence of outrush currents on line circuit breakers during fault switching

sequences
When the transmission line circuit breaker recloses and the fault is still present, the capacitor
bank discharges into the fault and depending on the magnitude of the inductance between the
capacitor bank and the fault location, the discharge current (outrush current) can reach peak
values and frequencies that exceed those given in Table 9 of IEC 62271-100 and Tables 4, 8
and 14 of IEEE C37.06. For a three-phase fault, the total current depends on the point-on-wave
of the closing operation as follows.

c) When the making occurs at voltage zero, the contribution from the system will be fault
current only. The current will be fully asymmetrical;
d) When the making occurs at voltage peak, the contribution of the fault current at the time the
outrush current reaches its first peak can be neglected and the most significant contribution
from the system will be the outrush current peak;
e) When the circuit breaker closes at a point-on-wave between those described in a) and b)
the contribution will be an outrush current superimposed on the fault current. The circuit
breaker needs to be able close into this combination of outrush and fault current.
Cases a), b) and c) are illustrated in Figure 38. The values of the first current peak are given in
Table 13.

300
Voltage (kV)

200
100
0
-100

-200
-300
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
Time (ms)

150
Current (kA)

100
50
0
-50

-100
-150
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32

Time (ms)

Key
Red arrow Initiation of short-circuit at voltage peak
Green arrow Initiation of short-circuit at voltage zero
Blue arrow Initiation of short-circuit at 45 

Figure 38 – Inrush current versus instant of fault initiation on first phase to close

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 13 – Inrush current peak versus initiation of short-circuit

Fault initiation time Inrush current peak

kA
Voltage peak 51
Voltage zero 4

45  28

5 Influence of capacitor bank configuration, component topology and fault

type on fault interruption by both line and capacitor bank circuit breakers
5.1 Capacitor bank configuration
The capacitor bank is considered as a lumped element. The location of the damping reactor
varies, as can be seen in Figure 2.

5.2 Capacitor bank switching device

5.2.1 TRVs
Faults to earth between the capacitor bank and current limiting reactor as well as a shorted
capacitor bank will expose the capacitor bank switching device SW 1 in Figure 39 to TRVs with
high frequency. The currents associated with the faults may be much higher than for a
transformer limited fault.

Figure 39 – Short-circuits resulting in high-frequency TRVs

Only dry-type reactors are used in these applications today. Such reactors have a low
inductance value and low stray capacitance values in the order of a few hundred pF. The TRVs
are fast rising with significant amplitudes.

The severity of the TRV is illustrated in the next example. A field test measurement has been
performed on a 120 kV, 96 Mvar capacitor bank with a 0,23 mH damping reactor in a substation
owned and operated by Hydro-Québec, Canada.

The results of the measurements are given in Figure 40.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 40 - Field test measurements on 0,23 mH damping reactor in a 120 kV installation

This case can be illustrated by considering an EMTP simulation done on a 66 kV, 50 Mvar
isolated neutral shunt capacitor bank with a 0,4 mH damping reactor. The TRV for a three-
phase earthed fault between the reactor and the capacitor bank is shown in Figure 41. The
effect of the reactor is very evident as is further shown in Figure 42.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure 41 – 40 kA three-phase asymmetrical fault at 120 kV – Currents and TRVs

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Voltage (kV) 24

20

16
tT
12

u0
4

uL*
0
tdL
-4

tL
-8

-12
0 1 2 3 4 5
time (µs)

Dotted red line: Source side TRV (1,1 kV/µs)

Solid blue line: Load side TRV (14,5 kV/µs)
Solid green line: TRV across the circuit breaker (15,5 kV/µs)

Figure 42 – Initial TRV of the fault case described in Figure 41

Figure 41Table 14 compares the line side TRV of a 90 % short-line fault with the values of initial
TRV illustrated in Figure 42.

Table 14 - Comparison of initial TRV values between SLF L90 and a fault involving
damping reactor for 145 kV, 40 kA breaker – HQ case

TRV parameters IEC L 90 40 kA 145 kV HQ case 120 kV, 40 kA, shunt capacitor
t d (µs) 2 0 (no delay)

t T (µs) 2,19 1,3

u 0 (kV) 11,84 8,1

t dL (µs) 0 0,23

t L (µs) 2,19 0,75

u L * (kV) 18,94 13,9

u s * (kV) 0,35 1,63

u T (kV) 19,29 15,53

u T / t T (kV/µs) 8,81 11,95

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Table 14 shows that the initial TRV of the reactor limited fault is more severe than the
prospective TRV of short-line fault test-duty L 90 . Mitigation means are required to lower the
initial TRV of the reactor limited fault, alternatively a circuit breaker with higher rated short-
circuit current may be used.

5.2.2 Mitigation means

The use of damping reactors should be associated with a TRV study. The TRVs produced by
current-limiting reactors are often extremely severe (fast rate-of-rise, high frequency) and are
generally significantly faster than those specified in IEC 62271-100 for test-duty T10 and ANSI
C37.06.1 [16]. Mitigation capacitors installed across the current limiting reactor or phase-to-
earth are generally required in order to decrease the resultant rate-of-rise of recovery voltage
to a value for which the circuit breaker has been designed and tested.

There are several means to reduce the TRVs associated with a reactor limited fault. Some of
these mitigation means are described in 7.1.1.

5.3 Transmission line circuit breaker

Table 15 summarizes the results of the simulations on the impact of the presence of a capacitor
bank to the TRV and the re-ignition at TRV peak.

Table 15 – Influence on line circuit breaker

Three-phase fault Single-phase fault

Isolated bank Solidly isolated bank Solidly
earthed earthed
capacitor bank capacitor bank
Impact on line RRRV -- -- -- --
circuit breaker Peak ++ ++ ++ ++
TRV
Impact of re- Outrush + ++ No effect ++
ignition at current peak
TRVpeak
-- lower
+ high
++ higher

The results presented in Table 15 also apply to the case of a fault in the 72,5 kV system
described in 3.2.4.1 under same conditions, i.e. effectively earthed neutral source and single-
phase and three-phase to earth fault.

6 Circuit breakers of different types and their applicable characteristics

6.1 General
The paper of Janssen and van der Sluis [7] contains a summary of the tests that were performed
on the different types of circuit breakers. A brief summary is provided here.

6.2 Oil circuit breakers

Oil circuit breakers are sensitive to the shockwave that is associated with a high frequency
discharge current. The oil is not compressible and the shockwave may damage parts of the
breaking chamber.

An oil circuit breaker will interrupt in one of the high frequency current zeroes. This will increase
the risk for high overvoltages.

6.3 Air-blast circuit breakers

Air-blast circuit breakers generally do not interrupt in any of the high-frequency current zeroes,
which means that there is a low probability of overvoltages.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Janssen and van der Sluis also noted that when the current peak and voltage were reduced to
50 %, the air-blast circuit breaker was capable of interrupting in one of the high frequency
current zeroes, causing an overvoltage of 3,9 p.u.

6.4 Vacuum circuit breakers

The voltage withstand of the contact gap of a vacuum circuit breaker rises very fast. When a
re-ignition occurs, the vacuum circuit breaker is usually capable of interrupting in one of the
high-frequency current zeroes, which may result in overvoltages.

When the circuit breaker closes into a fault, the high frequency discharge current may cause
welding spots that change the smoothness of the contact surface. This changes the
restrike/re-ignition probability on the following breaking operation.

This phenomenon is recognised in Table 4 of IEEE C37.06, which contains inrush current data
for some vacuum circuit breakers. These inrush current data are generally lower than required
for other technologies (i.e. SF 6 circuit breakers).

6.5 SF 6 circuit breakers

According to Janssen and van der Sluis [7] and [8], the tests performed with the first generation
puffer circuit breaker show that these circuit breakers have a capability to interrupt in one of
the high-frequency current zeros.

The capability to interrupt in any of the high-frequency current zeroes is low for the modern
puffer circuit breakers and even lower for self-blast (or arc assisted) circuit breakers. This also
means that the risk for overvoltages is low.

7 Mitigation of the effects of the interruption of short-circuit currents in the

presence of a capacitor bank
7.1 Mitigation at the capacitor bank
7.1.1 Installation of damping reactors
7.1.1.1 Transmission line circuit breaker
Installation of damping reactors lowers the frequency and peak of the outrush current, but may
make it easier for the transmission line circuit breaker to interrupt in one of the high frequency
current zeroes. The application of reactors with low losses for the fundamental frequency, but
higher losses for the higher frequencies may be considered to increase the damping of the high
frequency current.

7.1.1.2 Capacitor bank switching devices

The addition of damping reactors may give rise to high frequency TRVs for the capacitor bank
switching devices under certain fault conditions (i.e. when the fault is located between the
reactor and capacitor bank), see Annex A.

To reduce this rate-of-rise there are several solutions:

– Installing a capacitor in parallel with the damping reactor or phase-to-ground;

– Installing the damping reactor with a parallel TRV capacitor on the neutral side of the
capacitor bank (Sawada – Polovick solution, see [10]);
– Installing the damping reactor on the top of the capacitor bank rack to reduce the likelihood
of the occurrence of such a fault.
Installing a damping reactor between bus and transmission line circuit breaker (i.e. increasing
the value of L' in Figure 2) will not eliminate the problem of high frequency TRVs.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

7.1.2 Fixed or switched resistor in parallel with a reactor

7.1.2.1 Fixed resistor
The solution used by Janssen and van der Sluis was an SF 6 puffer circuit breaker and the
additional installation of a damping resistor in parallel with a damping reactor (see Figure 43).

Figure 43 – Solution with a damping resistor

The values used in combination with the puffer circuit breaker used in Figure 43 were: C = 14,4
µF, L add = 600 µH and R d = 15 .

7.1.2.2 Switched resistor

Sabot et al [8] used a branch in parallel with the damping reactor, consisting of a Metal Oxide
Varistor (MOV) in series with a damping resistor (see Figure 44). The MOV acts as a switch for
the resistor. In normal condition the MOV will not conduct, it will be conducting when high
frequency current passes through the damping reactor. More information regarding the
dimension of the MOV, resistor and damping reactor can be found in [8].

Figure 44 – Solution with a switched resistor

7.1.3 Varistor in parallel with the series reactor

A properly rated MOV in parallel with a damping reactor will eliminate the high frequency current
zeroes. Two solutions have been presented, one by Mysore [9] and one by Filion.

Figure 45 – Solution with a MOV in parallel to the damping reactor

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

In the solution presented by Mysore [9] the damping reactor has a surge capacitor and MOV in
parallel as illustrated in Figure 45. Application of a capacitor in parallel with a MOV will reduce
outrush current and TRV frequency.

In the solution used by Hydro-Québec the damping reactor is installed in the neutral of the
capacitor bank. A properly dimensioned MOV is installed in parallel with the damping reactor.
Using a MOV only will limit the outrush current.

Figure 46 – Solution with a MOV in parallel with the damping reactor

7.2 Mitigation external to the capacitor bank

7.2.1 Voltage rating of the line circuit breaker
Using a circuit breaker having a higher rated voltage such that re-ignitions will be avoided.

7.2.2 Opening resistor

Application of opening resistors to the line circuit breaker will reduce the TRV peak which will
reduce the probability of a re-ignition at the TRV peak. Additionally, the opening resistor will
introduce additional damping in the circuit that will result in a faster decay of the high-frequency
current. Opening resistors will not limit the outrush current from the capacitor bank when the
circuit breaker closes into a fault.

7.2.3 Varistor in parallel with the breaking chamber

Installing a MOV in parallel with the circuit breaker will reduce the TRV peak and reduce the
probability of a re-ignition.

The protective level of the MOV is selected in such a way that the residual voltage across the
breaking chamber does not exceed the tested values of TRV peak for terminal fault interruption.

The critical point regarding the selection of the proper MOV is the energy consumption of the
MOV. The MOV has to handle the energy that is stored in the capacitor bank. The highest
energy consumption will occur in the rare case of a re-ignition.

The case when MOVs are used for circuit breakers consisting of several series connected
breaking chambers deserves some extra attention. The worst case is that only one MOV has to
handle the whole energy consumption. The reasons are the unequal voltage distribution and
the mechanical time spread between the breaking chambers units during opening and closing
operation.

For the selection of the MOV in parallel with the breaking chamber the network parameters at
the point of application are important.

The load influences the energy consumption of the MOV. The ratio between network impedance
and load affect the transient overvoltage at re-ignition or restrike.

When a simulation is carried out, a single-phase simulation will be sufficient.

7.2.4 Controlled fault interruption

Controlled fault interruption can be used to avoid interruption with short arcing times. The
controller will delay the impulse to the circuit breaker such that the arcing time will be close to

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

0,5 cycle of power frequency. The controller will cause additional delay in the time from impulse
to current extinction. The system has to be suited to accept this additional delay.

8 Recommendations
8.1 General
Analysis and laboratory tests have shown that a major influence of a shunt capacitor bank in a
substation is to modify the TRV for any circuit breaker clearing a fault when the capacitor bank
is on the source side of the circuit breaker. The modified TRV can theoretically result in high
re-ignition outrush currents and in some cases severe overvoltages.

Putting this in context of service experience, worldwide, the overall service experience of circuit
breakers spans over millions of circuit breaker years. Many circuit breaker are operating or
have operated in the vicinity of shunt capacitor banks with no known problems due to the
presence of the shunt capacitor. There have been some failures due to the presence of
“damping reactors” (associated with fast rising TRVs), but none known to be due to the “re-
ignition outrush” described in this brochure, or the modified TRV which the capacitor bank
causes.

Problems may occur due to an unfortunate combination of fault location, substation

configuration, and circuit breaker performance. The working group acknowledges that such
failures may have occurred but have been unreported, or incorrectly analysed. The phenomena
described in this TB, particularly re-ignition outrush, need to be considered in investigation of
circuit breaker, or surge arrester failures which occur when shunt capacitors have been on the
source side of a circuit breaker clearing a fault.

Lacking any hard evidence pointing to the capacitor banks as a reason for circuit breaker failure
when clearing short-circuits, the working group does not suggest any mitigation for the re-
ignition outrush current or the modified TRV from capacitor banks.

The working group does not see a need to update/change the existing circuit breaker standards.

Following subclauses provide further information on how to analyse specific installations.

8.2 Existing installations

When additional capacitor bank(s) with or without damping reactor are installed in an existing
substation, the following items should be considered:

– Possible simulations to see the effect of the installation of the additional capacitor bank(s);
– Additional capacitor bank(s) affect the existing circuit breaker(s) because of back-to-back
capacitor bank switching. The suitability of the existing circuit breakers for this application
needs to be checked (e.g. replacing oil circuit breaker for SF 6 );
– There may be a need to replace circuit breakers that interrupt a fault in the substation where
the capacitor banks are on the source side of the circuit breaker. This will depend on the
capability of the circuit breaker. For example, the line circuit breaker may have a capability
exceeding the standard ratings;
– Space requirements for additional mitigation means (reactors, MOVs, etc.) based on the
results of the simulations;
– Circuit breaker design and characteristics need to be considered (i.e. capability of
interrupting in any of the high frequency current zeroes);
– Space requirements of a possible change of circuit breakers that interrupt a fault in the
substation where the capacitor banks are on the source side of the circuit breaker to a higher
voltage rating;
– If surge arresters are used, their location is important: the can be installed between circuit
breaker and reactor or between reactor and capacitor bank. The latter case will give rise to
TRVs with high frequency in case of failure of the surge arrester;

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

– Outrush current should be considered when capacitor banks are used without damping
reactors. An example is the use of controlled closing. Controlled closing will only affect
inrush current, outrush is not limited.
8.3 New installation
In a new installation that is going to include capacitor bank(s), the following may be analysed:

– Simulations that will result in the proper choice of circuit breaker(s) and mitigation means;
– Future expansion of the substation needs to be considered.
8.4 Simulations
The simulations that should be done should provide information about how the TRV waveshape
is modified by the presence of the capacitor bank for first, second and third pole-to-clear.

Furthermore, the simulation should provide information about the effect of the installation of a
capacitor bank including already installed reactors to see if there is a potential problem. Worst
case analysis with maximum outrush current (re-ignition at the peak of the modified TRV) should
be checked. Simulation should take account of the TRV capability of the circuit breaker.

8.5 For existing switching devices

The working group does not suggest any mitigation for the re-ignition outrush current or the
modified TRV from capacitor banks. If mitigation is required, solutions suggested in 7 are
suggested.

8.6 Using dedicated line circuit breakers

Circuit breakers can be suited for the switching of faults in the vicinity of a capacitor bank
without the need for additional mitigations means. In those cases the limits of inrush/outrush
and TRV parameters stated in the standards are exceeded. Suitability of the circuit breaker for
this application needs to be checked or verified by specific tests.

Such tests would show the re-ignition behaviour as well as the capability of the circuit breaker
to interrupt at any of the high frequency current zeroes in case of a re-ignition. Such tests
depend to a high degree on the substation layout and a standard set of tests cannot be given.

8.7 Testing
Due to the large variety of the different installations no common values can be determined for
TRV waveshape and the high frequency current following a re-ignition. Therefore no specific
test requirements are provided.

The phenomena described depend to a high degree on the capability of the circuit breaker to
withstand the modified TRV peak and/or the capability to interrupt in any of the high frequency
current zeroes.

Withstanding a modified TRV can be checked in a laboratory and will show if additional
mitigation means are required. The TRV waveshape will be a two parameter TRV with a peak
of maximum 2 p.u. The frequency of the TRV depends on the circuit components (capacitance
of the capacitor bank, inductance of the busbar including damping reactor, grounding conditions
of the capacitor bank and source, etc.).

To verify the behaviour of the circuit breaker when interrupting the high frequency current
following a re-ignition, the circuit breaker should interrupt a short-circuit with a modified TRV
and when the circuit breaker re-ignites, the circuit should provide the correct high frequency
current. In other words: the verification is done in a circuit that reflects the actual situation in
that specific substation.

9 References
[1] IEC 62271-100: High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – part 100: Alternating current
circuit breakers

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

[2] IEEE C37.06: IEEE Standard for AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a
Symmetrical Current Basis – Preferred Ratings and Required Capabilities for Voltages
Above 1000 V

[3] IEC 62271-306: High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 306:

[4] IEEE C37.012: IEEE Guide for the Application of Capacitance Current Switching for AC
High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Above 1000 V

[5] IEEE C37.100: IEEE Standard Definitions for Power Switchgear

[6] L. van der Sluis and A.L-J. Janssen: Clearing faults near shunt capacitor banks, paper 90
WM 188-3 PWRD, PES Winter meeting 1990, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.
5, No. 3, July 1990

[7] A.L.J. Janssen and L. van der Sluis: Controlling the transient currents and overvoltages
after interruption of a fault near shunt capacitor banks, paper 13-13, CIGRE 1988 session,
Paris

[8] A. Sabot et al, “A unique multipurpose damping circuit for shunt capacitor bank switching”,
IEEE transactions on Power Delivery, Vol 8, No. 3, July 1993, pp. 1173 - 1183

[9] Pratap G. Mysore, Bruce A. Mork and Himanshu J. Bahirat: Improved Application of Surge
Capacitors for TRV Reduction When Clearing Capacitor Bank Faults, IEEE transactions
on power delivery, Vol. 25, No. 4, October 2010

[10] Sawada-Polovick configuration, BC Hydro internal report, 2005

[11] F. Martin and E. Joncquel, “Circuit breaker tripping near capacitor banks”, CIGRE paper
A3-203, 2006 session in Paris

[12] R. Thomas: Three Phase Controlled Fault Interruption Using High Voltage SF 6 Circuit
Breakers, thesis Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, ISBN 987-91-
7291-976-1

[13] IEEE C37.011, Application Guide for Transient Recovery Voltage for AC High-Voltage
Circuit Breakers

[14] E.W. Boehne, “The Determination of Circuit Recovery Rates”, AIEE Transactions, Volume
54, May 1935

[15] A. Greenwood, “Electrical Transients in Power Systems” (Book), John Wiley & Sons, 1971

[16] ANSI C37.06.1, Guide for High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on Symmetrical Current
Basis Designated “Definite Purpose for Fast Transient Recovery Voltage Rise Times”

[17] IEC 60076-6: Power transformers – Part 6: Reactors

[18] D.F. Peelo, “Current Interruption Transients Calculation”. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2014

[19] L. Niemeyer, L Ullrich, N Weigart, "The Mechanism of Leader Breakdown in

Electronegative Gasses", IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation Vol . 24, No2, April
1989 pp 309 - 32

[20] A. Kalyuzhny, "Switching Capacitor bank Back-to-Back to Underground Cables", IEEE

Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 28, No.2, pp. 1128-1137, Apr.2013

[21] F. Faria da Silva, Claus L. Bak and M. Lind Hansen: Back-to-back energization of a 60
kV cable network – Inrush current phenomenon. Proceedings of the Power and Energy
Society General Meeting 2010. (pp. 1-6) IEEE Press. 10.1109/PES.2010.5589314

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Annex A

Influence of the presence of a series reactor in the vicinity of the circuit

breaker
A.1 General
Series reactors are installed for different purposes. Depending on their application, series
reactors may be used for transient current limitation, short-circuit limitation or power flow control
and are named following the definitions given in IEC 60076-6 [17].

The size of series reactors in mH or  depends on the rated voltage and the application. There
is no defined range for the three types of reactors mentioned here.

A.1.1 Damping reactors

A damping reactor is defined as follows.

Reactor connected in series with shunt capacitors used for the following purposes:

– limitation of the inrush current when the capacitor is energised;

– limitation of the outrush current when the switching devices closes into a fault or from
switching operation from an adjacent capacitor bank;
– limitation of the outrush current in case of a restrike/re-ignition of the circuit breaker;
– detuning of the capacitor banks in order to avoid resonance with the power system.
A damping reactor may be installed on the high-voltage side or in the neutral side of the
capacitor bank. Depending on the location of the damping reactor and presence of mitigation
components (parallel capacitors, metal oxide varistors), the circuit breaker may be exposed to
fast (i.e. high rate-of-rise) transient recovery voltages (TRVs) for faults between the reactor and
the capacitor bank.
NOTE Series reactors used in harmonic filter banks fall in the category of damping reactors.
A.1.2 Current limiting reactors
A current limiting reactor is defined as follows.

Reactor connected in series in a power system to limit the current under system fault conditions.

Current limiting reactors may create similar fast TRVs as damping reactors.

A.1.3 Power flow control reactors

A power flow control reactor is defined as follows.

Reactor connected in series in a power system to control the power flow.

Power flow control reactors match the impedance of different parts of an electrical system. Also
such reactors may create fast TRVs.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Annex B

Derivation of the equations for a series RLC circuit

With reference to Figure 4, L s , R and C form a series RLC circuit. Applying a voltage u to such
a circuit, the inrush current i i can be calculated in general as follows:

dii q
u  Ri  Ls 
dt C

Differentiating and treating u as a step voltage, i.e. switching in at the instant of the voltage
peak:

d2ii R dii 1
  ii  0 (B.1)
2 Ls dt LC
dt

Equation (B.1) is a second order linear homogenous differential equation with three possible
solutions depending on the degree of damping in the circuit. Taking  = R/2L s and  0  1 Ls C ,
the three solutions are:

1. Overdamped  2 > 0 2

u
i(t )  e αt sinh α 2  ω0 2 t (B.2)
2
Ls α  ω02

2. Critically damped  2 = 0 2

u αt
i( t )  te (B.3)
Ls

3. Underdamped 0 2 >  2

u
i(t )  e t sin 0 2   2 t (B.4)
2
Ls 0   2

The resistance value R cd that results in critical damping is given by:

Ls
Rcd  2 (B.5)
C

In most cases, the inrush current oscillation is underdamped and Equation (B.4) is of most
interest. If closing resistors are applied to limit the inrush current, then Equation (B.3) or (B.5)
may be applicable.

More information about this method is provided in [18].

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Annex C

Inrush current limits

C.1 Inrush currents
C.1.1 General
In the first edition of IEC 62271-100 the equivalency rule between the test performed and the
service conditions was based on the product of inrush current peak and frequency, i i peak × f i
(kAkHz). This relationship is very important for oil circuit breakers. For SF 6 circuit breakers,
calculations have shown that the arc energy during a making operation is somewhat
independent of the inrush current frequency for cases where the closing arcing time is greater
than a full period of the inrush current frequency. This is usually the case for back-to-back
capacitor bank switching. Typical closing arcing (prestrike arcing) times range from 0,5 to 2 ms
when making occurs at voltage crest. For back-to-back capacitor bank switching, the arc energy
during a making operation is predominantly a function of the inrush current magnitude and
duration. Most of the stored energy from the capacitors is dissipated in the circuit external to
the circuit breaker arc. Only a percent or so is dissipated in the circuit breaker arc. Because of
the short arc length and the relatively low arc voltage drop, much of the arc energy is available
for contact erosion. The very front edge of the capacitive discharge is converted into shockwave
energy. Discharge begins as a very narrow filament leader that rapidly grows in diameter. The
growth rate of the diameter is limited by the acoustic properties of the plasma and, according
to Niemeyer [19] grows at Mach 3 to begin with, making a shock wave. As the arc becomes
large enough to carry the discharge current, its growth slows and shockwave formation eases.
The hydrogen arc in oil seems to be much more effective in converting capacitive discharge
energy into a shockwave than an SF 6 arc. For SF 6 circuit breakers, contact erosion appears to
be a bigger issue than shock waves (see C.1.2). Higher frequencies do allow more of the stored
energy in the capacitors to be dissipated during the closing arc time. For a given damping,
frequency, and point-on-wave of energisation, contact erosion would be expected to be
proportional to the inrush current magnitude. Keeping inrush currents well below the tested
values will prolong contact life of the switching device.

Higher voltage and small back-to-back capacitor banks will naturally result in inrush frequencies
considerably higher than 4 250 Hz. This does not seem to be a problem as long as the peak
currents are kept below 25 kA (and a damping factor of about 0,85). Higher peak current may
be allowable if the circuit is highly damped or the duration of the inrush is very short.

The dissipated energy in the circuit breaker closing arc and not just peak current is the main
contributor to contact wear. A short current burst much higher than 25 kA can be withstood
without increasing contact wear as long as the integrated I  t, during the closing arc time, is
less than the tested value.

Table C.1 contains some suggested inrush current limits for the different circuit breaker types.

Table C.1 - Suggested inrush current limits

Interruption technology Inrush current limit (peak) Frequency concern

Oil I  f (no change from present Very much a concern. Must keep
practice: With the I not to be d i /d t below the rated capability.
exceeded, but f can be higher if I is
lower)
SF 6 25 kA ( or per standards, different Minimal
ratings have different values) Keep
the present peak currents but
remove the upper frequency limit
for application
Vacuum to meet class C2 7 kA Minimal
Vacuum to meet class C1 20 kA Minimal

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

C.1.2 Direct discharge test on an SF 6 circuit breaker

C.1.2.1 General
A test was performed on a 72,5 kV SF 6 circuit breaker where a 13 µF capacitor was charged to
51 kV and discharged by closing the circuit breaker with as short leads as possible. This
resulted in a peak discharge current of 100 kA at a frequency of 25 kHz. The test was repeated
every 2 – 3 minutes until 2 400 operations were accumulated. Even though the i i peak × f i value
was 2 500 kAkHz, there was no evidence of shock wave damage, but the male arcing contact
was eroded to a conical shape.

In a capacitive discharge, there is a certain amount of energy available. Only a small portion of
that energy is causing contact erosion. The losses in the circuit in which the discharge takes
place are:

– I 2 R losses in the circuit resistance;

– Formation of shockwaves;
– Plasma heating of the arc;
– Contact heating (from the arc roots).
The impact of shockwaves seems to be more or less proportional to di/dt  k shock . For oil circuit
breakers, k shock seems to be much larger than for SF 6 . Each gas would have a different value
of k shock , the less dense gases like H2 seem to have a higher k shock than SF 6 . Because of this,
k shock for oil circuit breakers is larger than that of SF 6 circuit breakers. Experience has shown
these shock waves in oil can rupture interrupting chambers. The oil circuit breaker seems to be
more efficient at converting arc energy into shock waves than in SF 6 . It is a known fact that oil
circuit breakers are more susceptible to shock wave damage, than non-oil circuit breakers. SF 6
circuit breakers do not seem to be so shock wave sensitive.

When the frequency is raised from the power frequency to higher values, the skin effect
becomes more and more dominant. The higher the frequency, the higher the ohmic losses in
the circuit. Therefore, higher frequencies would mean more damping and possibly lower contact
erosion. This effect may be overcompensated by the fact that a high frequency discharge will
occur during the time of the closing arc, while a low frequency discharge will partially occur
while the contacts are fully closed.

For an SF 6 circuit breaker subject to a direct discharge, most of the energy is dissipated in the
circuit resistance external to the circuit breaker arc.

Table C.2 lists the estimated apportionment of capacitive discharge energy for the tested SF 6
circuit breaker.

Table C.2 – Distribution of capacitive discharge energy for an SF6 circuit breaker

SF 6 circuit breaker (single break)

Inrush current 100 kA 25 kHz 20 kA 4 250 Hz
Total stored energy 17 kJ 17 kJ
Shockwave 80 J (0,5 %) 2,7 J (0,016 %)
Contact erosion 2% 1%
Gas heating 1% 1%
External circuit resistance 96,5 % 98 %

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

In the case of a real substation application, the external circuit resistance would be significantly
higher than a direct discharge test. In the 2 – 5 kHz range, the energy available for contact
erosion would be less than 1 % of the total dissipated capacitor energy.

C.1.2.2 Comparison of contact erosion from a capacitive discharge with a

symmetrical short-circuit making test on the tested 72,5 kV circuit breaker.
The tested circuit breaker has pre-arcing time of approximately 0,6 ms. On closing there will
undoubtedly be some contact bounce. Assuming a duration of contact bounce of about 0,4 ms
and additional contact erosion, the tested circuit breaker would experience contact erosion
during a short circuit making for 1 ms. This is about 21,6 degrees at 60 Hz. With a 40kA short-
circuit available, assuming making at voltage crest, the current would start at zero and, after
1ms, reach 56 kA  sin(21,6º) = 20,6kA. The average current over the 1 ms is approximately
20,6/2 = 10,3kA. Assuming an anode cathode drop of 17,5 V, the energy for contact erosion
would be 17,5 V  10,3 kA  0,001 s = 180 J. The contact erosion energy seen from the direct
capacitive discharge 100 kA at 25 kHz is calculated to be 385 J. With the same stored energy
of 17 kJ, at 20 kA and 4 250 Hz, in a realistic substation, the contact erosion energy would be
expected to be about 180 J. In other words: More than half of the discharge occurs after the
contacts are closed. Clearly from a contact erosion standpoint, this back-to-back inrush is
comparable in severity to a fault making. As a point of reference, the back-to-back switching
example is about the equivalent of 72,5 kV 2 – 50 Mvar capacitor banks switched back-to-back
at voltage crest.

Controlled closing or properly sized closing resistors can reduce the contact erosion energy by
a factor of 5 or more. Detailed transient studies are needed to determine the precise impact of
closing transient mitigation.

C.1.2.3 Simulation results

The upper trace of Figure C.1 shows the currents associated with making at peak voltage
(symmetrical current), making at voltage zero (asymmetrical current) and the rated back-to-
back capacitor bank making current in accordance with IEC 62271-100. The lower trace shows
the It integral during the first 1 ms.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

150

100
current (kA)

50

-50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4
10

3
int(I.t) (kA.s)

10

2
10

1
10
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
time (ms)

Figure C.1 – Comparison of I  t integral for different currents

Figure C.2 shows the difference between the It integral of the rated back-to-back capacitor
bank making current with two different frequencies: the rated frequency of 4 250 Hz and
42 500 Hz

150

100
current (kA)

50

0
20 kApeak, 42500 Hz
-50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3
10 20 kApeak, 42 500 Hz
int(I.t) (kA.s)

2
10 20 kApeak, 4 250 Hz

0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35

0,05 0,1 0,15 0,2 0,25 0,3 0,35
tim e (m s )
time (ms)

Figure C.2 – Difference between inrush current frequencies

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

C.2 Outrush currents

Outrush is a considered a rare event compared to switching of inrush currents. Outrush is
estimated to happen at most 1 – 2 times in the life of a circuit breaker. Inrush occurs on every
back-to-back closing operation. The limitations on inrush current probably need to be more
stringent than for outrush current.

It should be noted that while the IEC capacitor standard has a limitation on capacitor transient
current of 100 times the “rated” power frequency current, for the same duty, IEEE std 18 has a
limitation of 800 times the “rated” power frequency current for frequent operation and 1500
times ‘rated’ for rare events like outrush.

C.3 Recommendation
It is difficult to develop a generic recommendation on inrush capabilities even for non-oil circuit
breakers as each design will have differing geometries, contact sizes, pre-arcing times, etc. A
key factor is the accumulated current time product (I  t) during the pre-arcing time over many
operations. The manufacturer should determine an appropriate I  t limit (contact erosion limit)
which will not reduce the performance of the circuit breaker. Lacking inrush current data for
contact erosion, based on good experience and industry acceptance, a peak current limitation
in the standards of 25 kA, for inrush on SF 6 breakers is sufficient. A test frequency of about 5
kHz (somewhere between 2,5 and 10 kHz) is reasonable, as it will cause significant contact
erosion. But for SF 6 , and vacuum circuit breakers, there is no upper (or lower) limit for applied
circuit natural frequencies in service. Keeping inrush current magnitude the same, higher
frequencies might be expected to cause somewhat more contact erosion, since more of the
discharge occurs during the closing arcing time. This is a contact wear issue which is quite
different than a destructive shockwave issue.

Vacuum circuit breakers have concerns on contact welding during inrush events that may lead
to stress enhancement, and micro particle creation. Both of these can lead to increased
probability of restrike. These concerns require lower arcing energy limitations in order to keep
restrike probabilities from increasing. It has been found that a typical vacuum circuit breaker
can meet capacitance current switching class C2 if inrush current is kept below about 7 kA, and
class C1 if inrush is kept below 20 kA. This is based on typical CuCr contact materials, and
typical pre-arcing times. Different materials, contact structures and closing speeds will give
differing results. As with SF 6 , higher frequencies alone are not much concern.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Annex D

Capacitive inrush currents in cable networks

The replacement of overhead lines with underground cables requires taking into consideration
the capacitor bank switching back-to-back to the underground cables.

Energisation of single capacitor bank back-to-back to n underground cables detailed in [20] is

illustrated in Figure D.1.

According to the general theory of capacitive current switching, the peak value I peak of the
inrush current of single capacitor bank i L (t) is limited by the characteristic impedance formed
by the source inductance L S and the capacitance of the capacitor bank C [3, 4]:

V0
Ipeak  (D.1)
Ls / C

The maximum rate of change di / dt of the inrush current is determined by L s :

di V0
 (D.2)
dt Ls

In Equations (D.1) and (D.2) V 0 is the peak value of the steady-state voltage on the substation
busbar after energising the bank [3, 4]:

2
V0  Vm (D.3)
 2  2

In Equation (D.3)

 is the angular frequency of the voltage source;

β is the natural angular frequency of the loop composed of the inductance Ls the capacitance
C [3, 4]:
1
 (D.4)
LsC

The values of I peak and di / dt, as follows from Equations (D.1) and (D.2), are limited by the
source inductance L s . It is assumed that for the real-world systems, the inrush current of an
isolated neutral capacitor bank does not pose any problem neither to the capacitor switching
device nor to the capacitor bank.

The replacement of overhead lines with cables requires taking an additional component of the
capacitive inrush current into consideration. This component results from the traveling waves
in the alongside cables (see Figure D.1) [20].

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Initial voltage wave Vin(t,0)

Initial current wave

Capacitive inrush current i(t)
Iin(t,0) in each cable

V (t,0)
i( t )   Iin (t,0)  iL (t )
I in (t,0)  in
Zc

Key

Vm peak value of the voltage source i(t) inrush current of the capacitor bank

Ls source inductance i L( t) inrush current in a circuit formed by the

source inductance L s and the capacitance C

 angular frequency of the voltage source  propagation velocity of the traveling waves
along the cables
SW capacitor bank switching device, switching the V in ( t , 0) waveform of the initial voltage surge at the
bank at time instant t 0 source voltage end of a cable

C capacitance of the capacitor bank I in ( t , 0) waveform of the initial voltage surge at the
source voltage end of a cable
Zc surge impedance of an underground cable

Figure D.1 – Switching of a capacitor bank bank-to-back to underground cables

After the instant t 0 , when the capacitor circuit breaker closes, energising the capacitor bank,
the voltage at the substation busbar collapses in a few microseconds. The rapid change of the
busbar voltage initiates the voltage surges V in (t, 0) traveling down the cables connected to the
same busbar (see Figure D.1).

These voltage surges generate current surges I in (t, 0) in the cables. Since the amplitudes of
the current traveling waves I in (t, 0) are limited by small surge impedance of the cables Z c , they

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

can reach significant values. This component of the inrush current is a sum of the current
traveling waves (see Figure D.1). The more cables are connected alongside the capacitor bank,
the higher the value of inrush current that should be expected.

The total inrush current i(t) can be determined as the sum of the current traveling waves in the
cables I in (t, 0) superimposed on the "inrush current of isolated neutral capacitor bank" i L (t).
Waveforms of the total inrush current i(t) and its component i L (t) flowing in the L s C circuit are
shown in Figure D.2. It can be seen that the inrush current due to the traveling waves in the
alongside cables is significantly higher than "the inrush current of isolated neutral capacitor
bank".

The inrush current due to traveling waves attains its peak value in few microseconds, when the
inrush component i L (t) is negligibly small. Due to attenuation of the traveling waves in the
cables, the current component resulting from the traveling waves significantly decays in 0,1-0,3
ms. When "the inrush current of isolated neutral capacitor bank" reaches its peak value, the
inrush component due to the traveling waves may be ignored.

Figure D.2 – Waveforms of the total inrush current and the inrush current through the
voltage source

The single-phase circuit shown in Figure D.3 can be used for analysis of the capacitor bank
inrush current. The inductance L s and resistance Rs represent the short-circuit impedance of
the voltage source, C is the capacitance of the switched utility capacitor bank, L is the equivalent
inductance between the capacitor bank and the substation busbars, Z cw is the equivalent surge
impedance of n underground cable, Z lw represents some equivalent surge impedance at the
termination of the cable at the remote end.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.3- Single-phase circuit for analysis of the capacitive inrush current

The maximum inrush current takes place if the SW closes the circuit at the time instant t = 0,
when waveform of the voltage source reaches its peak value V m .

The peak value of the inrush current due to the traveling waves occurs at the time instant, when
the "the inrush current of isolated neutral capacitor bank" is still very small. "The inrush current
of isolated neutral capacitor bank" attains its peak value, when the traveling waves in the
alongside cables have already attenuated (see Figure D.2). This is why we can determine each
component of the inrush current regardless from the other component using the equivalent
circuits shown in Figure D.4.

Ls Rs cable

Zcw

Zlw
L L

-V0 C C -Vm

Inrush current through voltage Inrush current due to

source travelling waves in cables

a) b)

Figure D.4 -Circuits for analytical study of the inrush current. (a) Inrush current through
the voltage source. (b) Inrush current due to the traveling waves in the alongside cables

The component of the capacitive inrush current i L ( t ), generally referred to as the "inrush current
of isolated neutral capacitor bank", can be determined from the circuit in Figure 4a. The current
waveform is [18].

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Rs
 t
2( Ls  L )
iL (t )  I peak e sin t (D.5)

If the inductance L is negligibly small in comparison to the inductance L s , the peak inrush current
I peak and its frequency β are obtained using Equation (D.1) and Equation (D.4) accordingly.

The component of the capacitive inrush current i w ( t ) that appears due to traveling waves in the
alongside cables can be determined from the circuit in Figure D.4.b.

Consider a general case, when n underground cables have different lengths. In this study, the
cable length is understood as a distance between the substation busbar and some junction
(terminal) that causes the reflection of the wave traveling along the cable. Assume that all the
cables have the same specific parameters. In that case, the equivalent cable surge impedance
Z cw is determined as follows

Zc 1 L0
Z cw   (D.6)
n n C0

L0
where Z c 
C0

Z c in Equation (D.6) is a cable surge impedance determined by the cable specific inductance
L 0 and capacitance C 0 .

The cable specific parameters seen by the traveling waves are similar to the parameters for
oscillatory transients with frequencies lying in the range of 20-100 kHz. Taking into account that
L 0 does not change greatly in that range, its value can be selected corresponding to the
frequency of 40 kHz.

The capacitor bank energisation results in appearance of the current waves traveling along the
cables with propagation velocity  .

1
  (D.7)
L0C0

The waves reflect at the terminations on the opposite ends of the cables. Since the cables have
different lengths, the reflected waves arrive to the capacitor bank busbar at different time
instances. The reflected waves reduce the inrush current. This is why the inrush current reaches
its maximum value until the reflected waves arrive at the substation busbar.

The capacitive inrush current i w ( t ) produced by the initial current waves in n alongside cables
can be derived from the circuit in Figure D.5. The circuit is obtained from Figure D.4b, while the
cable termination impedance Z lw is short-circuited.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.5 -Circuit for analytical study of the inrush current due to initial traveling
waves in the alongside cables

The inrush current i w (t) is given by [18].

iw (t )  I (e p1t  e p2t ) (D.8)

where

p 1 = -  + , p 2 = -  -  D.9)

The constants I, α and δ in Equations (D.8) and (D.9) are given by

2 2
Zcw  4Z w
Vm Zcw
I ,  ,  (D.10)
2
Z cw 2
 4Z w
2L 2L

The expression of the inrush current waveform depends on the relationship between the
equivalent cable surge impedance Z cw and the characteristic impedance Z w of the circuit formed
by the capacitor bank inductance L and capacitance C:

L
Zw  (D.11)
C

A value of the characteristic impedance Z w depends mainly on the size of inductance L. The
equivalent inductance L includes the inherent inductance of the capacitor bank, the inductance
of the connections between the bank and the substation busbar as well as the inductance of a
damping (current limiting) reactor. If the damping reactor is not installed, L includes only a stray
inductance that varies from 5 to 15 μH [3, 4]. Application of the damping reactor may increase
the inductance to hundreds/thousands of μH.

For real-world capacitor banks, if the damping reactor is not installed, the following relationship
takes place:

Z cw ≥ 2Z w (D.12)

Under condition (D.12), the capacitive inrush current i w (t) can be derived from Equations (D.8)
– (D.10) and expressed similar to Equation (D.5) [18]

iw (t )  2 Ie t sinht (D.13)

For real-world capacitor banks with damping reactor installed alongside underground cables,
the relationship between impedances Z w and Z cw is

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Z cw < 2Z w (D.14)

Under the condition given in Equation (D.14), the inrush current derived from Equations (D.8)
– (D.10), becomes oscillatory. Its waveform can be given by [18]

iw (t )  2 Ie t sint (D.15)

The time instant t m , when the inrush current waveform i W (t) reaches its peak value, can be
determined from the condition

diw (t )
0 (D.16)
dt

and presented as follows [18]:

1  
tm  ln (D.17)
2   

Substitution of Equation (D.17) into Equation (D.13) enables obtaining the peak value I peak of
current waveform i w (t) [18]

2I
Ipeak  (D.18)

 2 
2 
 2   2  

  
 

The inrush current reaches its peak value I peak at the time instant t = t m determined by Equation
(D.17). Since the waves travel along the cables with the propagation velocity v given by
Equation (D.7), the cables should be long enough so that at the time instant t = t m , no reflected
waves arrive at the capacitor bank termination.

Define the minimal length of cable l min as the shortest cable length among n cables that makes
it possible for the inrush current to reach its peak value I peak determined from Equation (D.18)
before the reflected wave in that shortest cable arrives at the substation busbar. The value of
l min is given by [18]

1 1 tm
lmin  tm  (D.19)
2 2 L0C0

If among n cables, length of the shortest cable l c is smaller than l min the inrush current attains
its peak value at the time instant t c , when the reflected wave in the shortest cable arrives at the
substation busbar:

2lc
tc  (D.20)


The inrush current peak I peak is determined by substitution of t c into Equation (D.13)

I peak  2 Ie tc sinh tc (D.21)

The inrush current peak depends on the inductance L. If the value of L tends to zero, the
expression of I peak is as follows:

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

V
I peak  n m (D.22)
Zc

For that limiting case, the peak inrush current is proportional to the product of the number of
underground cables n and the system voltage peak V m and inversely proportional to the cable
surge impedance Z c .

For a circuit where, due to application of the damping reactor with high value of L, the
characteristic impedance Z w obtained by Equation (D.11) is significantly larger than the
equivalent surge impedance of n cables Z cw (see Equation (D.6)), the inrush current peak is
limited only by the characteristic impedance Z w :

V
Ipeak  m (D.23)
Zw

The rate of change of the inrush current can be obtained by differentiation of i W (t) (see Equation
(D.13)). The maximum rate of change is achieved at the time instant t = 0; its value is given by
[3, 4]

di Vm
 (D.24)
dt L

The maximum rate of change of the inrush current (as it follows from Equation (D.24)) is limited
only by the equivalent inductance L. If L only includes the stray inductance, (damping reactor
is not applied) the value of di / dt can be extremely high.

The capacitive inrush current i W (t) that occurs due to the traveling waves is not oscillatory in
the usual frequency related sense, but the initial slope of its waveform can be used to determine
an equivalent frequency f eq , which can be compared with the rated inrush current frequency
defined in the circuit breaker standards [3, 4]:


di  
dt  1 2 2
f eq   2   2  
 (D.25)
2I max 2   
 

Some particular case, when n underground cables connected alongside the capacitor bank have
equal length, was considered in [18]. The equations for the capacitive inrush current due to
superposition of the initial current wave and three reflected current waves were derived.
According to the study performed in [18], the maximum value of the inrush current is always
achieved at the first peak of the current waveform due to the initial current waves in the
alongside cables. Its value is close to the inrush current peak I peak determined by Equation
(D.18), if the shortest cable is longer than l min (see Equation (D.19)). The following crest values
of the current waveform are smaller than the first peak because of the attenuation of the
traveling waves.

Consider as an example, switching of 24 kV capacitor bank back-to-back to n underground

cables [18] (see Figure D.6).

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.6 – Switching 24 kV capacitor bank back-to-back to n underground cables

The utility is represented by the step-down transformer fed from an infinite busbar. The system
source strength at the utility busbar is 250 MVA, maximum system voltage – 24 kV, fundamental
frequency – 50 Hz. The study deals with switching 9 Mvar and 5 Mvar capacitor banks. The
capacitors are connected into Y or double Y with isolated neutral (see Figure D.6).

In order to verify the phenomenon of the capacitor bank switching back-to-back to underground
cables, field tests of switching the 9 Mvar, 24 kV capacitor bank were conducted. The tested
capacitor bank is installed at the secondary side of 45 MVA, 161/24 kV transformer alongside
eight underground cables used for power delivery to the loads in the distribution network.
Lengths of the underground cables vary from 1 km to 9 km. In addition to the 8 cables used for
power delivery, the outgoing cables also include two short cable sections (each one is shorter
than 30 m) connecting the earthing transformer and the auxiliary need transformer to the
busbar. The peak inrush current values measured during the tests attained 7,1-7,2 kA. The
measured values of di/dt reached 3300 kA/ms [18]. The above values significantly exceeded
the corresponding parameters of the "inrush current of isolated neutral capacitor bank" given
by Equation (D.1) and Equation (D.2): I peak = 1,6 kA, di / dt = 2,67 kA/ms.

The results of the field tests were compared with the simulations done using the
Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP). The waveform of the maximum phase inrush
current obtained in the simulations is shown in Figure D.7.

In the phase, where the voltage waveform of the voltage source reaches its peak value at the
instant of the CB closing, the inrush current peak is 6,4 kA, while its maximum rate of rise is
3600 kA/ms. These values are in good agreement with the results of the field tests. The inrush
current component that can be ascribed to the traveling waves significantly decays in 100-200
microseconds. After the wave attenuation, the waveform is close to the waveform of the "inrush
current of the isolated neutral capacitor bank" described by the general theory of capacitive
switching [3, 4].

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.7 - Inrush current waveform obtained in EMTP simulation

The peak inrush current I peak and di / dt of i w (t) are determined using the above Equations. For
the considered network

Voltage source: V m = 19 kV, peak.

Capacitor bank: C = 49,736 F; L = 5,2 H; Z w = 0,323  (see Equation (D.11)).

Underground cables: specific inductance at 40 kHz L 0 = 127,9 H/km; C 0 = 0,2506 F/km; for
8 cables Z cw = 2,824  (see Equation (D.6));  = 1,76610 5 km/sec (see Equation (D.7)).

Parameters for calculation of Ipeak : I = 6,915 kA;  = 2,71510 5 ;  = 2,64310 5 (see Equation
(D.10)); minimal length of cable l min = 0,72 km (see Equation (D.19)).

Capacitive inrush current i w (t) due to traveling waves in the alongside cables: I peak = 6,4 kA
(see Equation D.18); di / dt = 3654 kA/ms (see Equation (D.24)).

These values are in good agreement with the results of the field tests as well as with the results
of EMTP simulations.

The inrush current due to capacitor bank switching back-to-back to underground cables
depends on number n of underground cables, equivalent inductance L between the capacitor
bank and the substation busbar as well as on the length l c of the shortest cable.

The curves of I peak resulting from switching 5 Mvar and 9 Mvar capacitor banks versus n are
presented in Figure D.8. The curves are calculated for the following values of the equivalent

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

inductance between the capacitor bank and the substation busbar: L = 5H, L = 100 H and
L = 1000H.

Figure D.8 shows that if L = 5H (L includes only a stray inductance), the I peak is proportional
to n. The change of n from 2 to 12 results in the increase of Ipeak from 1,7 kA to 9 kA. The curve
corresponding to switching 9 Mvar capacitor bank (the solid curve) practically coincides with
the curve for switching 5 Mvar capacitor bank (the dotted curve). The independence of the
inrush current peak on the capacitance of the switched capacitor bank proves that the inrush
current is a sum of traveling waves in the alongside cables, which is proportional only to the
number of cables, as it follows from Equation (D.22)).

Ipeak versus number of cables

10
Inrush current peak [kA,peak]

0
2 4 6 8 10 12

Number of underground cables

Solid red line 9 Mvar

Dotted blue line 5 Mvar

Figure D.8 - Inrush current peak versus the number of underground cables

Adding damping reactor in series with the capacitor bank reduces the dependence of the inrush
current peak on the number of cables. It is evident that if L = 1000 H (L includes a big current–
limiting reactor), the I peak is practically independent of n. In that case, the I peak is limited
primarily by the characteristic impedance Z w formed by L and the capacitance C of the switched
capacitor bank (see Equation (D.23)).

Applying a damping reactor to the capacitor bank results in reduction of the inrush current due
to the following reasons:

a) Enlargement of the equivalent inductance L reduces the inrush current peak I peak given by
Equation (D.18)) that is achieved at time instant t = t m (see Equation (D.17)). The curves of
I peak versus L corresponding to switching 5 - and 9 -Mvar capacitor banks back-to back to
eight underground cables are presented in Figure D.9.

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Ipeak versus L
7

Inrush current peak [kA, peak]

6

3
0 50 100 150 200 250

Equivalent bank inductance[microhenry]

Solid red line 9 Mvar

Dotted blue line 5 Mvar

Figure D.9 – Curves of the inrush current peak versus equivalent inductance L

It is evident that increase of the equivalent inductance L leads to reduction of I peak .

b) Adding the damping reactor significantly increases the minimal length of cable l min given by
Equation (D.19)) that is required to reach the I peak (see Figure D.10).

lmin of cable versus L

12
12
minimum length of cable [km]

10
10

88

66

44

22

00
00 50
50 100
100 150
150 200
200 250
250
Equivalent bank inductance (µH)
Equivalent bank inductance [microhenry]

Solid blue line: 9 Mvar

Solid red line: 5 Mvar

Figure D.10 – Curves of the minimal length of cable for the capacitor banks switched
back-to-back to eight cables

The increase of l min in relation to L shown in Figure D.10 can be explained by the drastic
reduction of the rate of change of the inrush current due to adding the damping reactor.

The inrush current due to switching the capacitor bank with damping reactor may reach its peak
value I peak given by Equation (D.18) only if the minimal length of cable l min exceeds a number
of km. For example, the inrush current due to switching the 9 - Mvar capacitor bank with
damping reactor of 100 μH back-to-back to 8 underground cables may reach its peak value only

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

if l min exceeds 6 km (see Figure D.10). For a typical substation, the average cable length
between the substation busbar and some junction, where the traveling wave is reflected, is
smaller than 5 km. This is why the inrush current of the capacitor bank with damping reactor
generally cannot reach its peak value given by Equation (D.18).

Since the required length of l min exceeds the existing lengths of the underground cables, the
inrush current peak should be calculated as a function of a length of a shortest cable l c given
by Equation (D.21). The curves of I peak versus L corresponding to switching 9 Mvar capacitor
bank back-to back to 8 underground cables at different lengths of the shortest cable l c are
presented in Figure D.11.

Ipeak versus L
7
Inrush current peak [kA, peak]

0
0 50 100 150 200 250

Equivalent bank inductance[microhenry]

Figure D.11 – Curves of I peak versus equivalent inductance L at different values of l c

Figure D.11 shows that applying a damping reactor of 100-250 H to 24 kV capacitor bank
significantly reduces the inrush current peak, if the length of a shortest cable does not exceed
2 km.

The inrush current peak versus the length of a shortest cable l c for switching 9 Mvar capacitor
bank alongside eight cables is shown in Figure D.12.

Ipeak versus cable length

7
Inrush current peak [kA,peak]

0
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2

Length of the shortest cable [km]

Figure D.12 – Curves of I peak versus the length of the shortest cable

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 Influence of shunt capacitor banks on circuit breaker fault interrupting duties

Figure D.12 shows that switching capacitor bank without damping reactor (L = 5 μH) back-to-
back to underground cables results in significant inrush currents even at short lengths of the
cables. Applying a damping reactor significantly reduces the inrush currents due to the traveling
waves in the alongside cables.

D.1 Switching of parallel cables

Switching of parallel cables was analysed by da Silva et al [21]. The study was done in the light
of the decision of the Danish government to put all transmission at voltages of 150 kV and below
underground. The increased use of underground cables required among others the analysis of
the requirement for circuit breakers with respect to their capability of switching cables in back-
to-back arrangement.

The study was done on a 66 kV system, where a cable was energised while other cables were
connected to the bus. In a worst case analysis the inrush current peak was in the order of 1750
A and the frequency in the order of 5 kHz. The authors concluded that the i max peak  f inrush of
85  10 6 AHz is not exceeded and that a circuit breaker specified in accordance with IEC 62271-
100 would fulfil the requirements.

_____________

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