Insulation Coordination

Fundamentals

Nema 8LA

Rev 0 01-16-2019
Webinar Outline
 Initial basics of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Definitions , Types, Parameters, Purposes
 Examples of an Insulation Coordination Study
 Basic Substation , Complex Substation, Transmission Line
 BIL,BSL
 The Backflash
 Traveling Wave Phenomena
 Arrester Fundamentals
 Margin of Protection
 Ground Flash Density
 The Report
 Resources for this Webinar
1. Book: “Insulation Coordination of Power
Systems” by Andrew (Bob) Hileman, 1999.
2. AR Hileman Software
3. ATP and ATP Draw, XY Plot
4. IEC 60071-1,2,3,4
5. IEEE C62.82.1 and .2 Formerly 1313.1 and .2
(Insulation Coordination Standards)
6. IEEE C62.11 Arrester Test Standards
7. IEEE C62.22 Arrester Application Guide
8. IEEE 1410 and 1243 Improving Lightning
Performance of lines
 Definition of Insulation Coordination
Simple Definition
Insulation coordination is the selection of the insulation
strength of a system. (Hileman)
Better One
Insulator
Insulation coordination is the process where the insulation
Arrester
characteristics of all components of the power system are
determined, specified and coordinated to avoid failure due to
expected internal and externally occurring surges. (Hileman)
Types of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Transformer Protection
 Substation Protection Open Air and GIS
 Line Protection
 Distribution and Transmission
 Breaker Protection
 Generator Protection
 Determine clearances
 Determine Separation Distances
 Determine Arrester Energy and Voltage Ratings.
 And on and on and on
 Types of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Deterministic
This is the conventional method where the minimum strength of the
insulation is equal or greater than the maximum surge stresses.
.
Transformer insulation is not
statistical in nature. It has one
lightning withstand value and one
switching withstand value.
Therefore a deterministic analysis
is all that we can do.
 Types of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Probabilistic
This type of analysis consists of selecting the insulation level and
clearances based on specific reliability criterion. Since the insulation strength
of air is statistical in nature, we can only determine its probability of Flashover
for a given surge.
Studies of transmission line performance is based on a flashover rate per
year per 100km, and because the flashover parameter is statistical, resulting
levels are probabilistic.
Studies of substation performance is also probabilistic for the same
reason. For this type of study we base the performance on MTBF (Mean Time
Between Flashover). More later on this.
 Types of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Lightning Surge Studies
This type of study deals strictly with lightning surges and backflash over
surges. Is completed for all system voltage levels.
 Switching Surge Studies
This type of study is usually for systems above 240kV since it is this type of
system that can produce switching surges of relevance.
If a lower voltage system has large cap banks, then a switching study is
justified.
 Parameters of Importance in Studies
• Purpose of Study • Incoming Surge Steepness
• The Lightning Flash • Backflash Rate (BFR)
• Ground Flash Density • Calculating BFR
• Tower Configurations
• Shield Failure rate if known
• Circuit Physical Dimensions
• Types of Insulation
• The Transformer Ratings and
• BIL and CFO Capacitance
• MTBS and MTBF • The Arrester
• Location and Altitude of Study • VI Curve
• Cable and Isophase specs • Selecting the Rating
 Purpose of Insulation Coordination Studies
 Can be to design proper insulation and arrester location from scratch
 Can be to validate chosen insulation levels (Very common)
 Can be to determine where to locate arresters
 Can be to determine cause of failure of equipment (After an incident)
 Can be to determine the Width of a ROW (Switching Study)
 Can be to provide assurance that equipment is protected properly
 Can be to put in the file for future reference
 Can be to fulfill a requirement
 Can be to …………. and more……
Examples of Lightning Studies

 Simple Substation from Chapter 12 of “Insulation

Coordination of Power Systems”.
 500kV Line-Substation-Generator
 69kV Line Study
Overhead Shield Wire

Simple Substation

Station
Arresters
Disconnect
Switch

Breaker CT or CCVT
Power
Transformer
 Incoming Surge
Basic Substation Surge at Trans

Lightning Study
Complex Study
 Three generators

Complex Insulation Coordination Study

Cross over line 3 generator step up
Switchyard with to Generator Transformers
Incoming no transformers Station
Line
 69kV Sub

69kV Sub Transmission Line Study

69kV Sub Transmission Line Study
Insulator that flashes over
at a specific voltage
69kV Sub Transmission
Line Study

Underbuilt Circuit
 System Fundamentals Relative to Insulation Coordination

1. Insulation 7. Physical Dimensions

2. Traveling Waves and 8. Ground Flash Density
Reflections, Backflash, and 9. OHGW
Separation Distance
10. Ground Flash Density
3. Tower Grounds and Station
Grounds
4. Corona
5. Steepness of Surges
6. Clearances
Types of Insulation
Self restoring
 External Insulation Insulator
The distance in open air or across the
surfaces of solid insulation in contact
with open air that is subjected to
dielectric stress and to the effects of the
atmosphere. Examples are porcelain or
polymer shell of a bushing, support Underground Cable with
insulators, and disconnecting switches. Non-Self Restoring
Insulation

 Self-restoring Insulation
Insulation that completely recovers
insulating properties after a disruptive
discharge (flashover) caused by the
application of a voltage. This is
generally external insulation. Terminator with
Self-restoring
Insulation on outside and
non-self-restoring on
inside
  Internal Insulation
More On Insulation The internal solid, liquid, or gaseous
parts of the insulation of equipment
Non-Self Restoring that are protected by equipment
Insulation Self Restoring enclosures from the effects of the
Insulation
atmosphere. Examples are
transformer insulation, internal
insulation of bushings, internal parts
of breakers and internal part of any
electrical equipment.

 Non-self-restoring Insulation
Insulation that loses insulating
properties or does not recover
completely after a disruptive
discharge caused by the application
of voltage. Generally internal
insulation.
 Insulation BIL
Basic Lightning Impulse Insulation
Level (BIL)
The BIL level is the Dry insulation
withstand strength of insulation expressed Insulator BIL is directly proportional to the
in kV. Is commonly used to describe strike distance of an insulator
substations and distribution system
BIL ≈ 15kV x S(inches)
voltage withstand characteristics.
And is affected by Altitude
 Statistical BIL is used for insulators means there is a 10%
probability of flashover and is used for self-restoring
insulation
 Conventional BIL is used for Transformers and Cable
is the voltage level where there is a 0% probability of
Flashover and is applied to non selfrestoring insulation

Note 1: Arresters do not have a BIL rating since Note 2: Arresters close to an insulator give the
their external insulation is self protected by the insulator infinite BIL.
internal MOV disks. In a sense they have an
infinite BIL.
 BSL BSL is proportional to the strike
 Basic Switching Impulse Insulation distance of an insulator
Level (BSL) BSL= 1080e((0.46 x Strike Distance) + 1)
The BSL level is the switching surge
withstand level of the insulation in terms And is affected by Altitude
of kV.
BSLs are universally tested under Wet
conditions.

 Statistical BSL of Insulators

apply to self restoring insulation and represents a 10%

probability of flashover.
 Conventional BSL of Transformers and solid dielectrics

apply to non-self-restoring insulation and represents a 0%

probability of flashover

Note 1: Arresters do not have a BSL rating since Note 2: Arresters close to an insulator give the
their external insulation is self protected by the insulator infinite BSL.
internal MOV disks. In a sense they have an
infinite BSL.
 Power Frequency Withstand
Power Frequency Withstand Voltage
This is the highest power frequency voltage
an insulator can withstand under wet
conditions (low level of contamination).
It is affected by creepage distance and strike distance.

Note 1: Insulator withstand voltages are often

>2-3 times their operating voltage.

Note 3: If the housing is highly contaminated, the

Note 2: Arresters will go into conduction if the housing may flashover at levels below the turn-on
AC voltage across the unit reaches a 1.25 pu voltage of the arrester.
MCOV and above. However they cannot sustain
this condition for very long or they will over heat Note 4: In highly contaminated areas, extra
and fail. creepage distance insulators are used to
overcome this potentially low flashover voltage.
The same policy should be applied to arresters.
CFO and CWW
 Critical Flash Over (CFO) Self Restoring insulation only
This is the voltage with a 50% probability of flashover of the insulator. It applies
to both lightning and switching. It is used to quantify insulation used on
transmission and distribution lines.
Typically CFO is 4-6% higher than Statistical BIL on an insulator.

 Chopped Wave Withstand (CWW)

This is a withstand level of equipment. A standard lightning impulse is used but
the surge is chopped at 3us, which means the stress is applied for a much shorter
time than a standard lightning impulse test and must flashover near the crest of
the wave instead of on the tail as it can in BIL tests. The value of this
characteristic is about 1.10 times BIL for power transformers and 1.15 times BIL
for bushings.

Caused by insulator flashover just past crest.

Can cause winding to winding stress in some
transformers
Insulation Withstand Characteristics in Graphic Form

CWW
Typical Values 70-1500kVp
Chopped Wave Withstand

BIL
Basic Impulse Withstand Level
Another form of Lightning BSL
withstand is CFO Basic Switching Impulse
Critical Flashover Voltage
Withstand Level
 The Backflash
When the OHGW on a transmission
line is hit by lightning, a rapid series
of events takes place.

If the system is grounded well than

the surge is transferred to earth and
there is no effect on the phase
conductors.

But occasionally a backflash will

occur, this series of slides will show
you a close up view of the sequence
of events.
 The Backflash
Time = 0
The first event is the strike. Of course
there was already a great deal of
activity just to connect this line to the
cloud, but that is for another
sequence.

When the strike pins to the wire, it

sets up a voltage surge that travels in
both directions down the line. (1-50
million volts)

This is all happening at nearly the

speed of light and until the surge
actually finds ground, there is little
current flow.
 The Backflash
CFO Time = 1
In a few Nano-seconds, the voltage front meets

Induced
Induced

the down ground and travels toward earth at the

tower bottom. While at the same time it is
inducing a voltage on to the phase conductors
When it reaches earth, the current begins to
flow.
The voltage along the tower increases rapidly
due to ground potential rise. This potential rise
is caused by the resistance of the ground rod of
the tower.
This tower voltage rises as the current begins to
flow.
 The Backflash
CFO Time = 2
The voltage at the base of the base of
the insulators and on the phase
conductors increases as the surge
increases in amplitude

If the voltage at the base of the

insulator increases at a faster rate than
the induced voltage on phases, it can
reach the CFO of the insulator
 The Backflash
CFO Time = 3
The voltages continue to increase
across all components as the surge
crests.
 The Backflash
CFO Time = 4 (.5-2 µsec)
If the voltage across the insulator exceeds the CFO, it
can flashover from the pole down ground to the phase.

This is the backflash……

It flashes from the base to the conductor which is

intuitively backward since the down ground spends its
entire life except for these few microseconds at
ground potential.

This is the part of the event that we are interested in

with insulation coordination studies. What effect this
surge will have the substation.

But its not over yet…..

 The Backflash
Time = 5 (20-50 µsec)
The lightning stroke is over and the
voltages on the lines revert back to
their pre-strike levels. But the air
Ionized Gas around the insulator is seeping with
ions and still highly conductive.

When the AC voltage reaches a high

enough level, it now flashes forward
from the phase conductor to the down
ground.
 The Backflash
Time = 6 (50 µsec to 200ms)
When the insulator flashes over for a second
time, power frequency current flows to
ground and a fault is now underway on the
circuit and will remain there until a breaker
AC Follow current interrupts the event.
causing a Line to Ground
Fault
Until breaker interrupts
At that point the event is over assuming no
damage occurred on the insulator.
 The Backflash
CFO The surge that is transferred onto the phase conductor
has entered the station within a few µsec, even before
the fault was initiated.

This is the impulse that becomes the concern of

insulation coordination in substations.
The Rest of the Story on Lightning Initiated
Traveling Waves
Initial Strike to OHGW
As shown earlier, every tower has a lightning current level that will
cause a backflash across the phase insulation.

This backflash now sets up another traveling wave on the phase

conductor also heads in both directions.
This fast rising surge with a long tail travels on the phase conductor at
nearly the speed of light, toward the transformer. The amplitude is
approximately equal to the CFO of the line insulator.
As it reaches the arresters, its tail may still be as far back aa the original tower.
Remember the surge has a long tail 50-100 µs due to the lightning. The front of
the surge is perhaps .5 µs. It took less than a few microseconds to travel from the
backflash to the transformer.
 The surge is clamped by the arresters at the transformer and a reflection
begins to occur as the wave front meets the transformer winding. The
winding is like an open circuit to a fast rising surge.

Note the voltage at the

transformer is clamped by
the arresters.

CCVTs
Arresters
The transformer is protected by the arresters, but a surge is reflected
back into the system
In C62.22 there is a separation distance calculator that can be used to
determine voltages at other locations in a substation.
In this case the bushing of the CCVT has flashed over due to a
reflection.
 Also if the arresters are mounted away from the transformer, voltages at
the transformer can be higher than at the arrester due to reflections
30 m separation

3 m separation
Note the voltage at the
transformer is higher than at
the arresters. This is due to
traveling wave reflection

Arresters
Separation Red = Voltage @ Arrester
Distance
Green = Voltage @ Transformer
 Arresters
the other half of
Insulation
Coordination
 Arrester Definition
A device that is connected between phase and earth that
will clamp a surge to levels below the damage levels of
nearby insulation.
 Station Arrester
What’s Inside

• Polymer Housing
• Metal Oxide Varistor
(MOV)
• Conductive Spacer

Distribution • Strength Member

Arrester (Fiberglass)
• Spring for Compression
• Rubber Seals

• End Vents and Diaphragms

Voltage Current (V-I) Characteristics

VI Characteristics of an Arrester or Disk is the essence of the MOV. The

resistance of the MOV disk is a function of the voltage stress across the
terminals.

Example
50kV MCOV
Arrester
 Typical Varistor/Arrester
V-I Characteristics
Pre-Breakdown
Region Physicists Terminology High Current Region
|--------------------------------------| |---------------------- Breakdown Region--------------------------------| |---------------------------------------|

LPL
SPL
V10kA or
U10kA V1ma or Reference Voltage
Region
Lightning
TOV Region Impulse
Vref or Uref Switching Region
Rated V or Ur peak 20C
Surge
MCOV or UC (peak) Leakage Current Region Region
Engineering Terminology
200C

Normal Operating Region

Arrester Protective Characteristics in Graphic Form

Fast Front
Voltage

Arrester Discharge
Voltage Curve

10kA Lightning
Protective Level
LPL
Switching Surge Protective Level
SPL

Faster Front Surges Slower Front Surges

Calculating Margin of Protection
Chopped Wave
Withstand CWW

MP1= (CWW/FOW)-1 BIL

Insulation Withstand
IEEE recommends > .15 or 15%
Curve BSL

MP2= (BIL/LPL)-1
Front of Wave
Voltage IEEE recommends >.15 or 15%

FOW MP3= (BSL/SPL)-1

Arrester Discharge IEEE recommends >.20 or 20%
Voltage Curve
10kA Lightning
Protective Level
LPL

Switching Surge Protective

Level
SPL
Clearances and Altitude
 Clearances
Phase to phase and phase to ground clearances are
often the purpose of a study.
They are easily calculated once the maximum voltage
on a line is determined.
With arresters, the NEC clearances can be reduced
near the arrester and along ROW if studies are
completed.

For example,
Lightning Impulse withstand of
Air at STP is a linear function at
450kV/m
 Clearance and Altitude/Elevation
1.000

0.950 Change in
Withstand voltage All external insulation is
0.900
affected by altitude.
Specifically in this case, the
clearance between lines needs
Ratio of Altitude to Sea Level

0.850
to be increased to attain the
0.800
same withstand voltage at sea
'δ=e-A/26710 level.
0.750

0.700

0.650

0.600
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

Elevation in Feet
Physical Dimensions
 Elongated Substation 6000ft 2000 ft 2000 ft
Chapter 12
Insulation Coordination of Power Systems
by Andrew Hileman

Backflash L_Imp
AFram Eb
NC
Ej Et 230/13.8

6000 ft out I
V LCC
V V
At V V BCT
Y

on the line L_imp H

Flashover of 2 m 200 m Arrester
20 m 2m
3m
C-Phase close
to subs tation
6.3nF

LineA Ea

V
Sourc

LCC
V
NC

I R (i)

I R (i)
R (i)

R (i)
Line Entrance

R (i)

R (i)
Transformer
Arrester
30 0m Arrester

230kV At 25 meters Surges travel at ~980ft per µs on an

2uh 2 meters

Breaker 5 ohms overhead line. 5 ohms

At Station In this elongated station, It can be seen

Entrance
here that the surge first appears at the
metered points at different times based
on the distance from the initial surge.
Ground Flash Density
Lightning Strike Rate Worldwide
Optical Flash Density = Flashes/year/km 2

Divide by 3 to get GFD

Lightning Incidents and Intensity
Ground Flash Density
Is used to calculate the
• Backflash rate on a line
• The challenge rate to a line
• The outage rate of lines
• Steepness of a surge on a line
• The MTBF of a substation
The Insulation Coordination Study Report
Webinar Overview
Subjects covered

1. Definitions
2. Examples of Studies
3. Insulation Fundamentals
4. Backflash Concept
5. Traveling Wave Concept
6. Arrester Fundamentals
7. Clearances and Physical Dimensions
8. Lighting Ground Flash Densities
9. The Report