Recent Trends in Development of High Voltage Circuit Breakers with SF6 Alternative Gases

The available knowledge of state-of-the-art of SF6 alternative gases in switching applications was collected and evaluated in an initiative of the Current Zero Club together with CIGRE. The present contribution summarizes the main results of this activity and will also include the latest trends. The main properties and switching performance of new gases are compared to SF6. The most promising new gases are at the moment perfluoroketones and perfluoronitriles. Due to the high boiling point of these gases, in HV applications mixtures with CO2 are used. For MV insulation perfluoroketones are mixed with air, but also other combinations might be possible. The dielectric and switching performance of the mixtures, with mixing ratios that allow sufficiently low operating temperatures, is reported to be only slightly below SF6. Minor design changes or de-rating of switchgear are therefore necessary. Differences between the gas mixtures are mainly in the boiling point and the GWP

Simulations and calculations as verification tools for design and performance assessment of high-voltage equipment

In the past few decades, the revolutionary breakthrough in the semiconductor industry has greatly increased the computational power of computers.Taking advantage of these hanges, engineering oriented software companies have developed a wide spectrum of software. Industries have responded to this new generation of software and have adopted some of it to improve design efficiency or as a development tool. Power industry, manufacturers, test laboratories and institutes have also created their own add-on components to commercial software In response to the increasing role of software in the power industry, Study Committee A3 decided to evaluate existing simulation technology to determine the extent to which it can be used as a verification tool to enhance the understanding of high voltage equipment, to extrapolate test results or to replace some of the tests

Simulations and calculations as verification tools for design and performance of high-voltage equipment

Recognizing an increasing role of commercial modelling software in the power industry, Study Committee A3 decided to evaluate existing simulation technologies to determine the extent to which they can be used as verification tools to enhance understanding of equipment performance, to extrapolate test results, to provide an alternative to testing, or to replace some of the tests. WG A3.20 compiled an inventory of electrical, mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and other stresses which "A3-type" components (substation equipment except transformers) are subjected to in service, based on the relevant tests mandated by IEC/ANSI standards. For all investigated applications, WG A3.20 listed expected simulation results and the preferred numerical methods to be used for different specific problems. An assessment has been made to determine to what degree such stresses can be simulated

Simulations and calculations as verification tools for design and performance assessment of high-voltage equipment

In the past few decades, the revolutionary breakthrough in the semiconductor industry has greatly increased the computational power of computers.Taking advantage of these hanges, engineering oriented software companies have developed a wide spectrum of software. Industries have responded to this new generation of software and have adopted some of it to improve design efficiency or as a development tool. Power industry, manufacturers, test laboratories and institutes have also created their own add-on components to commercial software In response to the increasing role of software in the power industry, Study Committee A3 decided to evaluate existing simulation technology to determine the extent to which it can be used as a verification tool to enhance the understanding of high voltage equipment, to extrapolate test results or to replace some of the tests

Simulations and calculations as verification tools for design and performance of high-voltage equipment

Recognizing an increasing role of commercial modelling software in the power industry, Study Committee A3 decided to evaluate existing simulation technologies to determine the extent to which they can be used as verification tools to enhance understanding of equipment performance, to extrapolate test results, to provide an alternative to testing, or to replace some of the tests. WG A3.20 compiled an inventory of electrical, mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and other stresses which "A3-type" components (substation equipment except transformers) are subjected to in service, based on the relevant tests mandated by IEC/ANSI standards. For all investigated applications, WG A3.20 listed expected simulation results and the preferred numerical methods to be used for different specific problems. An assessment has been made to determine to what degree such stresses can be simulated