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Evaluation of total life cycle cost of GIS substation and development of portable diagnosis device

T.Shimato (Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc)

H.Yonezawa (Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc)
T.Nakajima (Toshiba Corporation)
　　　　 K.Ibuki (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
T.Yamagiwa (Hitachi, Ltd.)

Summary
After the first plant was installed in 1966, GIS have
been diffused rapidly. Japanese backgrounds have
helped this diffusion. First, compact equipment is [ton]
10000 10000
required because of high land cost. Second, low profile
is one of the design conditions to be accepted by SF6 Gas Total Amount

Number of GIS Unit

8000 Number of GIS Units 8000
surrounding inhabitants. Last, better earthquake-proof
equipment is required because there are many quakes in
Japan. GIS reliability has been increasing by fulfillment 6000 6000

of quality control and technical innovations in

manufacturers. Thus Japan has the most GISs in the 4000 4000

world.
This paper describes the advantages of GIS at each 2000 2000
aspect of lifecycle cost, reliability and environment Total Amoun of SF6 Gas
comparing costs between GIS and AIS based on 34 0 0
years application, and introduces newly developed 1960 1965 1970 1975
Year
1980 1985 1990 1995

technologies and tools to decrease the life cycle cost Figure 1 Number of GIS Units and Total Amount of SF6 Gas
further.
(1) Initial investment
Keywords: GIS, lifecycle cost, keeping reliability, Because underground substations are often constructed
portable diagnosis device, sensor technology, inner in a large city, construction cost can be decreased by
inspection application of compact GIS. Likewise in a city area,
where land price is high, underground and indoor
1. Introduction substations are often constructed, the construction cost
The partial deregulation begins in March 2000 in Japan. can be decreased. Substation area is decreased up to
Life cycle cost including investment and maintenance 1/8(Table 1), so it is clear that GIS is indispensable in
cost needs to be decreased further with keeping environmental aspect. Depending on land cost, it is also
reliability. possible to decrease the construction cost of the
In order to make a comparison between the life cycle substation of 275kV or above especially in the
costs of GIS and AIS, (1)Initial investment, (2) mountains zone by decreasing the creation area. Figure
Maintenance cost, (3) Breakdown probability and repair 2 shows the relation between land cost and substation
cost, (4)Life spans and (5)Consideration of environment construction cost. In our company GIS have been
are chosen to be described. And then the result of installed in all new substation for recent ten years.
accelerated aging test of GIS used for 23 years; newly According to the technological development such as
developed portable diagnosis devices and finally 500kV single break circuit breaker, GIS is becoming
Japanese action to recycle SF6 gas are introduced. compact, therefore an initial investment can be expected
to decrease more in the future. The number of parts also
2. Advantage of GIS decreases with decreasing of the number of breaks,
Figure 1 shows the change of the number of GIS units therefore, the reliability is increasing (Table 2).
and total amount of SF6 gas in Japan. After the first
installation of GIS, the number of GIS increased rapidly
and became 6769 units in 1991.
 Table 1 Comparison between GIS and AIS

AIS GIS

Layout

Area 90,000ｍ２（100%） 11,800ｍ２（13%）

Final 275kV 4 Lines 275kV 4Lines
Layout 275/77kV Transformers　４units 275/77kV Transformers　４units

as arc contact wear from outside of the tank. Developed

technologies are shown as follows.
200
500kV substation AIS
150 ] (a) Presumption of arc contact wear
Construction cost(%)

100 GIS H-GIS The result of measurement of breaking current and arc
200 AIS contact wear on site matches theoretical expression
275kV substation
(Figure 3). Therefore it is possible to presume the
150
GIS amount of arc contact wear by measuring the breaking
100 current and its frequency. But large amount of cost is
150 77kV substation AIS needed for applying on-line CPU to all equipment in
100 GIS order to calculate the arcing time and the correction of
the CT saturation. Instead, a portable device that
200 600 1000 1400 1800 presumes the arc contact wear by measuring breaker’s
Land contact resistance is being developed. If the arc contact
2
t（＄／
Figure 2 Comparison of ） cost between
construction is worn, there is a time lag when the arc contact touches
AIS and GIS the fixed contact. By using advantage of this time lag,
the amount of arc contact wear is presumed (Figure 4,
Table 2 The number of GIS parts 5). The measuring device, whose precision is improved,
Number of 4-breaks 2-breaks 1-break is being developed by taking advantage of data of
breaks testing circuit breaker.
Number of 10,682 5,023 3,355
parts (100%) ( 47 %) (31%) Rated breaking current
First 1.0E-01
1971 1982 1994
rate／Breaking

Installation 1.0E-02
1.0E-03
Rated current
1.0E-04
(2) Maintenance cost 1.0E-05
In general, the inspection items of GIS are fewer and 1.0E-06 CB for Static Condenser
the inspection cost is lower than AIS (Table 3). The CB for Shunt Rector
1.0E-07 CB with Regulated Operation
reason is that elevated working platform vehicle is not
Wear

1.0E-08
needed to inspect bushings at a high place and normal 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
inspection of a line switch is omitted. Because 70-80%
Breaking current／Rated breaking current
of the inspection cost is spent in an internal inspection,
further cost can be cut down if the interval of internal
inspection is extended. To extend the internal inspection Figure 3　Relation between breaking current and its
interval with keeping reliability, it is necessary to Frequency
develop the tool to diagnose an internal condition such
 Table 3 Inspection Item and interval of GIS and AIS
GIS AIS
　　　　 Type of inspection Normal Special Normal Special
Inspection Item (every 6yrs) (every 12yrs) (every 6yrs) (every 12yrs)
Bushing － － ○ ○
Operation Mechanism, ○ ○ ○ ○
Linkage, Control Circuit
Circuit Contact － ○ － ○
breaker Operation Test, Pressure Meter Test, ○ ○ ○ ○
Insulation Resistance measurement
etc.
86% 98% 100% 100%
Inspection Cost (Compare to (Compare to (Base) (Base)
AIS Normal AIS Special
Inspection) Inspection)
Insulator － － ○ ○
Conductor, Operation Mechanism, － ○ ○ ○
Linkage, Control Circuit
Operation Test, － ○ ○ ○
Line Insulation Resistance measurement
Switch etc.
0％ 54% 100% 100%
Inspection Cost (Compare to (Compare to (Base) (Base)
AIS Normal AIS Special
Inspection) Inspection)
Total Inspection Cost(CB and Line Switch) 92.5% 100%
（Compare to AIS） （Base）

Brand-new(No wear）
After
Contact touching use（Wear:100％）
100％ position 80％
Fixed Movable arc contact
Close position
electrode

Closed Position Closed Position

Figure 4. Contact condition and its position

New Arc Contact

Worn Arc Contact Partial discharge
Contact Resistance

R’1
R1 Spacer

R0

T’ Electric
Time Magnetic Wave
T

Arc Contact Close Main Contact Close Signal

Figure 5. Presumption of contact loss Figure 7. Antenna type sensor
 [Noise Reduction & Fault location] Noise Reduction
(average)
vb t Partial
Discharge
Partial Discharge
Antenna

Antenna Sensor Data

S
Acceleration
式 vb
Calculation Sensor
Acceleration Sensor ta
Specification tb Noise t
Sensitivity 20pC t = tb - ta
Frequency Acceleration Sensor: 10kHz-20kHz vb :Propagation velocity of vibration (2800 m/s)
Band Antenna Sensor: 50MHz - 300MHz
Fault location = vbt
Figure 6. Portable partial discharge detection device

(b) Partial discharge detection Table 4 Number of faults of AIS and GIS
Considering fault frequency and cost performance, the (66kV and more)
policy for applying GIS diagnosis device in our GIS AIS
company is as follows. No. of Fault rate No. of Fault rate
1) The on-line type is applied in important substations. fault (time/ fault (time/
2) The Portable type is applied in general substations. ’83-91 yr. unit) ’83-91 yr. unit)
The on-line type began to be applied in 1990 and the GCB 2 0.52×10-4 37 2.13×10-4
portable type in 1989. Considering cost reduction, Line 7 0.66×10-4 40 0.95×10-4
portable fault diagnosis devices are applied selectively. Switch
The features of the portable device with new sensor CT 2 No data 7 0.23×10-4
technologies are shown in Figure 6. The old model was PT 2 0.77×10 -4
10 0.52×10-4
easily influenced by the noise because it uses the slight Ar 0 0.0×10 -4
13 0.27×10-4
potential difference between both ends of a spacer. Total 12 107
In the developed portable device these points have been *Reference [1]
improved and it has the following features.
1) It enables operators to detect partial discharge up to Furthermore, even if faults occur, it’s possible to reduce
20pC by using antenna type sensor (Figure 7). repair time and cost by changing the GIS block by
(The sensitivity is improved in spite of background block. As described before, the reliability of GIS is high.
noise in on-site measurement.) However, higher reliability and beforehand prevention
2) The noise level can be decreased by averaging of faults will be achieved by adopting the fault location
outputs of the acceleration sensor synchronously. device and the portable partial discharge detection
3) The location of partial discharge can be detected by device and repair cost will be reduced as well.
measuring the time lag between antenna type sensor
and acceleration type sensor.
(4) Life spans
(3) Breakdown probability and repair cost This section shows the result of checking out the aging
In Japan, the breakdown probability of GIS has been degree of insulation spacer of GIS used for 22-23 years
reduced year by year. It is obvious that the fault in order to estimate the life span. (Only the aging degree
probability is much smaller than that of AIS (Table 4). of insulation spacers was examined because SF6 and gas
seals had been changed every special inspection.)
Figure 8 shows position of insulation spacer and Table 5
shows the condition of decompressed GIS insulation
spacers.
*Reference [2]
 Spacer (b) Assessment of electrical aging
Spacer
After applying the stress described before, corona tests
withstand voltage test and arcing tests were done, but
there was no problem and no electrical aging.
(c) Assessment of mechanical aging
After the electrical aging test, destructive test by water
pressure was carried out, but there was no mechanical
aging.
(d) Others
SF6 gas and the adsorbent were analyzed, but they met
the standard and there were no effects on the equipment.
AIS, which are exposed to air, rain, snow and dust. GIS,
however, isn’t being concerned about them and it is
expected to have enough life span. As far as insulation
Figure 8 Position of insulation spacers spacer, the life span is presumed to be at least 90 years
compared with 50 years, which is a designed life span.
Table 5 Condition of decompressed Spacer

Spacer 1 Spacer 2 (5) Consideration of environment

Installation 1974 1974 Although GIS is more gentle than AIS at the point of
Rated Voltage 77kV 77kV environment like low profile, the difference of GIS
Usage period 22 years 23 years comparing with AIS is the use of a lot of SF6. In COP3
(1974～96) (1974～96) Kyoto meeting, which was held in Dec. 1997 in Japan,
Current 300A 300A each country set the target of a cut in emission of green
house gases (6 kinds of gases). In the activity of the
electric technology research association (1996.10 to
(a) Accelerated aging test 1998.4), utilities and manufactures framed SF6
By visual inspection, it was found that brown material Recycling Guide and published Voluntary Action Plan
was stuck to the surface of GIS spacer, but there was no (Figure 10) in 1998.4, and they are trying to suppress
damage on the surface. As a result of analysis of SF6 emission as much as possible. Considering
materials stuck to the surface, a little fluoric compound, reduction of outage for maintenance and the ability to
copper and tungsten that were produced by switching collect SF6, the target of a cut in SF6 emission says that
current many times were detected in the material of the the rate of emission involved in inspection of GIS will
spacer in the circuit breaker. In addition we did the be decreased from 40%(now) to 10%(in 2000) or 3%(in
accelerated test (voltage: 1.5times of rated voltage, SF6: 2005). As far as the removal of equipment, the rate will
0.4MPa, period 5.5 months) using the spacer used for 23 be 1%, which is a limitation of ability for SF6 collection
years. Taking acceleration factor into consideration, the by 2005. For the activities mentioned above, SF6
test period corresponds to 67 years at rated voltage emission will be decreased from 190t/year (before
(Figure 9). Considering usage period of 23 years, the life measures) to 40t/year (after measures) by 2010.
span will be presumed to be about 90 years. *Reference [3]

1.512.3×(5.5months/12months)＝67years
　　　　　n=12.3(Acceleration Factor)
1.5E
1E

5.5 months 67 years

Figure 9 Life span of spacer
 600 16000
14000
500

Amout of Possession［
Amount of Emittion
12000
400
10000
M anufacturer
300 8000
U tility
P ossession by U tility 6000
200
4000
100
2000
0 0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
Figure 10 Voluntary Action Plan

(6) Others be taken into consideration, but the intelligent GIS

As the frequency of a earthquake (0.5 – 10Hz) is in the substation, which is combined with the information,
band of resonant frequency of 220 – 500kV insulators, communication and sensor technology that are involving
AIS equipment suffered from damage by the Great rapidly, will be the leading part in the 21st century.
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred in 1994 in Japan.
GIS, however, which doesn’t resonate in the band of the
frequency of the earthquake, didn’t suffer from damage. Reference
[1] Electric Technology Research Association,
“Advanced and efficient maintenance of substation
3.Conclusion equipment”, Volume 50-2, October 1994
As mentioned above, GIS is more advantageous in costs [2] KEPCO Technical Research Center,
to AIS in all aspects. Farther more, total life cycle cost of “Research of GIS deterioration“, Volume 98-019
GIS can be reduced by condition based maintenance with June 1998
diagnosis device. From now on, it is clear that the [3] Electric Technology Research Association,
availability of GIS will not change. SF6 problems should “SF6 Recycle Guide”, Volume 54-3, December 1998