Device to Limit Transient Recovery Voltage

Wilker V. S. Azevêdo, Washington L. A. Neves, Member, IEEE, Damásio Fernandes Jr., Member
IEEE, Benemar A. Souza, Senior Member, IEEE, Ricardo M. Soares

interruption, is not yet a good insulator and it may still have a

Abstract — This paper summarizes the main results about relatively high conductance. If TRV has a high rate of rise
design and evaluation of a device to reduce Transient Recovery (RRRV) in those first few microseconds, it may reestablish a
Voltage (TRV) magnitude in medium voltage switching current flow sufficient to heat the arc column and restore
equipments. Zinc Oxide (ZnO) devices are modeled in an
Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP), being applied as
conduction [1-2].
an alternative to limit TRV peaks in circuit breakers and To ensure a safe interruption, the recovery voltage can be
reclosers of 15 kV and 72.5 kV voltage class. The assessment of modified by the design of equipments or using additional
device effectiveness in elimination of three-phase ungrounded components. Some common adopted solutions are [2-4]:
and kilometric faults is performed with the purpose of providing 1. Replacing the existing breaker by one of higher voltage
information for testing and future deployment. Laboratory class, higher interrupting rating or both, when the TRV peak
conditions are reproduced digitally describing the absorved
energy by the device as a function of fault current and TRV
value is above the breaker rating;
frequency. The most severe cases allow the use of ZnO varistors 2. Using opening resistors in high voltage interrupters;
commercially available, giving feasibility to achieve limiter 3. Adding capacitors to the circuit to change the
devices. Results obtained in studies presented good agreement, characteristic impedance when the rate of rise of the TRV
showing that operations preliminarily qualified as unsafe can (RRRV) exceeds the specified value.
become permissive. Financial support usually used to replace Researchers have suggested to use a device composed by
equipment by another with higher voltage class can be reduced.
zinc oxide varistors between equipment terminals to limit
Index Terms—TRV, ZnO device, mitigation, circuit breakers, TRV magnitude [5-6] (Fig. 1) and, in this field, recent
reclosers, electromagnetic transients. advances will be presented.
ZnO Varistors

I. INTRODUCTION TRV

T HE design of circuit breakers and reclosers is cyclical in

power utility planning. Besides the ability to interrupt
short-circuit currents, switching equipments need to withstand
Source
Side
Load
Side

the transient recovery voltage which appears between their Fault

contacts during fault elimination.
Fig. 1. ZnO device to limit TRV magnitude.
Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) is the voltage across the
opening contacts of a circuit breaker/recloser immediately This paper aims to present qualitative aspects in study and
after the arc is extinguished. For successful interruption, the design of a TRV limiter device. Subsidies are shown about the
breakdown voltage of the interrupting medium must always energy required and number of varistors to reduce transient
exceed the recovery voltage. If the maximum value is above maximum value to acceptable levels. Evaluations are
the breaker rating, the increasing TRV to the gap will restrike conducted on equipments with 15 kV and 72.5 kV voltage
the arc and breakdown the interrupting medium. In other class belonging to a substation of ENERGISA concession
circumstances, even when the TRV peak is within the breaker area, located in Northeast Brazilian Power System Grid.
rating, current reignition could occur because the interrupting Digital simulations were carried out with ATP (Alternative
medium, during the first few microseconds following current Transients Program) [7] to analyze the TRV parameters.
Based on the output of digital simulations, peak value was
Manuscript submitted August 30, 2010. This work was supported in part compared with breaker rating, attesting the viability of a cheap
by Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education alternative to reduce dielectric stresses in arc chamber.
Personnel (CAPES) and in part by ENERGISA.
W. V. S. Azevêdo, W. L. A. Neves, D. Fernandes Jr. and B. A. Souza are
with Department of Electrical Engineering at Federal University of Campina
II. SUMMARY OF PLANNING STAGES
Grande, Aprígio Veloso Avenue, 882, Bodocongó, Campina Grande - PB, Requirements need to be followed by manufacturers during
58.109-970, Brazil. (E-mail: [email protected], {waneves,
design of circuit breakers and reclosers. The Maximum
damasio, benemar}@dee.ufcg.edu.br).
R. M. Soares is with ENERGISA-PB, BR 230, km 25 – Cristo Redentor, Interrupting Rating (MIR) and thermal/dielectric conditions in
João Pessoa – PB, 58.071-680, Brazil (e-mail: arc chamber are factors to evaluate their supportability. In this
[email protected]).
context, before to specify a device to limit TRV peak, amplitude of this component is dependent on the distance
planning stages (Fig. 2) are described showing the main breaker-fault and short current magnitude. Its frequency is
aspects in TRV analysis, which are summarized in the determined mainly by the travel time of the transmission line.
following sections. The most severe TRV from an amplitude point of view
follows the interruption of the first phase to clear an
1 Modeling Capacitor banks, Accurate ungrounded three-phase fault (3ΦUn). The shift in system
electrical transformers, models in TRV
components transmission frequency
neutral results in a high TRV amplitude. It is a basis for rating
using EMTP. lines, cables, etc. range. a circuit breaker’s TRV capability.
2 Analysis: more Kilometric and - Pole to remove C. Transient Recovery Voltage Capability
severe thermal Three-phase the fault. The IEC 62271-100 [11] and ANSI/IEEE C37 series [12]
and dielectric ungrounded - Distance to the
conditions. faults. higher RRRV. are the most important international standards for TRV
studies. Their purposes are to provide an application guide on
3 Analysis: short Standards to Comparison
circuit levels TRV studies: between
TRV ratings. For the cases that will be discussed, the TRV is
and Maximum - IEC62271-100 simulation defined by the Two Parameter Method in IEC standard and by
Interrupting - ANSI/IEEE results and 1–cos (ωt) envelop in ANSI standard. TRV envelops are used
Rating (MIR). C37 series. standard limits.
to define limits about the maximum values of peak (uc) and
4 Using surge Digital or RRRV. In Table 1 is shown reference parameters for devices
Taking action to capacitors, laboratory tests
reduce RRRV with 15 kV and 72.5 kV voltage class.
transfering trip, and
and TRV replacing implementation
New TRV requirements formulated in IEC 62271-100 show
magnitude. equipment. in substation. distinction between envelop parameters (Table I) because
consider fault current levels and breaker capability.
Fig. 2. Summary of planning stages in Transient Recovery Voltage studies.
D. Conventional Solutions for TRV Mitigation
A. Power System Modeling
TABLE I
The initial step to perform a TRV study in digital TRV REFERENCE PARAMETERS
simulation is to build up the power system model. Evaluations Voltage Peak Value RRRV
are needed to choose transmission lines models [8], which Standard Fault
class (kV) uc (kV) (kV/µs)
should be defined taking into account TRV frequency. ANSI/IEEE C37 3ΦUn 28.2 0.89
15
Simplified equivalents can be used when frequency dependent series 1ΦGk 18.8 0.59
network equivalents (FDNE) are not available. However, they 3ΦUn 137-160 1.47-4.32
IEC 62271-100 72.5
must be located at points in which its response is not enough 1ΦGk 91.3 0.98-2.30
to provide errors in TRV waveform [9].
Capacitor banks can be modeled by their equivalent When TRV magnitude is above breaker rating, an option is
capacitance, while breakers and reclosers are represented by to replace the existing breaker by one of higher voltage class
ideal switches controlled in time [10]. Transformers have RL (Fig. 3). This provides high investments by power utilities.
elements. Windings and bushings capacitances are difficult to If the RRRV, which can eventually reach several kV/µs,
determine, however, it is important represent them [3, 10]. occurs at a faster rate than the rate of increase of the breaker
gap breakdown strength, an arc reignition will take place.
B. Faults When it is above rating, surge capacitors are used to reduce
Severe recovery voltage conditions to RRRV are imposed TRV frequency [2;6], controlling the voltage gradient.
by faults occurring on a transmission line relatively close to
the breaker. These kilometric faults (1ΦGk) are characterized
by a sawtooth-shaped component of recovery voltage. The

TRV waveform TRV waveform

IEEE/ANSI limit
IEEE/ANSI limit

(a) Circuit breaker 15 kV voltage class: TRV above the acceptable limit. (b) Circuit breaker 24 kV voltage class: TRV within the acceptable limit.
 Fig. 3. Digital analysis: changing equipment by another with higher voltage class.
Due to the high financial outlay costs involved, the power equipment, which has eight cylindrical cells. Both varistors
utilities have sought an alternative to reduce TRV peak. have commercial layout.
Therefore, in order to provide an adequate design of a device,
it is necessary to diagnose the most severe conditions about
the dissipated energy, taking into account the highest thermal
D15
and dielectric stresses, the presence of additional components
and, consequently, the maximum device supportability. An
unconventional solution will be presented in detail below.

III. DESIGN OF ZNO DEVICE D72

The application of voltage limiters in electrical power

systems has as main purpose to prevent that levels above
Fig. 5. Description of ZnO devices used in digital simulations.
specified values in the insulation coordination can reach
equipments which provide protection. The correct selection Common energy absorption capacity set up between 2 and
can result in loss of applied resources because the insulation is 4 kJ/kV. The residual voltage test for lighting current impulse
an important share in equipment cost. and the test application of voltage to power frequency
(compliant with international standards) were performed [13].
A. Varistors Properties
Thus, making it possible to determine the V-I curves of each
Metal oxide varistors have a highly nonlinear relationship metal oxide varistor (Figures 6 and 7).
between voltage and current that allows a particular feature in The models will be implemented on the EMTP. Branch
the insulation coordination. It displays a highly resistive cards type-92 [4] will simulate the conventional model with a
profile during normal conditions in operation system, nonlinear resistor.
inhibiting current absorption, almost behaving like an open
Voltage (kV)
circuit. In situations of overvoltage, its resistance is relatively
low, allowing the absorption of dissipated energy.
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) surge arresters have simple structure,
basically, consisting of a varistor column surrounded by a
ceramic or polymeric material and some other structural
components. From this idea, the propose is to evaluate ZnO
disks in series to compose a device that, in switching
operations, allows to reduce TRV peaks. Current (A)
Two cylindrical varistor commercially available will be
evaluated (Fig. 4) through digital simulation, one for each Fig. 6. Nonlinear characteristic of the element T1.
voltage level. Their geometrical characteristics are: Voltage (kV)

Varistor Type 1 (T1): height – 23 mm; diameter 64 mm;
rated voltage: 3.5 kV.

Varistor Type 2 (T2): height – 45,8 mm; diameter 38,3
mm; rated voltage: 7.5 kV.

Type 2
Current (A)

Fig. 7. Nonlinear characteristic of the element T2.

In specified model the V-I characteristic can be represented

Type 1 by an arbitrary number of exponential segments, where each
segment has constraint equation defined by:
Fig. 4. Photography of ZnO varistors used in studies. q
 v 
Structural aspects are specified in following section. i= p  (1)
V 
 ref 
B. Structure
Where i and v are, respectively, the arrester current and
The basic structures of the devices used for a 15 kV
voltage. The parameters p and q are constants of the device.
recloser (D15) and a 72.5 kV circuit breaker (D72) are shown
Vref is an arbitrary reference voltage that normalizes the
in Figure 5. The varistor T1 is present in D15 device, which is
equation, preventing numerical overflow during
composed of four disks. Varistor T2 is the base of the D72
exponentiation. addition to the leakage impedance, bushing and winding
Located across breaker terminals, the ZnO device should capacitances. Loads are represented by series RL elements to
act to control switching surges after current interruption. a low system loading and capacitor banks by its concentrated
capacitance. Transmission and distribution lines are modeled
IV. POWER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION assuming the distributed characteristic of their parameters.
The ATP (Alternative Transients Program) was used to Parasitic capacitances [14] of buses, switches, circuit breakers,
model part of the North-Northeast Brazilian Power System voltage and current transformers are also included.
Grid. The simplified diagram of the Mussuré II area, part of
the ENERGISA concession system is shown in Fig. 8. V. ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS
Tambaú (TBU) substation was modeled in detail (Fig. 9). It Digital simulations were made for 12J4 circuit breaker and
consists of two 69 kV transmission lines, one from 21L7 recloser assuming the occurrence of three phase
Mangabeira (MGB) substation and other to Bessa (BSA) ungrounded and kilometric short circuit (reference 2010). For
substation (generally open near at the line end). First line is short-line faults, a sing1e phase fault has been applied just on
connected in TBU bus through one Sprecher Schuh HPF the distribution line, 2.0 km away from the line terminals of
409K Breaker (12J4 - year 1981), with 31 kA of Maximum the recloser, diagnosed preliminarily as the most severe case.
Interrupting Rating (MIR). The recloser 21L7, 22017/1/26
A. TRV Simulation
(1999) was also evaluated, presenting 16 kA of MIR.
TRV waveform is measured by voltage meters at both sides
GNN of the breaker, then the difference is plotted. Responses are
230 compared with standard ratings. In following graphs (Figs.
10-15) are also presented situations that include ZnO devices
MRD
230 MRD D15 and D72, adding their absorbed energy in each case.
230/69 kV
69 From the simulation results, can be observed that three-
phase ungrounded fault type is the most severe case to
examine the energy absorbed by ZnO device. However, the
MGB analysis of kilometric faults should not be discarded in the
69 MUSSURÉ
AXIS
design of the device, since, although the absorbed energy is
smaller, the number of varistors set to three-phase case may
JPS 69
10-15 not be the most appropriate to reduce, to acceptable levels, the
12J4 Substations
TBU TRV peak in kilometric fault studies.
69 165
*10 3
CPX
N/A 69 Standard rating
112
Without D72 device
SANTA RITA
AXIS 59
With D72 device

BSA 69 20-30
CBD Substations 6
69
Fig. 8. ENERGISA power system: Mussuré regional. -47

69 kV subsystem
-100
5 8 11 14 17 [ms] 20
Fig. 10. Case 1: TRV for a three-phase ungrounded fault in breaker 12J4: First
TOSHIBA ITEL pole to clear fault.
35
[kJ]
[kA]
30

25

20

15

Fig. 9. Tambaú substation.

10

The external network viewing from the boundary bus,

5
which is the 230 kV bus of the Goianinha (GNN) substation,
is represented by the 60 Hz Thévenin equivalent circuit, 0
5 8 11 14 17 [ms] 20
located at a point to avoid discrepancies in TRV waveform. Fig. 11. Energy absorbed by the ZnO device in Case 1.
In modeling of Toshiba and Itel transformers is included, in
 31.0 phase ungrounded fault is larger than kilometric cases, been
*10 3
chosen to evaluate the rating of ZnO disks. Energy levels are
22.5
Standard rating established within the specifications of commercially available
14.0 Without D15 device ZnO cells, bringing feasibility to achieve the device.
With D15 device
5.5 TABLE II
SUMMARY OF DIGITAL SIMULATIONS
-3.0 uc (kV) Absorbed energy (kJ)
Breaker Without With Each
-11.5
Rating Total
device device varistor
12J4 3ΦUn 126.6 88.6 158.7 32.2 4.0
-20.0
4 7 10 13 16 [ms] 19 3ΦUn 30.1 24.5 28.8 8.7 2.2
21L7
Fig. 12. Case 2: TRV for a three-phase ungrounded fault in recloser 21L7: 1ΦGk 21.5 19.7 18.8 0.5.10-3 0.1.10-3
First pole to clear fault.
9000 B. Laboratory Test
[A]
[J]
7500
TRV waveform can be produced from circuits with lumped
elements arranged to build short circuit tests. Synthetic testing
6000 is an alternative for testing of circuit breakers [15-16].
The hybrid arrangement of Figure 16 was modeled for TRV
4500
digital analysis. This is a commonly topology used in
3000
laboratory tests. For the cases treated here, the tests also
included the modeling of D15 device (with 4 ZnO varistors),
1500 located between the breaker terminals. In the circuit, adjusting
the inductive element Lf allows changes in short current.
0
4 7 10 13 16 [ms] 19 Together with the capacitor Cs are responsible for the
(f ile tbu_21l7_3f _r_13kv_sc_4zno_p&e.pl4; x-var t) c:D1L72B-DJ_69B
Fig. 13. Energy absorbed by the ZnO device in Case 2. magnitude and frequency of TRV. Rs adjusts the attenuation
2 level while Cd is related to the initial rate of rise of TRV.
*10 3

-3
Lf Breaker

-8
Rs
Cd ZnO
Standard rating device
-13
Cs
Without D15 device
-18 With D15 device
Fig. 16. Synthetic testing circuit.

-23 The study of three-phase ungrounded terminal fault was

7.5 8.6 9.7 10.8 11.9 [ms] 13.0
Fig. 14. Case 3: TRV for a kilometric fault in recloser 21L7: Pole in which
processed to evaluate the device performance. Several
occurred the short circuit (distance fault/breaker: 2.0 km). parameters were used to produce some tests with different
0.8
waveforms (changing frequencies and short current
[A]
[J] amplitude). Figure 17 shows TRV peak with and without
0.7
limiter device. Each columm in graph indicates a case, making
0.6
use or not of the ZnO element.
0.5

0.4
TRV magnitude / Current (kV, kA)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
7.5 9.0 10.5 12.0 13.5 [ms] 15.0
Fig. 15. Energy absorbed by the ZnO device in Case 3.

The rate of rise (RRRV) hardly change after add the limiter
device. As shown in Table II, the magnitude of TRV is
reduced in all cases evaluated after the inclusion of nonlinear
device between poles of switching equipment. Checking the TRV frequency (kHz)
results presented, energy absorbed by limiter device in three- Fig. 17. Results of laboratory tests reproduced digitally.
 It is noted from Figure 17 that the reduction levels of TRV Voltage in Medium-Voltage Equipments” (In Portuguese), SBSE 2010 –
Brazilian Symposium of Electrical Power Systems, Belém, Brazil, May,
peak are around 10 kV, regardless of the fault magnitude and 2010.
TRV frequency. This fact is evident especially in scenarios [7] ATP - Alternative Transients Program, Leuven EMTP Center,
where TRV frequency is of the order of kHz. For all cases, the Herverlee, Belgium, 1987.
absorbed energy was established around 500 mJ, showing [8] Dommel, H. W., Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) – Theory
Book. Portland: BPA, 1996.
that, in high frequency scenarios, the dissipated energy is very
[9] W. V. S. Azevêdo, W. L. A. Neves, D. Fernandes Jr., R. M. Soares, D. F.
low compared to its supportability. P. Moura, “Frequency Domain Analysis for Allocation of Network
Digital results show that ZnO devices are feasible Equivalents in Power Systems” (In Portuguese), SBSE 2010 – Brazilian
alternatives for reducing TRV magnitude in medium voltage Symposium of Electrical Power Systems, Belém, Brazil, May, 2010.
switching equipments. Furthermore, the low energy [10] Task Force Report. “Modeling Guidelines for Switching Transients”,
IEEE PES Switching Transients. Task Force 15.08.09.
absorption under high frequency conditions corroborates with
[11] IEC International Standard 62271-100: High-Voltage Switchgear – Part
the results obtained by [5], where the impositions to the 100: High-Voltage Alternating-current Circuit-breakers, Edition 1.2,
limiter device in this scenarios are established below those October 2006.
previously observed in low frequency cases of TRV. [12] ANSI/IEEE C37.011-1979. IEEE Application Guide for Transient
Recovery Voltage for AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers. New York,
Inc., 1979.
VI. CONCLUSIONS [13] G. R. S. Lira, Parameter Estimation for a Dynamic Model of Zinc Oxide
1) Criteria for design and solutions for TRV mitigation were Surge Arrester (In Portuguese), M.Sc. Dissertation. UFCG. Campina
Grande, Brazil, 58 p., March 2008.
discussed in scope of circuit breakers and reclosers
[14] ANSI/IEEE C37.011TM-2005. IEEE Application Guide for Transient
adequacy. To reduce TRV magnitude, devices consisting Recovery Voltage for AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers. IEEE Power
of zinc oxide varistors (ZnO) were applied between the Engineering Society. New York, 2006.
breaker poles. Digital analysis indicate their effectiveness, [15] J. G. Jamnani, S. A. Kanitkar, “Design and Simulation of 2 Parameters
providing prospects for its implementation. TRV Synthetic Testing Circuit for Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers”.
4th International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering
2) It appears that the levels of absorbed energy are within ICECE 2006, Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2006.
the specifications of commercial available elements. The [16] D. Dufournet, G. F. Montillet, “Transient Recovery Voltage
device could allow operations characterized preliminarily Requirements for System Source Fault Interrupting by Small Generator
Circuit Breakers”, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, v. 17, n. 2,
as prohibitive, glimpsing its application, providing the April 2002.
reduction of dielectric stresses in arc chamber.
3) About research advances, the reproduction of laboratory
conditions is essential to validate digital studies. Wilker V. S. Azevêdo received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering
from Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), in 2008 and 2010,
Moreover, the physical structure of the limiters must be respectively. He is currently a Ph.D. student at UFCG. He is with Federal
set. Furthermore, electric arc modeling will allow more Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraíba. His research
accurate comparisons between measurements and interests are electromagnetic transients and power system planning.
simulations. Washington L. A. Neves (M'95) is an Associate Professor in the Department
4) The nonlinear device aims to reduce the resources of Electrical Engineering at UFCG, Campina Grande, Brazil. He received the
normally earmarked for the purchase of equipment with B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from UFPB, Brazil, in 1979
and 1982, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from UBC, Vancouver, Canada,
higher voltage class, increasing number of switching over in 1995. His research interests are electromagnetic transients in power systems
the useful life of equipments. and power quality.

REFERENCES Damásio Fernandes Jr. (M'05) received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in
electrical engineering from Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil, in 1997 and
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Recovery Voltage Considerations in the Application of Medium-voltage University of Campina Grande, Brazil, in 2004. Since 2003, he is with the
Circuit Breakers”. IEEE Transaction on Industry Applications, vol. 33, Department of Electrical Engineering of Federal University of Campina
nº. 2, pp. 383-388, March/April 1997. Grande. His research interests are electromagnetic transients and optimization
[2] R. G. Colclaser Jr., L. E. Berkebile, D. E. Buettner, “The Effect of methods for power system applications.
Capacitors on the Short-line Fault Component os Recovery Voltage”.
IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS 90, Nº Benemar A. Souza (M'02 - SM'05) received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. in
2, March/April, 1971. Electrical Engineering from Federal University of Paraíba, PB, Brazil, in
[3] X. Wang, P. Wilson, J. Zhou, D. Muthumuni, D. Kell, K. W. Lowie, 1977, 1981 and 1995, respectively. He works currently as a professor at the
“Transient Recovery Voltage Investigation of 15 kV Circuit Breaker Department of Electrical Engineering of Federal University of Campina
Failure”. IPST – International Conference on Power Systems Transients, Grande, PB, Brazil. His research activities are mainly focused on optimization
Montreal, Canada, June 2005. methods applied to power systems, electromagnetic transients, power quality
[4] Z. Zhou, X. Wang, P. Wilson, “Transient Recovery Voltage Assessment and fault diagnostic.
for 138 kV Breakers with the New Addition of a Wind Farm”. IEEE
International Conference on Power System Technology, 2006. Ricardo M. Soares received his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from
[5] D. M. Nobre, W. L. A. Neves, B. A. Souza, “An Alternative to Reduce Federal University of Paraíba, PB, Brazil, in 1984. He works currently as a
Medium-Voltage Transient Recovery Voltage Peaks”, IPST – manager at the Department of Transmission Operation (DEOT) of the
International Conference on Power Systems Transients, Rio de Janeiro, ENERGISA-PB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
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[6] W. V. S. Azevêdo, W. L. A. Neves, D. Fernandes Jr., K. M. C. Dantas,
R. R. G. Cavalcanti, R. M. Soares, “Mitigation of Transient Recovery

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