PROTECTING HIGH-VOLTAGE MOTORS AGAINST SWITCHING

OVERVOLTAGES

Caroline Vollet Benoit de Metz Noblat

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
P&E Center, M4 Plant P&E Center, M4 Plant
Grenoble F38050 cedex Grenoble F38050 cedex
France France

Abstract - In an industrial plant equipped with HV motors, suppressors.

several severe stator failures occurred in spite of the The paper will first give an overview of the types of switching
installation of MOA (metal-oxide arrester) surge arresters. All surges that can occur in this network configuration i.e. current
of these motors were switched with vacuum circuit breakers. chopping and voltage escalation at de-energization and pre-
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the necessity of ignition at energization.
complementary protection against overvoltages by adding C-R Secondly, network simulations using EMTP/ATP
(capacitor - resistor) surge suppressors. (ElectroMagnetic Transients Program / Alternative Transients
This paper will first give an overview of the types of switching Program) software are presented, including a complete
surges that can occur in this network configuration. Secondly, simulation of the vacuum circuit breaker. This model takes into
network simulations using EMTP/ATP software are presented. account the chopping current, the slope of recovery strength
The object of these simulations is to calculate the overvoltages and the current slope that the vacuum switch is able to
created during motor switching, to study the evolution of these interrupt. The object of these simulations is to calculate the
overvoltages as a function of cable length and motor power, overvoltages created during motor switching, to study the
and to check if additional protection needs to be installed on evolution of these overvoltages as a function of cable length
these motors. and motor power, and to check if some additional protection
The comparison is made between the simulated voltages and needs to be installed on these motors.
the motors withstand voltage capability defined in the IEC The maximum overvoltages obtained in the simulations
60034-15. often exceeds the withstand level of the motor insulation, the
It can be concluded that even with two MOA surge arresters, comparison is done not only with magnitude criteria but also
the protection of the motor is not guaranteed. with time rise.
A full motor protection is provided by installing C-R surge It can be concluded that even with two MOA surge arresters,
suppressors thus eliminating multiple reignitions. one located at the load terminals of the vacuum circuit breaker
This paper will give installation recommendations for both the and the other located at the motor terminals, the protection of
C-R surge suppressors and the MOA surge arresters. the motor is not guaranteed.
Full motor protection can be provided by installing C-R surge
Index Terms - Switching overvoltage, Vacuum circuit suppressors and by keeping the MOA surge arresters on all
breaker, MOA surge arrester, C-R surge suppressor, Motor. the motors.
1. INTRODUCTION
11. TYPES OF OVERVOLTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH
In a desalinization plant equipped with 32 HV motors (11 SWITCHING
kV), several severe stator failures occurred. At least 3 motors
have developed stator failures during commissioning tests, The subject of switching surge overvoltages associated with
then one failed during operation in spite of the installation of vacuum circuit breakers has been discussed in many technical
MOA (metal-oxide arrester) surge arresters. papers [1]-[3]. Therefore the aim of this chapter is to clarify
All of these motors were switched with vacuum circuit only the involved phenomena leading to the most severe
breakers, and thus the first assumption was that the stator transients and to describe them in some detail.
faults were a result of exposure to steep fronted switching
surges. These surges cause severe stress on the stator A. Current Chopping (opening)
windings insulation because of the non-uniform distribution of
the voltage across the windings. Both opening and closing Current chopping (lo) refers to the premature suppression of
operations could generate switching overvoltages with large the power frequency current before normal current-zero in the
amplitude and high frequencies. If the switching overvoltage vacuum circuit breaker. Depending on the load 's inductance
amplitude exceeds the basic insulation level (BIL) of the motor, (Lb), a magnetic energy remains trapped in the load circuit.
Overvoltage protection must be installed. The maximum voltage at the load level can be estimated
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate, in the case of with the approximation that the trapped magnetic energy (1/2
this desalinization plant, the necessity of complementary Lblo2) will be converted into electrical energy in the parasitic
protection against overvoltages by adding C-R surge capacitance (Gb). So the estimation of the maximum chopping

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 1

overvoltage (Um) is: SOURCE iA BRAKR CABLE LOAD

1 ^_1LbI02 +1 +2 Lbb
+-CbUD2 =EUm _- UPf2 +1 A ei |,
-CbUm=-
2 2 ~~2 2
b
(10k:
I

where ,i
Upf the power frequency voltage at interruption.
For vacuum circuit breakers, the chopping current is Fig. 1. Circuit demonstrating how the high frequency current
determined mostly by the contact material and is typically 2 to resulting from a reignition in one phase couples into the other
10 A. Data published in [2] indicates that the maximum phases to produce the conditions for virtual current chopping.
overvoltage created by current chopping never exceeds the
IEEE motor impulse voltage withstand recommendation [5]. Compared with normal current chopping, the virtual current
Therefore, in general, overvoltages at current chopping do not
need surge protection (see chapter V.A).
chopping can be much higher and also the overvoltages
between phases B and C can be up to twice the overvoltage
B. Voltage Escalation (opening) from phase to ground on these phases.

Voltage escalation arises after reignition of the circuit

breaker following switching off after a short arcing time.
III. DESCRIPTIONOFTHENETWORKANDMODELS
Reignition can occur when contact separation takes place near
current zero, with the contact gap too small to withstand the OnmFig.e2 itris
shown the ed diagm t
Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV). As a result network simulated electrical network of the desalinization plant.
esingletion
capacitances on both sides of the breaker discharge over the
inductance, causing a high frequency oscillating current
(typically 100 - 200 kHz) through the breaker. The vacuum P151
PCC

circuit breaker is able to interrupt this current at high frequency

current zero. A new TRV will develop over the breaker steeper
and higher than the previous one. If the separating contacts
have not yet gained sufficient dielectric strength, there will be a IV"
new reignition. This sequence of events may be repeated
several times (up to 10) with increasing amplitude. The W 1ThIl/VhS 790kW
process will stop only when the breaker gap strength reaches_A
a value higher than the TRV.

C. Repetitive Pre-Ignition (closing) /

During the closing operation, several pre-ignitions can occur
if the gap between the contacts breaks down before galvanic
contact is established. However, pre-ignition is less severe
than multiple reignition, first because the contact gap at the
first pre-strike is very small and second because the peak El
value of the steep waves decreases in time, because the
contacts approach.
D. Virtual Current Chopping (opening)
Fig. 2. Simplified simulated single line diagram
Virtual current chopping is caused by an interaction between
two phases, dependant upon the capacitive coupling between The software used to simulate this network is ATP
the phases. If a reignition in one phase (phase A for example) (Alternative Transients Program). ATP is primarily a simulation
causes a high frequency current, a part of this transient current program for the electrical power industry.
may flow in phase B and C via the network capacitances. This The technical data of equipment taken into account are:
could cause a current zero crossing in these two phases; this
forced current-zero phenomenon is virtual current chopping A. NetworkSupply15kVand47MVA15/11kVTransformer
(see Fig. 1).
Parameters for the equivalent source were varied to cover
maximum and minimum short circuit power and to take into
account the earthing system.
B. Cable Data

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 2

 A model with distributed parameters was used to represent Fig. 3. Model of Vacuum Circuit Breaker
all the cables in order to take into account the high frequency
behaviour of cables. The model takes into account the following characteristics:
* The dielectric recovery strength between contacts when
TABLE opening,
CABLE DATA * The ability of the vacuum circuit breaker to chop the
Cable size in length in m surge propagation current before its natural zero,
sq.mm impedance velocity in * The high frequency quenching capability of the circuit
between the 3#1Cx50 215
innh3
o 21 m s
8.55 89 i03
breaker. In fact, we fixed the number of the HF current
zero crossing before opening.
transformer 0
and the main
busbar The control logic implemented in MODELS is the following:
between the 4#3Cx24 450 7 94 103 * After mechanical separation of the breaker contacts, it
main and the 0 is considered that the dielectric strength between them
motors rises linearly with a definite slope.
busbars 3 * The voltage between the contact in each instant, u(tl)-
between the 3Cx150 see motors 28 90 10 u(t2), is compared with the withstand voltage (defined
motors busbar characteristics by the above mentioned straight rise) and in case it is
surpassed, a closing signal is given to the switch, so a
C. Motor Data reignition of the arc is simulated.
If the reignition occurs, then two conditions should be fulfilled
All of the 32 motors of the switchboard were modelled by an for the circuit breaker to interrupt again the current:
equivalent circuit (R+jX) which represents the motor in the
f the number o HFtcrrent ze cr n t b
starting conditions. When a vacuum circuit breaker interrupts a the fixer of and
running motor, no high overvoltage is expected because the the fixed limit and
emf produced by the 'running motor opposes the source .~~~~~~~~~~
The instantaneous
wihhe breakerus value must be smaller than that
aletoechop.
voltage resulting in a very small TRV across the opening
contacts. robustness If these two conditions are fulfilled, an opening signal for the
To ensure robustness to sensitivities associated with swtc is prdcd
variations in cable length and motor size, ' consideration was switch produced.logic is repeated for each time step and so
~~~~~TheIspreceding
given to the largest and the smallest motors and the longest it's possible to simulate the multiple reignitions phenomena
and the shortest cable feeders. and the voltage escalation.
TABLE 11
the present study, the following values are used, based
Motor rated running
MOTORS DATA
MOTORS
starting
DATA
starting parallel cable ~~~~onFor
our know-how and
know-how and the technical ppapers:
thenthnical rs:
In kW current power current power capaci- length * Slope of recovery strength = 20 or 40 kV/ms,
(Amps) factor (Amps) factor tance (m) * Chopping current = 5 or 8 A,
frequency 248 - * Number of HF current zero crossing = 3,
500 30.6 0.91 160 0.163 = 15 kHz 239 - * Average contact opening velocity = 1 m/s,
216 * Total travel of the moving contact = 5 mm.
frequency 140
790 50.5 0.86 245 0.16 -15 kHz
1650100 0.89 606 0.189
frequenc
_
113
126 - Surge Arresters Data
139 - The MOA surge arresters are located at the load terminals
152 of the vacuum circuit breaker and in some cases directly on
the motor terminals.
D. Vacuum Circuit Breaker Data The arresters are represented as exponential ZnO surge
arrester R(i) i.e. the non linear V-I characteristic is
A simple switch model, controlled by means of a logic approximated by a number of exponential segments
imposed in MODELS (ATP), simulates the multiple reignitions determined with the following points (Type 92 element in
and the arc created (see Fig. 3). EMTP/ATP software):.

i(t) MODELS
A AOpen!
-

ui(t) signSal t

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 3

 TABLE III
ARRESTERS DATA

Arrester connected to motors Arrester connected to the motors 2

busbar /
Current (A) Voltage (V) Current (A) Voltage (V) 2
0.003 21600 0.0001 18400
0.03 22500 0.001 22925 1
10 26000 0.01 23850 /
24000500 420.110 - - - - - - -- - - - - - --I-- - - - - -I- - - - - -I- - - - - - -I-- - - - - - -r - - - - - -r- - - - --

1500 46000 1 24288

3000 49000 10 25700 o - - --I
5000 52000 100 27600
10000 57500 1000 31800 0 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 06 09
20000 65400 10000 36800 x l0o6
40000 76900 Fig. 4. Interturn insulation 32 kV (V1)
x 10 4
The arresters are connected to the earth with a 1 Q resistor F .
in order to be more realistic. 456
F. C-R Surge Suppressors Data
The C-R surge suppressor is composed with a resistor 3 - --------I------
connected in series with a surge capacitor. The value of the
capacitor is taken to 0.2 or 0.3 pF and the resistor must be at
least equal to 30 Q.
OVERVOLTAGE
EFFECTS
IV. ON MOTOR INSULATION 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------

In order to examine the effects of switching overvoltages on Lr T i., __.

motor insulation, these overvoltages are compared to the rated 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 1
insulation levels for rotating machines given in the IEC 60 034- x 10-5
15 International Standard [5]. Fig. 5. Main insulation 49 kV (V2)
For 11 kV motors:
* Rated lightning impulse withstand voltage (1,2/50 ps When the simulated overvoltages magnitude is over 32 kV
wave) = 49 kV peak, for VI or 49 kV for V2, it is obvious that the overvoltage is
* Rated steep-front impulse withstand voltage (0.2 ps outside the envelope and there is no need of time rise
wave) = 32 kV peak, checking.
* Rated power frequency withstand voltage (50 Hz) When the simulated overvoltages magnitude is below 32 kV
= 23 kV rms. for VI or 49 kV for V2, then a graphical check for time rise is
systematically done.
For the motors, the rated steep-front impulse withstand
voltage is the impulse test of the interturn insulation. The V. TRANSIENTSIMULATIONS
voltage is applied between the two terminals of the coils. In the
simulations, it is equivalent and has to be compared to the A. CurrentChopping(opening)
voltage between phase and neutral.
The rated lightning impulse withstand voltage is the impulse In these simulations we have modeled only current chopping
test of the main insulation. The voltage is applied between the without reignition.
coils terminals and earth. In the simulations, it is equivalent The results are presented for the motor with the lowest
and has to be compared to the voltage between phase and power and with the shortest cable, i.e. 500 kW motor supplied
earth. via 216 m cable and for a chopping current of 8 Amps. The
The comparison between the simulated overvoltages and the maximum overvoltage is around 22.2 kV peak. The frequency
standard withstand voltage is done not only with magnitude observed on the voltage curves corresponds to the resonance
criteria but also with time rise. The overvoltage curve obtained between the motor inductance and the cable capacitance.
by simulation must be within the envelope defined by IEC 60 Fig. 6 gives the overvoltage at motor terminal (phase to
034-15 (see Fig. 4 and 5). earth) and Fig. 7 shows the current chopping in the circuit
breaker.

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 4

 2k5- connection point is limited to the residual voltage of this
20- L arrester. But due to the wave reflections in the cable,
the overvoltage at the motor terminal is above the
withstand level of the motor insulation.
10- ~~~~~~~~~~~3)
With MOA Surge Arresters At Load Terminal Of The
5--o--" I = k ffl < kVacuum Circuit Breaker And At The Motor Terminal:
These simulations show that even with two arresters,
°0XX X iW11 ) located between the vacuum circuit breaker and
one
_5_ the cable and the other located at the motor terminal,
the protection of the motor is not guaranteed. The
-10- 4001) thmaximum overvoltage obtained in the simulations is
-15- very near or even over the withstand level of the motor
(file(iR2p;-rvT4
8 12
R1312b.p1, x-var t) vMOTOF A v v*O vMOTOR
16
[ms] 20 insulation. Fig. 8 gives the overvoltage at motor terminal
Fig. 6. Voltage at motor terminal (single phase voltage): (phase to earth), the MOA action can be clearly seen on
22200 Vpeak with a frequency of 1500 Hz this figure.
40-
250.0 T _[k
[A] I3 0

125.0-.-AL 10I 20-

I-
L X 82[]
62 .5 .-- --- -I

0.- 1 4 t h

-62. - -I- l---

.l
. -1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~-10o-i oW 4 p
-125.0 . . . . ----
I I I I I I I I
-187.5- --H - I --- .
-250.0 20 F
_ _ l_ _ l_ _ _ _ _ ____ ___________Vea

(file RB12b.p14;x-vart) c:CA B 12b BLEB-VV6BBCBc: CABLEC-V\A6BBCC s3

-

I 8 - I- I-- - - XIh 2 L L I(fileRl323.pl4; onurlvlae

hs x-vart) tmtrtriasgvnb
v:OOA vMOTORB v:MOTORC
I_ I I I I I I
7. C -- i t m c c b
.-~-- Fig. 8. Voltage at motor terminal (single phase voltage): 32k
- -~~~~~ ~~~~~Vpeak
-2-
76 4 6778 78 76 [ms] 205

chopping =8 Amps 21 | |l
well within the withstand voltage9ofhemaxiallvaequipment.t
AtkVthese
Fectgosimulations
eThese show that
the lurevel of swtchin even with acurrentr-crrnk
movervicutagres. chopping of 0 hnIfl I T I T
8 Amps, the highest generated phase to earth overvoltage ispa t n voltage at m
relatively low levels of overvoltage, the arresters have little <-t
The obtained results are in accordance with the results 10I
described In the technical publications [4],i.e. current chopping l l
l l A.
overvoltages remain limited nowadays and the worst case is
with short cable andlow motorpower. of a e A these
(file RB23 pl4; x-var t) vMT A-E O :MOIOP[3 ILVMOI v MOTOR TERMOT

B. Voltage Escalation (opening) Fig. 9. Voltage across the motor winding (phase to neutral
voltage): 24k Vpeak
In these simulations, we have modelled current chopping
with reignition: the switch model simulates the multiple re- S2
ignitions of the arc in the vacuum circuit breaker. criteria, it can be said that the motor protection is correct. But if
a graphical check for time rise is made taking into account the
1) Without Any MOA Surge Arrester When there is no envelope defined by lEG 60 034-15, the conclusion can be
MOA surge arrester connected, the overvoltage due to different. Fig. 10 gives the two latest re-ignitions for the single
multiple re-ignitions is well over the withstand level of phase voltage and Fig 11 shows the comparison between the
the motor insulation, simulated overvoltage and the envelope defined by lEC 60
2) With MOA Surge Arrester At Load Terminal Of The 034-15.
Vacuum Circuit Breaker When there is only one MOA
surge arrester connected at the load terminal of the
vacuum circuit breaker, the overvoltage at the arrester

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 5

 40-
[k(l pl4; x-at v l\OTR MOOR _____20-
30/ [k\(

20-

10~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0
0-

-1 0
_-

__4
J
-20__ -10

,15Vpawihafeunyaron H
-30 35_ - - - ---__---_
_- -15- -- - -
6.48 6.51 6 6.57 6.60 6.63 [ins] 6.66
(file RB23.pl4; x-vart) 0 M IO)RB v: MOlTORC -20 ___ __

Fig. 1 0. Voltag atoor terminal (single phase voltage): (fl 4B5p4;-at MQ2TR6
v [Ms]320
zoom o te two latest re-ignitions Fig. 13. Voltage across the motor winding (phase to neutral)
X 104 ~~~~~~~~~~~~15k
Vpeak with a frequency around I kHz
-----
------------ -------I------ I------ ------C. Circuit Energization (closing)
In these simulations, we model the different circuit
2.5 - -A---------- -
energization. The level of overvoltage during switching on is
-- ----- ---

2
considered to be a statistical quantity on 100 simulations. In
- -
I--- - - -- -- -- --- -

the studies, the circuit breaker is randomly permitted to close

056 at any point on the 50 Hz waveform with all poles closing
within a random 2.5 ms pole window to account pole scatter.
------

0 -------------------

-0.5 -n,-- -----n,------,,------T-------

IS- SZ---)- XThis permits us to find the max overvoltage that might occur in
I575
-- -

6.676 6577
6.676 657E; 6678 6579
6.67 6578 6.68 E;58;
6.679 658 6.681 6.582 6 I Imotor energization.
These simulations show that the MOA surge arresters, one
Fig. 11. Comparison between simulated overvoltages (in located between the vacuum circuit breaker and the cable and
blue) and IEC envelope (in red) one located at the motor terminal, are necessary to be sure of
the protection of the motor.
On Fig. 1 1, the time rise is measured at 0.1 ps. Without these MOA surge arresters or with only the MOA
The conclusion is that even with arresters located at the surge arrester located between the vacuum circuit breaker and
motor terminal, the motor is not correctly protected and some the cable, the maximum overvoltage obtained in the
very high frequency overvoltages can affect the motor and simulations is very near or even over the withstand level of the
exceed its withstand level. motor insulation.
Furthermore, the arresters do not limit the multiple VI. INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS
reignitions associated with the vacuum circuit breakers.
On the other hand, the properly sized C-R surge
suppressors eliminate multiple reignitions and voltage It is important to locate the C-R surge suppressors and the
escalation and limit the overvoltages within the withstand MOA surge arresters near the load and not at the breaker. If
levels for the motors. the protection device is located at the load, the magnitude of
Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 gives respectively the single phase the high frequency current resulting from re-ignition is limited
voltage and the phase to neutral voltage with C-R surge by the surge impedance of the cable between the breaker and
suppressors on motor terminal. the load. This reduces the probability of virtual current
20- chopping.
[k\1 However, in this desalinization plant study , some C-R surge
10- _ _ _ suppressors had to be installed at 20 m from the motor
terminals because of a lack of place. The simulations have
0 __ [-; M shown that the C-R surge suppressors still provided full motor
protection.
VIl. CONCLUSIONS
-20-
The HV motors failures occurred in a desalinization plant in
-30- spite of the installation of MOA surge arresters can be
explained by the voltage escalation phenomenon developed in
-0- 4) 12
(file RB25.pl4; x-vart) v OOAvMOTOF3B v:MOTORC
16 20 [mns] the vacuum circuit breaker. A model of vacuum circuit breaker
was developed and used in ATP in order to study overvoltages
Fig. 12. Voltage at motor terminal (single phase voltage): resulting from current chopping and voltage escalation.
26kVpeak with a frequency around I kHz The results obtained may be summarized as follows:

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 6

 *The overvoltages due to simple current chopping are International Conf On advances in power system
within the withstand levels of the motors control, operation and management., pp. 653-658.
* The phenomenon of multiple reignition and voltage [4] J. D. Gibbs, D. Koch, P. Malkin and K. J. Cornick,
escalation produced overvoltages that could be over the "Comparison of performance of switching technologies
withstand level of the motors. A complete comparison on E CIGRE motor simulation circuit," IEEE Trans.
must be made not only according magnitude criteria but Power Delivery, vol. 4, pp. 1745-1750, July. 1989.
also with time rise. In our case, even if the magnitude of [5] IEC 60 034-15 Impulse voltage withstand levels of
the simulated overvoltage was under the standard limit, rotating a.c. machines with form-wound stator coils,
the time rise was shorter than the wave defined in the 1995.
lEC 60 034-15 standard.
Full motor protection can be provided by installing C-R surge
suppressors on all the motors. IX. VITA
Additional studies are carried out in order to provide an Caroline Vollet received her Electrical Engineering degree
application guide. This guide will give the necessary protection from the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble in 1988.
as a function of cable length, motor power and network She joined Merlin Gerin (now Schneider Electric) in 1989. She
configuration and exploitation. is currently working on electrical network analyses such as
stability, harmonic and overvoltage studies. She has been
VIII. REFERENCES personally involved in several instances of equipment failure or
malfunctioning in different kind of industrial plants.
Benoit de Metz Noblat received his Electrical Engineering
[1] J. F. Perkins, "Evaluation of switching overvoltages on degree from the Ecole Superieure d'Electricite (France) in
medium voltage power systems," IEEE Trans. Power 1974. He worked first for Saint Gobain as electrical new
Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-101, pp. 1727-1734, projects & maintenance manager. He joined Merlin Gerin (now
June.1982. Schneider Electric) in 1986. He is a member of the Electrical
[2] S. H. Telander, M. R. Wilhelm, K. B. Stump, "Surge Network competence group that studies electrical phenomena
limiters for vacuum circuit breakers," IEEE Trans. concerning the operation of networks and their interaction with
IndustryApplications, vol. 24, pp. 554-559, July. 1988. devices and equipment.
[3] S. M. Wong, L. A. Snider, "Overvoltages and reignition
behavior of vacuum circuit breaker," in Proc. 2003

Revision 13 March 11, 2003 7