Second International Symposium on Standards

for
Ultra High Voltage Transmission
1200kV Transmission System and Status of Development of Substation
Equipment/ Transmission Line Material in India
R.N.Nayak

M.C.Bhatnagar

B.N.De.Bhowmick

R.K.Tyagi

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, India

SUMMARY
The Indian Power Sector is growing at an accelerated pace. Peak demand is expected to be more than
157,000 MW by 2012 which necessitates installed capacity of about 210,000 MW. Further, to meet the
growth rate of Indian economy, installed capacity of power generation shall be about 600,000 MW by
2025. To keep pace with generation, transmission system needs to be strengthened for power transfer from
generating stations to the load centres. Considering the serious difficulty of availability of Right of Way
(ROW), it is considered prudent to adopt 1200kV AC as next transmission voltage level in the country for
transfer of bulk power. To develop 1200kV AC technology indigenously, a 1200kV test station is being
established at Bina, Madhya Pradesh in central part of India in association with 25 Indian manufacturers.
In this project, POWERGRID shall provide the platform such as AC network connection, transmission
lines, testing facilities and other infrastructures at Bina substations and Equipment Manufactures shall
install their 1200kV Equipments for field testing and trial. Based on the field testing and experience
gained on the performance of 1200kV equipments, technical parameters shall be fine tuned for 1200kV
AC transmission system. The test station shall consist of 2 nos. bays of 1200kV, 2 sets of 1200kV
transformers (1000MVA each Bank) and one single circuit & one double circuit 1200kV Transmission
Lines (about 1 km each).
In this paper, the details of establishment of test station are discussed and various studies conducted for
optimization of air clearances, corona, etc. are also described. Insulation Co-ordination was the most
critical for designing the 1200kV System from the point of view of lightning impulse withstand voltage
and switching impulse withstand voltage levels. The necessary protective margins as per IEC-60071-1&2
have been maintained by special design of four (4) column surge arrester for meeting high discharge
capability of 55MJ. The rated voltage of surge arrester is 850kV and Lightning Impulse Protective Level
(LIPL) and Switching Impulse Protective Level (SIPL) as 1700kV (at 20kA) and 1500 kV (at 2 kA)
respectively. The specifications and current status of development of various major 1200kV equipments
like Transformers, Circuit Breakers, Surge arresters, Capacitive Voltage Transformer, Dis-connectors and
Transmission lines are detailed in this paper.

KEYWORDS
1200 kV Test Station, Insulation Coordination, Surge Impedance Loading

nayak@powergridindia.com

Page 1 of 13

1.0

INTRODUCTION

In India, major primary energy resources, i.e., coal and hydro potential, are concentrated in few pockets.
For example, coal deposit is confined to Eastern part, while hydro potential is located in North-eastern and
upper parts of Northern Region. Therefore, to ensure optimal utilization of resources, it requires
development of large sized resource based generating stations and transfer of bulk power to the far-off
load centres through long distance transmission network. Various issues like Right-of-Way (ROW) and
social aspects etc. are posing major challenges for the development of efficient transmission system. To
address above aspects, it has been considered prudent to adopt power transmission at 1200 kV AC and
800 kV HVDC levels to have high intensity power transfer per metre of ROW. POWERGRID is already
operating hybrid EHV AC and HVDC systems in their National Grid which has proved an effective tool
for efficient network operation and management.
Since limited experience is available in the world on 1200 kV AC, it was decided to establish a 1200 kV
Test Station at Bina, Madhya Pradesh in the central part of India. The test station shall consist of 2 nos.
bays of 1200 kV, 2 sets of 1200 kV transformers (1000 MVA each Bank) and one single circuit 1200kV
Transmission Line & one double circuit 1200 kV Transmission Line ( about 1 km each). The experience
gained on various 1200kV equipments shall help in fine tuning the technical parameters for 1200 kV
transmission projects which are expected by 2013/14. The detailed field testing shall be taken up for
verification of the performance of various equipments.
The Single Line Diagram of the Test Station is given in Figure-I.

Figure-I: Single Line Diagram of Bina Substation

(The portion marked with red colour is 1200kV Test Station.)

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In order to have power transfer through 1200kV System, existing 400kV Satna-Bina-III feeder shall be
routed through 1200kV feeders. The Sectional layout of the Test Station is given as Figure-II.

Figure-II: Sectional view of 1200kV Test Bay

2.0

1200kV AC TRANSMISSION LINE TECHNICAL PARAMETERS:

For evolving parameters of the 1200kV System, simulation studies have been carried out and the basic
parameters are given below. However, detailed studies are continuing for fine tuning these parameters.
The outcome of field tests to be conducted at test station at Bina shall also be considered.
The technical parameters being considered for 1200kV Transmission Lines are summarized in Table-1
below:
Table-1
Sr.No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Parameters
Nominal Voltage
Highest voltage
Resistance
Reactance
Susceptance
Surge Impedance Loading (SIL)
Surge Impedance

Base kV :1200kV;

Value
1150 kV
1200 kV
4.338 x10-7 p.u./km
1.772 x10-5 p.u./km
6.447 x10-2 p.u./km
6030 MW
239 Ohm

Base MVA :100 MVA

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Page 3 of 13

From the above Table-1, it may be observed that SIL of 1200kV AC system is about 6030MW which is
about 2 times SIL of 765kV system and 11 times SIL of 400kV system. With development of 1200kV
Transmission network, the ROW can be optimized. The comparison of SIL, ROW and MW intensity per
meter of ROW for 400kV, 765kV & 1200kV and HVDC Transmission Lines is given in Table-2.
Table-2
400kV AC

765kV AC

46

64

1000

2300-2900

22

45

ROW (m)
Capacity (MW)
Power carrying
Intensity
MW/m of ROW

500kV
HVDC
52
2000-2500
48

1200 kV AC

800kV
HVDC

92

70

6000-8000
87

3.0

INSULATION CO-ORDINATION OF 1200kV AC SYSTEM

3.1

Switching Over Voltage

6000-6400

90

Common practice in long EHV system for controlling switching over voltages during any switching
operation is to equip circuit breaker with pre-insertion resistor (PIR) which comes into the circuit initially
for about 8-10ms. Studies have been carried out on a 450km long line with various source strength and
different value of PIR (10 ms insertion time) without effect of surge arrester and results are tabulated in
Table-3 below.
Table-3
1 p.u. = 978 kV (1200*1.41/1.732)
Source Strength
MVA
10,000
15,000
20,000

W/O PIR
2.27
2.17
2.07

Switching Over Voltage (p.u)

300
600
1.51
1.71
1.36
1.55
1.35
1.50

700
1.78
1.58
1.52

Although generated switching over voltages are minimum with 300 ohms (PIR) but considering thermal
stresses on resistor discs under severe phase opposition condition, it was envisaged to adopt 600 ohms PIR
with 10 ms insertion time and switching over voltage level as 1.71 p.u. (1672kV) without Surge Arrester.
However, with Surge Arresters, switching over voltages were limited to about 1.53 p.u. (1500kV)
3.2

Temporary Over-voltages (TOV)

To determine the temporary over voltages, preliminary studies have been carried out on a 450km long
transmission line with single-line-to-ground fault followed by three phase interruption at far end only. In
the studies different source strengths along with 60% reactive compensation were considered. The results
are presented in Table-4 below:

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Table-4
1 p.u. = 978 kV (1200*1.41/1.732)
Source Strength
MVA
10,000
15,000
20,000

Temporary over voltage( p.u)

Without Line Reactor
1.58
1.48
1.45

With line reactor

1.33
1.31
1.30

As brought out at Table-4 above, TOVs are upto 1.33 p.u. for 10,000 MVA short circuit level. Keeping in
view these levels of TOVs, insulation co-ordination studies were conducted with 1.4 p.u. TOV. Since
short circuit level in actual condition shall be generally higher that the short circuits levels considered for
studies, therefore actual TOVs are unlikely to exceed 1.4 p.u. considered for insulation co-ordination.
3.3

Selection of Insulation Levels:

Insulation Co-ordination is very important for design of the 1200kV System from the point of view of
lightning impulse withstand voltage level and switching impulse withstand voltage level for 1200kV
equipments. To achieve necessary protective margins as per IEC-60071-1&2, in-depth studies were
conducted for Voltage-Current (V-I) characteristics of ZnO blocks. The V-I characteristics of the 850kV
Surge Arresters as finalized for 1200 kV system are as given in Table-5 below:
Table-5
Sr.No.
1
2
3
4
5

Surge Arrester Current (kA)

0.5
1.0
2.0
10.0
20.0

Residual Voltage (kVp)

1380
1440
1500
1600
1700

The salient features of Surge Arrester are as under:

a) Rated Voltage of 850kVrms shall take care power frequency voltage upto 1.15 p.u. for 10 seconds and
1.4 p.u. for about 1second.
b) Switching Impulse Protective level at 2.0kA is 1500kV and hence about 20% protective margin are
available for 1200kV Equipments with 1800kV Switching Impulse withstand voltage.
c) Lightning Impulse Protective Level at 20.0 kA is 1700kV and hence sufficient margins for bay
equipments with BIL- 2400kV and for transformers with BIL-2250kV.
The location of Surge Arresters is very critical due to voltage rise with separation distance as well as
jumper length. For adequate protection of Equipments against Lightening surges, it was decided to place
Surge Arresters at Line Entrance and near Transformers/ Reactors. In addition, Surge Arresters in the Bus
may also be considered necessary.
For computing discharge capability of Surge arresters, single line to ground fault was considered for a
450km long line. In single phase to ground fault, the healthy phase voltage shall temporarily increase and
Surge Arresters shall be overstressed. The single phase tripping followed by three phase tripping after
dead time of about 1000 ms was considered as indicated in Figure-III.

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Steady State

T=0 ms

T=100 ms

T=1120 ms T=1140 ms

T=120 ms

T=1220 ms

T=1520 ms

Stuck
breaker

Dead Time
1000 ms

300 ms

SLG fault

Opening of
local end
CB of
faulted
phase

Opening of
remote end
CB of faulted
phase

Closing
of local
end CB
through
SPAR

Closing
of remote
end CB
through
SPAR

Opening of
CB due to
permanent
fault

LBB
Operates
and clears
the fault

Surge Arrester Energy accumulation

Figure-III
The discharge capability required for surge Arresters for above conditions is given below:
Total energy = 2xLong discharge (IEC Class-5) + TOV + Margins
= 2x5MJ +35MJ + 10 MJ = 55 MJ
4.0

FIELD STUDIES ON 1200kV AC SYSTEM

Various field studies and tests to determine the configuration of 1200kV transmission lines have been
carried out. Field studies include corona cage studies, air gap insulation studies, tests for voltage
distribution on the insulator string and long term studies on test line for measurement of AN, RIV &
voltage gradient measurement at ground level.
4.1

Corona Cage Studies

The test was carried out in a Corona cage at UHV test lab at Central Power Research Institute (CRPI),
Hyderabad. The size of the cage was 6.1 m (H) x 6.1 m (W) x 21 m (L). The corona cage consists of three
sections, insulated central section of length 18 m and two end sections each of length 1.5m, located on
either side of the central section. Eight Bersimis ACSR (Radius 17.5 mm) bundle conductor was strung
between two towers such that the bundle was at the centre along the length of the cage. Both the ends of
the bundle was connected to the end fittings, corona shields and insulator strings.
Suitable nozzles were provided, at the top of the cage, along the axis of the cage to simulate heavy rain.
Three bundle configurations, with different sub conductor spacing of 350 mm, 450mm and 550 mm were
used for the measurements. The measurements were made under two precipitation rates viz 57 mm/hr and
85 mm/hr. Measurements of Corona Inception Voltage, Corona loss, AN & RIV were made. Based on
these measurements, conductor surface voltage gradients (Ec), conductor surface factor (m) were
determined. The results are tabulated in Table 6.

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Table-6
Test
condition
350 mm,
57 mm/hr
350 mm,
85 mm/hr
350 mm,
dry
450 mm,
57 mm/hr
450 mm,
85 mm/hr
550 mm,
57 mm/hr
550 mm,
85 mm/hr

4.2

Corona
onset
Voltage(kV)

Voltage
gradient,
Ec (kV/cm)

Surface
factor (m)

Audible
noise (db)

Corona loss
(w/m)

RIV

292.5

12.57

0.523

61.6

43.33

63.2

282.85

12.16

0.506

62.9

28.89

63.2

327.95

14.10

0.587

259.38

11.67

0.485

58.3

17.77

66.2

257.63

11.59

0.482

59.8

50.55

66.2

282.13

13.54

0.558

59.5

28.89

65

274.38

13.17

0.543

59.8

83.33

68.4

Air Gap clearance Studies

Air gap clearance optimisation studies for 1200kV system have been carried out at CPRI, Hyderabad.
Tower top & Tower window have been simulated as shown in the figures (IV, V, VI) below:

Tower top Simulation

Figure-IV

Tower top Simulation

Figure-V

Tower Window simulation

Figure-VI

Critical time to peak for which the Critical Flash Over (CFO) is between 220 to 230 microseconds for
tower top simulation. It is in the range of 250 to 290 s for which the flashover voltages were minimum.
The Test results are given in Table-7
Table-7
Gap
Distance
(m)

Crest
Time
( Tp )
(
s)

Temp.
Dry
bulb
( 0C )

Temp.
Wet
bulb
( 0C )

Ambient
Pressure
(mm. of
Hg.)

50% Flashover
Voltage
U50%
(kVp)

Ambient
Correction
Factor
( Kt )

50%
Flashover
Voltage
(kVp)

160
250
270
350

22
27
27
24

16
17
17
17

718
713
713
718

1926
1879
1868
1854

0.987
0.94
0.94
0.982

1951
1915
1906
1910

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Gap
Distance
(m)

8.5

Crest
Time
( Tp )
(
s)

Temp.
Dry
bulb
( 0C )

Temp.
Wet
bulb
( 0C )

Ambient
Pressure
(mm. of
Hg.)

50% Flashover
Voltage
U50%
(kVp)

Ambient
Correction
Factor
( Kt )

50%
Flashover
Voltage
(kVp)

115
250
270
350

29
25
25
29

19
19
19
20

716
716
716
717

2191
1950
1937
1948

0.98
0.992
0.992
0.988

2236
1963
1953
1961

For window clearance of 8m the CFO voltage obtained was 1906 kVp. In order to ascertain the positive
polarity switching impulse withstand voltage of 1800 kVp, 15 positive polarity impulses corrected for
ambient atmospheric conditions were applied. No flashovers were observed. Based on detailed testing,
optimum air gap clearance was selected as 8.3 m.

5.0

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF 1200kV EQUIPMENTS

Based on the discussions with the manufacturers, various parameters as worked out for individual
equipment are as under:
5.1

Basic Technical Parameters:

Sr.No.

Parameters

1
2
3
4

Rated Voltage
Nominal Voltage
Rated Frequency
Fault Current

Lightning Impulse Voltage

Level

6.

Switching Impulse Voltage

Level

7.

One Minute Power Frequency

Voltage

5.2

Value
1200 kV
1150 kV
50 Hz
50 kA
2400 kV
2250 kV
2550 kV
1800 kV
1950 kV

Remarks

Switchyard equipments
Transformers & Reactors
Transformer
&
Reactor
Bushings
Switchyard Equipments and
Transformers
Bushings

1200 kV

Circuit Breaker

Dead Tank type 1200kV Circuit Breakers with Current Transformers in Bushing turret have been
envisaged.
Sr.No.

Parameter

1
2

Close Time
Break Time

150 ms (max)
50 ms (max)

3
4

D.C. Time constant

Rated Current

100ms
5000A

nayak@powergridindia.com

Value

Remarks
To take care
asymmetrical
current

higher
fault

Page 8 of 13

Sr.No.

Parameter

Value

Operating Duty

Rated Peak withstand current

7
8
9
10
11
12

LIV + Bus Voltage

SIV + Bus Voltage
1 min Power (Freq Ph-Earth)
Open CB across the Breaks
First Pole to Clear Factor
Zero SF6 gauge pressure
withstand voltage
Capacitive
Switching
Current
Reactive Switching Current
Pre-insertion Resistor( PIR)
of 600 ohms with 10 ms
insertion time

13
14
15

Remarks

O-0.3s-CO-3minCO
2.7 times short
circuit current
2400kV + 686kVp
1675kV +980kVp
1200 kVrms
1400 kVrms
1.2
693kV
1300Amp
330Amp
1.71 p.u. switching
over voltages

Transient Recovery Voltages for different test duties shall be adopted as per the recommendations of
CIGRE working group A3-08(WG22).

5.3

Current Transformer

1200kV Current Transformers shall be Turret mounted with 1200kV Bushings of Dead tank type CBs.
The Technical parameters are given as below:
Sr.No.

Parameter

Value

Rate Voltage

1200kV

Rated Current

6000A

No. of Secondary Cores

Class of Protection Cores

TPY

KPV

4000 V

Core Details

Core
No.

Application

Bus Diff. Check 6000/ 3000/ 1000/1

TPY

Bus Diff. main

6000/ 3000/ 1000/1

TPY

Metering

6000/ 3000/ 1000/1

Ratio

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Output burden
(VA)

20/20/20

Accuracy class

0.2S

Page 9 of 13

Core
No.

Application

Trans. Backup
6000/ 3000/ 1000/1
Line Prot.

TPY

Trans.
Diff.
6000/ 3000/ 1000/1
Line Prot

TPY

5.4

Output burden
(VA)

Ratio

Accuracy class

Capacitive Voltage Transformer

1200kV Voltage Transformer uses capacitive voltage dividers and step down voltage transformer and its
technical parameters are as given below:
Sr.
No.
1

Parameter

Value

Voltage Ratio

1150/3 kV/110 /3 V

Burden

25 VA (for each Core)

Simultaneous burden

Accuracy Class

50VA
0.2 (metering) /
3P (protection)

Capacitance

2000pF

No of Cores

5.5

Surge Arrester

The Surge Arrester is four (4) column ZnO type and its technical parameters are as given below:

Parameter

Value

SA Class
Rated Voltage
Continuous
Operating
Voltage(COV)
Nominal discharge current

5
850 kVrms
723 kVrms

Protective

1700 kVp at 20 kA

Protective

1500 kVp at 2 kA

Lightning
Impulse
Level(LIPL)
Switching
Impulse
Level(SIPL)
Energy level

ZnO disc diameter

Sr.No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

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20 kA

55 MJ
136 mm/ 125mm

Page 10 of 13

5.6

Transformer
The Technical parameters are given as under:
Sr.No.
1

Value

Rated Voltage
HV/IV/LV
Rated Power
HV/IV/LV
No of Phase

1150/3/400/3/33 kV

YNaod11

Connection
(three phase)
Impedance

Cooling Type

HV-IV 18%
HV-LV 40%, IV-LV 20%
OFAF or ODAF

Cooling Equipment

4 X 33.3% UNIT OFAF COOLER

45 deg C

Temp. Rise
Winding
(Amb. 50 deg C)
Oil
Insulation Level

40 deg C
BIL

SIL

PD<100pC

(i)

1150 kV

2250kVp

1800 kVp

1.5Um/3

(ii)

400 kV

1300 kVp

1050 kVp

(iii)

33 kV

325 kVp

(iv)

Neutral

95 kVp

(v)

1200 kV

(vi)

2
3
4

5.7

Parameter

333/333/111 MVA
Single Phase

Winding

Bushing

2550 kVp

1950 kVp

420 kV

1425 kVp

1050 kVp

(vii)

72.5 kV for LV

325 kVp

(viii)

52 kV Neutral

95 kVp

PD <10 pC

ISOLATOR (Knee type/ vertical break / HDB)

The Technical parameters are as given below:
Sr.No.

Parameter

Value

Rated Voltage

1200 kV

Rated Current

6000A

3.

Support Insulators

Tripod arrangement with 15kN cantilever

strength (each having 6kN ). Minimum
height of Insulators is 9 m

4.

Isolating distance of the open 10 m

Isolator (min)

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Page 11 of 13

5.8

Bus Post Insulators

The Technical parameters are as given below:

Sr.No.

Parameter

Value

Configuration

Tripod arrangement

2.

Cantilever strength
for tripod arrangement
Single BPI
Minimum Insulator Height

15kN
6kN
9m

4.

PCD of Individual BPI

225 mm

5.9

Disc Insulators & Hardware

The Technical parameters are as given below:

Sr. No.

Parameter

Value

Type of insulators

Standard Disc

Size of insulator units

380 mm X 205 mm

Creepage distance of individual

insulator units

525 mm

Ball & Socket Designation

28 mm

Electro mechanical strength

420/ 320 kN

5.10

Insulator Strings

Sr. No.
1

Parameter
Maximum RIV level

Value
2,500 V

Minimum total creepage distance of

the insulator string

30,000 mm

Total no. of discs per strings

60

5.11

Polymer Long Rod Insulators Strings

Sr. No.
1
2

Parameter
Minimum total creepage distance of
the insulator string
Total Insulator length/air insulation
distance minimum

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Value
30,000 mm
8,300 mm

Page 12 of 13

Sr. No.
3
4
5
6

6.0

Parameter
No. of Insulator Rods for 1200kV
Electro mechanical strength
Ball & Socket Designation
Insulator Hardware Shall comply to
Standard

Value
Two or Three
420/320 kN
28 mm
IS 2486

THE STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT OF 1200KV EQUIPMENTS

All equipment technical parameters have been finalized in association with respective equipment
manufacturers. Prototypes of 1200kV Capacitive Voltage Transformer and Dis-connectors are already
developed. Design of 850kV, 4 column Surge Arresters has been finalized & components are under
manufacturing and prototypes shall be ready by January, 2009. 1200kV transmission line towers have
been designed and line materials are under manufacturing. The terminal connectors, spacers, vibration
dampers and other accessories have already been developed.
The design of 1200/400kV transformers is under vetting by consultants/ experts. The Bushings are under
manufacturing whereas Transformer manufacturing shall take place shortly after vetting of the design by
consultants.
7.0

WAY FORWARD TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF 1200kV TRANSMISSION

TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

The detailed field testing shall be taken up for the performance of various equipments by conducting
various tests. The Testing Instrument manufacturers are also participating in this project for condition
monitoring of various equipments. The experience gained on various 1200kV equipments shall help in
fine tuning the Technical parameters for 1200kV AC transmission system which is expected by 2013/14.
8.0

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are thankful to all the Indian Manufacturers for their support and help for finalization of the technical
parameters and development of 1200kV equipments for the 1200kV test station at Bina. Authors are
thankful to the Management of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for publication of this paper.
The views expressed in this paper, are not necessarily the views of the POWERGRID management.

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