621_1003

06/05/2002

10:09 AM

Page 1

METAL-ENCLOSED
METAL-ENCLOSED
SWITCHGEAR

S&C Metal-Enclosed Switchgear Connects Wind Turbine

Generators to Utility Grid
Background

What did they do?

Load growth in one western state has been two to three times
the national average for the past eight years. Additional
power is clearly needed. But public demand dictates that the
new power be generated in a non-polluting manner. Wind
power seems to be a good prospect.

The pilot farm was designed somewhat oversized to offset

variations in wind velocity (which affect the output of the
wind turbine generators) and to allow a few generators to be
taken out of service at a given time for maintenance.

But the states major

utility was initially
concerned about the
economics of wind
generation. The cost per
kilowatt
would
be
considerably higher than
for coal-fired generation,
although this gap would
narrow significantly with
the installation of more
wind turbine generators.
To make the project
feasible,
the
utility
commission agreed to
higher rates for customers
who voluntarily choose green power.

Forty-three 700-kW wind turbine generators were specified,

providing a total design
output of 30 MW. Each
generator includes a 690volt to 25-kV step-up
transformer.
Two new six-bay lineups
of S&C Metal-Enclosed
Switchgear were also
specified. The utility was
very satisfied with other
S&C equipment they had
purchased and knew of
S&Cs experience in cogeneration applications.

The utility then proceeded with plans for a pilot wind farm
producing a guaranteed output of 20 MW. If successful, the
plant will be expanded to 60 megawatts. Metal-enclosed
switchgear will be utilized to feed the power to the utility
grid.

As shown in the singleline diagram below, the system has six wind-turbine
generator groups, each consisting of six to eight generators.
Power from each group is metered and fed to one of the
feeder bays in the switchgear lineups. From the switchgear,
power is fed to a 25-kV to 115-kV step-up transformer
connected to the transmission line.

Relay bay

S
O

(3)

(3)

S
O

(3)

S
O

S
O

(3)

(3)

(3)

S
O

(3)

S
O

(3)

Meters
To substation
and grid

To substation
and grid
Wind
turbine
generator
groups

Station service
power

Station service
power

(7)

(8)

(7)

(7)

(8)

(6)

Number of wind turbine generators in group

CASE STUDY
S&C ELECTRIC COMPANY

621-1003

June 10, 2002

New Publication 2002

621_1003

06/05/2002

10:09 AM

Page 2

Results
The pilot wind farm has performed very
well, meeting all expectations.
S&C has also provided other equipment for the application, including
115-kV Line-Rupters, Series 2000
Circuit-Switchers, and SMD-2B Power
Fuses, as well as numerous Loadbuster
Disconnects.
Another wind farm project is now under
construction, employing S&C Vista
Underground Distribution Switchgear. An
S&C FVR Circuit Breaker, Line-Rupters,
and Series 2000 Circuit Switchers will be
used in this project.

Switching for each wind-turbine generator group is

provided by a 400-ampere Mini-Rupter Switch, poweroperated by a Type MS-2 Switch Operator. S&C SM-4
Power Fuses clear cable faults between the switchgear and
generator groups, isolating them from the utility grid.
Fused voltage transformers provide control power for the
switch operators as well as voltage monitoring.
Current transformers provide sensing for a directional
overcurrent protection arrangement, which utilizes
Schweitzer 351 Relays. Power in this system normally
flows from the wind turbine generators to the utility grid.
In the event of power flow from the utility grid to the wind
turbine generators, the 351 Relay will send a trip signal to
the switch operator of the affected Mini-Rupter Switch,
for current below 400 amperes. For current above 400
amperes, no trip signal will be sent; such current is likely
the result of a cable fault and, as discussed above, will be
cleared by the SM-4 Power Fuses.
Station service power is provided through another
manually operated fused Mini-Rupter Switch in each
lineup.