How to specify Gas Insulated Switchgear Written by By Wolfgang Degen (Affiliate Consultant) The activities of a typical GIS project

start with the network planning performed by the system engineers. It is therefore important that the system planning engineers possess a certain minimum knowledge of GIS to be able to utilize the benefits of this technology. To install a GIS substation is a complex project which involves many engineering disciplines. It is important to have in mind that the engineering processes of technical projects in their nature have feedback loops. This means that during the planning process new information which will have consequences for the complete project may come up at any stage and make it necessary to review or change parts of the project. It is the aim of our support to give assistance in technical questions concerning GIS as well as to provide information for a successful execution of all stages of a GIS project. It is not necessarily in the scope to handle with commercial or legal questions related to such projects. When a substation is planned or at least to perform studies for one, an important question is which technology to use. There may be different arguments pro and contra for the different possibilities. It may be of some help to perform Life Cycle Cost studies for the different alternatives. Modern GIS can be expected to perform satisfactorily in service for many years with minimal or even no maintenance.

procedure:
Detailed One Line Diagram
The first study to be performed is a detailed study for a more definitive single- line diagram. This should include special demands linked with GIS technology, e.g. the use of earthing switches, instrument transformers, surge arresters etc.. It makes sense to use the advantages of the compactness and the functionality of a GIS with the corresponding single line diagram in order to optimize this solution.

Site Conditions
The land area required for a GIS substation is in the region of about 10 to 30 % of that for an AIS substation, considering the switchgear only. The saving in overall land area depends very much upon the specific voltage level and the connection to transformers, reactors and incoming/outgoing lines. Maximum savings are achieved by cable connections and short-length GIS connections.

Primary Equipment Technical Requirements and Data

Secondary Equipment Technical Requirements and Data Secondary equipment, such as control, protection, diagnostics and monitoring equipment.

Maintenance and Operation Requirements

Even not being in the main focus for GIS, maintenance in general is a required action on switchgear in order to sustain the availability of the equipment. The appropriate maintenance activity should

replace specially stressed parts in time and prevent failures determine the wear of parts and assess their state ensure that parts are still in good shape and can be kept in place

Project Deliverables with the following details of the drawing package:

Information to be given by the user and the manufacturers Physical Outline Drawings - Elevation and Section Views Foundation Plan incl. Ground Connections Static and Dynamic Load Plan One-Line Relaying and Metering Diagram AC Three-Line Relaying and Metering Diagram Control Schematics Gas Schematic Diagram Control Device Designations Interlocking Logic Diagram Wiring Connection Diagram with Opposite End Designations Instruction Manuals

When all the necessary preliminary studies and decisions have been performed and all the basic data are conclusive, this information will form the foundation of the technical part of an enquiry.