Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

RECONFIGURATION OF CAPACITOR BANK AT 132/11 kV SUB-STATION

1. Existing configuration of capacitor bank:

At present there are 4 x 3 nos. of capacitor banks each of rating 200 kVAr ,7.52 kV at 132/11 kV sub-
station. One of the 4 units of capacitor bank is connected to the primary of 100 kVA station
transformer and the rest 3 units are connected separately to 11 kV bus.
3 outdoor breakers have been provided for the 4 units of capacitor bank, out of which 2 breakers are
connected to 11 kV bus and the other breaker is connected to the transformer primary. It is observed
that all the 3 breakers are out of service and the present condition of horn gap fuses are also not as
per the standards. The protection provided for capacitor bank is found to be inadequate.

2. Proposed configuration of capacitor bank:

It is proposed to reconfigure the capacitor banks as 2 units of 6 capacitors each in form of double star
ungrounded system as shown in figure 1.
Before configuration of capacitor banks it is important to find out the calculated value of capacitance
of each individual capacitor as per the given rating and check it with the measured value. If the
variation of capacitance is within +/- 5% then capacitor can be used but in case the variation is
greater than 5% it has to be replaced.

 Calculation of rated capacitance:

kVR 2 / QR = 1/ ωc………………………………….1
where
kVR = Voltage rating of capacitor

QR = Reactive power rating of capacitor in MVAr

ω = 2πf
f = Rated frequency
c = Rated capacitance of individual capacitor
c = 0.2 / [(7.52)2 x 2 x π x 50] = 11.26 x 10-6 Farad = 11.26 μF.

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Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

The rated value of capacitance as obtained from calculation has to be compared with measured
value and then the performance of the capacitor can be determined.

Figure 1: Proposed configuration of capacitor banks

The capacitors should be connected such that individual units have to be balanced with respect to its
own neutral i.e. (R1=Y1=B1 & R2=Y2=B2) and the net current flow through the neutral unbalanced
relay (CAG) is ideally zero , although for practical cases there is always some minimal current flowing
through the NCT,hence pick up value of the relay should be set at about 10 % of the CT ratio (5/1) of
the neutral unbalanced relay.

In order to give over current and earth fault relay settings it is necessary to determine the yield of
capacitance at 11 kV and at 10 % over voltage at 11 kV (12.1 kV).

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 Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

 Reactive power yield at 11 kV :

Q’ = [ kVB / kVR ]2 x QR ……………………………………………………..2

Where
kVR = Voltage rating of capacitor

kVB = Voltage level at the bus(phase voltage)

QR = Reactive power of capacitor in MVAr

Q’ = Reactive power yield at bus voltage
Q’ = [11 / (7.52 x √3)] 2 x 0.2 = 0.143 MVAr
Thus reactive power yield at 11 kV voltage level due to single capacitor = 0.143 MVAr
Since there are 12 capacitors in the unit , therefore total reactive power yield = 12 x 0.143 = 1.72 MVAr
Rated current at 11 kV bus = [(1.720 x 1000 ) / (√3 x 11) ] = 90.2 Ampere

 Reactive power yield at 12.1 kV (10 % over voltage at 11 kV) :

Q’ = [12.1 / (7.52 x √3)] 2 x 0.2 = 0.172 MVAr

Thus reactive power yield at 12.1 kV voltage level due to single capacitor = 0.172 MVAr
Since there are 12 capacitors in the unit , therefore total reactive power yield = 12 x 0.172 =2.06 MVAr
Rated current at 11 kV bus = [(2060 x 1000 ) / (√3 x 11) ] = 98.2 Ampere.

So overcurrent relay pick up (Ip>) can be set at 100 A i.e. at 50 % of the CT ratio(200/1) at a time
multiplier setting (tp>) of 0.1.
Similarly earth fault pick up current can be set at 10 % of CT ratio(200/1) i.e. at 20 Ampere at to>0.1

 Check for harmonic resonance

Presence of harmonics represents distortion of bus voltage .If the capacitance on the bus happens
to be resonant with the source reactance at a particular harmonic frequency , then as a result there
is increase in harmonic current which causes severe distortion in bus voltage and decrease in short
circuit capacity of the source.

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Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

Calculation of harmonic at which resonance occurs :

n = (MVAS.C / MVAC) …………………………3

Where
n = harmonic of resonance
MVAS.C = short circuit MVA of 11 kV bus.=180 MVA (From short circuit study)

MVAC = Capacitive MVA on the 11 kV bus due to capacitor bank = 1.72 MVA

n = 180 / 1.72 = 10.22 ≈ 11

Therefore at 11th harmonic resonance will occur, but the magnitude of 11th harmonic in the
system is negligible so system under study is safe.
Since the magnitude of 3rd and 5th harmonic frequency is significantly higher in the power
system network , hence it is necessary to check that, resonance doesn’t occur for these
values.
Power transformer of 16 MVA,132/11 kV having an impedance of 10.01% acts as the source

ZS = [(kV2/MVATR) x Z ]………………………………4
Where
Zs = source impedance at transformer secondary
Z = Impedance of the transformer on its own base
kV = Voltage level at transformer secondary
MVATR = MVA rating of power transformer
2
Zs = [11 / 16] x 0.101 = 0.763 Ω

Transformer impedance is mostly inductive in nature so impedance is nearly equal to

reactance of the transformer.(Zs= XL )

Under resonant condition following equation must be satisfied.

nXL = Xc / n…………………………….......................5

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Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

For the 3rd harmonic, inductive reactance of transformer will be 3 times i.e. nXL = 3 x 0.763 =2.29 Ω
At 11 kV, capacitive reactance is given by :

2
Xc’ = kVB /Q’C ……………………................................6
Where
Xc” = Total capacitive reactance at 11 kV
kVB = Voltage level at 11 kV bus

Q’C = Reactive power yield of capacitor bank connected to 11 kV bus

Xc” = [112 / 1.72] = 70 Ω

For the 3rd harmonic, inductive reactance of transformer will be 1/3 times i.e. Xc”/ 3 = 23.33 Ω

As for n=3, nXL ≠ Xc / n, hence resonance will not occur at11 kV bus for 3rd harmonic frequency.
Similarly calculation can be done for 5th harmonic and it can be observed that even for 5th
harmonic, there is no resonance.

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 Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

 Calculation of inductance of series reactor to be connected in series with capacitor bank

It is proposed to connect series reactor of rating 6% of capacitor bank rating, at each of the three phase
so as to protect capacitors against inrush current.
Since series reactor operates in series with the capacitor bank, it carries the same current as capacitor
bank. As a result the votage drop across it is also a percent of the phase voltage across capacitor bank.

Capacitor bank current at 11 kV

Ic = [(1.72 x 1000) / (√3 x 11)] = 90.2 Ampere

Voltage drop across the series reactor

Vr = (11000 / √3) x 0.06 = 381.5 V

Reactance/phase
X L (SR) = Vr / Ic = 381.5 / 90.2 = 4.23 Ω.

We know
X L (SR) = 2 x π x f x L (SR)
So inductance per phase is given as
L (SR) = X L(SR) / (2 x π x 50) = 4.23 / ( 2 x π x 50) = 0.0134 H = 13.4 mH

Reactor current rating

ISR = Ic x 1.3 = 117.26 Ampere
Here
Ic = Rated current of capacitor bank per phase at 11kV
Vr = Voltage drop per phase across the series reactor at 11 kV
X L (SR) =Inductive reactance of series reactor per phase
L (SR) = Inductance of series reactor per phase
ISR = Reactor current rating

Note: A factor of 1.3 has been considered while calculating the rated reactor current
considering the effect of system overvoltage, harmonic currents & allowance for +/-

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Relay co-ordination & testing of protective relays September’09

latitude given on capacitor kVAR in capacitor specification.

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