Transient Voltage Phenomena in Gas-Insulated Switchgear Systems
Summary
Transient voltage phenomena in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) systems encompass a range of rapid overvoltage events generated primarily by the operation of disconnectors and circuit breakers within the enclosed high-pressure gas environment. Very fast transient overvoltages (VFTOs) are characterised by steep front-edge pulses, high frequency content and trapped charge effects that can reflect and resonate along GIS conductors. These phenomena pose risks to primary insulation, secondary measurement devices and digital protection systems, and can lead to dielectric breakdown, equipment misoperation or long-term degradation of electronic components. Understanding the origin, propagation and suppression of transient overvoltages is essential to ensure the reliability and safety of modern extra-high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage substations. Recent advances span improved measurement techniques, advanced computational modelling and novel suppression strategies that exploit magnetic damping elements, pre-insertion resistors and tuned filters. Together, these developments support digital twin creation, inform international insulation standards and underpin the design of smart grid substations worldwide.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Emerging work has introduced advanced nonlinear models of magnetic materials used as damping elements for VFTO suppression in GIS applications. These models capture frequency-dependent impedance under DC bias and enable accurate time-domain simulation of magnetic rings in circuit-simulator environments. By ensuring smooth behaviour across current domains, the proposed lumped-element representations enhance numerical stability and fidelity when embedding GIS components within digital twin frameworks. This modelling approach supports the optimisation of magnetic core geometries and material selection for targeted suppression of high-frequency overvoltages, facilitating more accurate predictions of transient field distributions and guiding future hardware design.
Transient Voltage Phenomena in Gas-Insulated Switchgear Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in transient voltage phenomena in gas-insulated switchgear systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS): An assembly of high-voltage components enclosed in a grounded metal enclosure filled with insulating gas, typically sulphur hexafluoride, to provide compact, reliable switching and protection.
Very Fast Transient Overvoltage (VFTO): A rapid, high-frequency overvoltage pulse generated by switching operations in GIS, characterised by steep rise times and the potential to cause insulation stress and electronic system disturbance.
Pre-insertion Resistor: A resistor inserted briefly before contact closing in a disconnector circuit to limit inrush currents and reduce the amplitude and steepness of transient overvoltages.
Magnetic Damping Ring: A ferromagnetic core element placed in series or parallel with GIS conductors to absorb high-frequency energy and suppress VFTO through nonlinear magnetic losses.
Digital Twin: A virtual replica of a physical system that employs real-time data and advanced models to simulate transient phenomena and support predictive analysis of GIS performance.
References
- Study of deployment of Pre-Insertion resistor to disconnector for mitigating overvoltage on 525 kV current transformers. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems (2024).
- Analyses on an electronic voltage transformer's failure by its resonance with very fast transient overvoltage and suppression. High Voltage (2023).
- Nonlinear modeling of magnetic materials for circuit simulations. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Development and Experimental Research of VFTO Measuring Sensor. Sensors (2022).
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