Mitigation of Transients in Capacitor Coupled Substations Using Traditional RLC Filter Techniques

Abstract

This article presents an extensive examination and modeling of Capacitor Coupled Substations (CCS), noting some of their inherent constraints. The underlying implementation of a CCS is to supply electricity directly from high-voltage (HV) transmission lines to low-voltage (LV) consumers through coupling capacitors and is said to be cost-effective as compared to conventional distribution networks. However, the functionality of such substations is susceptible to various transient phenomena, including ferroresonance and overvoltage occurrences. To address these challenges, the study uses simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of conventional resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) filter in mitigating hazardous overvoltage resulting from transients. The proposed methodology entails using standard RLC filter to suppress transients and its associated overvoltage risks. Through a series of MATLAB/Simulink simulations, the research emphasizes the practical effectiveness of this technique. The study examines the impact of transients under varied operational scenarios, including no-load switching conditions, temporary short-circuits, and load on/off events. The primary aim of the article is to assess the viability of using an established technology to manage system instabilities upon the energization of a CCS under no-load circumstances or in case of a short-circuit fault occurring on the primary side of the CCS distribution transformer. The findings underscore the effectiveness of conventional RLC filters in suppressing transients induced by the CCS no-load switching.