2016 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Conference - Xi'an - China
Numerical and Experimental Simulation Researches on
Effectiveness of Anti-ferroresonance Measures in
Distribution Power Grid
Zhang Tianlong, Tian Shijin, Liu Xuezhong
State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power
Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an, China
Li Ruigui
Siehui Electric Corporation
Shijiazhuang, China
Abstract-This paper focuses on the effectiveness of anti-
ferroresonance measures in distribution power grid. In order to
simulate the reliability of commonly used anti-ferroresonance
measures, a lOkV ferroresonance testing system was set up, and
aseries of experiments reproducing the ferroresonance initiated
by single phase grounding fault or disconnection fault (usually
accompanied by grounding) and so on were carried out.
Correspondingly, several PSCAD simulation cases were
established on the basis of PT models with non-linear magnetic
excitation characteristic. These simulation researches discover
the anti-ferroresonance performances of the primary resonance
eliminator and arc suppression coil with different power system
parameters, initiation mode and conditions. The simulation and
verification testing are combined to evaluate the anti-
ferroresonance ability of certain distribution power grid, and
provide guidelines for effective protection from ferroresonance.
The effectiveness of compound anti-ferroresonance strategy,
which may enhance the abilitiy in suppressing the
ferroresonance of the power system, is also discussed.
Index Terms-- Distribution power grid; Ferroresonance;
PSCAD/EMTDC; Primary resonance eliminator; Arc
suppression coil
I. INTRODUCTlON
In medium voltage neutral non-grounding distribution
power grid, electromagnetic potential transformers (PT) are
usually connected to the buses in order to monitor the phase to
ground voltages. Transient electromagnetic disturbance in
power system due to lightning, single phase grounding or
disconnection fault and so on, may cause the magnetic
saturation in PT, which often motivates the ferroresonance in
the distribution power system and leads to frequently breaking
of PT fuse or even serious explosion of PT itself. Therefore,
978-1-5090-5417-6/16/ $ 31.00 ©2016 IEEE
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Liu Hongwen
Yunnan Electric Power Research Institute
Kunming, China
several equipment and measures are usually applied to
suppress or eliminate the ferroresonance, which have been
widely proved useful by long period of practice [1-4]. For
example, (1) use a PT with better excitation characteristic (2)
add damping resistor, which is usually called primary
resonance eliminator when connected to the PT's primary
winding neutral and secondary resonance eliminator in the
PT's secondary open-delta winding, in the zero sequence
circuit; (3) increase the phase to ground capacitance
significantly (4) grounded arc suppression coil is temporarily
adopted when the ferroresonance is detennined; (5) 4 PT
configuration. However, the PT and its fuse damages due to
ferroresonance still frequently and widely occur in actual
operation of some distribution power grids. It indicates that
the currently applied anti-ferroresonance measures are not
always reliable.
Of course, each measure has its own limitations. In fact,
most anti-ferroresonance measures are based on the idea of
chan ging the circuit parameters of the power system to make it
out of the resonance region. When the actual system is
complicated and changeable, the risk of losing effectiveness
for these measures should not be ignored. So it is necessary to
do numerical and experimental researches on the effectiveness
of anti-ferroresonance measures in distribution power grid,
which may achieve an optimized measure or equipment
configuration to avoid ferroresonance.
In order to simulate the reliability of commonly used anti-
ferroresonance measures, a 10kV ferroresonance test system
was set up, and aseries of experiments reproducing the
ferroresonance were carried out. Correspondingly, several
PSCAD simulating cases were established on the basis of
currently used PT models in considering the non-linear
magnetic excitation characteristic [5]. The simulation 125
researches focused on the anti-ferroresonance performances of 100
75
the primary resonance eliminator, arc suppression coil and so 5.0
25
on with different power system parameters, initiation mode 00
·25
.sn
and conditions. The simulation and verification testing are .75
· 100
combined to evaluate the anti-ferroresonance ability of certain phase B volts ge
~
I
150
distribution power grid, and also provide a guideline for the I I
I
10.0
effective protection from the ferroresonance. 50
0.0
r 1 1 ,I 1 I I 11 ~ r 11 I 11 11 ~ ~
11. NUMERICAL SIMULATION BASED ON PSCAD .s.o
·100
i V I ~ ~,I i )1 I \ I 1 I i J ~ 1 I j
A. PT modeling · 150

The PT model is based on UMEC transformer model in 150

10.0
PSCAD. The modeling of non-linear excitation characteristic 50
of the core can be realized by inputting ten discrete voltage- 0.0
·50
ampere characteristic parameters. In the calculation process, -100
the excitation characteristics of PT are approximated by -150

interpolation and piecewise linearization. In this study, a 10.0

typical PT excitation characteristic is selected, which is shown 75
sn
in Tab.l. 25
00
·25
.sO
TABLE I. TYPICAL SATURATION CURVE POINTS -75
-100

Voltage Current Voltage Current

(p.u.) (p.u.) (p.u.) (p.u.)
0.00 0.00 1.48 1.63
0.100
0.31 0.32 1.70 2.07 0D80
0.060
0.54 0.57 1.88 2.60 0.0<0
0D20
0.86 0.90 2.13 4.20 oDOO j~~~~;;~;;~~~~~~~~~~~~1
-lID20
1.23 1.29 2.23 6.14
0.100
OJl5ll
ODOO
B. Performance ofPrimary resonance eliminator ·OJl5ll

The simulation model to test the performance of primary ·0.100

resonance eliminator is shown in Fig.1. In this case, XQ

0D80
represent the primary resonance eliminator, which is a non-
linear resistor. Its resistance is very high when the voltage
between its terminals is low, and will decrease as the voltage
increases. When the voltage is higher than 5 kV, its resistance
is stabilized at 70 kQ. -OD20

0.040
The simulation results shown in Fig. 2 indicate that, phase 0D30
0D20
voltages and PT current gradually decay to the normal value ODIO
ODOO
after abrief transition process with the maximum overvoltage -lIDlO
·0.020
·0D30
A ·OD<D
aultA
-OJI5Il
E.,j' O.t [ohm[ ~~--~~~--~~--~~~~~~--~

EJ' 0.1 [ohml

FaultB
c
FaultG Figure 2, Voltage and current waveforms when ferroresonance initiated by
~ 0.1 [ohml
single phase grounding is eliminated

A B G 1.45 p.u. and overcurrent 7.3 p.u., so the primary resonance

PT eliminator is very effective in suppressing ferroresonance
initiated by single phase grounding, which is a most
N
commonly happened situation.
However, the primary resonance eliminator may fail to
XQ suppressing ferroresonance initiated by single phase
disconnection fault (usually accompanied by gro und ing).
Typical voltage and current waveforms obtained from the
simulation work has been shown in Fig.3, the maximum
Figure 1. Simulation model for testing the primary resonance eliminator overvoltage could reach 1.7 p.u. in this case.

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 III. EXPERIMENT AL SIMULATION RESEARCH A ------~----~----------~------~----

B --~--r_--~---------.-r------.-r--­
c .--+--r_-r~--------~-r-----.~r-.-
In order to testify the reliability of commonly used anti-
ferroresonance measures, a lOkV ferroresonance testing
system was set up, and aseries of experiments reproducing the
ferroresonance initiated by a single phase grounding fault, or a
single phase disconnection fault (usually accompanied by
grounding) and so on were carried out. During the tests, the
waveforms of ferroresonance overvoltage and PT current were
monitored and recorded by aDFI024 high speed data
acquisition and recorder. The test system diagram is shown in
m~l
QF1l l i DZX
Fig.4.
The typical test results are shown in Fig. 5. It is obvious
Figure 4. Test system setup
that, after the primary resonance eliminator is applied, the
subharmonic and power frequency resonance initiated by
single phase grounding fault are successfully suppressed,

(c) O.OIJ.lF phase to ground capacitance/Phase C disconnecting fault initiated

power frequency resonance continued
Figure 5. Performance of primary resonance eliminator in the tests
0.0100
0.0050
--- --- ----- -- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --
0.0000
-0 .0050
but the power frequency resonance initiated by single phase
-0.0100
· 0.Q150
disconnection fault is still continued, and the maximum
-0 .0200 overvoltage could reach 2.0 p.u .. These results are consistent
0,040
0.D30
with the numerical simulation.
0.020
0,010
0,000
-0,010 IV. COMPOUND ANTI-FERRORESONANCE STRATEGY
-0,020
-0,030
Any single anti-ferroresonance measures has some
limitations, not one hundred percent reliable, so it is possible
that when the power grid parameter changes or the system are
Figure 3. Power frequency ferroresonance initiated by single phase
affected by impact from many kinds of electromagnetic
disconnection fault is failed to be eliminated
disturbance could make the ferroresonance happen. In the

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compound strategy, various anti-ferroresonance measures are 15.0 !!
taking into account, they work together to make it possible to n.
improve the system's ability to resist ferroresonance. ,.
s.
·s.
Fig.6 shows the simulation circuit model which both ·1),0
.1).0
primary resonance eliminator and arc suppression coil are 15.0 ~
applied in the system. The waveforms obtained from this n.
model calculation are shown in Fig.7. At 0.25s phase C line ,.so
breaks and grounded, at 0.45s the grounding fault is removed, ·s.
·nD
which initiates the power frequency ferroresonance, the ·15.0
maximum overvoltage is 1.6 p.u., and the maximum ".
overcurrent in PT is 6.0 p.u .. When the ferroresonance has nD
sD
been detected and conftrmed, are suppression coil is rapidly )D

connected to the system neutral point, and the ferroresonance -5.0

·1).0
is suppressed within 0.1 s. It is c1ear that, compound primary ·15.0

resonance eliminator and arc suppression coil strategy has n.

I>
more effectiveness in suppressing ferroresonance. S.
A
,.
15
.25
aultA .;.0
Ei 0.1 [ohm)

0 0.1 [ohm) FaultS .5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.1).0 ~~

& EJ'
Faulte
0.1 [ohm)
~
0100
' .050

! f:f ! f
' .000

Tp
PT .0.050
.0'00
N
pbast Bcurrut

.........
0.100 ~
...'"
XQ
' .020
' .000
.0.020
.0....
.0 ...

0100
Figure 6. Simulation circuit model for testing compound anti- ' .050

ferroresonance measures .noo

.0.050

.
V. CONCLUSTONS
.0 ' 00

According to the numerical and experimental simulation .D40

.,.
results, some conclusions can be obtained as folIows. ' .020
0.010
.noo
~ .010
• By comparirive study and analysis of the numerical .0=
.0.030
and experimental simulation results, the PSCAD .0 ....
.0'"
simulation models are fmely closed to the ~~~~--~~~~~~--~~~~c-~

characteristic of real PT. Nwnerical simulation and

verification testing can be combined to evaluate the
anti-ferroresonance ability of certain distribution
power grid, and also provide a guideline for the
effective protection from the ferroresonance.
• The primary resonance eliminator shows an excelent
performance in eliminating ferroresonance initiated by
a single phase grounding fault, but these effectiveness
are not always reliable especially when the grid
parameters and initiation mode are complicated and
changeable.
• If reasonable parameter configuration has been
achieved, the compound anti-ferroresonance strategy
may have a higher reliability, which may enhance the
abilitiy in mitigating the ferroresonance of the
distribution power system, compare to the single anti-
ferroresonance measure.
Figure 7. Performance of compound anti-ferroresonance measures
REFERENCES
[I] David A. N. Jacobson, " Examples of ferroresonance in a high voltage
power system," in Proc. 2003 iEEE Power Engineering Society
General Meeting. , pp. 1206-1212.
[2] Zhanrong Liu, Min Han, Ping Tang, Zhenling Li u. "Discussion and
practice of eliminating the ferromagnetic resonance in electromagnetic
voltage trans former," High Voltage Apparatus, vol. 42, pp. 317-
318,2006.
[3] Mo Zhou, Yanzhou Sun. "Eliminating Ferro-resonance for Distribution
Network with Different Neutral Grounding Modes, " [J] High Voltage
Apparatus, vol. 51 , pp.80-85, 2015.
[4] Guangrun. Xie, Overvoltage in Power Systems, Wuhan: China Water &
Power Press, 1985, pp. 253-289.
[5] Juan A. Martinez and Bruce A. Mork, "Transforrner model ing for low-
and mid-frequency transients - a review," iEEE Trans. Power Delivery,
vol. 20, pp. 1625-1632, Apr. 2005.

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