Fault Clearing Overvoltages on Long Transformer Terminated Lines

The results of Transient Network Analyzer (TNA) studies evaluating the feasibility of low-side switching long transformer terminated lines is reported. It is shown that overvoltages following line dropping and fault clearing can severely stress surge arresters and circuit brtakers exceeding capabilities specified in ANSI standards. These overvoltages are often not carefully considered in design studies, since the available literature on low-side switching of EHV transmission lines primarily deals with energizing the line and transformer.1,2,3,4