Analysis of Re-Ignition of Multiple Break Switches Devices Application to Shunt Reactor Current Interruption

The interruption of shunt reactor current has been studied on a Hydro-Quebec substation. The study describes the test results based on particular characteristics of the circuit breaker: the influence of the auxiliary chamber synchronism and the influence of the opening resistor values of the breaker are first recorded. Their theoretical models are then developed to appraise the transient voltage across the breaker terminals and the overvoltages phenomena experienced. The reignition phenomena is then modeled according to the CIGRE Working Group 13-02 Recommendatatives and a good correlation between the test results and the models output are confirmed.