Code number

STANDARD TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION PSE-ST. Overvoltage protection and insulation
coordination / 2020
Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination
TITLE:
of lines and substations of PSE S.A.
PREPARED BY:
TECHNICAL STANDARDS
DEPARTMENT
APPROVED FOR USE

Stanisław Electronically signed by Stanisław

Pokora Pokora Date: 2021.02.12 12:00:59
+01'00'
Date and signature

Konstancin-Jeziorna,..............................2020

Figura Electronically signed by Figura Marek Date: 2021.02.01 21:21:59+01'00'

Marek
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................5
1. Subject of the specification..................................................................................................5
2. Reference standards and documents....................................................................................6
2.1. Polish and international standards................................................................................6
2.2. PSE SA specifications and other documents related to overvoltage protection and
insulation coordination.................................................................................................7
3. Definitions ...........................................................................................................................8
PART II – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED VOLTAGE OF 110–400
KV......................................................................................................................... 11
4. Earthing of the network neutral point................................................................................11
5. Selection and installation of surge arresters......................................................................12
6. Standardized insulation levels in 110 – 400 kV networks.................................................17
7. Protection of power lines against overvoltage...................................................................17
8. How is the substation protected against direct lightning strikes. Protection of wind
towers. .........................................................................................................................18
9. Protection of the substation against overvoltage carried by the working conductors of the
network .........................................................................................................................19
9.1. General requirements..................................................................................................19
9.2. Transformers with an upper rated voltage of 110 – 400 kV.......................................19
9.3. Switching stations with a rated voltage of 30 kV and lower, in substations with an
upper voltage of 110–400 kV.....................................................................................20
9.4. Switching stations with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV.............................................20
9.5. Wind farms.................................................................................................................20
10. Earthing of overvoltage protection devices.......................................................................21
10.1. General requirements......................................................................................21
10.2. Structure of substations’ earth electrodes.......................................................21
10.3 Structure of power lines’ earth electrodes.......................................................22
10.4. Earthing resistance..........................................................................................23
10.5. Earth conductors..............................................................................................23
PART III – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED VOLTAGE OF 6–30
KV......................................................................................................................... 24
11. Selection of the network neutral point earthing method....................................................24
11.1. General requirements......................................................................................24
11.2. Insulation of the network neutral point...........................................................24
11.3. Capacitive single-phase short-circuit current compensation...........................25
11.4. Earthing of the network neutral point by resistance........................................26
12. Selection and installation of surge arresters......................................................................26

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

13. Standardized insulation levels in 6 – 30 kV networks.......................................................27

14. Protection of power lines against overvoltage...................................................................27
15. Station protection against direct lightning strikes.............................................................28
16. Protection of the substation against overvoltage carried by the working conductors of the
network .........................................................................................................................28
16.1. General requirements......................................................................................28
16.2. Substations feeding the low voltage network..................................................29
16.3. Substations feeding the medium voltage networks.........................................29
17. Earthing of overvoltage protection devices.......................................................................29
17.1. General requirements......................................................................................29
17.2. Construction of earth electrodes......................................................................30
17.3. Earthing resistance..........................................................................................30
17.4. Earth conductors..............................................................................................30
17.5. Connections of surge arresters with earth electrodes and earthed parts of
protected devices.............................................................................................31
PART IV – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED VOLTAGE OF
230/400 V............................................................................................................... 31
18. Selection and installation of surge arresters......................................................................31
19. Line protection...................................................................................................................32
20. Protection of substation equipment...................................................................................33
21. Earthing of surge arresters.................................................................................................33
PART V – PRINCIPLES OF INSULATION COORDINATION.................................33
22. Outline of insulation coordination procedure....................................................................33
22.1 Representative voltages and overvoltages Urp...............................................34
22.2 Set of withstand voltages................................................................................37
23. Selection of standardized rated insulation levels...............................................................38
23.1. Selection of surge arresters for network conditions and determination of
representative overvoltages.............................................................................38
23.2. Selection of standardized values of lightning impulse withstand voltages Uwl
and switching impulse withstand voltages Uws. Selection of standardized
insulation level................................................................................................39
PART VI — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.............................................................42
24. Ranges of soil resistivity changes in Poland......................................................................42

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

PART I - INTRODUCTION
1. Subject of the specification

The subject of the document Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation

coordination of lines and substations, hereinafter referred to as the Principles, covers
the requirements concerning the selection of the method of earthing of the network
neutral point, selection, installation and arrangement of metal oxide surge arresters and
other measures and equipment intended for limiting overvoltage, as well as the
selection of standardized insulation levels of protected devices.
The requirements of this specification, including the requirements resulting from the
referenced, current national PN and international IEC standards, other PSE S.A.
specifications, as well as acts and regulations applicable in the national legal order,
must be met at the stage of design and execution works carried out for PSE S.A.As
indicated, the current versions of the standards apply, and in the case of withdrawn
standards, the last versions thereof before withdrawal.
In case the requirements of this specification are more stringent than the requirements
included in the referenced standards and documents, the requirements of this
specification shall be considered prevailing and complied with.
The terminology used in this specification is consistent with the terms given in the
international terminology vocabulary [29] and referenced standardization documents.
The Principles apply to three-phase AC power systems with rated frequency of 50 Hz
and rated voltage up to and including 400 kV, new and altered at PSE S.A.
Thus, the scope of application applies to the design documentation prepared for PSE
S.A., usually including the following:

 feasibility study,
 building permit design,
 detailed design,
 as-built documentation.

The interpretation of the provisions included in the Principles is the responsibility of

Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. (PSE S.A.) or an institution indicated by PSE
S.A.

Note: The detailed design for substations covers,

 basic facilities; outdoor and indoor switching stations, transformer stands,
diagrams of primary circuits and secondary circuits together with the Control and
Monitoring System
 preparation and providing site utilities of the substation area, including leveling
and drainage, internal and access roads, earthing, lightning protection and fencing
with the technical protection system,
 substation buildings: switching stations, process building, substation relay
buildings, water supply and sewerage network,
 communication systems.

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

In the case of the building permit design and detailed design of a large substation, it is
necessary, in agreement with PSE S.A., to perform variant simulation calculations of
the impact of the busing configuration and instrumentation equipment of the
substation on the level of overvoltage, which may occur in different locations of the
substation during lightning discharge into the power lines at the substation inlet. The
purpose of the conducted simulation is to enable verification of correctness of
selection, based on the standard [2], of standardized lightning impulse withstand
voltages Uwl and switching voltages Uws as in Tables 10 and 11 of this specification.

2. Reference standards and documents

The standards and documents listed below contain provisions which, by reference in
the contents of this document, become the provisions of these Principles, taking into
account the provisions concerning the requirements presented in the Subject of the
specification (point 1).

2.1. Polish and international standards

Standard number Standard title

[1] PN-EN 60071-1:2020 Insulation co-ordination – Part 1: Definitions,
principles and rules.
Insulation coordination – Part 2: Application
[2] PN-EN 60071-2:2018 guidelines.
[3] PN-EN 60099-4:2015 Metal-oxide surge arresters without gaps for a.c.
systems.
[4] PN-EN 60099-5:2018 Surge arresters – Part 5: Selection and application
recommendations.
[5] PN-HD 60364-1:2010 Low-voltage electrical installations.
[6] PN-EN 50522:2011 Earthing of power installations exceeding 1 kV a.c.
[7] PN-EN 61936-1:2011 Power installations exceeding 1 kV a.c. – Part 1:
Common rules.
[8] PN-HD 60364-4- Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 4-41:
41:2017/A12:2020 Protection for safety – Protection against electric
shock.
[9] PN-EN 62305-3:2011 Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical
damage to structures and life hazard.
Protection against lightning – Part 1: General
[10] PN-EN 62305-1:2011 principles.
[11] PN-EN 50341-1:2013 Overhead electrical lines exceeding AC 1 kV – Part
1: General requirements – Common specifications.
[12] PN-EN 50341- 2-22:2016 Overhead electrical lines exceeding AC 1 kV – Part
2-22: National Normative Aspects (NNA) for
Poland.
[13] N-SEP-E-004:2004 Power and signaling cable lines – Design and
construction.
[14] IEC TS60815-1,2, 3:2008 Selection and dimensioning of high-voltage

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

insulators intended for use in polluted conditions.

[15] PN-E-06303:1998 Exposure of outdoor insulation to pollution and
selection of insulators under polluted conditions.
[16] PN-EN 60038:2012 Standard voltages.
[17] PN-EN 60664-1:2011 Insulation coordination for equipment within low-
voltage systems – Part 1: Principles, requirements
and tests.
[18] PN-EN 61643-11:2013 Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 11:
Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage
power systems – Requirements and test methods.
[19] PKN-CLC/TS 61643- Low voltage protective devices. Surge protective
12:2007 devices connected to low-voltage power systems.
Selection and application principles.
[20] PN-HD 60364-4-442:2012 Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 4-442:
Protection for safety – Protection of low-voltage
installations against temporary overvoltages due to
earth faults in the high-voltage system and due to
faults in the low voltage system.
[21] PN-HD 60364-4-443:2016 Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 4-44:
Protection for safety – Protection against voltage
disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances –
Clause 443: Protection against transient overvoltages
of atmospheric origin or due to switching.
[22] PN-EN 60076-3:2014 Power transformers – Part 3: Insulation levels,
dielectric tests and external clearances in air.
[23] PN-EN 60909-0:2016 Short-circuit currents in three-phase a.c. systems –
Part 0: Calculation of currents.
[24] PN-IEC 60050-466:2002 International electrotechnical vocabulary – Overhead
lines.
[25] IEEE C62.11 -2012
TM
IEEE Guide for the Application of Metal-Oxide
Surge Arresters for Alternating-Current Systems.
[26] IEEE C57.142 -2010
TM
Guide to describe the occurrence and mitigation of
switching transients induced by transformers,
switching devices and system interaction.
[27] PN-EN 62271-1:2018-02 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 1:
Common specifications for alternating current
switchgear and controlgear.
2.2. PSE SA specifications and other documents related to overvoltage protection
and insulation coordination

Specification number Specification name

[28] PSE S.A.-ST. 110 kV, 220 Surge arresters for 110 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV
kV, 400 kV surge arresters networks
[29] PSE S.A. Transmission Grid Code.
General part. Version 2.9

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

[30] PSE S.A.: (under update) PSE S.A. technical requirements for power cables
combined with optical fiber cables (OPGW and
MASS). Release III
[31] PSE S.A. Technical specifications for autotransformers.
[32] PSE S.A.-SF. Earthing grid
Technical specification for the earthing grid used in
PSE S.A. substations.
[33] PSE S.A.-TS. Earthing of overhead lines
[34] PTPiREE Protection of power networks against overvoltage.
Guidelines for execution.
[35] PSE S.A.-SF STATIONS Extra high voltage substations

Note: Technical specifications of PSE S.A. are available at

https://www.pse.pl/dokumenty

3. Definitions

3.1. Rated network voltage Un An appropriately rounded voltage value that defines
or identifies a network.

3.2. Highest network voltage Us. The highest effective value of the phase-to-phase
working voltage that occurs under normal network conditions anywhere and at any
time.

3.3. Highest device voltage Um. The highest effective value of the phase-to-phase
voltage for which the device is intended due to its insulation and other characteristic
parameters relating to this voltage, specified in the standards applicable to this device.

Note: The standard [27] refers to the definition of the device rated voltage (U ), which r

is different from the definitions given in points 3.1 and 3.5. The device rated voltage
(Ur) is defined there as the rated phase-to-phase voltage equal to the maximum
network voltage for which the device was designed. Thus, it indicates the maximum
rated value of the highest voltage of the network in which the device can be installed.

3.4. Metal oxide surge arrester without gaps . – A surge arrester consisting of
varistors made of metal oxides, connected in series or in parallel – or both in series and
in parallel – without any series or parallel spark gaps in the housing with outgoing
terminals intended for electrical and mechanical connections, hereinafter referred to as
the surge arrester or arrester.

3.5. Rated voltage of the surge arrester Ur. The maximum admissible 10-second
effective value of the power frequency voltage between the surge arrester terminals,
verified by the results of the temporary overvoltage (TOV) tests and the results of the
energy absorption capacity tests.

3.6. Continuous operation voltage of the surge arrester Uc. A declared permissible
effective value of the power frequency voltage, which can be applied permanently

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

between the surge arrester terminals in accordance with point 8.7 [3]

3.7. Rated (impulse acc. to [3]) discharge current of the surge arrester In. A
current impulse peak value that is used to classify the surge arrester.

3.8. Switching current impulse of the surge arrester. The peak value of the
discharge current impulse, the front time of which is longer than 30 μs but not longer
than 100 μs, and the time to the half-peak is approximately equal to twice the front
time.

3.9. Limit current impulse of the surge arrester. The peak value of the current
impulse having the form of 4/10 μs impulse, which is used to check the resistance of
the surge arrester to direct lightning strikes.

3.10. Reduced voltage of the surge arrester Ures. A peak value of voltage present
at the arrester terminals during the discharge current flow.

3.11. Lightning protection level of the surge arrester Upl. The highest value of
reduced voltage at rated discharge current In.

1.12. Lightning (or switching) protection level Upl (or Ups). The highest permissible
peak value of voltage at the terminals of a protective device subjected to a lightning
impulse (or switching impulse) under specified conditions.

1.13. Rated short-circuit current Is The highest value of the power frequency
current obtained in the tests, the flow of which through the damaged surge arrester as a
short-circuit current will not result in breaking the surge arrester cover or open flame
for more than 2 minutes under the conditions specified in the tests [3].

3.14. Earth fault factor k. Ratio of the effective value of the highest power
frequency voltage between healthy phase and earth in a given place, with a given
three-phase network configuration, during a short-circuit to earth of one or more
phases in a given point of the network, to the effective value of the network frequency
voltage that would occur in a given place without a short-circuit.

3.15. Network with a solidly earthed neutral point. A network in which at least one
neutral point is solidly earthed.

3.16. Network with an insulated neutral point. A network in which no neutral point
is intentionally connected to earth, except for high-impedance connections, intended
for protection or measurement purposes.

3.17. Network compensated by means of an arc suppression coil. A network in

which at least one neutral point is connected to earth by reactance, which
approximately compensates the capacitive component of the single-phase short-circuit
current.
3.18. Network with the neutral point earthed by impedance. A network in which

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

at least one neutral point is earthed by an appropriate impedance in order to reduce the
value of earth-fault currents.

3.19. Withstand voltage. The value of the test voltage used under specified
conditions during the dielectric test, during which a specified number of full
discharges may occur. The withstand voltage is defined as:
a) conventional withstand voltage when permissible number of full discharges is
equal to zero. The probability of not exceeding the strength is then assumed to be P = w

100%;
b) statistical withstand voltage when the permissible number of full discharges is
related to a specific probability of not exceeding the insulation strength. The standard
[2] assumes that this probability is equal to P = 90%.
w

3.20. Required withstand voltage Urw. The test voltage that the insulation should
withstand during a standardized dielectric test carried out to demonstrate that the
insulation system will meet the criterion of proper operation when subjected to
overvoltages of a given category under actual operating conditions and throughout its
service life. The required withstand voltage is in the form of the coordination
withstand voltage and is determined taking into account all conditions of the
standardized dielectric test selected for its verification.

3.21. Rated withstand voltage. The test voltage value used during the standardized
dielectric test which verifies that the insulation is adapted to at least one of the required
withstand voltages. This is the rated value for the insulation of the device.

3.22. Standardized rated withstand voltage Uw. A standardized value of the rated
withstand voltage recommended in the standard [1].

3.23. Rated insulation level. a set of rated withstand voltages that characterize the
electrical strength of the insulation.

3.24. Insulation coordination. Selection of the rated or standardized level of

electrical insulation of the devices depending on the working voltages and
overvoltages that may occur in the network for which the devices are intended, taking
into account the environmental conditions of operation and characteristics of the
protective devices used.

3.25. Overvoltage. Each alternative voltage:

- between the phase conductor and earth or across longitudinal insulation, having a
peak value exceeding the peak value of the highest voltage of the network divided by
√3,
- between phase conductors, having a peak value exceeding the amplitude of the
highest voltage of the network,
- overvoltage values are usually expressed per unit (p.u.) referred to voltage U s x
√2/√3.

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

3.26. Temporary overvoltage TOV. Power frequency overvoltage of relatively long

duration.

Note: For the purpose of insulation coordination, a temporary overvoltage duration of

1 minute is normally assumed.

3.27. Transient overvoltage. Overvoltage of short duration, not longer than a few
milliseconds, oscillating or non-oscillating, usually strongly suppressed.

3.28. Slow front overvoltage SFO. Transient overvoltage, usually with one polarity,
where the time to peak is 20µs < Tp ≤ 5000µs and the time to half-peak is T2 < 20ms.

Note: SFO overvoltages are mapped by a standard switching impulse of 250/2500 µs.

3.29. Fast front overvoltage FFO. Transient overvoltage, usually with one polarity,
where the time to peak is 0.1 µs < Tp ≤ 20 µs and the time to half-peak is T2 ≤ 300 µs.

Note: FFO overvoltages are mapped by a standard lightning impulse of 1.2/50 µs.

3.30. Very fast front overvoltage VFFO. Transient overvoltage, usually with one
polarity, where the time to peak is T f ≤ 0.1 µs, without oscillations or with
superimposed oscillations with a frequency of 30 kHz < f < 100MHz.

3.31. Representative overvoltages U . Overvoltages causing, by definition, the same

rp

effect – caused by the impact of an electric field on the insulation – as overvoltages of

a given category occurring for various reasons during operation. They consist of
voltages of a shape standardized for a given category, can be defined by one value or a
set of values or statistical distribution of values characterizing operating conditions.

3.32. Coordination withstand voltage U . For each voltage category, the value of
cw

the voltage withstood by the insulation system under actual operating conditions,
meeting the criterion of correct operation of the system.

3.33. Representative transient overvoltage. This overvoltage has a duration of

approx. 1 min and a shape of the power frequency voltage.

3.34. Correct operation criterion. This is a basic criterion which allows to reduce
the probability of damage to the device insulation or disruption of the power supply
continuity due to electric field impacts in operation to a level which is economically
and technically justified. This criterion is usually expressed in the form of an
acceptable rate of damage to the insulation system (number of damage per year,
number of years between damage, risk of damage, etc.).

Note: Overvoltage categories and shapes are presented in Table 1 [1].

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

PART II – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED

VOLTAGE OF 110–400 KV
4. Earthing of the network neutral point

4.1. Networks with a rated voltage of 110, 220 and 400 kV [11, 12, 29] should
operate with a solidly earthed neutral point in such a way that under all operating
conditions the earth fault factor “k” is not higher than:

1.4 in the network with a rated voltage of 110 kV,

1.3 in networks with a rated voltage of 220 and 400 kV.

4.2. It can be assumed that the requirements specified in point 4.1 are met when:

(1)
and In 110 kV network

and In 220 and 400 kV networks (2)

whereas:

X, R
0 0 – reactance and resistance for the zero-sequence symmetrical component of
the circuit experiencing line-to-earth short circuit, taking into account the
resistance at the point of earth fault, if any,
X1 – reactance for the symmetrical component of line-to-earth short-circuit.

Note; More detailed considerations concerning the value of the earth fault factor “k”,
depending on the reactance and resistance values of symmetrical components, are
presented in Appendix A to the standard [2].

5. Selection and installation of surge arresters

5.1. Surge arresters should meet the requirements of standards [3, 4] and PSE S.A.
technical specifications [27].

5.2. The short-circuit withstand capability of surge arresters should be selected

according to the highest expected short-circuit current at the place of their installation
[23]. The surge arresters should be installed as close to the protected device as
possible, and connections to the network working conductors and earth conductors
should be as short as possible and routed along straight sections [4, 22]. This also
applies to the connections to the neutral terminals of transformers.

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

5.3 For conductors connecting earth terminals of surge arresters with operations
counters, a copper wire shall be used, with the cross-section recommended by the
surge arrester manufacturer, but not less than 95 mm2, insulated along the entire
length, from the surge arrester to the counter, the insulation of which is selected for the
standardized short-time withstand power frequency voltage of not less than 3 kV.

5.4 Unless the supplier of the surge arresters indicated detailed conditions for their
installation, it is assumed that between the lower terminal of the operations counter
and the earth electrode, it should be connected with a conductor (hoop iron) selected
for the short-circuit current of 1s present at the substation.

5.5 Each surge arrester, for each phase, must be equipped with an individual
operations counter without the possibility of resetting the indications.

5.6 The insulation covers of the surge arresters should be selected according to the
pollution conditions at the place of their installation in accordance with the standard
[15], taking into account that this standard does not allow to locate outdoor substations
with a rated voltage of 110 kV and higher in the area of pollution zone IV. In
agreement with PSE S.A., the selection of insulation covers of surge arresters for
pollution conditions may also be made on the basis of technical specifications [14].

5.7 Basic technical data of surge arresters selected for network conditions and
protected devices in networks with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV [3, 4, 5] are
presented in Tables 1 and 2. The lightning and switching protection levels U pl and Ups
in Tables 1 and 2, respectively, were calculated on the basis of the peak value of the
reduced voltage of the surge arrester Ures referred to the rated voltage value Ur and the
selected overvoltage level based on the data from Table F.1 in Appendix F to the
standard [4].

Table 1
Basic technical data of surge arresters
connected to working conductors in
networks with a rated voltage of 110–
400 kV
Rated network voltage Un kV 110 220 400
Highest network voltage Us kV 123 245 420
Continuous operation voltage of the surge
arrester Uc ≥ kV 77 154 267
Rated voltage of the surge arrester Ur ≥ kV 96 192 336
Limit current impulse 4/10 μs kA 100
Rated discharge current 8/20 μs In kA SH >20 , SM >10,
depending on the surge arrester class
Switching current impulse -30/60 μs kA SH > 2, SM >1
Lightning protection level Upl ≤ kV 360 750 1,300
Switching protection level Ups ≤ kV ------ ------- 950
Short-circuit lightning current withstand
capability during 0.2s ≥
kA 31.5, 40, 50 or 63

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Maximum partial discharge level at 105%

Uc ≤ pC 5

Note: The SH and SM designations were adopted in accordance with the standard [3]
and specification [28]. They apply to the substation surge arresters intended for heavy
and average operating conditions, respectively.

Table 2
Basic technical data of surge arresters connected to neutral terminals of
transformers in networks with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV

Rated voltage Un kV 110 220 400

Highest network voltage Us kV 123 245 420
Continuous operation voltage of the surge
arrester Uc ≥ kV 48 96 168
Rated voltage of the surge arrester Ur ≥ kV 60 120 210
Limit current impulse 4/10 μs kA 100
Rated discharge current 8/20 μs In depending kA SM > 10, SH > 20
on the surge arrester class
Lightning protection level Upl ≤ kV 275 450 750
Rated thermal energy Wth kJ/kV SH:Wth > 10, SM:Wth > 7
Switching protection level Ups ≤ kV - - 428

5.8 Surge arresters shall be equipped with operations counters and insulating bases
suitable for these counters. Functions performed by the operations counters are
specified in the specification [28]. The expected functions of the counters related to the
technical design prepared by PSE S.A. are specified in the ToR.
Reading of the indications of the operations counters and the current values indicated
by the leakage current indicators (permanently installed in the operations counters)
must be possible from the earth level, without switching off the voltage. However,
reading of indications from the counter monitoring the surge arrester should take place
wirelessly.

Note: Current values read from the leakage current indicator usually do not
unambiguously determine the technical condition of the surge arrester.

5.9 The connections of the surge arresters with the working conductors of the
network and with the neutral terminals of the transformers should be made on the
shortest route, preferably using straight sections in order to avoid the formation of a
loop [2, 4]. The cross-section of these conductors should not be smaller than the cross-
section of a single busing conductor and not smaller than the surge arresters
recommended by the manufacturer.

5.10 Connections of earth terminals of surge arrester operations counters with the
substation's lattice earth electrode nodes shall be made using the shortest route using
galvanized (or copper-plated) steel flat bars or solid copper. The cross-sections of the
connections of the earth terminals counters with the lattice earth electrode nodes
should be selected so as to withstand the flow rate of 1s of the substation short-circuit

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

current. Unless the supplier of the surge arresters specifies the requirements in this
respect, the connections of the surge arrester earth terminals with the substation lattice
earth electrode should ensure thermal strength at the level of Wth for a specific short-
circuit current.

5.11 The earth terminals of surge arrester operations counters, regardless of the
connection with the substation earthing, should be additionally connected, on the
shortest route, to the tank of the protected transformer or to the metal sheath of the
protected cable by means of conductors meeting the requirements specified in point
5.3.

5.12. Clearances between surge arresters and clearances between surge arresters and
other devices and earthed support structures in indoor and outdoor substations shall
conform to factory instructions. If the factory instructions do not specify such
requirements, they should be determined at the stage of the building permit design
based on the standards [2, 4].

5.13. As a rule, it should be assumed that external interference reaching the

transformer, on the HV side, should be limited before the entry. Unless the transformer
supplier indicates other solutions, it is possible to apply, in accordance with the
standard [26], among others, the following solutions:

a) surge arresters,

b) controlled switching (point on wave switching),

c) capacitors connected to the circuit breaker terminals, which will connect the high-
frequency component to the earth.

d) high voltage surge arresters at a transformer with a reduced protection level, thus
reducing the voltages incoming to the transformer (a solution rarely used).

5.14. The transformer supplier shall provide appropriate calculations confirming that
the transferred voltages do not endanger the insulation. If the measurements or
calculations show that for a given existing transformer structure, overvoltages
transferred capacitively from the HV and LV side to the third TN winding with a rated
voltage of 15.75 kV or lower threaten the insulation of this winding, the transformer
supplier should propose a technical solution eliminating this hazard. The amplitude
value and steepness of the overvoltages transferred capacitively to the third TN
winding side can be reduced to the permissible value using, among others, the
following methods:

a) by installing capacities between each phase and the earth on the secondary load.
Usually, the installation of a capacity in the range of 0.1–0.5 µF limits high-
frequency surge components and surge amplitude,
b) connect ground capacities to the line terminals of the third winding in the form of
e.g. single-phase cables connecting the third winding with the auxiliary transformer

14
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

or capacitors, a similar function may be performed by a serial RC shunt connected

between the terminals of the third winding and the earth. The shunt resistance value
is usually in the range of 5–50 Ω [26],
c) if a short cable is connected to the TPW with a circuit breaker, the return wire of the
cable should be earthed on both sides of the cable and surge arresters should be
installed on both sides of the cable.
5.15. If the simulation results in the newly designed substation indicate a risk of
insulation of the third TN winding of the transformers with overvoltage transferred
capacitively from the HV side to the LV side, the new transformers should be
equipped with earthed shields between the windings, unless the transformer
manufacturer proposes another technical solution. For this purpose, you can:

a) use an electrostatic shield wound on the core column, thus increasing the ground
capacity of the third winding (which is usually the closest to the core),

b) insert an earthed shield or connected to the line potential between the upper (or
lower) winding and the third winding,

c) wind the third winding on a cylinder with the earthed shield, thus increasing the
capacity of the third winding and reducing the oscillations of this winding in relation
to the earth potential.

Note: In some substations, the neutral point is not earthed solidly but through a
resistor or reactor. It should be understood that the fastening of the reactor at the
neutral point will sustain oscillations in the system and will significantly deteriorate
the transmission of overvoltages to the third winding, often causing its failure.
In new, well designed transformers with a well-selected BIL value, the overvoltage
protection is usually sufficient because the installed surge arresters provide
approximately 15–20% margin against the BIL [26].

5.16. The technical data of the surge arresters used for protection of the third winding
of the transformer should be compliant with Table 6, and the protection level of the
arresters should be selected according to the insulation level of this winding in
accordance with the rules specified in Part III.

5.17. If the insulation level of the third TN winding with a rated voltage of 15.75 kV
of network transformers and autotransformers, new or modernized, [22, 30, 31]
corresponds to the voltage of Um = 24 kV (instead of the voltage of Um = 17.5 kV),
protection of the third TN winding against overvoltages transferred from the HV and
LV sides is usually not required unless the transformer supplier decided otherwise. If it
is necessary to protect the insulation of the third TN winding, see point 5.14.

5.18. If the network analysis does not indicate the need for overvoltage protection and
the transformer supplier also does not impose its requirements, the third windings with
a rated voltage of 21 and 31.5 kV do not require protection against overvoltages
transferred from the HV and LV side.

15
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

5.19. In the case of third windings with a rated voltage of 10.5, 15.75 and 21 kV
connected in a star, protection of the neutral terminal against overvoltages transferred
from the HV and LV side is not required, unless such needs result from the network
analysis or requirements of the transformer supplier.

5.20. If, under normal network condition, the unit transformer with voltage Um = 123,
245 or 420 kV is designed for operation with an unearthed neutral terminal, the
insulation of this terminal must be protected by means of a surge arrester. For arresters
switched on between the insulated neutral point and the earth, the rated voltage of the
arrester shall be assumed as equal to a voltage of Um/√ 3

Note: In the case of unit transformers with earthed neutral point, current transformers
are used on the earth conductor. The current value of the current transformer
determines the activation of protections at the moment of a short-circuit in the
transformer phases.

5.21. If, in special operating systems of the network, the transformer operating
conditions may change significantly, e.g. there may be a system in which a transformer
with an unearthed neutral terminal is disconnected from the network and supplied from
the low voltage side, and the value of the earth fault factor “k” for such conditions is
higher than specified in point 4.1, the selection of surge arresters should be considered
individually.

5.22. For cable sections with lengths exceeding several dozen meters, connecting
overhead electrical power lines, surge arresters should be installed on both sides of the
cable line. The surge arresters used in the analyzed fragment of the network should be
the same in terms of technical requirements.

6. Standardized insulation levels in 110 – 400 kV networks

Standardized insulation levels recommended for devices installed in networks with a

rated voltage of 110–400 kV, selected taking into account the surge arresters used
(Table 1) in accordance with the insulation coordination procedure (part V) established
by the standards [1, 2, 16], are given in Table 3.

Table 3
Standardized insulation levels for
devices in networks with a rated voltage
of 110–400 kV
Rated network voltage Un. kV 110 220 400
Highest device voltage Um kV 123 245 420
Standardized short-time withstand power frequency (185) (395)
voltage Uw50Hz kV -
230 460
Standardized lightning impulse withstand voltage Uwl (450) (950) 1,425
kV
550 1,050
Standardized switching impulse withstand voltage Uws kV - - 1,050

16
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Note: If the values given in brackets are insufficient to prove that the phase-to-phase
withstand voltages are of an adequate level, additional strength tests of the phase-to-
phase insulation must be carried out.
It is assumed that within the voltage range of 110–220 kV for the devices, the
withstand switching impulse voltage is mapped by the short-time withstand power
frequency voltage.

7. Protection of power lines against overvoltage

7.1. Overhead electrical power lines with a rated voltage of 110 – 400 kV should be
protected with lightning protection wires along their entire length. Rules of line
protection with lightning protection wires are specified in the standards [11, 12].

7.2. Lightning protection wires shall be earthed on each line pole.

7.3. At the entrance to the substation, the lightning protection wires should be
connected to earthed support structures (line gates).

7.4. The cross-section of lightning protection wires should be selected for short-
circuit currents occurring in the protected line and should not be smaller than 50 mm 2
for aluminum – steel or aluminum alloys conductors.[12]

7.5. Lightning protection wires associated with optical fibers should meet the current
technical requirements of PSE S.A. [30].

7.6. (Clearances between phase conductors and lightning protection wires should
meet the requirements of the standard [12].

7.7. The protection of 110–400 kV cable lines connected to overhead lines and
introduced to an outdoor or indoor substation should be performed in accordance with
the following rules:

• cable terminals should be protected by surge arresters installed at both ends of

the cable line, regardless of the cable length,
• the cable shield with one-sided earthed armor should be protected with surge
arresters on the other side,
• in the case of crossovers along the cable line route, the parameters of the arresters
installed in the boxes are selected according to the strength of the cable shield,
• earth terminals of surge arrester operation counters should be connected to the
substation earth electrode along the shortest route.

8. How is the substation protected against direct lightning strikes. Protection of

wind towers.

8.1. Outdoor substations and switching stations with an upper rated voltage of 110 –
400 kV should be protected against direct lightning strikes by means of lightning rods.
The protection zones of lightning rods should be determined in line with the rules

17
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

specified in the standard [6, 7].

8.2. It is recommended to install lightning rods on the support structures of the

outdoor switching stations, except for transformer gates and structures on which
insulators with a rated voltage lower than 110 kV are placed.
8.3. Lightning rods not installed on the support structures of the outdoor switching
stations should be located at a distance of not less than 3 m from these structures and
from the protected devices. These lightning rods should be connected to a substation
earthing system.

8.4. It is recommended to protect indoor switching station buildings and control room
buildings with low horizontal lightning rods if these buildings are not located in the
protection zone of other lightning rods or facilities [8, 9, 10].

8.5. The switching station and the substation buildings shall be protected against
direct lightning strikes in accordance with the detailed requirements specified in the
standards [9, 10], taking into account the requirements specified in points 8.1–8.4.

8.6. The currently installed wind turbines have 150 m high wind towers, which, at the
rotor blade extension, results in a height of approx. 200 m. In order to protect the wind
turbines, the blades are being equipped earth conductors, and their connection with the
tower earth conductors is a specific technical solution of the wind turbine
manufacturer, which guarantees its safe operation.

9. Protection of the substation against overvoltage carried by the working

conductors of the network

9.1. General requirements

9.1.1. Air insulated substation equipment shall be protected by surge arresters [3, 4,
25]:

• installed at all windings of each transformer,

• arranged in such a way that the insulation of substation devices is protected
by at least one set of arresters in all operating systems.

9.1.2. Surge arresters should be installed between the protected transformer winding
and the nearest switch in the circuit of the said winding.

9.1.3. Neutral terminals of transformer windings should be protected with surge

arresters if in all operating systems they are not permanently, directly connected to the
substation earthing system. The surge arresters shall be installed as close to the neutral
terminals as possible.

9.1.4. In the case of SF6-insulated substation, the surge arresters shall be installed at
the inlet of the overhead line to the substation. In the case of extensive GIS systems
(for example with separate phases in outdoor design), it may be necessary to equip

18
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

such systems with internal surge arresters.

9.2. Transformers with an upper rated voltage of 110 – 400 kV

9.2.1. Surge arresters installed as close to protected winding terminals as possible

shall be used to protect the windings of the transformers with a rated voltage of 110–
400 kV. As a rule, it is assumed that the distance from the winding terminals of the
protected facility, measured along the connecting conductors, cannot exceed 10 m,
usually it is 3 to 5 m. (it may be several dozen meters only in exceptional cases). In
such conditions, it is often difficult to connect the surge arrester base to the earth
terminal.

Then, the surge arrester should be connected to the earth electrode of the substation
and, on the other side, to the network. If the distance from the protected facility is
greater than 10 m, it should be considered to increase the protection against
overvoltage by one level [4, 22, 31].

Note: Part V of the specification presents, based on simplified formulas, the method of
calculating the distance L, which allows effective protection against fast front
overvoltages (FFO) (point 3.29) of the facility protected by an arrester installed at a
distance L from this facility.

9.3. Switching stations with a rated voltage of 30 kV and lower, in substations

with an upper voltage of 110–400 kV

9.3.1. Surge arresters shall be installed at the inlet of each medium voltage overhead
line introduced directly to a switching station [34].

9.3.2. Surge arresters may be installed on the first pole of the overhead line or on the
switching station structure. Earth terminals of these surge arresters should be
connected to the substation earthing system.

9.4. Switching stations with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV

9.4.1. The switching stations with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV, regardless of the
surge arresters at the transformers (point 9.2.1), should be protected by means of
additional surge arresters installed at the input of each overhead line inserted directly
to the switching station.

9.4.2. Additional surge arresters referred to in point 9.4.1 should be installed in the
feeder bays on the switches’ line side. Earth terminals of the operations counters of
these arresters should be connected to the substation earthing system.

9.4.3 The effectiveness of switching station protection against overvoltage from

lightning strikes on the overhead line should be assessed in accordance with the
standard [2] (Appendix E).

19
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Note: Appendix E, in the standard [2] entitled “Lightning overvoltages”, analyses the
impact of the amplitude and shape of the overvoltages incoming to a substation from
the overhead line entering the substation where the lightning occurred at a certain
distance from the substation. It also specifies simplified dependencies allowing to
determine the level of representative overvoltage Urp, to which reference was made in
Part V of the ToR.

9.5. Wind farms

9.5.1. Depending on a wind farm’s power output, method of connection to the

network (for example, long cable lines), equipment installed on the HV and MV side
(for example, reactors), overvoltages of up to 3 times the above ones may occur.

Therefore, each wind farm with a power output of at least several dozen MW should
be analyzed for the possibility of generation and propagation of overvoltages using
adequate calculation software.

Note: In order to perform calculations as in point 9.5.1., commercially available

software such as PSS-E-Siemens, Power – FactoryDigSilent or PSCAD Manitoba
HVDC Research Centre may be used as they have modules designed for such
calculations.

10. Earthing of overvoltage protection devices

10.1. General requirements

10.1.1. Regardless of the requirements specified in these Principles, the earthing of

the overvoltage protection devices in the lines and substations should meet the
requirements specified in the standards concerning the protection against electric
shock [9] and lightning protection of civil structures [9, 10] and design and
construction of overhead electrical power lines [11, 12] and cable lines [13].

10.1.2. The earthing resistance of an earth electrode should be measured applying a

three-electrode technical method using a current source with a frequency range of 50–
250 Hz. The required values of the earthing resistance should be ensured at alternating
current with a frequency of 50 Hz.

10.1.3. The required values of the earthing resistance should be maintained at all
foreseeable seasonal changes of the soil resistivity. The ranges of soil resistivity
changes in Poland are given in Table 12 [32].

10.1.4. The required values of the earthing resistance of the line poles with lightning
protection wires should be provided separately for each pole, i.e. in such conditions
that the earth electrode of a given pole is not connected to the earth electrodes of
neighboring poles and substations.

20
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

10.2. Structure of substations’ earth electrodes

10.2.1. All calculations and analyses necessary for the implementation of the
substation earthing design should be performed case-by-case on the basis of technical
assumptions specified by PSE S.A. [6, 32].

10.2.2. Natural earth electrodes, such as earth electrodes of overhead line poles on the
premises of a substation, metal armors and sheaths of buried cables and foundation
earth electrodes of civil structures located on the premises of the substation should be
used as earth electrodes.

10.2.3. The basic earth electrode of a substation is an artificial earth electrode in the
form of a metallic earthing net (grate) laid under the ground, which predominantly
impacts the parameters and properties of the substation earthing [32]. The net’s mesh
near the points where operating currents and short-circuit currents enter the earth
electrode of the substation should be compacted in order to reduce the electric shock
hazard for persons staying on the substation premises.

10.2.4. Requirements for normal and short-circuit operating conditions of the

substation, i.e. standardized values of rated currents and standard short-circuit currents
that may occur in PSE SA networks are specified in the specifications [32, 35].

10.2.5. The standards do not specify any limitations on the value of the earthing
resistance and, therefore, it should be assumed as a rule that a voltage drop on the
earthing resistance (or earthing impedance) during the flow of the highest expected
earth-electrode current may not exceed 80% of the required insulation strength of
equipment and instrumentation for the substation with a specific rated voltage.

10.2.6. The effectiveness of the substation earthing as a means of electric shock

protection is determined by the values of touch voltages that may occur on conductive
elements of the substation equipment and structures when the current flows through
the earth electrode. (Fig. 1)

21
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Napięcie [V] Voltage [V]

Czas [s] Time [s]

Fig. 1. Permissible actual touch voltage in the substation area depending on the impact
time (short-circuit duration).

10.3 Structure of power lines’ earth electrodes

10.3.1. Each tower/pole of a line shall be equipped with an earthing system. The
earthing system consists of: horizontal earth electrodes (or horizontal and vertical earth
electrodes), earth conductors and test terminals. All components of the system should
be connected in the ground [33].

10.3.2. The earthing systems shall be connected to the structure of a line pole by
means of earth conductors. In the case of steel lattice-type poles, the earth conductors
should be connected to each leg of the pole, whereas in the case of solid-wall steel
poles, the earth conductors should be connected in at least two points on the pole
circumference.

10.3.3. Connections of earth conductors and the pole structure should be separable
and form test terminals to allow measurements of the pole earthing resistance.

10.3.4. The earthing system should be selected for short-circuit conditions occurring
in the power line and local ground conditions [11, 33].

10.4. Earthing resistance

10.4.1. The earthing resistance of each pole of the line with lightning protection wires
should not exceed the values specified in Table 4. Detailed requirements in this respect
are specified in the standard [12] and specification [33].

22
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Table 4
Permissible values of earthing resistance of line poles with lightning protection
wires [12]
Earthing resistance of poles for soil
Rated voltage Un resistivity of
p < 1000 Ωm p > 1000 Ωm
110kV 10 Ω 15 Ω
220kV and 400kV 15 Ω 20 Ω

10.4.2 The earthing resistance of the poles on which the surge arresters are installed,
regardless of the soil resistivity, should not be higher than 10 Ω.

10.4.3 It is not allowed to use chemical agents reducing the soil resistivity.

10.5. Earth conductors

10.5.1. The cross-sectional dimensions of earth conductors should be determined by

calculation for a substation, taking into account a higher short-circuit current value
than the earth-electrode current and taking into account the level of accepted earth-
electrode voltage drops and the level of permissible touch voltages (Fig. 1).
10.5.2. The minimum cross-sections of earth conductors, used in PSE S.A.
substations, made of solid copper are 130 mm2 and 320 mm2 for galvanized steel.
10.5.3. The cross-section of the earth conductors of the lightning protection wires and
surge arresters installed on the poles should be selected for the short-circuit currents
occurring at their installation site, based on the results of the analysis of the short-
circuit current distribution. If solid copper earth conductors are used, their cross-
section must not be smaller than 130 mm 2. Earth terminals of operation counters of
surge arrester should be connected to an earth electrode along the shortest route.
10.5.4. It is recommended to use conductive elements of poles and support structures
as earth conductors. In the lines on steel poles, the pole's steel structure functions as
earth conductor.

10.5.5. The earth conductors of newly built power lines shall be made of copper or
copper-plated steel. The cross-section of a copper earth conductor shall be at least
50 mm2 and for copper-plated steel – at least 90 mm2.

10.5.6. It is not allowed to use materials made of aluminum, aluminum alloys and
direct connections made of materials with different electrochemical potential in
earthing systems.

23
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

PART III – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED

VOLTAGE OF 6–30 KV

11. Selection of the network neutral point earthing method

11.1. General requirements

11.1.1. The method of earthing the neutral point should be optimal in technical and
economic terms, taking into account the requirements for network operation and
reliability of consumer power supply.

11.1.2. With the selected method of earthing the network neutral point, proper
operation of earth fault protections and switching automation devices should be
ensured.

11.2. Insulation of the network neutral point

11.2.1. In the cable and cable and overhead networks (with a significant majority of
cable lines), the network neutral point may be insulated if the capacitive single-phase
short-circuit current does not exceed 50 A. [34]

11.2.2. In an overhead or overhead and cable network, the network neutral point may
be insulated if the capacitive single-phase short-circuit current does not exceed the
values specified in Table 5.

Table 5
Limits of capacitive single-phase short-circuit current in an overhead or overhead
and cable network [34]

Rated network voltage Un. kV 6 10 15-20 30

Capacitive singlephase short-
circuit current Ic
A 30 20 15 10

11.2.3. In networks where the protections ensure quick disconnection of earth faults, it
is allowed to use a system with an insulated neutral point, regardless of the value of
capacitive single-phase short-circuit current.

Note: Fast fault clearance depends on the operation time of the primary protection and
the circuit breaker’s proper time. In 220–400 kV electrical networks, this total time
does not exceed 120 ms, and in the 110 kV networks it is 150 ms, whereas in the MV
networks this time is not precisely specified and is related to the time in the HV
networks.

11.2.4. In networks where the capacitive single-phase short-circuit current is higher

than the one specified in points 11.2.1 and 11.2.2 and the condition specified in point
11.2.3 is not met, one of the following systems shall be used:

24
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

• compensation of capacitive single-phase short-circuit current,

• earthing of the network neutral point by resistance.

It is recommended to use compensation in overhead and overhead and cable networks,

and earthing of the network neutral point through resistance is recommended in
extensive cable networks and in overhead and cable networks with a predominance of
cable lines.

Note: In substations in which the neutral point is not solidly earthed, but through a
reactor, there may be a significant deterioration in the transfer of overvoltages from the
HV side of a transformer to the third winding due to maintaining oscillations in the
system. Sometimes this method of neutral point earthing is the direct cause of the
failure of the third winding.

11.3. Capacitive single-phase short-circuit current compensation

11.3.1. The compensation devices should be arranged in the network so as to ensure

compensation of capacitive single-phase short-circuit current in all normal operating
systems of the network. It is recommended to place compensation devices in the
network power supply stations and maintain such network systems (areas) so that the
capacitive single-phase short-circuit current does not exceed 300 A.

11.3.2. The network compensation de-tuning (S) shall be calculated using the
following formula:

where:
I – the sum of inductive currents of compensation devices connected to the network,
L

I – capacitive single-phase short-circuit current of the network.

C

11.3.3. The network compensation de-tuning should be maintained within the range
from S = –5% to S = +15%, except for short-term network disturbance conditions. In
networks with high capacitance asymmetry, it is recommended to maintain de-tuning
between S = + 5% and S = + 15%. It is recommended to use compensation devices
with smooth adjustment of inductive current, equipped with automatic regulation of
detuning.

11.4. Earthing of the network neutral point by resistance

11.4.1. The resistance should be switched on between the neutral terminal of the
neutral earthing transformer or power transformer and the earthing of the substation.

11.4.2. The resistance value should be selected so that the single-phase short-circuit

25
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

current in the feeding substation is limited to the value at which at the same time:
• proper operation of earth fault protection and switching automation devices is
ensured,
• there is no risk of electric shock to people due to the occurrence of touch voltages
or measures limiting these voltages to permissible values are applied,
• no disturbing and hazardous impacts on telecommunication circuits occur.

12. Selection and installation of surge arresters

12.1. Surge arresters should meet the requirements [3]. The distance of installation of
surge arresters from the protected facility should not exceed a few meters. In MV
networks it is usually 3–5 m. [2].

12.2. Basic technical data of surge arresters selected for network conditions and
protected devices [28] in networks with a rated voltage of 6–30 kV are presented in
Table 6.

12.3. Short-circuit withstand capability of surge arresters and cross-sections of

conductors used for connection of arresters in the network should be selected for the
highest expected short-circuit current in the place of their installation [23, 25].

Table 6
Basic technical data of surge arresters connected to working conductors in
networks with a rated voltage of 6 – 30 kV

Rated network voltage Un kV 6 10 15 20 30

Highest network voltage Us kV 7.2 12 17,5 24 36
Continuous operation voltage of the surge
arrester Uc ≥ kV 7.2 12 17,5 24 36
Rated voltage of the surge arrester Ur ≥ kV 9 15 22 30 45
Limit current surge 4/10 kA 65 100
Rated discharge current 8/20 μs In kA 5 10
Lightning protection level Upl ≤ kVm 46 60 75 125 145
Short-circuit withstand capacity ≥ kA 16

12.4. The insulation covers of the surge arresters should be selected according to the
pollution conditions at the place of their installation in accordance with the standard
[14], taking into account that this standard does not allow to locate outdoor substations
with a rated voltage of 6 – 30 kV and higher in the area of pollution zone IV. The
selection of surge arrester covers may also be based on technical specifications [14],
subject to agreement with PSE.S.A.

12.5. Connections of the surge arresters with the working conductors of the network
and with the neutral terminals of the transformers should be made using conductors
with a cross-section of at least 16 mm2. These connections should be made by the
shortest possible route.

26
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

12.6. Continuous operation voltage Uc of the surge arresters connected to the neutral
terminals of transformers in networks with a rated voltage of 6–30 kV should not be
lower than Us/√3 and the lightning protection level should be selected according to the
insulation level of the neutral terminal in accordance with the rules specified in Part V.
It is recommended to use surge arresters with a rated discharge current of 5 kA for the
voltage range of 6 and 10 kV and 10 kA for the voltage range of 15, 20 and 30 kV, as
per the data in Table 1 [3]. The surge arresters should be installed as close to the
neutral terminal as possible.

12.7. Clearances between surge arresters and clearances between surge arresters and
other devices and earthed support structures in indoor and outdoor substations shall
conform to factory instructions. If the factory instructions do not specify such
requirements, they should be determined at the stage of the detailed design.

13. Standardized insulation levels in 6 – 30 kV networks

Standardized insulation levels recommended for devices installed in networks with a

rated voltage of 6–30 kV, selected taking into account the surge arresters used (Table
6) in accordance with the insulation coordination procedure (part V) established by the
standards [1, 2], are given in Table 7.

Table 7
Standardized insulation levels for devices in networks with a rated voltage of 6 –
30 kV
Rated voltage Un kV 6 10 15 20 30
Highest device voltage Um kV 7.2 12 17.5 24 36
Standardized short-time withstand power frequency
voltage Uw50Hz
kV 20 28 38 50 70
Standardized lightning impulse withstand voltage Uwl kV 60 75 95 125 170

14. Protection of power lines against overvoltage

14.1. Overhead electrical power lines with a rated voltage of 30 kV and lower are not
recommended to be protected along their entire length by means of lightning
protection wires.

14.2. The cable line connecting with the overhead line with bare conductors or
conductors in an insulation shield should be protected by surge arresters installed at
the cable terminals.

14.3. The overhead line with fully insulated conductors [12] should be protected by
surge arresters installed at the connection point with the line made of bare conductors
or partially insulated conductors. It is recommended to use surge arresters at the point
of connection of the line with bare conductors with the line made of partially insulated
conductors.

14.4. Partially insulated conductors should be protected against effects of electric arc

27
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

in accordance with [12].

14.5. It is recommended to protect the connection point of a line with poles or cross-
arms made of non-conductive materials with the line on conductive poles (steel or
reinforced concrete) with surge arresters installed on the first conductive pole.

14.6. It is recommended to protect electricity metering points and switches controlled

by radio, installed on overhead line poles, with surge arresters arranged in such a way
that in all operating systems the insulation of the devices is protected. The surge
arresters should be installed as close to the protected devices as possible.

15. Station protection against direct lightning strikes

15.1. Outdoor substations and switching stations with an upper rated voltage of 30 kV
and lower, in which transformers with a rated power greater than 1600 kVA are
installed, should be protected against direct lightning strikes in accordance with the
rules specified in chapter 8. In other outdoor substations and switching stations with an
upper rated voltage of 30 kV and lower, no protection against direct lightning strikes is
required.

15.2. It is recommended to use protection against direct lightning strikes of multi-bay

switching stations.

16. Protection of the substation against overvoltage carried by the working

conductors of the network

16.1. General requirements

16.1.1. The substation devices should be protected by means of surge arresters:

• installed at all windings of each transformer,
• arranged in such a way that the insulation of substation devices is protected
by at least one set of arresters in all operating systems.

16.1.2. Surge arresters should be installed between the protected transformer winding
and the nearest switch in the circuit of the said winding. It is allowed to install fuses
between surge arresters and the transformer [34].

16.1.3. The neutral terminals to which the compensation devices or earthing resistors
are connected should be protected by surge arresters installed as close to the protected
terminals as possible.

16.1.4. The earthing transformers should be protected by surge arresters.

16.1.5. Windings with a rated voltage of 30 kV and lower of transformers with an

upper rated voltage of 110 – 400 kV should be protected by means of surge arresters
whose distances from the terminals of the protected windings, measured along the
connecting conductors, must not exceed: 3 – 5 m for windings with rated voltages of 6

28
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

– 10 kV and 10 m for windings with rated voltages of 15 – 30 kV.

16.1.6. Surge arresters should be installed at the inlet of each medium voltage
overhead line introduced directly to the switching station with a rated voltage of 30 kV
and lower.

16.1.7. Surge arresters may be installed on the first pole of the overhead line or on the
switching station structure. Earth terminals of the surge arresters installed on the
switching station structure should be connected to the substation earthing system. For
the surge arresters installed on the first pole, located outside the substation area, a
separate earthing should be provided so that the resistance of the pole earthing is not
higher than 10 Ω regardless of the soil resistivity.

16.2. Substations feeding the low voltage network

16.2.1. In the substations feeding the low voltage networks [8], the windings of
transformers with a rated voltage of 30 kV and lower should be protected by surge
arresters installed in accordance with the requirements specified in point 16.1.5.

16.2.2. The protection of windings with a rated voltage of 230/400 V should be made
in accordance with the requirements specified in Part IV of these Principles.

16.3. Substations feeding the medium voltage networks

16.3.1. Transformers feeding the medium voltage networks (e.g. 30/15 kV

transformers) should be protected by surge arresters installed in accordance with the
requirements specified in point 16.1.5
16.3.2. At the inlet of each overhead line introduced directly to the substation, surge
arresters should be installed on the line side of the circuit breakers. Earth terminals of
these surge arresters should be connected to the substation earthing system.

17. Earthing of overvoltage protection devices

17.1. General requirements

17.1.1. Regardless of the requirements specified in these Principles, the earthing of

the overvoltage protection devices in the lines and substations should meet the
requirements specified in the standards concerning the protection against electric
shock [8] and lightning protection of civil structures [9, 10] and design and
construction of overhead electrical power lines [11, 12] and cable lines [13].

17.1.2. The required values of the earthing resistance should be ensured at alternating
current with a frequency of 50 Hz.

17.1.3. The required values of the earthing resistance should be maintained at all
foreseeable seasonal changes of the soil resistivity. The method of taking into account
seasonal changes in soil resistivity for the calculation of the highest expected values of

29
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

earthing resistance is presented in chapter 24.

17.2. Construction of earth electrodes

17.2.1. Natural earth electrodes, such as foundations of poles and steel structures,
buried parts of poles and reinforced concrete structures, located at a distance of up to
50 m from the earthing terminal of the device to be earthed, should be used as earth
electrodes.

17.2.2. Additional artificial earth electrodes should be made only in cases when the
earth electrodes mentioned in point 17.2.1 do not meet the requirements concerning
the earthing resistance. It is recommended to place the artificial earth electrodes at a
distance of up to 35 m from the earthing terminal of the device being earthed.

17.3. Earthing resistance

17.3.1. The earthing resistance of surge arresters should not be higher than 10 Ω.

17.3.2. In the case of exceptionally high soil resistivity, if obtaining the value of the
earthing resistance specified in point 17.3.1 involves high costs, it is allowed to obtain
higher values of the earthing resistance – in agreement with PSE S.A. – provided that
solutions ensuring the effectiveness of protection against overvoltage not lower than
the one achieved while meeting the requirements included in this point are applied.

17.4. Earth conductors

17.4.1. The cross-section of the earth conductors of the surge arresters should be
selected according to the short-circuit currents occurring in the place of their
installation. Use earth conductors with a cross-section of not less than 16 mm 2 (solid
copper), 35 mm2 (aluminum) and 50 mm2 (galvanized or copper plated steel).

17.4.2. It is recommended to use conductive elements of poles and support structures

as earth conductors. In the lines on steel poles, the pole's steel structure functions as
earth conductor. In the lines on reinforced concrete poles, it is not required to use
separate earth conductors if the pole reinforcement is prepared for this purpose and
ensures continuity of the passage between the terminal intended for connection of the
overvoltage protection devices and the earth electrode, which should be checked by an
electrical measurement at low voltage.

17.4.3. On multi-rod poles with spaced rods, the earth conductors should be routed at
least along two opposite legs of the pole. At least two opposite stays should be used as
earth conductors on the poles with stays.

17.5. Connections of surge arresters with earth electrodes and earthed parts of
protected devices

17.5.1. The earth terminals of surge arresters should be connected to the earth

30
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

electrode on the shortest route.

17.5.2. Regardless of the connection with the earth electrode, an additional connection
of the earth terminals of the surge arresters with the tank of the protected transformer
or with the metal sheath of the protected cable should be made on the shortest possible
route.

PART IV – PROTECTION OF NETWORKS WITH A RATED

VOLTAGE OF 230/400 V
18. Selection and installation of surge arresters

18.1. Surge arresters should meet the requirements declared by the supplier,
confirmed and documented with type test certificates.

18.2. Basic technical data of surge arresters selected for network conditions and
protected devices in the network with a rated voltage of 230/400 V are presented in
Table 8.

18.3. The standard lightning impulse withstand voltage of the insulation in the low
voltage network should not be lower than 6000 V.

18.4. In the TN-C system, surge arresters should be installed between each phase
conductor and PEN conductor.

Table 8
Basic technical data of surge arresters
installed in the network in the TN-C system [34]

Continuous operation voltage Uc ≥ V 440

Maximum discharge current 8/20 µs Imax> kA 25
Rated discharge current 8/20 μs In kA 5
Lightning protection level Upl ≤ V 2,500

18.5. It is assumed that surge arresters are installed on each power cable entering the
0.4 kV switchgear.

18.6. If the operational earthing of the network is provided in the substation, the surge
arresters should also be installed in the substation, apart from the circuit protections,
one set at the outgoing connection of each line. However, if the operational earthing of
the network is provided outside the substation as earthing of the neutral conductor on
the first line poles (separated earthing), the surge arresters should be installed on these
poles.

18.7. In TN-C systems with separated protective and operational earthing in the
MV/LV substation between the transformer tank (protective earthing) and the neutral

31
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

terminal of the low voltage windings (PEN conductor), a protective spark gap or a
limiter [34, 17, 18, 19] should be installed.

The protective spark gap should have the following parameters:

- voltage flashover at an alternating voltage of 50 Hz ≤ 1000 V,
- voltage flashover at impulse voltage 1.2/50 µs ≤ 2500 V

The surge arrester should have technical parameters not worse than those specified in
Table 8.

18.8. It is recommended to locate surge arresters installed in the lines in places where
the PEN conductor is earthed. In other cases, it is necessary to create a an earth
electrode, which should be connected to the PEN conductor to which the surge arrester
will be connected.

18.9. Hooks, shafts and support structures of all lines, including telecommunication
lines, routed on common poles [5, 8, 13] should be connected to the earth conductor of
the surge arresters in the lines on wooden poles.

18.10. The earth conductor of surge arresters installed at cable terminals should be
connected with metal elements of the terminal support structure.

18.11. Conductors connecting the surge arresters with the working conductors of the
network and earth conductors should be selected for short-circuit currents occurring in
the place of installation of the surge arresters. These conductors should have a cross-
section of not less than 16 mm 2 (solid copper), 35 mm2 (aluminum) and 50 mm2
(galvanized or copper plated steel). It is recommended to use earth conductors made of
stranded copper in UV-resistant insulation. These connections should be made by the
shortest possible route.

18.12. It is recommended to use surge arresters to protect the equipment of control

cabinets for street lighting, alarm, signaling and warning instrumentation, etc. The
surge arresters should be installed as close to the protected devices as possible.

19. Line protection

19.1. Overhead lines with bare conductors or with fully insulated conductors,
including connections, should be protected by means of surge arresters, which should
be installed at the end of each line and at the end of each branch with a length of more
than 200 m and in the line at intervals of not more than 500 m.

19.2. Cable lines and overhead lines with fully insulated conductors should be
protected by means of surge arresters installed at the points of connection of these
lines with overhead lines with bare conductors. This requirement does not apply to
connections. Lines with conductors in insulation shields should be regarded as lines
with bare conductors.

32
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

20. Protection of substation equipment

20.1. LV equipment in MV/LV substations connected to LV overhead lines directly or

via buried cable lines, shorter than 150 m, should be protected by means of surge
arresters. They shall be arranged in such a way that a set of arresters is installed at the
low voltage winding of each MV/LV transformer. In all operating systems, the
insulation of low voltage substation equipment should be protected by means of at
least one set of arresters.

20.2. It is recommended to install surge arresters used to protect the low voltage
windings of transformers directly on the transformers, between the phase terminals of
the low voltage windings and the transformer tank. The connection of surge arresters
to the phase terminals of the low voltage windings and the transformer tank should be
as short as possible.

20.2. The earth conductors of surge arresters installed in the substations shall be
connected to the substation earthing system, metal elements of the structure and
enclosures of transformers and switching equipment, metal cable sheaths, water, gas
and central heating systems, lightning protection equipment (if any).

20.3. It is recommended to use surge arresters to protect the equipment of control

cabinets for street lighting, alarm, signaling and warning instrumentation, etc.

21. Earthing of surge arresters

21.1. The earthing resistance of surge arresters shall not be higher than 10 Ω.

21.2. Connections of the surge arrester earthing clamp with the earth electrode and
with the earthed metal elements of the protected device should be as short as possible.

PART V – PRINCIPLES OF INSULATION COORDINATION

22. Outline of insulation coordination procedure

According to [1, 2, 4], the insulation coordination procedure consists in selecting the
highest voltage of the device along with a set of standardized withstand voltages which
sufficiently characterize the insulation of the device. Two methods of insulation
coordination are used, i.e. deterministic and statistical (statistical, especially for
restoring insulation). Very often, these two approaches are combined in a single
procedure when a simplified statistical procedure is used.
The procedure is implemented in four stages and begins with a network analysis to
determine voltages and overvoltages acting on insulations. Based on the results of the
network analysis, the following actions shall be taken:

- representative voltages and overvoltages U are determined,

rp

- coordination withstand voltages U are determined,

cw

- required withstand voltage U is determined,

rw

33
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

- rated insulation level is selected based on the set of standardized rated insulation
withstand voltages U . w

is the most important reference voltage.

In this coordination procedure, the highest network voltage Us
The highest voltage of the device is selected in this procedure as the closest to the standardized value Um, equal to or
greater than the highest voltage of the network in which the device will be installed.

Um > U s (4)

22.1 Representative voltages and overvoltages Urp

Note: representative voltages and overvoltages are often calculated when designing
substations according to the instructions of the manufacturers of overvoltage
protection equipment. In any case, these calculations should be verified based on the
requirements of the standard [2].

Temporary overvoltage TOV. The causes of temporary overvoltages are given in [2,
4]. It should be noted that the surge arresters generally do not reduce the level of
temporary overvoltages, which is especially important for the power networks from
range II. In networks with a solidly earthed neutral point, the level of these
overvoltages may reach k values from the range of 1–1.3. The representative level
shall be defined as:

Urp = k x Us /√3 (5)

Slow front overvoltage (SFO). The causes of SFO overvoltages are specified in the
standards [2, 4]. The range of values of currents flowing through the surge arresters
during the impact of these overvoltages is from approx. 0.5 to 2 kA. The representative
level of SFO overvoltage for phase-to-earth overvoltages is equal to the switching
protection level of the surge arrester (network range I and II).

Urp = Ups (6)

For phase-to-phase overvoltages of this type, this is usually twice the value of the
switching protection level of the surge arrester

Urp = 2Ups (7)

or the value calculated on the basis of Appendix C in the standard [2].

Fast front overvoltages FFO. The causes of FFO overvoltages are specified in the
standard [2, 4]. The currents flowing through the surge arresters affected by such
overvoltages are included in the following range:

for networks from range I (1 kV < U ≤ 245 kV): 5 kA or 10 kA

m

for power networks from range II (U > 245 kV): 10 kA or 20 kA
m

The representative level of FFO overvoltage may be calculated in a simplified way

34
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

using formula (8), (in the standard [2] marked as formula 1):

Urp = Upl + 2S x ts for Upl > 2Sts (8)

where: S is the steepness of the lightning impulse wave in (kV/µs) according to

formula (9), (marked as formula E.1 in the standard [2]):

S = 1/(n Kco x X) (9)

and the values in formula (9) mean:

X – distance between the substation and the lightning strike location in (m)

n – number of overhead lines routed to the substation

K – corona discharge suppression constant depending on the configuration of

co

conductors in the overhead line, according to Table E.1 [2], in (µs/kV m)

The value ts, in formula (8), is the time in (µs), after which the impulse wave, moving
at the speed of light, at distance L in (m), reaches the protected object and is expressed
by formula (10), (marked as formula 3 in the standard [2]):

ts = L/ 300 (m/µs) (10)

where: L is the sum of the distance to the protected object, which includes the distance from the earthing system to the surge
arrester (a2), the height of the surge arrester (a 4), the distance from the surge arrester to the protected object (a 3) and the length of the
cable connecting the overhead line with the surge arrester (a 1) as shown in Fig. 2.

However, the maximum level of this overvoltage may be calculated in a simplified

manner using formula (11) (which in the standard [2] is given in Appendix E as
formula E21):

Urp = Upl + A/n x L/Lsp (11)

where: L – is the length of the power line span reaching the substation [m]
sp

n – is the minimum number of lines (n = 1 or 2)

A is the factor from Table E.2 of Appendix E [2].

35
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Fig. 2 Diagram of connections of the surge arrester to the protected object [2].

Ogranicznik przepięć Surge arrester

Chronione urządzenie Protected device
Uziom Kratowy stacji Earthing grid of the substation

When calculating FFO overvoltage protections, we strive to determine the effective

level of protection of the protected object, as shown in Fig. 2, by a surge arrester
installed at a distance L from such object. For this purpose, we determine the required
withstand voltage U (15) assuming that the coordination factor K (16) is equal to 1.
rw c

The value of factor K for internal insulation is assumed to be 1.15, for external
s

insulation it is 1.05 (18).Then, on the basis of formulas (16) and (19), it is possible to
write:

Urw = Urp x Ks (12)

Jeżeli wymagane napięcie wytrzymywane Urw chronionego obiektu odpowiada jego

poziomowi BIL (ujawnionemu na tabliczce znamionowej obiektu chronionego ) to
wzór (8) można zapisać jako :
BIL/Ks = Upl + 2S x ts (13)
Mając na uwadze zależność (10) można dalej zapisać (14):
L = c ( BIL/Ks - Upl )/2S (14)
In order to calculate the steepness of the lightning strike, formula (9) may be used,
provided that distance X – of the lightning strike on the power line – from the

36
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

substation to which this line is routed is known.

Due to possible difficulties in determining X values, the estimated values of steepness

S given in the standard [25] may be used, where the following was assumed:

- for networks from range I (1 kV < U ≤ 245 kV), S ≥ 1000 kV/µs

m

- for networks from range II (U > 245 kV), S = 2000 kV/µs

m

Reliable verification of the correctness of the calculation of distance L (10) can be

obtained using formula (11). The U value calculated on the basis of this formula
rp

should meet the following relation (15):

BIL/Ks > Urp (15)

Note: The results of calculations of the representative FFO overvoltage levels

according to formulas (8) and (11) are simplified calculations and should not constitute
the basis for a comprehensive approach to the problem of determining voltage levels
U for the newly designed substation. Examples of a holistic approach in this respect
rp

are given in Appendix G “Example applications of the insulation coordination

procedure”, in the standard [2], for different voltage levels and equipment installed in
the substation.

Very fast front overvoltages VFFO. Such overvoltages are related to the operation of
disconnectors and the occurrence of GIS emergency conditions. For these
overvoltages, the voltage representative for power networks of up to 800 kV is not
determined.

Note: The effectiveness of VFFO overvoltage protection of equipment by means of

surge arresters is low.

22.2 Set of withstand voltages

Coordination withstand voltage U is determined based on the lowest value of the

cw

withstand voltage meeting the criterion of correct operation in relation to the level of
representative overvoltages determined based on operating conditions. The voltage U cw

is calculated by multiplying the representative overvoltage value by the coordination

factor Kc.

Ucw = Kc X Urp (16)

K values result not only from the network analysis but also from the selected
c

insulation coordination procedure (deterministic or statistical) [2].

Required withstand voltage Urw. Determination of this voltage requires taking into
account the operating conditions in order to meet the criterion of correct operation.
The correction factor at the altitude ASL of K and the safety factor Ks shall be taken into
a

account. Whereas Poland is a lowland country with an average elevation above sea

37
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

level of 173 m and taking into account the result of the calculations based on formula
(14) in [2], it can be assumed that:

Ka = 1 (17)

The safety factor K takes into account the difference between the laboratory test
s

conditions of the insulation and the actual operating conditions of the device. The
value of K = 1.15 is assumed for internal insulation, for external insulation it is
s

recommended to assume K = 1.05:s

Ks = 1,15 or Ks = 1.05 (18)

Therefore:

Urw = Ucw x Ks (19)

Based on the factors given in Tables 1 and 2 [2], the rated withstand voltages for the
analyzed set of voltages and overvoltages are determined and, consequently, the rated
insulation level is selected.

Calculation examples of insulation coordination for voltage ranges I and II of power

networks and for networks with a rated voltage of 6–36 kV are presented in Appendix
G to the standard [2]. However, the standard [18] specifies the principles of
coordination of low voltage electrical equipment.

Note: The sources of overvoltage and the ranges of overvoltage values in the power
network between phase and earth are presented in the Table in Figure 14 [4].

23. Selection of standardized rated insulation levels

The selection of standardized insulation levels is made in the following three basic
steps:

23.1. Selection of surge arresters for network conditions and determination of

representative overvoltages

Determination of the level of overvoltages at specific points in the network, for

example at the line entrance to the substation, may be a problem. The summary
information shown in Fig. 1 in the standard [2] can be used to estimate the level of
overvoltages, as well as information from Appendix A in the standard [2] where
overvoltage values assigned to network situations are given. This also applies to the
data in the Table in Fig. 14 in the standard [4].
If large substations are designed, such an approach may not be sufficient, then the
substation should be modeled, for example, using the EMTP software, taking into
account the selection of the substation instrumentation and busing method.

23.1.1. The continuous working voltage of surge arresters connected to the network
working conductors is selected according to the following formulas:

38
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

 for surge arresters in networks with a rated voltage of 110–400 kV:

where: β = 1.05 – factor taking into account the impact of higher harmonics

 for surge arresters in networks with a rated voltage of 6 – 30 kV:

Uc > Us (21)

23.1.2. The rated voltage of surge arresters is determined using the following
formulas:

Ur > 1.25 x Uc (22)

Table 9
Earth-fault factor value

Rated network voltage Un kV 110 220 400

Highest network voltage Us kV 123 245 420
Factor k - 1.4 1.3
* values for arresters installed for protection of unit transformers should
be calculated individually

Basic technical data of surge arresters connected to working conductors in power

networks with a rated voltage of 6–400 kV are presented in Tables 1 and 6.

23.1.3. Representative overvoltages Urp are determined for selected surge arresters
based on catalog data.In substations with a rated voltage of 6–400 kV, representative
lightning impulse overvoltages reach the values calculated on the basis of formulas (8)
and (11) and specified in Appendix E to the standard [2]. However, representative
switching impulse overvoltages assume the value of

Urps(400kV) = Ups(1 or 2 kA 30/< 100ps) (24)

39
 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

23.2. Selection of standardized values of lightning impulse withstand voltages Uwl

and switching impulse withstand voltages Uws. Selection of standardized
insulation level.

The values of standardized impulse and switching withstand voltages are selected on
the basis of the list given in Tables 10 and 11, being extracts from Tables 2 and 3 of
the standard [1], respectively, as the closest values equal to or greater than those
calculated in the course of the procedure in accordance with point 22.
The standardized insulation level is selected according to Tables 10 and 11.

Table 10
Standardized insulation levels of range I (1 kV < Um ≤ 245 kV)

Highest device voltage Standardized short-duration rated Standardized rated lightning

Um power frequency withstand voltage impulse withstand voltage kV
kV (RMS) kV (RMS value) (peak value)
40
7.2 20
(60)
60
12 28 (75)
95
75
17.5 38
(95)

40
PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

Highest device voltage Standardized short-duration rated Standardized rated lightning

Um power frequency withstand voltage impulse withstand voltage
kV (RMS) kV (RMS value) kV (peak value)

95
24 50
(125)
145
36 70
(170)
(185) (450)
123
230 550
275 650
325 750
245 360 850
(395) (950)
460 1050
Note: Recommended values are marked in brackets

Table 11
Standardized insulation levels of range II (U > 245 kV) m

Highest device voltage Standardized rated Standardized rated

Um switching impulse lightning impulse
kV (RMS) withstand voltage withstand voltage
kV (peak value) kV (peak value)
Phase-to-earth

1,050
850
1,175
1,175
420 950
1,300
1,300
(1,050)
(1,425)
1,675
1,300
1,800
1,800
800 1,425
1,950
1,950
1,550
2,100

Note: Recommended values are marked in brackets.

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 PSE S.A. Principles of overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of lines and substations

PART VI — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

24. Ranges of soil resistivity changes in Poland

24.1 Table 12 [32] presents typical values of soil resistivity ῤ in Poland. They may
only be the basis for preliminary estimation of the substation earthing system
parameters and may not replace field resistivity measurements.

24.2 It should be noted that at the stage of designing the substation earthing system,
the soil resistivity measurements should be performed in the period when the highest
possible values occur (i.e. when the soil moisture content is low). The period during
which such measurements should be performed should not be less than two days after
long-term precipitation in the season with the highest average temperatures.

24.3 It is not allowed to use chemical agents reducing the soil resistivity.

Table 12
Ranges of soil resistivity changes

Resistivity ῤ [Ωm]
SOIL TYPE
Average value Highest value
Clays, heavy loam, heavy silt loam, loam, peaty and
organic soils, bog soils, humus soils (black soils and
alluvial soils), 40 200
Sandy loam, silt loam, silts, podzolic and brown soils
100 260
made of glacial clays as well as clay and silty sands
Loamy and silty sand, sand and gravel mix, podzolic
soils made of weakly loamy sands. 200 600
Sands, gravels, podzolic soils made of gravels and 400 3,000
loose sands
Dry sands and gravels (groundwater table at a depth
greater than 3 m). 1,000 5,000

42