ANALYSIS AND CONTROL OF INRUSH CURRENT FOR A 33KV DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

B. Rajagopal Reddy, Md. Asif, Maanasa Devi Atluri

Abstract: Capacitor bank switching involves not only handling capacitive currents, but also the remnant/stored energies of capacitor banks, cables and overhead lines. The interruption of a capacitive current induces dielectric problems for the switching device as well as the connected power system. The high inrush currents can cause damage to the capacitive elements of the capacitors bank and may weld the contacts of the switch together. A computer model that represents a 33kV distribution system is simulated using PSCAD software for purpose of this study and evaluates the switching currents associated with the switching of shunt capacitor banks. Various methods (use of series reactor, synchronous closing and parallel-break switching) for controlling the inrush currents are studied and a comparative analysis is made. The paper highlights and suggests use of auxiliary breaks as a reliable passive mode of control.

Keywords: inrush currents, serier reactor, synchronous closing, parallel-break switching, shunt capacitor banks

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2015.0424003