Gas Insulated Substations - Testing and Commissioning Tata Power Experience

Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) is becoming a necessity in urban areas around the world due to non-availability of land for conventional air insulated switchyards/switchgear. Lower maintenance costs and higher levels of safety are offsetting the high initial cost for these GIS. If good quality of equipment and workmanship are ensured during commissioning, GIS gives satisfactory performance all through its life. Usually a trouble free 20 to 25 years of service is ensured. After this, replacement of certain components and overhaul are required.

For trouble free long operational performance, most important aspects are accurate design, precise testing and commissioning of the GIS. Paper describes design features of Tata Power GIS installations, its experiences in design improvements and testing &commissioning of the GIS.

Tata Power has also gained expertise through their large experience in GIS for rendering services to other clients for GIS testing such as EHV testing, PD measurements, Control system for last twenty years. Paper also covers some of its experiences while rendering services to other utilities.