Chapter 3 Grid Connectivity Standards

CEA's Standards for Grid Connectivity

Chapter-3

GRID CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

1. Transmission System Planning and Design :

i. The Transmission Licensee shall Plan and design the inter-state/ intra-state transmission
system based on the following.

a. CEA "Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria: 1994".

b. CEA "Report of the Committee for Updating the Best Practices in Transmission System in
the Country: 2002".

c. Latest issue of CBIP Manuals on

i. Layout of sub-stations

ii. Transmission Line Tower

d. Grid Code

e. State Grid Code

ii. The integrity of the regional grid is not affected under various operating conditions
including stipulated system contingencies.

a. All the elements of the transmission system, i.e. overhead lines, cables and sub-stations,
etc., shall be designed taking into account the specified factors of safety in regard to
electrical, mechanical and civil aspects in the respective standards.

b. Optimal system shall be chosen after load flow, short-circuit and , stability studies of
various transmission alternatives taking into account the following aspects:

a. Projected dispatch scenario of operation to study conditions of possible maximum and

b. Optimization of transmission cost and losses

c. Right-of-way consideration

d. Optimal utilization of energy resources

e. Grid operation requirements in normal conditions and in contingencies

iii. The system designed shall not impinge on the rating of sub-station equipment in any other
sub-station in the vicinity.

2. Overhead Transmission Lines :

i. The transmission line proposed to be connected/connected shall comply with the following : -

a. Tower design shall be based on the technical standards for construction of electrical lines
specified by the Authority under section 73 (b) of the Act.
Chapter 3 Grid Connectivity Standards

b. Foundation design of the tower shall be developed by the transmission licensee for each
soil category as well as river crossing towers along the route length of the transmission
line.

c. Use of multi-circuit and narrow based towers shall be used wherever right-of-way
constraints exist.

d. Each type of tower shall be type tested for mechanical strength.

ii. Clearance from Power Telecom Coordination Committee (PTCC) shall be obtained.

3. EHV/HV Underground Cables :

i. The cable proposed to be connected to the system shall comply with the following

a. Shall be of XLPE (Cross linked Poly Ethylene) type corresponding to IS -7098

(Any alternative type of cable developed in due course with same or better performance
may be employed after taking clearance from the Authority).

b. The cable conductor shall be of adequate size considering Continuous current, short-
circuit current, voltage drop etc and shall correspond to IS - 8130
c. Cables shall be provided with suitable sheathing, armoring and screening such that these
have the requisite mechanical strength and flexibility to withstand the stresses during
handling and laying into ducts / trenches.

d. Prior permission shall be obtained from the appropriate authority for digging trenches and
precautions shall be taken to prevent accidents and to preclude accidental cutting of
communication cables, other power cables, water, gas and sewage lines in accordance
with the provisions of "Part-VIII of the Act".

e. The route maps shall be kept at the substation and markers shall be fixed to trace the
cables.

f. Road crossing shall be carried out by providing culverts, Hume pipes or Gl pipes.

g. Jointing and termination shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant standards.

ii. Clearance from Power Telecom Coordination Committee shall be obtained.

4. Sub-Stations :

Planning and design of sub stations shall be based on the following :

i. Security of supply, extendibility, maintainability and operational flexibility

iii. Protection from direct lightning stroke.

iv. Switching Scheme:-

a. 765 kV sub-station : Double Bus Double Breaker 400 kV sub-station : One and a half
breaker scheme or double main and transfer bus bar scheme.

b. 220 kV sub-station : Double Main and Transfer Scheme or Double Main with breaker by-
pass scheme.
Chapter 3 Grid Connectivity Standards

c. 132 kV sub-station : Main and Transfer Scheme.

d. Below 132 kV : as decided by the licensee.

v. All new EHT Circuit Breakers shall be of SF6 type.

(Any alternative type of circuit breaker developed in due course with same or better
performance may be employed after taking clearance from the Authority).

Pre insertion Resistors shall be used for 420 kV and 800 kV circuit breakers to control
switching surges.

vi. Isolators shall be pneumatic or motor operated.

viii. Inter-Connecting Transformers shall be provided with On Load Tap Changers (OLTC).

ix. The Control Room shall be extensible. Operation of Circuit breakers, OLTCs, Isolators
(220KV and above), shall be possible from the Local panels as well as Panels in the control
room Necessary inter locks shall be provided to meet these requirements.

x. All sub-station structures shall be of lattice steel, protected against corrosion by hot dip
galvanization. Lightning masts shall be designed for diagonal wind condition. The structures
shall conform to IEC 865, IS-875, IS-806, IS-802 and IS-800.

xi. Electrical, mechanical and civil designs shall be standardized to the extent possible. Where
standards developed by CTU/STU are available, the same may be adopted at the option of
the transmission licensee.

xii. Power Supply to Sub-Station Auxiliaries :

a. AC supply :

Two HT supplies shall be arranged from independent sources. One of the two HT
supplies shall be standby to the other. In addition, a Diesel Generating set of suitable
capacity shall also be provided.

b. DC Supply (Applicable to new sub-stations)

There shall be two sets of 220V batteries, each equipped with its own charger for
substations of 220 kV and above. Each battery shall be of adequate capacity to meet the
sub-station requirements. The batteries shall operate in parallel and one being stand by
to the other. Facility for changing the duty of the batteries from main to stand by and vice
versa shall be made. There shall be two sets of 50V batteries (one being stand by to the
other) for PLCC System.

For sub-stations of 132 KV and below, one set of battery each may be provided.

xiii. For high current, XLPE cables shall be employed., However for LV / MV systems PVC Cables
corresponding to IS-1554 could be employed at the discretion of the Transmission Licensees.
The cables shall normally be laid in trenches. For buried cables, suitable protection shall be
provided.
xiv. Reliable (PLCC or higher quality) communication link shall be provided on all EHT lines for
voice, Fax, protection, telemetry and SCADA. High accuracy standard coupling shall be
provided for this purpose.

xv. Sub-Station Grounding shall be done in accordance with IEEE-80.

xvi. The size and number of Interconnecting transformers shall be selected such that outage of
one ICT would not overload the remaining ICTs or the underlying system.

xvii. The stuck breaker condition in the sub-station shall cause disruption of not more than four
feeders in 132kV or 220kV system, more than two feeders in 400kV and more than one
feeder in 765kV system.

xviii. In the sub-stations of 220 kV and higher voltage, the Control Room, PLCC Room, Relay
Testing Room and Electronic Laboratory shall be air-conditioned.

5. Earth Fault Factor :

In the event of a point in EHT system of a transmission licensee being earthed, the Earth Fault Factor
shall be less than 1.4.

6. Electromagnetic Compatibility :

A line or equipment in the transmission system shall not generate excessive electromagnetic field and
the Radio Interference Voltage (RIV) shall be within the permissible limits as per relevant standards.

7. Insulation Coordination:

i. For-new connections, the CTU / STU/Transmission Licensee shall inform the transmission
users seeking connectivity, the Basic Insulation Levels, in the part of transmission system and
important parameters of the equipment and ratings of surge arresters in its system adjacent
to the connection point.

ii. The transmission licensee and users seeking connectivity shall furnish to the CTU / STU, the
Basic Insulation Level of the proposed system/ important items of equipment and the rating of
surge arresters adjacent to the connection site,

iii. The CTU / STU/ transmission licensee shall determine the ratings of the surge arresters to be
installed at the Connection Site.

iv. Requisite insulation coordination shall be done by CTU / STU/ Transmission Licensee.

8. Grid Standards :

The transmission utility, transmission licensee and load dispatch center shall comply with Central
Electricity Authority's Grid Standards.