High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests of high-voltage/low-voltage prefabricated substations

IEC TR 62271-312:2021(E) refers to high-voltage / low-voltage prefabricated substations (hereinafter prefabricated substations) as specified in IEC 62271-202:2014.
This document, among other options as agreed between manufacturer and user, can be used for the transferability of type tests performed on one or more prefabricated substations with a defined set of ratings and arrangement of components to another prefabricated substation with a different set of ratings or different arrangement of components. It supports the selection of appropriate representative test objects for that purpose in order to optimize the type testing procedure for a consistent conformity assessment.
This document utilises a combination of sound technical and physical principles, manufacturer and user experience and mutually agreed upon methods of calculation to establish pragmatic guidance for the transferability of type test results, covering various design and rating aspects.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
04-Jan-2021
Technical Committee
Current Stage
PPUB - Publication issued
Start Date
05-Jan-2021
Completion Date
21-Jan-2021
Ref Project
Technical report
IEC TR 62271-312:2021 - High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests of high-voltage/low-voltage prefabricated substations
English language
61 pages
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IEC TR 62271-312 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-01
TECHNICAL
REPORT
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inside
High-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests of high-voltage/
low-voltage prefabricated substations

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IEC TR 62271-312 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-01
TECHNICAL
REPORT
colour
inside
High-voltage switchgear and controlgear –

Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests of high-voltage/

low-voltage prefabricated substations

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.130.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-9228-0

– 2 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Use of transferability criteria . 11
4.1 General . 11
4.2 Design parameters for transferability criteria . 12
4.3 Use of calculations . 12
4.3.1 General . 12
4.3.2 Temperature rise calculations . 13
4.3.3 Electric field calculations . 13
4.3.4 Electromagnetic field calculations . 13
4.3.5 Mechanical stress calculations. 13
4.3.6 Short-circuit current calculations . 13
4.3.7 Internal arc calculations . 14
4.4 Information needed for transferability of type test results . 14
5 Application of transferability criteria . 15
5.1 General . 15
5.2 Temperature rise tests . 15
5.3 Dielectric tests . 16
5.4 Electromagnetic field tests . 17
5.5 Mechanical tests . 19
5.6 Short-time withstand current and peak withstand current tests . 21
5.7 Internal arc tests . 22
6 Transferability of type test reports . 24
6.1 General . 24
6.2 Transferability of a type test report to another prefabricated substation
(situation a)) . 24
6.3 Validation of a substation design by existing type test reports (situation b)) . 25
6.4 Validation of a design modification (situation c)) . 26
Annex A (informative) Rationale for the transferability criteria . 27
A.1 General . 27
A.2 Temperature rise . 27
A.2.1 Layout and enclosure . 27
A.2.2 Ventilation openings (items 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 of Table 2) . 30
A.2.3 Distances between ventilation openings and power transformer (items 3
and 5 of Table 2) . 30
A.2.4 Clearance between low-voltage-switchgear and controlgear and the
power transformer (item 4 of Table 2) . 32
A.2.5 Power transformer insulation type (item 6 of Table 2) . 32
A.2.6 Power transformer total losses (item 7 of Table 2) . 32
A.2.7 Current of the low-voltage circuit (items 8 and 9 of Table 2) . 32
A.3 Dielectric . 33
A.3.1 General . 33
A.3.2 Clearances (items 2 and 3 of Table 3) . 33
A.3.3 Insulating supports and material (items 4 and 5 of Table 3) . 33
A.3.4 Live parts (items 6 and 7 of Table 3) . 33

A.4 Electromagnetic field . 34
A.4.1 General . 34
A.4.2 Substation layout and distance from components to external surfaces of
the enclosure (items 1 and 2 of Table 4) . 34
A.4.3 Rated voltages (item 3 of Table 4) . 36
A.4.4 Rated normal currents (item 4 of Table 4) . 36
A.4.5 Rated frequency (item 5 of Table 4) . 37
A.4.6 Permeability and conductivity of the enclosure material(s) (items 6 and
12 of Table 4) . 37
A.4.7 Interconnections (items 7, 8 and 9 of Table 4) . 38
A.4.8 Power transformer type of insulation (item 10 of Table 4) . 39
A.4.9 Distance between main circuit phases of the low-voltage switchgear and
controlgear (item 11 of Table 4) . 40
A.5 Mechanical stress . 40
A.5.1 General . 40
A.5.2 Common design parameters to be assessed for the key components . 40
A.5.3 Considerations for different enclosure materials, fasteners and

reinforcements (items 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Table 5) . 42
A.6 Short-time withstand current and peak withstand current . 43
A.6.1 General . 43
A.6.2 Rated short-time and peak currents (items 1 and 2 of Table 6) . 43
A.6.3 Rated duration of short-circuit (item 3 of Table 6) . 43
A.6.4 Centre distance between phase conductors (item 4 of Table 6) . 43
A.6.5 Conductors (items 5, 9 and 11 of Table 6) . 43
A.6.6 Insulating conductor supports (items 6, 7 and 8 of Table 6) . 44
A.6.7 Type of high-voltage and low-voltage terminations (item 10 of Table 6) . 44
A.6.8 Temperature class of insulating material in contact with conductors
(item 12 of Table 6) . 44
A.7 Internal arc . 44
A.7.1 General . 44
A.7.2 Rated arc fault current, arc fault peak current and arc fault duration
(items 1 and 2 of Table 7) . 45
A.7.3 High-voltage switchgear family (item 3 of Table 7) . 45
A.7.4 Layout of the prefabricated substation (item 4 of Table 7) . 46
A.7.5 Expansion volumes (items 5, 6 and 7 of Table 7) . 46
A.7.6 Cross-section of ventilation openings (item 8 of Table 7) . 51
A.7.7 Design, position, cross-section of the cooling device(s) and gas flow
(item 9 of Table 7) . 51
A.7.8 Distances between high-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly
and the prefabricated substation enclosure (walls and roof) (item 10 of
Table 7) . 53
A.7.9 Mechanical strength of the enclosure (item 11 of Table 7) . 54
A.7.10 The shortest path length of hot gases in the last compartment to the
closest ventilation opening before leaving the substation (item 12 of
Table 7) . 54
A.7.11 Type of high-voltage interconnection and electrical protection of the
circuit (items 13 and 14 of Table 7) . 54
Annex B (informative) Collection of design parameters for the assessment of
transferability of type test results . 56
B.1 General . 56
B.2 Information needed for the assessment of the temperature-rise test . 56
B.3 Information needed for the assessment of the dielectric test . 57

– 4 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
B.4 Information needed for the assessment of the electromagnetic field test . 58
B.5 Information needed for the assessment of the mechanical stress test . 59
B.6 Information needed for the assessment of the short-circuit current test . 59
B.7 Information needed for the assessment of the internal arc test . 60
Bibliography . 61

Figure 1 – Transferability of one type test report . 25
Figure 2 – Validation of a prefabricated substation by existing test reports . 26
Figure A.1 – Different examples of non-walk-in type-tested prefabricated substation

and related prefabricated substation under consideration . 28
Figure A.2 – Different examples of walk-in type-tested prefabricated substation and
related prefabricated substation under consideration . 29
Figure A.3 – Types of ventilation opening designs . 30
Figure A.4 – Distance from air inlet and air outlet ventilation openings . 31
Figure A.5 – Difference in height between power transformer and air outlet ventilation
openings . 31
Figure A.6 – Clearance between low-voltage-switchgear and controlgear and the

power transformer . 32
Figure A.7 – Prefabricated substation not acceptable alternative layouts . 35
Figure A.8 – Distances from main components to external surfaces of the enclosure . 36
Figure A.9 – Frequency influence on magnetic field . 37
Figure A.10 – Magnetic field behaviour under shielded technologies . 37
Figure A.11 – Example of magnetic field for different distributions of phase currents in
a three-phase interconnection having the same geometry and number of cables per
phase . 39
Figure A.12 – Examples of different door designs . 41
Figure A.13 – Examples of different roof designs . 41
Figure A.14 – Different size of prefabricated substations with same layout . 46
Figure A.15 – Gas flow in a non-walk-in type and walk-in type prefabricated

substations with separate high-voltage switchgear compartment . 48
Figure A.16 – Gas flow in a non-walk-in type and walk-in type prefabricated
substations without separate high-voltage switchgear compartment . 48
Figure A.17 – Gas flow in a walk-in type prefabricated substation with high-voltage
switchgear compartment without gas flow cooling device . 49
Figure A.18 – Gas flow in a walk-in type prefabricated substation with high-voltage
switchgear compartment and high-voltage switchgear and controlgear with integrated
gas flow cooling device . 49
Figure A.19 – Gas flow in a walk-in type prefabricated substation and high-voltage
switchgear and controlgear with integrated gas flow cooling device without separate

high-voltage switchgear compartment . 50
Figure A.20 – Transferability according to volume-criteria items 5, 6 and 7 of Table 7 . 51
Figure A.21 – Layers with different transmittance for a multi-layer gas flow cooling
device . 52
Figure A.22 – Top view of a prefabricated substation design with different gas flow
cooling device arrangements . 53
Figure A.23 – Top view of one basic substation design with different positions of high-
voltage switchgear and controlgear within the high-voltage switchgear compartment . 53
Figure A.24 – Prefabricated substations with different length of hot gases flow path
with regard to ventilation openings . 54

Table 1 – Examples of design parameters. 12
Table 2 – Transferability criteria for temperature rise performance . 15
Table 3 – Transferability criteria for dielectric withstand performance . 17
Table 4 – Transferability criteria for electromagnetic field performance . 18
Table 5 – Transferability criteria for the mechanical strength of the enclosure . 19
Table 6 – Transferability criteria for short-time and peak withstand current performance . 21
Table 7 – Transferability criteria for internal arc fault withstand performance . 23
Table A.1 – Material thermal conductivity . 29
Table B.1 – Information needed for the assessment of temperature-rise test . 56
Table B.2 – Information needed for the assessment of dielectric test . 58
Table B.3 – Information needed for the assessment of electromagnetic field test . 58
Table B.4 – Information needed for the assessment of mechanical test. 59
Table B.5 – Information needed for the assessment of short-circuit current test . 60
Table B.6 – Information needed for the assessment of internal arc test . 60

– 6 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR AND CONTROLGEAR –

Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests
of high-voltage/low-voltage prefabricated substations

FOREWORD
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a Technical Report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC TR 62271-312, which is a Technical Report, has been prepared by subcommittee 17C:
Assemblies, of IEC technical committee 17: High-voltage switchgear and controlgear.
The text of this Technical Report is based on the following documents:
Draft TR Report on voting
17C/737/DTR 17C/753B/RVDTR
Full information on the voting for the approval of this Technical Report can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.

This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 62271 series, published under the general title High-voltage
switchgear and controlgear, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

– 8 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR AND CONTROLGEAR –

Part 312: Guidance for the transferability of type tests
of high-voltage/low-voltage prefabricated substations

1 Scope
This document refers to high-voltage / low-voltage prefabricated substations (hereinafter
prefabricated substations) as specified in IEC 62271-202:2014.
This document, among other options as agreed between manufacturer and user, can be used
for the transferability of type tests performed on one or more prefabricated substations with a
defined set of ratings and arrangement of components to another prefabricated substation with
a different set of ratings or different arrangement of components. It supports the selection of
appropriate representative test objects for that purpose in order to optimize the type testing
procedure for a consistent conformity assessment.
This document utilises a combination of sound technical and physical principles, manufacturer
and user experience and mutually agreed upon methods of calculation to establish pragmatic
guidance for the transferability of type test results, covering various design and rating aspects.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60050-441:1984, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 441: Switchgear,
controlgear and fuses
IEC 60050-441:1984/AMD1:2000
IEC 60076-1:2011, Power transformers – Part 1: General
IEC 60076-2, Power transformers – Part 2: Temperature rise for liquid-immersed transformers
IEC 60076-7, Power transformers – Part 7: Loading guide for mineral-oil-immersed power
transformers
IEC 60076-11, Power transformers – Part 11: Dry-type transformers
IEC 60076-12, Power transformers – Part 12: Loading guide for dry-type power transformers
IEC 60282-1:2020, High-voltage fuses – Part 1: Current-limiting fuses
IEC 61439-1:2020, Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies – Part 1: General rules
IEC 62271-1:2017, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 1: Common specifications
for alternating current switchgear and controlgear
IEC 62271-200:2011, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 200: AC metal-enclosed
switchgear and controlgear for rated voltages above 1 kV and up to and including 52 kV

IEC 62271-202:2014, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 202: High-voltage/low-
voltage prefabricated substation
IEC TR 62271-208:2009, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 208: Methods to
quantify the steady state, power-frequency electromagnetic fields generated by HV switchgear
assemblies and HV/LV prefabricated substations
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-441,
IEC 62271-202 and the following apply.
NOTE Some standard terms and definitions are recalled here for ease of reference.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
prefabricated substation
prefabricated and type-tested assembly comprising an enclosure containing in general power
transformers, high-voltage and low-voltage switchgear and controlgear, high-voltage and low-
voltage interconnections, auxiliary equipment and circuits
Note 1 to entry: The term type-tested assembly includes prefabricated substations verified based on the
transferability of type test results in accordance with this document.
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.101, modified – New Note 1 to entry.]
3.2
prefabricated substation under consideration
prefabricated substation being verified based on the transferability of type test results in
accordance with this document
3.3
component
essential part of the prefabricated substation, which serves one or several specific functions
Note 1 to entry: Examples of components include power transformer, high-voltage switchgear and controlgear, low-
voltage switchgear and controlgear, etc.
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.105, modified – Addition of "power" in Note 1 to entry.]
3.4
enclosure
part of a prefabricated substation providing protection against external influences to the
components and a specified degree of protection for operators and the general public with
respect to approach to, or contact with, live parts and against contact with moving parts
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.103, modified – Replacing “substation” by “components" in
the definition.]
3.5
class of enclosure
difference of temperature rise between the power transformer in the enclosure and the same
power transformer outside the enclosure at normal operating conditions

– 10 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.112, modified – In the definition, "power" was added,
"normal service conditions as defined in 2.1" was replaced by "normal operating condition", and
the note was deleted.]
3.6
compartment
part of a prefabricated substation enclosed except for openings necessary for interconnection,
control or ventilation
Note 1 to entry: A compartment can be designated by the component contained therein, for example, power
transformer, high-voltage switchgear and controlgear, low-voltage switchgear and controlgear respectively.
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.104, modified – In Note 1 to entry, addition of "power".]
3.7
prefabricated substation layout
three-dimensional spatial arrangement of main components, covers, doors, ventilation openings
and compartments, if any
Note 1 to entry: Relative clearances and distances from main components to one another and to the enclosure can
vary.
3.8
high-voltage switchgear compartment
compartment inside the prefabricated substation where the high-voltage switchgear and
controlgear or high-voltage electrical protection of the circuit is installed
3.9
switchgear and controlgear
general term covering switching devices and their combination with associated control,
measuring, protective and regulating equipment, also assemblies of such devices and
equipment with associated interconnections, accessories, enclosures and supporting structures
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-11-01]
3.10
family of high-voltage switchgear and controlgear
functional units designed to be physically combined in assemblies and providing a range of
ratings and characteristics (e.g. current, voltage, degree of protection)
[SOURCE: IEC TR 62271-307:2015, 2.102, modified – Addition of "high-voltage" in the term.]
3.11
main circuit
all conductive parts of a prefabricated substation included in a circuit which is intended to
transmit electrical energy
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.107]
3.12
high-voltage interconnection
electrical connection between the terminals of the high-voltage switchgear and controlgear and
the high-voltage terminals of the power transformer
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.105.1, modified – Replacing "high-voltage/low-voltage
power transformer" by “power transformer” in the definition.]

3.13
low-voltage interconnection
electrical connection between the low-voltage terminals of the power transformer and the
incoming terminals of the low-voltage switchgear and controlgear
[SOURCE: IEC 62271-202:2014, 3.105.2, modified – Replacing "high-voltage/low-voltage
power transformer" by “power transformer” in the definition.]
3.14
test object
item submitted to a test, including any accessories, unless otherwise specified
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-151:2001, 151-16-28]
3.15
transferability criteria
principle for evaluating based on the design parameters, which can be applied to validate the
performance of an untested prefabricated substation based on the positive results of a test
performed on another prefabricated substation for a specific characteristic
4 Use of transferability criteria
4.1 General
Because of the variety of types of prefabricated substations, size of enclosures, layout and
different types of components, it is neither practical nor affordable to perform type tests with all
the possible variations and combinations. Therefore, the performance of a particular
prefabricated substation can be evaluated with reference to type test reports of other
prefabricated substation(s). This document gives support for the transferability of type test
results concerning the following characteristics according to 6.1 of IEC 62271-202:2014:
– temperature rise;
– dielectric;
– electromagnetic field;
– mechanical;
– short-circuit; and
– internal arc.
Subclauses 5.2 to 5.7 provide, for each kind of characteristic, a non-exhaustive list of design
parameters, which should be analysed for the transferability of type test results.
The analysis should be based on sound technical and physical principles and may be supported
by calculations, if applicable.
For each characteristic, the design parameters of the prefabricated substation under
consideration, listed in the respective column of Table 2 to Table 7, should be compared with
the design parameters of the already type-tested prefabricated substation(s) by applying the
transferability criteria provided in the same tables. The affirmation of every transferability
criteria for a determined characteristic supports the type test results transferability from the
original prefabricated substation(s) to the prefabricated substation under consideration. The
transferability of the type test results of a particular characteristic does not imply immediate
acceptance of other characteristic(s), as each characteristic should be independently assessed.
For example, the affirmation of item 7 in Table 2 for transferability assessment of temperature
rise type test results reads: power transformer total losses of the prefabricated substation under
consideration should be equal or smaller than those of the type-tested prefabricated substation.

– 12 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
If any of the transferability criteria cannot be affirmed, further evidence e.g. by technical
arguments, calculation or simulation, or specific tests may be used and it can be subjected to
agreement between the manufacturer and the user. Calculations can only be applied in a
comparative sense as indicated in 4.3.
4.2 Design parameters for transferability criteria
Some ratings of a prefabricated substation are not linked to the parameters of specific main
components. For example, a layout change can significantly affect the performance of a
prefabricated substation characteristic.
The criteria for the transferability of type test results available for a prefabricated substation
depend on a number of design parameters such as the examples listed in Table 1. Every
prefabricated substation is characterized by its own set of design parameters.
The transferability of type test results of a component with regard to its particular product
standard is outside the scope of this document.
Table 1 – Examples of design parameters
Design parameter
Thermal conductivity of enclosure material (steel, reinforced concrete, polyester)
Insulation type of the power transformer (oil- or dry-type)
Effective cross-section of ventilation openings (inlet and outlet)
Degree of protection (IP code) of the enclosure
Distance from components incorporating the main circuits of a prefabricated substation to the enclosure
Mechanical strength of the enclosure roof material
Material of high voltage interconnections conductors
Design, position and cross-section area of gas flow cooling device(s)
NOTE This table includes examples only; it is not intended to be complete.

4.3 Use of calculations
4.3.1 General
For the purpose of this document, calculations and simulations may only be applied in a
comparative sense. Calculation results available for a type-tested prefabricated substation can
be used for validation and be compared with calculation results obtained for the prefabricated
substation under consideration. The comparison is always based on the design parameters and
the acceptance criteria provided in Table 2 to Table 7.
In many cases the performance of a given prefabricated substation, with respect to a particular
type test, cannot be evaluated by a single value of a design parameter due to the complexity of
the design. For example, the low-voltage interconnection layout can vary considerably along
the current path. Calculations have the potential to compare the respective design parameter
with spatial resolution supporting a comparison using technical arguments and expertise.
Depending on the type test and the particular design parameter, sometimes a simple model of
the relevant prefabricated substation can be sufficient using an analytical or empirical formula,
and sometimes a complete three-dimensional simulation model should be required using a
complex numerical tool provided that the results of the simulation tool are consistent and
repeatable.
The validation of software tools and calculation methods themselves is outside the scope of
this document. Some of these calculation methods are briefly mentioned below as examples.

4.3.2 Temperature rise calculations
The assessment procedure is applied to the prefabricated substation under consideration taking
into account the total losses generated inside the prefabricated substation, the layout, and the
area and mounting conditions of the enclosure walls and the effective area of the ventilation
openings. The air temperature inside the enclosure in various locations is the parameter to
compare.
For complex geometries, a comparison may be performed by thermal networks, where the whole
assembly with all components is divided into discrete elements built from heat generating
resistors and heat conducting and convection elements. Furthermore, more complex CFD tools
(computational fluid dynamics) or other techniques such as nodal tools may be applied requiring
a complete three-dimensional model of the prefabricated substation and main components.
IEC 61439-1 gives conditions for the verification of temperature rise by calculation and
IEC TR 60890 [1] provides calculation procedures for low voltage assemblies, which can also
be applied to a prefabricated substation while having due regard for the particular limitations of
this calculation method.
4.3.3 Electric field calculations
Since IEC 62271-202:2014 only requires dielectric type tests on interconnections between the
main components (i.e. interconnection between the high-voltage switchgear and controlgear
and the power transformer and interconnection between the power transformer and the low-
voltage switchgear and controlgear), the dielectric withstand performance of two prefabricated
substations may be assessed by an electric field simulation of both designs comparing the
resulting electric field strengths.
When the installation conditions can affect their dielectric withstand, finite element (FE) or finite
volume (FV) software tools exist, which allows the simulation of complex three-dimensional
geometries. It should be noted that this document does not provide information for the
extrapolation but only for the interpolation of design parameters, e.g. extending validity to higher
values of electric field strengths is not covered.
4.3.4 Electromagnetic field calculations
In case the reference prefabricated substation has been evaluated following the calculation
methodology described in IEC TR 62271-208, the same procedure should be applied to the
prefabricated substation under consideration in a comparative sense.
4.3.5 Mechanical stress calculations
The mathematical methods of calculation make provision for the full assessment in relation to
the mechanical withstand capability of the enclosure. Furthermore, national structural codes
and other local regulations may also make provision for the assessment in relation to the
mechanical withstand capability of the enclosure.
4.3.6 Short-circuit current calculations
This subclause may only be applied to the interconnection between the components, (i.e.
interconnection between the high-voltage switchgear and controlgear and the power
transformer and interconnection between the power transformer and the low-voltage switchgear
and controlgear) and the earthing circuit of the prefabricated substation.
___________
Numbers in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.

– 14 – IEC TR 62271-312:2021 © IEC 2021
With respect to the short-time and peak current withstand performance, guidance and
calculation formulas for bus-bar designs can be found in IEC 60865-1 [4] and IEC TR 60865-2
[5]. This includes the determination of mutual electromagnetic forces between phase conductors
and the resulting mechanical stresses, which may overstress conductors and damage
insulators. The mechanical stresses on conductors and forces on the supports may be assessed
through stress analysis programs, when applying the calculated electro-magnetic forces.
Additionally, a calculation of the thermal stress using I t can be done when the assessment
k k
is made for a lower I and higher t than those tested, considering that short-time withstand
k k
current (I ) and duration of short-circuit (t ) are in accordance with 4.5 and 4.7 of
k k
IEC 62271-202:2014.
4.3.7 Internal arc calculations
The assessment of the effects of an internal arc inside of a prefabricated substation may be
substantiated by pressure-rise calculations and hot gas flow simulations for the compartments,
exhausting ducts and pressure relief volumes [7, 8].
The calculations are able to provide the pressure-rise in the compartments under consideration.
They also provide parameters for the mechanical strength design of pressure relief device
elements, if any. An assessment of the strength of the enclosure walls under the pressure str
...

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