to air‐insulated switchgear (AIS). This revolutionary technology was a key enabler for urbanization. Occupying only 10% of the volume required by the equivalent AIS, it allows flexible placement of substations within cities to supply safe and reliable power. Substations are no longer taking up acres of open spaces but can hide within buildings, underground, or on rooftops.
Although at first glance looking seemly uncomplicated, a closer examination reveals the engineering investment, the complexity in the variety of configurations, and the installation and testing effort found in a typical GIS installation. This handbook helps to decipher GIS technology, to present it in a clear and explanatory way, and gives a comprehensive overview of the subject, making it both interesting and indispensable for anyone with this technology. This includes those who want to start (or have already started) their career with manufacturers or end‐users of GIS. Descriptions of practical application examples, as well as operation and maintenance requirements, make the book equally interesting for switchgear operators and decision‐makers in energy policy. I also particularly recommend this book to students, as this book provides the most comprehensive overview of the technology currently available.
Today, our power transmission systems are subject to new requirements and far‐reaching changes, ushering in a new era of electrical grids and switchgear. On the one hand, an enormous flow of electricity to large megacities often has to cross several thousand kilometers, from the energy sources to the end‐user with transmission voltages of 1100–1200 kV having been established. Secondly, a large expansion of the transmission grid is required due to global plans for the extensive integration of new renewable energies into the electrical energy supply. Especially in the case of large‐scale (multi‐GW) offshore wind farms, the connection to the onshore grid will be made by means of HVDC. The increasing demand for HVDC technology requires the adaptation of gas‐insulated switchgear. Finally, the latest developments in the development and use of eco‐efficient GIS solutions and the integration of digital techniques in design and diagnostics are worthy of special mention. It combines a low‐carbon footprint, superior reliability, and low lifecycle costs in a flexible product layout. These topics are described in the new chapter of this second edition of the GIS Handbook, further increasing its interest for all those who want to get to know and follow current and new development trends.
Finally, I would like to add that I am proud to have been able to make a modest contribution to the work of this group of authors, who are well known and esteemed by myself and others in the field.
Uwe Riechert
Switchgear expert, Hitachi Energy Switzerland Ltd
Zurich, Switzerland, November 2021
Foreword Siemens Energy
Today, metal‐enclosed gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) is indispensable for safe and reliable power grids. The long experience of more than 50 years of worldwide operation in all climatic zones, onshore and offshore installations, speak for an excellent. GIS is mainly used where space is at a premium or environmental conditions significantly impact the reliability of insulators.
This means above all in urban and coastal areas, where load and the importance of reliability is increasing worldwide. The compact size in combination with modular functions offers a high degree of design diversity, enabling not only outdoor but also more easily indoor and underground installation with the least environmental impact. GIS also stands for more safety; the accessible points of live system parts can be reduced to a minimum. If the connections are realized with gas‐insulated lines (GIL) or power cables and without overhead lines, this can even become possible altogether. Today, GIS are available for AC and increasingly also for DC applications.
The GIS success is therefore well‐founded; GIS are made to ensure the best possible balance between design, materials used, maintenance effort, and maintenance intervals.
The development continues, on the way to a carbon‐free economy, alternative gases to SF6 without greenhouse effect have become more and more important in recent years and will be one of the main innovation drivers for the future. Climate neutrality is only achievable with greenhouse and F‐gas‐free technologies enabling electrical power grids with zero emission.
In addition, digital technologies entering including artificial intelligence enabling even higher reliability and more effective operations management.
I hope you enjoy finding all the latest information on GIS in one book, and I am sure that the book will help you to find answers to specific technical aspects and details.
Dr. Mark Kuschel
CTO High Voltage Gas‐insulated Switchgear
Siemens Energy, Switchgear Factory Berlin, Germany, 2021
Acknowledgements
This second edition of Gas‐Insulated Substations (GIS) is created by power engineering experts from the IEEE Power & Energy Society Substations Committee. In Working Group K10 GIS Book of the K0 GIS Subcommittee, more than 50 experts have contributed to this book with their knowledge and own practical experiences. For more than two years, since 2019, and at four working group meetings the content has been presented and discussed by the contributors. Many ideas have been added to this second edition GIS book to create a practical guide. This book is designed to help with the daily work of engineers in the planning, design, and erection of high‐voltage substations above 52 kV using GIS. Focus is given on practical information to find the best, most reliable, and economic solution for substations in the power network.
Thanks to authors and reviewers of the second edition GIS book. Thank you to the 20 authors of the 1st edition Arnaud Ficheux, Arun Arora, Charles Hand, Dave Lin, Dave Solhtalab, Devki Sharma, George Becker, Hermann Koch, James Massura, John Boggess, John Brunke, Jorge Márquez‐Sánchez, Noboru Fujimoto, Peter Grossmann, Pravakar Samanta, Ravi Dhara, Richard Jones, Venkatesh Minisandram, William Labos, and Xi Zhu. Thank you for 10 authors Coboyo Bodjona, Dave Giegel, Dave Mitchell, Dave Solthalab, George Becker, Hermann Koch, Maria Kosse, Pathik Patel, Richard Jones, and Xi Zhu and Aron Heck, and 7 coauthors Dirk Helbig, George Becker, Mark Kuschel, Peter Grossmann, Uwe Riechert, and Vipul Bhagat for their contribution of new text to the second edition.
Thank you to the many reviewers of text with their recommendations to improve the writing of the text, making it easier to read and understand. If you find something wrong, please contact the editor for improvement. Thank you to the 29 reviewers of the 1st edition text Arnaud Ficheux, Chuck Hand, Dave Giegel, Dave Solhtalab, David Lin, Devki Sharma, Richard Jones, Eduard Crockett, Ewald Warzecha, George Becker, Hermann Koch, James Massura, John Brunke, Linda Zhao, Markus Etter, Noboru Fujimoto, Patrick Fitzgerald, Peter Grossmann, Phil Bolin, Pravakar Samanta, Ravi Dhara, Ricardo Arredondo, Richard Jones, Scott Scharf, Shawn Lav, Toni Lin, Venkatesh Minisandram, and Xi Zhu.
After the 1st edition had been published some correction and editorial changes were needed to improve the text which was done by Arnaud Ficheux, Bala Kotharu, Coboyo Bodyona, Devki Sharma, Richard Jones, George Becker, Hermann Koch, James Massura, John Brunke, Michael Novev, Pablo Gonzales Toza, Pathik Patel, Patrick Fitzgerald, Pravakar Samanta, Ryan Stone, and Scott Scharf, thank you for your contribution.
The new text of the second edition was review by Arnaud Ficheux, Aron Heck, Bala Kotharu, Denis Steyn, Dirk Helbig, George Becker, Gerd Ottehenning, Hermann Koch, James Massura, John Brunke, Mark Kuschel, Michael Novev, Nick Matone, Pathik Patel, Patrick Fitzgerald, Petr Rudenko, Robert Lüscher, Ryan Stone, Scott Scharf, and Stefan Schedl, thank you for improving the text and eliminate failures.
Thank you to Siemens‐Energy, GE, Hitachi‐ABB, Mitsubishi, AZZ, Tech S Corp, Kinectrics, Power
