A New Approach for Sheath Voltage Limiters in Medium Voltage systems

The development of large-scale wind and photovoltaic parks raised new technical challenges regarding the bonding scheme designs of Medium Voltage (MV) underground network. Cross-bonding is incrementally implemented in MV cable systems as already done in High Voltage cable systems. As a result, Sheath Voltage Limiters (SVLs) accommodated in cross-bonded link-boxes are now introduced in MV networks. In this study a new approach is demonstrated on Sheath Voltage Limiters based on high energy low voltage short circuit type SPDs for MV systems, taking into advantage the minimum residual voltage and providing improved insulation coordination while maintaining lightning impulse withstand capabilities. Simulations with ATP/EMTP on different case studies analyze the coordination and the performance of the new proposed SVLs.