EE3701 HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

PART-A QUESTIONS

UNIT-1

1. Define lightning phenomenon.

 Lightning is a natural phenomenon in which charge accumulated in the colud is
discharged to ground or between clouds.
2. What is known as isokeraunic level?
 Isokerauniclevelisdefinedasthenumberofdaysinayearwhenthunderisheard
or recordedin particularlocation.
3. What is groud wire? Give it purpose
 Ground wire is a conductor run parallel and above to the main conductor of the
transmission line supported on the same tower and earthed at every equally and
regularly spaced towers
 Use: ground wire shields the power conductor from induced charges, from clouds as
well as from a lightning discharge.

4. What is counter poise wire? Give it uses.

 Counter poise wires are buried in the ground at a depth of 0.5 to 1m, runningparallel to
the transmission line conductors and connected to the lower legs. Wirelength maybe50
to 100mlong.

 Use: when the lightning stroke, incident on the tower, discharges first
through thetower to thegroundanddischarges throughthecounterpoise.

5. State the causes of over voltage in power system.

 Internal causes
 Switching surges
 Temporary overvoltages
 External causes
 Lightning

6. Mention the causes for internal over voltages and give their approximate magnitude and
frequency.
 Powerfrequencyoscillations(or)harmonics
 Switchingovervoltages.

7. Name the sources of switching surges.

 Opening and closing of switch gear.
 High natural frequency of system.
 Damped normal frequency voltage component.
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8. Whatarethetechniquestobeadoptedforcontrollingtheswitchingovervoltages?
 InEHVorUHVlines,weshouldcontroltheswitchingvoltageslessthan2.5
p.u.Thefollowingmeasures aretakentoreduceovervoltages:
 OneorMulti-stepenergizationoflines byinsertingresistors.
 Phasecontrolledclosingofcircuitbreakerwithpropersensors.
 Drainthetrappedchargesbeforereclosingofthelines.
 Usingshuntreactors.
 Byusinglightningarrestersorsurgediverters.

9. List out various schemes of protection against over voltages.

 Using ground wires
 Using ground rods
 Using protective devices like rod gap, expulsion and valve type arresters.

10. Mention the different kinds of over voltages and mention it’s magnitude?
 External over voltage: lightning (over voltage above 500KV)
 Internal over voltage: switching surge(300 to 765 K)

11. What is basic impulse level (BIL)?

Basic impulse level is a means to express the ability of the insulation system to withstand high
voltage surges.

12. Compare lightning and switching surges.

Switching surge Lightning surge

It is due to opening and closing of electrical The impulse transient wave due to lightning
equipment
Restriking of arc between the contacts It is unidirectional which reaches peak in 1-2
µs

13. What is stepped leader stroke?

 Under the influences of the electric field between the cloud and the ground, a very
faint, negatively charged channel called a "stepped leader" emerges from the storm
base and propagates toward the ground in a series of steps about 160 feet (50 meters)
in length and 1 microsecond (0.000001 seconds) in duration.

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14. What are meant by switching surges? Mention the approximate magnitude of switching
surges and their frequency.
 Switching transient is a short duration transient voltage produced due to sudden
opening and closing of a switch. The frequency is (100-1000 KHz)

15. Define surge impedance of a transmission line.

 The ratio of inductance and capacitance of transmission lines is called as surge
impedance of transmission lines. Zn = √L/C.

16. What is back flashover?

 When a direct lightning stroke occurs on a tower, the tower has to carry
hugeimpulse currents. If the tower footing resistance is considerable, the
potential of thetower rises to a large value, steeply with respect to the line
and consequently a flashover may take place along the insulator strings.
This is known as back flashover.

17. A transmission line of surge impedance 250 ohm is connected to a cable

ofsurge impedance 50 ohm at the other end, if a surge of 400 kV travels
along theline to the junction point, find the voltage build at the junction.
Z1=250Ω; Z2=50Ω;V=400kV
V1=[(Z2-Z1)/(Z1+Z2)]*V,
V1=[(25050)/(50+250)]*400V1=266.k

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 Unit-2
1. State paschen’s law.

V=f(pd)
The breakdown voltage of a uniform field gap is a unique function of theproduct
of gas pressure p and gap length d for a particular gas and electrodematerial.
Thisrelationisknown as paschen’slaw.

2. What are commercial liquid dielectrics and how are they different from pure liquid
dielectric?
Pure liquid: Which are chemically pure, structurally simple and do not contain any impurity
even in trace of 1 in 109 is called pure liquids.
Commercial liquids: which are chemically impure and contain mixtures of complex organic
molecules.
3. Define treeing and tracking.
Treeing can ultimately lead to the complete breakdown of the dielectric, resulting in failure of
the electrical system.
Tracking is the process of progressive deterioration of the insulation material of a solid
dielectric due to the formation of carbonaceous conductive paths on the surface of the
material.
4. Define timelag.

The time difference between the application of a voltage sufficient to

causebreakdownand theoccurrenceofbreakdownitselfiscalled the timelag.

5. Define statistical time lag and formative time lag.

Statistical timelag-Preionization,sizeofthegapandquantityofradiation
Formativetimelag–Mechanismoftheavalanchegrowthinthegap,transit time.

6. What is composite dielectric?

Different dielectric materials can be in parallel with each other, such as air or SF6 gas in
parallel with solid insulation or in series with one another. Such insulation systems are called
composite dielectrics.
7. Whatarethedifferentbreakdownmechanismsincompositedielectric?
a. Shorttermbreakdown
b. Longtermbreakdown

8. What is mean by townsend’s discharge? Explain its main features and give its
limitations.
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 The Townsend discharge is a gas ionisation process where an initially very small amount of
free electrons, accelerated by a sufficiently strong electric field, give rise to electrical
conduction through a gas by avalanche multiplication

9. What is mean by intrinsic strength of a solid dielectric?

When voltages are applied for very short time of the order of 10 -8 sec, theelectric
strength of a solid material increases rapidly to an upper limit. This iscalledas
intrinsicelectricstrength.

10. Givedifferentbreakdownmechanisminsoliddielectrics.
a. Intrinsicorionicbreakdown
b. Electromechanicalbreakdown
c. Failureduetotreeingandtracking
d. Thermalbreakdown
e. Electrochemicalbreakdown
f. Breakdownduetointernal charge

11. What is ionization by collision?

In the process of ionization by collision, a free electron collides with a neutral gas molecule
and gives rise to a new electron and a positive ion.
12. What are electronegative gasses? Give example.

Anelectronegativegasisoneinwhichtheelectronsgetattachedtoformnegativeion.O2
and H2O are strongly electronegative
13. Name the various mechanism of vacuum breakdown.
a. Particleexchangemechanism
b. Fieldemissionmechanism
c. Clump theory

14. Whatarethevarioustheoriesthatexplainbreakdownincommercialliquiddielectric?
a. Suspendedparticlemechanism
b. Cavitationandbubblemechanism
c. Stressedoilvolume mechanism

15. What are the requirements of the good solid dielectrics?

a. Lowdielectric loss
b. Highmechanicalstrength
c. Shouldbefreefromgaseousinclusions andmoisture
d. Resistanttothermalandchemicaldeterioration
16. Distinguish the term dielectric strength and breakdown voltage.
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 Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field a material can tolerate without
breakdown
 Breakdown voltage of an insulator is the minimum voltage required to break it down.

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 Unit-3
1. Draw the simple voltage doubler circuit.

2. What is tesla coil?

High frequency resonant transformer is the tesla coil. Tesla coil is a doubly tuned resonant
circuit.
3. Give any four components of multistage generator.
a. DCchargingset
b. Chargingresistors
c. Generatorcapacitorsandsparkgaps
d. Waveshapingresistorsandcapacitors
e. Triggeringsystem.
f. Voltagedividers
g. Gasinsulatedimpulsegenerator.

4. Give the specification of impulse voltage as per standards.

Standard Impulse Wave Shapes are specified by defining their rise of front time, fall or tail
time to 50% peak value, and the value of the peak voltage.
1.2/50 μs, 1000 kV wave represents an impulse voltage wave with a front time of 1.2μs,
fall time to 50% peak value of 50 μs, and a peak value of 1000 kV.
5. What is Deltarton circuit?

TheDeltatronorEngetroncircuitisasophisticatedcascadetransformer
HVDCgenerator circuit. It consists of series connection of transformers but do
not have anyiron core. These transformers are coupled by using series
capacitors Cs which is usedtocompensateforstrayinductanceof
transformers.CapacitorsCpisconnectedin paralleltocompensate
magnetizingcurrents.Thiscircuitisloadedbyaterminatingresistor (R).

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6. What is the need for HVDC generation?
 Electrostatic precipitators, particle accelerates in nuclear physics requires high
voltage DC for several kilovolts and even mega volts.
7. What is the need for generating high impulse currents?
 To test lightning arrestors or surge diverters which discharges the lightning
current safely.
8. What are the advantages of cascaded transformers over two winding
transformers.

 For higher voltage requirements, a single unit construction

becomes difficult andcostly due to insulation problems. Also
erection and transportation is difficult. Socascaded transformeris
preferred.

9. What are the advantages of series resonance circuit?

 It gives an output of pure sine wave.
 Power requirement is less.
 Simple and compact test arrangement.
 Cascading is also possible for very high voltages.
10. What is cascaded transformer?
 For higher voltage requirements, it is desired to cascade two or more
transformers depending upon the voltage requirements.
 With this the weight of whole unit is subdivided into single units and therefore
the erection and transportation becomes easier.
11. Draw the standard impulse waveform and mark the standard specifications.

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 According to Indian Standard specification the impulse voltage is defined as 1.2 / 50 µsec
and 1000 kV.
 Thus 1.2 / 50 µs , 1000 kV wave represents an impulse voltage wave with a front time of
1.2 µs, fall time to 50 % peak value of 50 µs and peak value of 1000 kV.
 The wave front time is specified as 1.25 times (t2 - t1)
 where t1 - Time to reach 10 % of peak, value.
 t2 - Time for the wave to reach to its 90 % of peak value.
 The tolerance allowed in the peak value is +/- 3 % .

12. Define the front and tail times of a impulse wave.

 Thus 1.2 / 50 µs , 1000 kV wave represents an impulse voltage wave with a
front time of 1.2 µs, fall time to 50 % peak value of 50 µs and peak value of
1000 kV.

Unit-4
1. Why is measurement of high voltages and high current necessary?

In industrial testing and research laboratories, it is essential to measure

thevoltages and currents accurately,ensuring perfect safety to the personnel
andequipment.
2. What arethemethodsavailablefor measuring dc voltages?
a. Seriesresistancemicroammeter
b. Resistancepotentialdivider
c. Generatingvoltmeter
d. Sphereandothersparkgaps
3. Whatarethemethodsavailableformeasuringacvoltagesofpowerfrequency?
a. Seriesimpedanceammeters
b. Potentialdividers
c. Potentialtransformers
d. Electrostaticvoltmeters
e. Spheregaps
4. Whatarethedifferenttechniquesforimpulsecurrentmeasurement?
a. Rogowskicoil
b. Magneticlinks
c. Hallgenerators
d. Faradaygenerator

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 e. Currenttransformer

5. Whatisgeneratingvoltmeter?

A generating voltmeter is a variable capacitor electrostatic voltage

generatorwhichgeneratescurrentproportionaltotheappliedexternalvoltage.Th
edevice is driven by an external synchronous or constant speed motor and
doesnot absorb poweror energyfromthe voltagemeasuringsource.

6. Whataretheadvantagesandlimitationsofgeneratingvoltmeter?

Advantages:(i)Nosourceloadingbythemeter
(ii) Nodirectconnectiontohighvoltageelectrode
(iii) Scaleislinearandextensionofrangeiseasy
(iv) Averyconvenientinstrumentforelectrostatic Devices.
Limitations:
(i) Theyrequirecalibration
(ii) Carefulconstructionisneededandiscumbersomeinstrumentr
equiring an auxiliarydrive
7. Whataretheadvantagesofcapacitancevoltagetransformers(CVT)?
a. Simple designandeasyinstallation
b. Can be used both as a voltage measuring device for meter and
relayingpurposes and also as a coupling condenser for power line
carrier communication andrelaying.
c. Frequency independentvoltagedistributionalong
elementsasagainstconventionalmagneticpotentialtransformerswhichr
equireadditionalinsulationdesign againstsurges.
d. Provides isolation between the high voltage terminal and low
voltagemetering.

8. StatethedisadvantagesofCVTmethodofmeasurement.
a. Voltageratioissusceptibletotemperaturevariations.
b. Inthepresenceofcapacitanceandchoke,theproblemofFerro-
resonanceoccursinpowersystem.
9. What are the different ways by which sphere gap can be arranged?

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 Spheregapscanbearrangedeither
(i)Verticallywithlowerspheregroundedor
(ii) horizontally with both sphere connected to the source voltage or one
spheregrounded.

In horizontally configurations, it is generally arranged such that bothspheres

are symmetrically at high voltage above the ground. The two shapes usedare
identicalin sizeand shape.

10. ListsomeadvantagesofFaradaygenerator.
 Noelectric connectionbetweenthesourceandthedevice.
 Nothermalproblems evenforlargecurrentsofseveralkA.
 NoinsulationproblemarisesforEHVsystem,becausesignaltransmissio
nisthrough opticalsystem.

11. Listthefactorsthatareinfluencingthepeakvoltagemeasurementusingspheregap.
a. Nearbyearthedobjects
b. Atmosphericconditionsandhumidity
c. Irradiation
d. Polarityandrisetimeofvoltagewaveform.
12. What is a trigatron gap?what are the function?

A trigatron gap consists of a high voltage spherical electrode of suitable

size,an earthed main electrode of spherical shape and a trigger electrode
through the mainelectrode.

13. What is Rogowski coil? Give the limitations and advantages.

 A Rogowski coil, named after Walter Rogowski, is an electrical device
for measuring alternating current (AC) or high-speed current pulses.
Advantages:
 Non-intrusive to the live conductor.
 Low inductance.
 Excellent linearity (Rogowski coils have no magnetic materials to saturate)
 No risk of secondary winding opening
 Easy temperature compensation

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  No need for increased secondary turns to keep a constant current output.

Unit-5
1. Whatisthenecessityofhighvoltage testing?
It is essential to ensure that the electrical equipment is capable of withstandingthe over
voltages that are met with in service. The over voltages may be either due tonatural
causes like lightning or system originated ones such as switching or
powerfrequencytransient voltages. Hence,testing forover voltagesisnecessary.
2. Write the standard atmospheric conditions for HV testing as per Indian standard.
Temperature: 270C
Pressure: 1013 millibars (or 760 torr)
Absolute humidity : 17 gm/m3
3. What are atmospheric correction factors and mention their influence in high voltage
testing?
 Air density correction factor.
 Humidity correction factor.
4. Define creepage distance.
It is the shortest distance on the contour of the external surface of the insulatorunit or
betweentwometalfittingsontheinsulator.
5. Define insulation co-ordination.
The selection of suitable values for the insulation levels (power frequency and impulse
voltages) which characterize its insulation with regard to its capability of withstanding
the dielectrics stresses.
6. Why is insulation coordination needed?
 To ensure reliability and continuity to the utility concerns.
 To minimize the number of failures of lines and substations due to over voltages.
 To minimize the cost involved in the design.
 To maintain less flash over for insulators.
7. What are type and routine tests?

 Typetestareintendedtoproveorcheckthedesignfeaturesandthequality.

Routinetestsare intended tocheck the qualityofthe individual test
piece.
8. Whatarethedifferenttestsdoneon insulators?
a. TypeTest-Tocheckthedesignfeatures
b. RoutineTest-Tocheckthequalityoftheindividualtestpiece.
c. HighVoltageTests Include
i. Powerfrequencytests Impulsetests

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9. Define partial discharge and disruptive discharge voltage.

Partial discharge:These are the discharges due to presence of void or any other
inclusionsinside of thedielectrics

Disruptive discharge voltage: the voltage which produces the loss of dielectric strength
of an insulation.

10. Whatarethe methodsavailableformeasuringdccurrent?

a. Resistiveshuntswithmilliammeter
b. Halleffectgenerators
c. Magneticlinks

11. Distinguish between flash over and puncture.

 When a discharge takes place between two electrodes in gas or a liquid over a
solid surface in air, it is called flash over.
 If the discharge occurs through a solid insulation, it is called puncture.

12. Define 50% flash over voltage and 100% flash over.

 This is the voltage which has a probability of 50% flashover, when applied totest
object.
 The voltage that causes a flashover at each of its applications under specified
conditionswhenappliedtotestobjects isspecifiedashundredpercentflashovervoltage.

13. Draw thesimplecircuitofpeakreadingvoltmeterandit’sequivalent.

14. Whatisthetestconducted on cables?

Differenttestsoncablesare
 Mechanicaltestslikebendingtest,drippinganddrainagetest,andfireresistanceandcorrosi

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 ontests
 Thermaldutytests
 Dielectricpowerfactortests
 Powerfrequencywithstandvoltagetests
 Impulsewithstandvoltagetests
 Partialdischargetest
 Lifeexpectancytests

15. What are the tests conducted on power transformers?

a. Inducedovervoltagetest.
b. Partialdischargetest.
c. Impulsetesting.
PART-B QUESTIONS

Unit-1
1. Show the charge distribution patterns in the cloud following Wilson’s
andSimpson’s and mason’s theories.
2. Explain the mechanism of lightning stroke.
3. Explain the different methods employed for lightning protection of overheadlines.
4. What are the causes for switching and power frequency over voltages? Howare
they controlled in power systems?
5. Discuss the step-by-step procedure for constructing Bewley’s Lattice Diagramwith
an example.
6. A long transmission line is energized by a unit step voltage 1 V at the sendingend and is
open circuited at the receiving end. Construct the Bewley’s latticediagram and obtain the
value of the voltage at the receiving end after a longtime. Take the attenuation factor α =
0.8.
Unit-2
1. Deducethe Townsend’s break down criteria.Also
definetheTownsend’sprimaryandsecondaryionizationcoefficients.
2. Explainclearlyvariousprocesseswhichexplainelectricbreakdowninvacuum.
3. Explainthevarioustheoriesofbreakdownmechanismofthecommercialliquid
dielectrics.
4. Classify the various breakdown mechanisms occurring on solid dielectrics
andexplain thembriefly.
5. Explain composite dielectrics and how the breakdown occurs in it?

Unit-3
1. Explain the simple voltage doubler circuit operation.
2. With a neat sketch explain the working principle of Van de Graaff generator.

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 3. Describethecascadetransformerconnectiontogeneratehighalternatingvoltages.
4. With a neat circuit explain the working principle of a Cockcroft – Waltonvoltage
multipliercircuit.
5. GivetheMarxcircuit–multistageimpulsegenerator.Howthebasicarrangements are
modified to accommodate the wave time control resistances?
6. An impulse generator has eight stages with each condenser rated for 0.16 µFand 125 kV.
The load capacitor available is 1000 pF. Find the series resistanceand the damping
resistance needed to produce 1.2/50 µs impulse wave. What isthe maximum output
voltage of the generator, if the charging voltage is 120 kV?
Unit-4
1. What is CVT? Explain through phasor diagram how a tuned CVT can be
usedforHVACmeasurementin substations.
2. Explain how a sphere gap can be used to measure the peak value of voltages?Also
discuss the parameters and factors that influence such voltage measurement.
3. Withaneatsketchexplaintheprincipleofoperationofanelectrostaticvoltmeter for HV
AC measurement. What are the merits and demerits?
4. Enumeratedigitalpeakvoltmeter.
5. ARogowskicoilisrequiredtomeasureimpulsecurrentof8KAhavingrateof change of current
of 1010 A/sec. The voltmeter is connected across theintegrating circuit which reads 8
volts for full scale deflection. The input tointegrating circuit is from Rogowski coil.
Determine the mutual inductance ofcoil, RandCforthe integratingcircuit.
6. Explainthefaradaygeneratormethodofmeasurement.

Unit-5

What are the tests conducted on circuit

breakers and isolator switches?
Explainabout any oneof thetests.
1. Discuss with circuit arrangements, the detailed procedure for conducting
impulsevoltage withstand test ona33kVpost insulator.
2. What are the different tests conducted on cables? Explain any one of them.
3. What is meant by Insulation Coordination? Explain how the protective devices
arechosen for optimum insulation level in a power system.
4. Explain the method of impulse testing of high voltage transformers. What is
theprocedure adopted forlocating thefailure?
5. Explain thefollowingterms usedinHVtestingasperthestandards:

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a. Disruptivedischargevoltage
b. Creepagedistance
c. Impulsevoltage
d. 100%flash overvoltage.

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