HV Assignment 2
HV Assignment 2
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MEPE504
SOLUTION
(a) Standard impulse wave is specified by IEC with front time 1.2 µs ± 30% tolerance and
tail time (half time) 50 µs ± 20% tolerance. The disturbance definitely consists of full
wave and chopped wave.
(b) Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere when two neighbouring
clouds of opposite charges strike each other or between a negative cloud and a grounded
object on earth. It is associated with an electrical discharge and huge sound during a
thunderstorm. When a thunderstorm generates negative charges as its ground end, the
earthed objects develop induced positive charge. The earthed objects develop induced
positive charge. The earthed objects of interest are transmission lines and towers.
Normally, it is expected that the lines are unaffected because they are insulated by a
string of insulators.
However, because of high field gradients involved the positive charges leak from the
tower along the insulator surface to the line conductors. This process may take
considerable time in order of some hundreds of seconds. When the cloud discharges to
some earthed object other than the line conductor, the transmission line conductor is left
with a high concentration of a positive charge which cannot leak suddenly. The
transmission line and the ground will act as a huge capacitor carrying appositive charge
and hence over voltages occur due to these induced charges.
Steps to mitigate the adverse effects of lightning on equipment and human being.
1.Using MOVs (Metal oxide Varistor) on electrical equipment or appliances - Few MOVs can be
added in the existing switch board to protect the appliances from high voltage spikes. If heavy
transients develop in the mains, the MOV in the circuit will short circuit the lines and the fuse/
MCB in the house will blow out or trip.
QUESTION 2
Briefly explain the following high voltage terms:
a) System Voltage [1]
b) Basic Insulation Level (BIL) [2]
c) Impulse withstand [2]
Discuss the reasons for insulation coordination and illustrate this for lines, transformers and
switchgear in a High Voltage Substation. [10]
What is MCOV and specify it for the protection of a transformer operating at a system voltage of
330kV. [5]
SOLUTION
(a) System Voltage – is the rated voltage level of the electrical power system.
(b) Basic Insulation Level (BIL) – refers to the minimum voltage withstand of an equipment
it determines the principle dielectric qualities of the apparatus.
(c) Impulse withstand – refers to the peak value of an impulse of prescribed form and polarity
which the equipment is capable of withstanding without failure under specified conditions of test
and to which the values of the clearances are referred.
Lines – the insulation of an overhead line consists of two components, self-restoring and non-
self-restoring insulation systems. Self-restoring insulation can heal itself after a disruptive
discharge. The air around insulator strings is an excellent example of self-restoring. Insulation
that loses insulating properties or does not recover completely after a disruptive discharge caused
by the application of voltage is non restoring insulation. Generally internal insulation.
The line insulators must prevent a flashover for practically any power-frequency operating
condition and many transient voltage conditions, under any conditions of humidity, temperature,
rain, or snow, and with such accumulations of dirt, salt, and other contaminants that are not
periodically washed off by rains.
Transformers and switchgear - insulation coordination must insure that surge protection
devices such as surge arresters are adequately rated and correctly positioned within a substation
to limit transient over voltages. A process is conducted where the insulation characteristics of all
components are determined, specified and coordinated to avoid failure due to expected internal
and externally occurring surges.
The two types of analysis used in insulation coordination are Deterministic and Probabilistic. A
deterministic assessment is used for non-self-recovering insulation such as transformers or cable
or any insulation that cannot self-heal after a dielectric breakdown. Equipment of this type is
given a very specific withstand voltage known as its BIL (Basic Insulation Withstand Level) and
is verified by type tests. The BIL and related BSL and CWW are parameters of this type of
insulation and are used in the deterministic study.
MCOV – Maximum continuous operating voltage. For each arrester rating, there is a
recommended limit to the magnitude of voltage that may be applied continuously. For a 330 kV
330
√3 = 190kV
A surge arrestor with a MCOV above 190 kV is used say 200 kV