PE448 - High Voltage Engineering (3 Credit Hours)

Course Type: Core Course

Pre-Requisite: Power Distribution and Utilization (EE315)
Instructor: Dr. Shahid Alam
Office# G-16 FEE block, GIKI
Email: s.alam@giki.edu.pk
Office Hours: - Monday - Thursday: 09:00 am – 4:00 pm

Course Description
This course will introduce students to basic understandings within the area of experimental high voltage engineering.
The course emphasis on important properties of dielectrics, generation and measurement of high voltages, electric field
calculations, Townsend’s breakdown mechanism and Paschen’s law, gas discharge physics, electric breakdown in liquids
and solids, diagnostic techniques and insulation testing and coordination. Numerical analysis of electric field distribution
in insulation systems using finite element based software Comsol Multiphysics and suggestions for improvements of
the design is one of the central learning objectives.
Course Contents
 Introduction to the subject and important properties of dielectrics and their measurements
 Generation of high voltages (AC, DC and impulse), Measurements of high voltages
 Electric field calculations, Mechanisms of electric breakdown in gases, liquids and solids
 Various types of diagnostic measurements, HV insulation testing and insulation coordination
 Designing and numerical analysis of electric field stress in insulation systems using Comsol Multiphysics

Mapping of CLOs & PLOs

CLOs Course Learning Outcomes PLOs Blooms Taxonomy
Be able to understand various terms related to
CLO-1 PLO-1 Cognitive Level 2 (Comprehension)
experimental high voltage engineering
Be able to explain mechanisms/physics of
CLO-2 electric breakdown in gases, liquids and solid PLO-1 Cognitive Level 2 (Comprehension)
dielectrics
Be able to compute electric field distribution
CLO-3 and breakdown voltage within the different PLO-2 Cognitive Level 3 (Applying)
given scenarios/electrode geometries
Be able to analyze electric field distribution in
CLO-4 insulation systems using numerical tools and PLO-5 Cognitive Level 5 (Evaluating)
suggest improvements of design

CLOs Assessment Mechanism

Assessment Tools CLO-1 CLO-2 CLO-3 CLO-4
Quizzes 20% 30% 35% ------
Assignments/Project ------ ------ ------ 100%
Midterm Examination 30% 30% 35% ------
Final Examination 50% 40% 30% ------

Overall Grading Policy

Assessment Tools Percentage
Quizzes 20%
Assignments/Project 15%
Midterm Examination 20%
Final Examination 45%
 Text and Reference Books
 High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals by E. Kuffel, W. S. Zaengl and J. Kuffel, 2nd Edition, Newnes,
Oxford, UK, 2000.
 High Voltage Engineering by A.A. Al-Arainy, M.I. Qureshi and N. H. Malik, Academic publishing and press,
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, 2005 .
 High Voltage Measurement, Testing and Design by T. J. Gallagher & A. J. Pearmain.
Administrative Instruction
 According to institute policy, 80% attendance is mandatory to appear in the final examination.
 An approved leave will not be counted towards the attendance.
 Assignments must be submitted as per instructions mentioned in the description.
 In any case, there will be no retake of (scheduled/surprise) quizzes.
 For queries, kindly follow the office hours in order to avoid any inconvenience.

Lecture Breakdown
Introduction to the subject and important properties of dielectrics and
Week 1
their measurement techniques

Week 2 Generation of high voltages: High voltage AC and DC generation

Generation of high voltages: High voltage impulse generation using

Week 3
Marx generator

Week 4 Introduction to Comsol Multiphysics and distribution of course projects

Week 5 High voltage measurement techniques

Week 6 Electric field distribution in insulation systems and its control, Tutorial

Mean free path, Townsend’s first and second ionization coefficients and
Week 7
the breakdown criteria, Tutorial
Paschen’s curve for estimating the electric strengths of short homogenous
Week 8
gas gaps under low pressure and varying ambient conditions, Tutorial
Influence of time lags on breakdown voltage, Breakdown in non-uniform
Week 9
field gap, Resolving possible problems related with course project
Gas discharge physics: Different types of discharges (streamer, leader
Week 10
and corona), Tutorial
Gas discharge physics: The lightning stroke
Week 11
Integrity of substations’ grounding grid, Tutorial
Electric breakdown in liquids and solid dielectrics
Week 12
Resolving possible problems related with course project

High voltage diagnostic measurement techniques, Tutorial

Week 13
Deadline for submission of the project reports

Procedures of testing high voltage equipment, Non-destructive high

Week 14
voltage tests

Week 15 Insulation levels and insulation coordination