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Date: 2011.04.18 20:05:23
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BEK 4113/BEX 44503

High Voltage Engineering

Dr Rie
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Welcome To The High Voltage

World

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan

Objectives

To provide students with an introduction to high

voltage engineering and technology

This includes to learn the related knowledge such as

the breakdown mechanisms, generation,
measurements and the testing techniques

The students will introduced to overvoltages

phenomena and also associated protective devices
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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the student should have the

ability to adopt the knowledge as follows:

(1) plan high voltage measurement and testing works of

high voltage electrical equipment
(2) perform high voltage experiment setup or project to
complete a specific measurement
(3) show concern to safety regulations in high voltage
measurement and testing works
(4) formulate solutions to high voltage engineering
problems
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan
Learning Outcomes Continue..
Continue

(5) analyse the important elements of breakdown in

dielectric materials
(6) study and working on the high voltage generation
equipment
(7) describe the important elements in a high voltage
measurements and perform diagnostic testing of
insulation materials
(8) analyse the method of overvoltages phenomena and
design the insulation coordination in electrical power
systems
(9) design various protection schemes for overvoltage
isolation, avoidance and mitigation

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan
Syllabus

• Subject 1 – Fundamentals of Electrical Breakdown in

Dielectric (week 1-3)
• Subject 2 – Generation of High Voltages (week 4-6)
• Subject 3 – High Voltage Measurements and Diagnostic
Testing of Insulation (week 7-9)
• Subject 4 – Overvoltage Phenomena and Insulation
Coordination in Electrical Power System (week 10-12)
• Subject 5 – High Voltage Apparatus for Overvoltage
Isolation, Avoidance and Mitigation (week 13-14)

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan
Teaching & Assessment Approaches

Teaching Approaches
• Lecture (14 weeks)
• Tutorial (Each subjects)
• Project & Assignment
– High Voltage Testing and Measurements in Lab (Due: Week 5)
– PSCAD Simulation: Application of Metal Oxide Surge Arrester to Mitigate
Transient Overvoltages Levels

Assessment Approaches
1. Quiz : 5%
2. Assignment : 20%
3 Test : 20%
5. Others : 5%
6. Final Examination : 50%

Total : 100%
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lecture Plan
References
1. M. Abdel Salam, H. Hanis, A. El-Morshedy and R. Radwan, High Voltage
Engineering: Theory and Practice, Marcel Dekker, 2000

2. E. Kuffel, High Voltage Engineering: Fundamentals, Newness, 2000

3. Hugh M. Rayan, High Voltage Engineering and Testing, The Institute of Electrical
Engineers, London, 2001

4. Haddad & Warne, Advance in High Voltage Engineering, IET Power and Energy
Series, 2004

Other References :
• Subir Ray, An Introduction to High Voltage Engineering, Prentice Hall India, 2004
• M. S. Naidu & V. Kamaraju, High Voltage Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 2004
• D. Kind, High Voltage Test Tehniques, Newnes, 2001.

• Stephen A. Jay, High Voltage Electricity Installations: A Planning Perspective,

Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley, 2006

Introduction to High
Voltage Engineering

by Dr Rie
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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Introduction High Voltage Engineering

Contents
1.1 What is High Voltage?
1.2 Elements of High Voltage
1.3 History of High Voltage Engineering
1.4 Problems in High Voltage Engineering
1.5 Lessons Learning
1.6 Unpopular High Voltage
1.7 Why High Voltage Engineering has Gained back its Popularity?
1.8 Revision from Electrical Power System
1.9 Flow of High Voltages
1.10 System Levels of High Voltage AC
1.11 Normal Flow of High Voltages
1.12 Abnormal Flow of High Voltages
1.13 What People Do with High Voltages?
1.14 Sources of High Voltage Generations
1.15 Types of Overvoltages
1.16 Main International Bodies
1.17 Importance of Proper High Voltage in Place - Tragedy 10

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

What is High Voltage?

Based on International Electrotechnical Commission

(IEC Standard, 1983), the term high voltage can be
defines as any work or test conducted at a voltage
level at/or greater than 1000 V AC (1 kV) or at/or
greater than 1200 V DC (1.2 kV).

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Elements of High Voltage

High Voltage technologies encompassed involvement

in various elements/fields of engineering and science
studies, e.g. from energy transmissions, circuit
analysis, measurement techniques, transient
recording, testing materials, physic and chemical
phenomenon governing electrical properties of
insulating materials and etc.

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

History of High Voltage Engineering

• High voltage history began with the induction coils constructed in

1836 by Nicholas Callan (Maynooth College, Dublin England). The
‘Callans Great Coils’ induced voltage above 100 kV but it was only
used for academic purposes.
• In 1886, Karoly Zipenowski and friends, engineers from Ganz in
Hungary patented the first transformer. The transformer invention
was a key to open the door leading to efficient and effective power
system. Then high voltage power system were installed throughout
the world.
• In the UK, the 132 kV ac system was install in 1920s, following with
275 kV in 1950s and 400 kV in 1960s.
• Higher voltage were introduced overseas at 750 kV in 1960s and
1100 kV in the 1970s.
• Transmission line in Malaysia mostly for HVAC transmission, with a
short portion HVDC to Thailand. The transmission system ac voltage
are 132 kV, 275 kV and 500 kV.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Problems in High Voltage Engineering

• Unfortunately, some of power system equipment at the higher

voltages were introduced before the principles are fully understood.
• Their insulation coordination properties maybe under-rated, in which
prone to fail due to lightning strike, switching, power frequency
overvoltages, overcurrent etc.
• Even some of equipment were made over-rated in protection in which
affecting the cost.
• Some of equipment were built from less good electrical withstand
materials and aging in shorter period due to various breakdown
mechanisms such as treeing, tracking, erosion, chemical reaction etc.

• For instance, the first equipment installed at 132 kV was prone to fail
due to lightning impulse activity. The first transformers installed in
early 500 kV systems failed due to part-winding resonance.

• The failure rate of the transformers installed at 750 kV is recognised

to be twice that for the transformer operating at 400 kV.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Lessons Learning

• The lightning impulse failures in the 1920s led to a better

understanding of transient overvoltages distributions within windings
and to the introduction of lightning impulse tests.
• The analysis of the resonance and other failures also led to the
introduction of new dielectric tests in order to achieve acceptable
levels of reliability and dependability of the installed equipment.
• The challenge due rapid development area, increasing of power
demand, natural disasters, climate change etc motivating the
researchers and scientist in developing compact equipment with
high reliability performance.
• Valuable research, important inventions were conducted/made by
both industrials and academics and many universities have started
offering high voltage courses.
• Also many professionals organisation and workgroup committees
with expert memberships around the world are introduced to working
with the related issues, creating the standards and guidelines,
consultancy, archiving publications, organising the conferences etc.
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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Unpopular High Voltage

‘During the 1980s and 1990s there was reduction in

popularity of power engineering amongst students, and
many high voltage laboratories at universities and
polytechnics were close down. The equipment was sold
and the space converted to provide laboratories for light-
current engineering’.

‘In the United Kingdom the industrial bank shrank due to

mergers and closures, and many industrial high voltage
laboratories were closed or mothballed. Few young
engineers saw a future in the area of high voltage
engineering and the remaining high voltage laboratory are
largely staffed by older although well experience
engineers’.
D.J Allen, High Voltage Engineering and Testing (2001).
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Why High Voltage Engineering has

Gained Back its Popularity Now?

Electrical energy is a part of our life. Therefore, a sustain

power delivery to the consumer is crucial. The power
cannot be shut down for a longer period. Thus most of the
component are still being used ever since the WW2 period.
In this case, there has not been much radical development
of power system infrastructure in the past 60 years.

However nowadays, the power system is having an aging

problem. Also with the urging to ‘go green’ to tackle climate
change and emergence of new sophisticated technologies,
there is an urgent need for developing young scientist and
engineer to involve with the power system engineering to
tackle the above problems, in which some part of it involve
in the High Voltage Engineering area.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Revision from Electrical Power System

Studies
Electric power system is a composite system of
generation, transmission, and distribution systems.

High Voltage

Generation Transmission Distribution

Stations Lines Systems

Step-up Step-down
Transformers Transformers Consumers

High Voltage

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Flow of High Voltages

1 Synchronous Generator

2 Step-up Transformer
3 Transmission Line
4 Step-down Transformer
5 Underground Cable
6 Loads

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

System Levels of High Voltage AC

• Low Voltage: 12 V, 240 V, 415 V, 650 kV, 1000 kV

• Medium Voltage: 5 kV, 11 kV, 22 kV, 33 kV, 66 kV

• High Voltage: 110 kV, 132 kV, 156 kV, 220 kV

• Extra High Voltage: 275 kV, 380 kV 400 kV, 500 kV

• Ultra High Voltage: > 500 kV

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Normal Flow of High Voltages

• Power station generates high voltage (HVAC) and transfers

it to the power transformer
• The magnitude of high voltage (HV) is step-up to even the
higher level (EHV or UHV) by the transformer for the
transmission line
• EHV is transmitted to the main substations via overhead
lines or HV cables
• EHV is stepped down into HV by step-down power
transformer
• HV is transmitted to the distribution substation and its
magnitude is reduced to LV by distribution transformer and
then distributing them to the consumers
• Some HV may be transmitted/delivered to high usage
factory via HV cables (which has got their own step-down
transformer) 21

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Abnormal Flow of High Voltages

• The lightning strikes on the overhead transmission line. The

strikes on the shield wire would transmit the induced voltage to
the ground (system protected).

• The strikes on the lines would cause dual travelling waves in

which the surges will travel to the generator and to the
distribution sides. Voltage induced would cause
damage/failure to the component (e.g. transformer, generator,
fuses, connector etc.). Coordination gap is placed on the line
to re-direct the surge to the ground.

• The lightning strikes to the distribution line. Much worst for the
LV system. Voltage induced would cause damage to the
distribution components (transformers, fuses, consumer
appliances etc.). Protection such as surge arrester and fuses
is required.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Abnormal Flow of High Voltages

• Switching. Improper line isolation by switches or circuit

breakers would generates switching overvoltages. Worst
for EHV system. Would cause damage/failure to the
transformer and generator.

• Fault. Faulty on the line (fallen by tree branch, storm,

component failure, vibration, vandalism etc) could trigger
the overvoltages (balance and unbalance fault). The
surge would cause damage/failure/abnormal work of
transformer insulation and generator speed.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Abnormal Flow of High Voltages

• Power frequency. Heavy contaminant deposit on the insulator

surface would increase the conduction properties of the
insulator. Tracking and erosion are generate from this and will
damage the insulator. Intense corona is seen on the insulator
surface and fittings. Regular cleaning is required and grading
ring is used to minimise the corona.

• Power frequency. Sudden changing on the load would also

trigger the overvoltages in which can cause
damage/failure/abnormal work of transformer and generator
speed.

• Ferranti Effect. Induced voltage travels from the far remote side
(line usually has been struck by lightning) could also trigger
power frequency overvoltages

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

What People Do With High Voltages?

Manipulation of energy

High voltage is used in transmission line to

deliver electrical energy. In this case, more power
can be carried with less current. Small (lighter)
size conductor can be used which is more
economical. High voltages are also used in other
application (e.g. medical, transportation, cathode-
ray tube, xerography, spray painting, ballast
inductor, ignition etc). They could be in the form
of normal or electrostatic force.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

What People Do With High Voltages?

Laboratory test

Many scientific tests are being conducted to

investigate the phenomena of breakdown/failure
mechanism of insulation properties, creating new
item with good electrical withstand characteristic
(e.g. silicone gel, polymeric insulator), safety/
protection component to isolate/mitigate the
overvoltages and occurrence corona (isolator,
surge arrester, grading ring etc), high reliability
equipment, measurement etc.

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

What People Do With High Voltages?

Nature test

Scientists involved in nature world to investigate

the mechanism of lightning, corona inception
during various weather conditions, impact of wind
induced on the lines, electromagnetic fields
propagation etc. This contributes to the
knowledge of better understanding the concept
and also helping to the laboratory work. May also
help in discovering new power source energy.

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Sources of High Voltage Generation

Can be categorised into two main groups:

• External – Created by nature, e.g. lightning
strikes/discharge, high electrostatic voltage by
eel.

• Internal – ‘Man-made’ generation, e.g. by high

voltage generator, power transformer, switching,
circuit breakers HV electrostatic appliances,
ozone generator etc.
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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Types of Overvoltages
Can be categorised into two main groups:
• Power frequency : Occurrence of overvoltages within
low frequency level. Lasted in longer period.
- continuous: f = 50 or 60 Hz, T > 3600s
- temporary: 10 Hz < f < 500 Hz, 0.3s ≤ T ≤ 3600s
• Transients : Occurrence of overvoltages at transient
frequency. Lasted in quick time.
- slow-front: Tfront 20us to 2000us, Ttail ≤ 20ms
- fast-front: Tfront 0.1us to 20us, Ttail ≤ 300us
- very-fast-front type: Tfront 3ns to 100ns

* More studies of overvoltages levels will be taught in Subject 4: Insulation Coordination 29

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Main International Bodies

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Provide standards, publications, works, international conferences
related to electrical and electronics engineering (high voltage is a
part of it). USA
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Provide European standards
• International Council on Large High Voltage Electric Systems
(CIGRE)
Dealing with high voltage works / publications related to high
voltage engineering (especially in European region)
• International Symposium for High Voltage Engineering (ISH)
Handling international conferences related High Voltage
engineering
• The Institution of Engineering and Technologies (IET)
Provide information, publications, archives. London base.
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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance of Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

31

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance of Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

32

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance of Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

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BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance of Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

35

BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Importance of Proper High Voltage

System in Place - Tragedy

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 BEE 3243 Electric Power Systems – Module 1

Note References

• M. Abdel Salam, H. Hanis, A. El-Morshedy and R. Radwan,

High Voltage Engineering: Theory and Practice, Marcel Dekker,
2000

• E. Kuffel, High Voltage Engineering: Fundamentals, Newness,

2000

• Hugh M. Rayan, High Voltage Engineering and Testing, The

Institute of Electrical Engineers, London, 2001

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