Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

High Voltage Engineering and Switchgear Technology

Prof. Dr. sc. Myriam Koch

High Voltage Technology

– Fundamentals

Unit 1
Introduction – Part 2
 insulation coordination

voltage stress
(numerical) field analysis

field intensity stress

behavior of insulation materials
insulation
test procedure

testing test voltages

measurement methods

condition assessment
of equipment

Insulation coordination ensures that all equipment is properly protected against

lightning impulse voltages, switching impulse voltages and overvoltages with power frequency

tasks in high voltage technology 2

insulation a) degree of galvanic separation
(in German: “Isolation”)
b) implementation of a)
(in German: “Isolierung”)

insulator electrical equipment (e.g. a ceramic insulator)

insulating material material which can be processed to insulators

voltage stress exterior effecs on 𝑈

insulation


field stress specific stress on 𝐸
insulating material


breakdown

basic terms 3
 electrical operating voltages
test voltages

mechanical mechanical load

electro-magnetic forces due to current

thermal ohmic losses

dielectric losses

environmental chemical influences

humidity
radiation

this lecture covers the electrical stresses only

kinds of stresses for insulation and insulation material during operation 4

 degree of homogeneity
field utilization factor 𝜂
𝐸mean
𝜂=
𝐸max

1 𝑑 𝑈
𝐸mean = න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑥Ԧ =
𝑑 0 𝑑

𝑑 … gap distance

𝑈
𝐸max =
𝜂𝑑

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anton Schwaiger

12. Jan.1879 – 07. Feb.1954

field strength distribution along

the axis of a rod-plate arrangement

field strength distribution in electrode arrangements 5

inception voltage 𝑈i 𝑈i … lowest voltage which leads to partial discharges

breakdown voltage 𝑈b 𝑈b … is the minimum voltage that causes a portion of an

insulator to become electrically conductive and
depends on the course of time of the voltage.
The electrically conductivity can be temporarily or
permanently.

important insulation parameters 6

 plate-plate sphere-sphere rod-plate

homogenous field weakly inhomogeneous field strongly inhomogeneous field

𝑈i = 𝑈b 𝑈i = 𝑈b 𝑈i < 𝑈b

classification of insulations according to field distribution 7

electric strength quotient of the breakdown voltage and the distance between the
electrodes between which the voltage is applied under the
prescribed test conditions (IEC 60243-1)

electric strength
= important material characteristic (... dimensioning of a system)
≠ material-specific constant
but:
= 𝑓(curvature and condition of the electrode‘s surface, voltage
shape, pressure, temperature, frequency, humidity, stressed
volume, etc.)

intrinsic electric strength 𝐸b0
max. breakdown field strength 𝐸bh
The maximum electric field strength that it can withstand
intrinsically without breaking down, i.e., without experiencing failure
of its insulating properties.
The maximum electric field strength in a inhomogeneous field at
which the intrinsic strength is exceeded over a critical distance
𝑥crit , which is long enough that self-sustaining discharges can
occur (𝐸max = 𝐸bh > 𝐸0 )

parameters of insulating materials 8

electric strength quotient of the breakdown voltage and the distance between the
electrodes between which the voltage is applied under the
prescribed test conditions (IEC 60243-1)

electric strength
= important material characteristic (... dimensioning of a system)
≠ material-specific constant
but:
= 𝑓(curvature and condition of the electrode‘s surface, voltage
shape, pressure, temperature, frequency, humidity, stressed
volume, etc.)

electrode arrangement for test on boards and sheets

perpendicularly to the surface (IEC 60243-1)

parameters of insulating materials 9

insulating material electric strength

air 25 kVΤcm (peak)

insulating oil 200 kVΤcm (rms)

porcelain 300 kVΤcm (rms)

reference values for the electric strength 10

single-material system multi-material system

flashover: The flashover takes place on the surface of a solid insulator along the interface
between this material an a further gaseous or fluid insulating material.

classification of insulations according to number of materials 11

 example: transformer bushing

1. flashover on interfaces to gas (e.g. air)

2. flashover on interfaces to liquid (e.g. oil)

1
3. breakdown in solid dielectrics (e.g. porcelain)

note:

Do not confuse the terms “flashover” with “sparkover”! (according to IEC 60060-1)
→ flashover: disruptive discharge that occurs over the surface of a dielectric in a gaseous or liquid dielectric
→ sparkover: disruptive discharge that occurs in a gaseous or liquid dielectric

basic rules for dimensioning of insulations 12

classification of insulations according to their behavior in case of a breakdown

definition example
self-restoring Insulation which recovers its gaseous insulation materials (e.g. air)
insulation insulating properties completely decomposition products recede or
after breakdown. disperse.

liquid insulation materials

partially self-restoring; decomposition
products dissolve or disperse.

non- Insulation which loses its porcelain, plastics

self-restoring insulating properties, or does not breakdown leads to an electrically
insulation recover them completely after conductive connection.
breakdown.

basic rules for dimensioning of insulations 13

rule I 𝑈b,max < 𝑈bd where 𝑈b,max ... max. operating voltage
where 𝑈bd ... breakdown voltage

𝑈b,max < 𝑈f where 𝑈f ... flashover voltage

𝑈b,max < 𝑈i in case of strongly inhomogeneous arrangements not always economical

g for instance partial discharges are acceptable for air insulations in case
of specific whether conditions (rain).

If the insulation consists of a combination of gaseous, liquid and solid insulating materials the
potential flashover (due to overstress) should occur in the material where the damage is as little
as possible:

rule II 𝑈bd gas < 𝑈bd fluid < 𝑈bd solid

basic rules for dimensioning of insulations 14

overhead line with two independent
three-phase systems

insulation configuration – three-phase insulation configuration 15

 gas insulated switchgears

around 1980 around 2000

img.: Siemens AG

insulation configuration – three-phase insulation configuration 16

 SF6 - insulated switchgear (420 / 525 kV) in Vienna (around 1980)

img.: Siemens AG

insulation configuration – three-phase insulation configuration 17

 400 kV cable installation with extruded VPE-insulation

(BEWAG; UW Mitte – UW Friedrichshain; 6,3 km; Cu-conductor 1600 mm²; 2 x 1100 MVA; commissioning Nov. 1998)

insulation configuration – phase-to-earth insulation configuration 18

 isolating switches in the opening position

img.: Ruhrtal

insulation configuration – longitudinal insulation configuration 19

 three-phase systems phase-to-earth arrangement (cable)
𝑈m highest voltage for equipment
Highest value of phase-to-phase voltage
(r.m.s. value) for which the equipment is
designed for with respect to its insulation as
well as other characteristics which relate to
this voltage in the relevant equipment
standards. Under normal service conditions
specified by the relevant apparatus
committee this voltage can be applied
continuously to the equipment.
insulation coordination – basic arrangements and terms
𝑈w standard rated withstand voltage
value of the test voltage to be applied
under specified conditions in a
withstand voltage test, during which a
specified number of disruptive
discharges is tolerated. The withstand
voltage is designated as:
a) conventional assumed withstand
voltage, when the number of disruptive
𝑈p−p = 𝑈m discharges tolerated is zero. It is
𝑈m deemed to correspond to a withstand
𝑈p−e = probability 𝑃W = 100 %;
3
b) statistical withstand voltage, when the
number of disruptive discharges
෡p−p = 𝑈m 2
𝑈 tolerated is related to a specified
2 withstand probability. In this standard,
෡p−e = 𝑈m
𝑈 the specified probability is 𝑃W =
3 90 %.
20
𝑈n - nominal voltage of a system (e.g.: 𝑈n = 380 kV)

𝑈b - operating voltage of a three-phase system (𝑈b = 𝑈n ± 10%)

𝑈b,max - max. operating voltage of a three-phase system

(This voltage must not be exceeded in the grid)

𝑈m - highest voltage for equipment (e.g.: 𝑈m = 420 kV)

𝑈w - standard rated withstand voltage

characteristic voltages 21
classes and shapes of overvoltages, standard voltage shapes
22
and standard withstand voltage tests (IEC 60071-1)
IEC 60071-1 23
insulation coordination [IEC 60071-1]:
selection of the dielectric strength of equipment in relation to the operating voltages and
overvoltages which can appear on the system for which the equipment is intended and taking
into account the service environment and the characteristics of the available preventing and
protective devices

Standard insulation level:

Combination of the standard rated voltages of all columns [table 2 and 3 IEC 60071-1]
being in one row are defined as standard insulation levels.

example: Highest voltage for Standard rated switching impulse withstand voltage Standard rated
equipment lightning impulse
(Um) Longitudinal Phase-to-earth Phase-to-phase withstand
insulation (value for voltage
kV combined test) kV (ratio to the
(r.m.s. value) (peak value) phase-to-earth kV
kV peak value) (peak value)
(peak value)
420 950 1050 1,50 1425

insulation co-ordination 24
aim:
- tests (e.g. reproduction of operational voltage stresses)
- principle studies of breakdown phenomena

standardized voltage forms:

- standardized short-term AC voltage
sinusoidal voltage, 𝑓 = 48 … 62 Hz, duration: 60 s
- standardized lightning impulse voltage
- standardized switching impulse voltage

standardized voltage forms 25

 𝑂1 … virtual origin
𝑇1 … front time
𝑇2 … time to half-value

standard lightning-impulse voltage

1.2Τ50 impulse
𝑇1 = 1.2 µs ± 30 %
𝑇2 = 50 µs ± 20 %

full lightning impulse voltage

26
(IEC 60060, part 1)
 𝑂… true origin
𝑇p … time to peak
𝑇d … time above 90 %
𝑇2 … time to half-value

standard switching-impulse voltage

250Τ2500 impulse
𝑇p = 250 µs ± 20 %
𝑇2 = 2500 µs ± 60 %

𝑇p = 𝐾 ∙ 𝑇AB
𝐾 = 2.42 − 3.08 ∙ 10−3 𝑇AB + 1.51 ∙ 10−4 𝑇2
for onsite-testing: 𝐾 = 2.4

switching impulse voltage

27
(IEC 60060, part 1)
 outdated standard

𝑇p … time to peak
𝑇d … time above 90 %
𝑇2 … time to half-value

standard switching-impulse voltage

250Τ2500 impulse
𝑇p = 250 µs ± 20 %
𝑇2 = 2500 µs ± 60 %

switching impulse voltage

28
(IEC 60060, part 1)
• basic electric field distribution of typical arrangements
• basic properties of different classes of insulation
• rules for dimensioning insulation + insulation coordination
• terms for characteristic voltages
• selection of withstand voltages
• standardised voltage forms

Lessons learned 29
close of Unit 1
Introduction