High Voltage Course For Electrical

Engineering

By eng. Ahmed Mahdy

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 Composition Of Typical Electrical System

• Generation: Usually synchronous generators in electrical power stations and induction generators
used in wind energy systems in addition to step up transformer.
• Generation voltage is between 11 kV to 33 kV.
• Step up transformer is used to increase the voltage from generation voltage to transmission voltage.
 Why do we need to step up the voltage?

• At constant generated apparent power S, as we increase the voltage, the current starts to decrease.
 Why do we need to step up the voltage?
• Having lower current means we will have lower cross-sectional area of overhead transmission lines.
• Which means we will have lower cost in transmission.
• Having lower current leads to lower voltage drop on transmission lines.

Voltage Drop = Z* I

• This leads to more efficiency in transmission of power as the power losses starts to decrease too.
 Composition Of Typical Electrical System

• Transmission: To transmit electrical power from generating station to distribution system and load
areas.
• Transmission voltage can be 66, 110, 132, 220, 380, 480, 500, 750, 1150 kV.
 Composition Of Typical Electrical System

• Distribution: To distribute the electrical power through step-down transformers to customers through
OHTL or UGC.
• Distribution transformers as 66/11 kV or 33/11 kV, can also take the 11 or 3.3 or 6.6 or 22 or 33 kV again
to 110, 220, 380, 480 V.
• Utilization: To consume electrical power.
Voltage Levels According To IEEE 141:1993

IEC 60038 Voltage Levels

Extra Example on Power System
 Types of High Voltage
High voltage AC voltage at power frequency at 60 Hz or 50 Hz

• This is the common voltage used in transmission of electrical power.

 Types of High Voltage

High voltage AC voltage at high frequency

• This occurs in power system due to switching actions like connecting a large industrial load,
disconnecting a load, connection of capacitor bank or removing a capacitor bank.
 Types of High Voltage
High voltage DC

• It is used in electrical power transmission in very long transmission lines.

• Power flow is limited only by TL resistance.
• It can also used to connect between two countries of different frequencies, as an example: Egypt uses 50
Hz frequency and Saudi Arabia uses 60 Hz, if we would like to connect between them we would like to
have DC high voltage transmission system.
 Types of High Voltage
Impulse high voltage

• It occurs due to hitting of transmission lines by the action of the lightning strokes or surges.
 Types of High Voltage
Impulse high voltage

• It occurs due to hitting of transmission lines by the action of the lightning strokes or surges.
 Applications of High Voltage

• Transmission of large amount of electrical power.

• For testing equipment and insulators in lab.
• In nuclear research and lab for particles acceleration.
• In x-ray equipment.
• In electrostatic painting.
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Method 1: Using Transformers

Single unit transformer

• Can be used to generate voltages up to 300 kV.
• For higher voltages, there will be several problems as:
Insulation problems of very large transformer, in
addition to difficulty of transportation.
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Method 1: Using Transformers

Cascaded transformers
• Transformers are connected in series.
• Used in producing voltages greater than 300 kV.
Advantages
• Generation of very high voltage levels.
• Flexibility of cascaded transformers.
• Size and weight of each unit is reduced a lot.
Disadvantages
• Higher voltage drop in units.
• Existence of harmonics.
• Lower primary sides are heavily loaded.
 Resonance in Circuits
• Series resonance occurs in an electric circuit at a
particular resonant frequency when the impedances
of circuit elements cancel each other.
• VC = VL

• Q is called quality factor and ranges between 20 to

50.
• So at resonance, the voltage across the capacitance
and inductance can reach up to 50 times of supply
voltage.
 Parallel Resonance in Circuits
• Parallel resonance occurs in an electric circuit at a particular resonant frequency admittances
of circuit elements cancel each other.
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Method 2: Using Single Series Resonant Transformers Up To 500 kV
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Method 2: Using Cascaded Series Resonant Transformers Up To 3000 kV
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Method 2: Using Parallel Resonant Transformer
• In this method we add variable air gap inside the core of the transformer to vary the inductance.
• This method produces more stable output voltage than series resonant transformer.
• If we are testing at voltage less than 300 kV, then parallel resonant transformer is recommended.
• If we are testing at voltage greater than 300 kV, then series resonant transformer is recommended.
 Generation of High Voltage AC at Power Frequency
Advantages of Resonant Transformer

• Power factor is almost unity as Z nearly equal to R and the output voltage waveform is nearly
sinusoidal.
• Simple and compact set.
• Power consumed is nearly 5 to 10% of total kVA power, as the power requirement in kW = kVA/Q.
• No heavy current surges after breakdown as the resonance ends at the failure of the test object.

Disadvantage of Resonant Transformer

• Requires additional variable chokes capable of withstanding high voltage

and full current rating.
 Generation of High Voltage AC at High Frequency
Tesla Coil at 10-100 kHz with voltage of 500-1000 kV

• Used to generate high voltage high frequency AC.

• Also known as high frequency resonant
transformers.
• It is used for testing equipment and insulators
against switching actions.
• No iron core required (air core), so low cost and
size.
• Pure sinusoidal output voltage.
• The primary is fed from AC supply to charge C1.
• The spark gap is triggered at certain voltage which
induces a high self excitation in the secondary.
• To produce same oscillations, L1C1 = L2C2
 Example 1 on Tesla Coil
Certain Tesla coil was used to produce HV at frequency of 100 kHz, find C1 if L1 = 25 mH.
Also design values appropriate for L2 and C2.

1
• Frequency =
2∗𝑃𝑖∗ 𝐿1𝐶1
1
• 100 ∗ 103 =
2∗𝑃𝑖∗ 25∗10−3 ∗𝐶1
• C1 = 101.32 PF.
• To produce same oscillations, L1C1 = L2C2
• If L2 = L1, then C2 = C1
• If L2 = 0.5L1, then C2 = 2C1 = 202.64 PF
• If L2 = 2L1, then C2 = 0.5C1 = 50.66 PF
 Example 2 on Tesla Coil
To test an insulator at high frequency, the primary inductance of Tesla coil was used, L1 =
100 mH, C1 = 100 PF, find the test frequency.
If the secondary inductance L2= 50 mH, find the capacitance of protective sphere gap C2
across the object.

1
• Frequency =
2∗𝑃𝑖∗ 𝐿1𝐶1
1
• F =
2∗𝑃𝑖∗ 100∗10−3 ∗100∗10−12
• F = 50.33 kHz
• To produce same oscillations, L1C1 = L2C2
• L1C1 = L2C2
• 100 ∗ 10−3 ∗ 100 ∗ 10−12 = 50 ∗ 10−3 ∗ C2
• C2 = 200 PF
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Impulse Waveform

• Electrical equipment are subjected to impulse HV

during lightning.
• A lightning impulse voltage is a unidirectional voltage
which rises rapidly to a maximum value and then decays
slowly.
• Any impulse wave is defined as t1/t2, Vp.
• Vp is the peak value of the impulse waveform.
• t1 is the front time or peak time or time to reach peak
value.
• t2 is tail time or time to half peak.
• Standard lightning impulse according to IEC 60060 is
1.2 μs ±30% / 50 μs ±20%.
• The tolerance allowed in the peak value is ±3%.
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Single Stage Impulse Generator

• The capacitor is charged until the capacitor’s charged voltage is enough to cross the spark gap.
• An electrical impulse generated across the spark gap and high voltage gets transferred from the left electrode
terminal to the right electrode terminal of the spark gap and thus making it a connected circuit.
C1 >>C2 and R2>>R1
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Single Stage Impulse Generator

Vs
Vo(t) = (e – αt – e – βt )
C2∗R1(β − α)
1
α=
C2∗R1
1
β=
C1∗R2
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Single Stage Impulse Generator
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Calculation of Front Time and Tail Time of Single Stage Impulse Generator
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Calculation of Efficiency of Single Stage Impulse Generator
 Example on Single Stage Impulse Generator
Single impulse generator with coefficients of α = 0.0146*10^6, β = 3*10^6, R1C2 =
0.345*10^-6, supply voltage = 200 kV.

Find t1, t2, V peak and efficiency of the generator.

β
𝐿𝑛( )
• t1 = α = 1.78 microsecond
β−α
𝐿𝑛(2)
• t2 = t1+ = 49.256 microsecond
α
Vs
• V peak = (e – αt – e – βt ) = 189.189 kV
C2∗R1(β−α)
𝑉 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘
• Efficiency of impulse generator = ∗ 100% = 94.6%
𝑉𝑠
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Multi Stage Impulse Generator Also Known As Marx Circuit for V>250 kV

• Number of stages = number of gaps = number of capacitors.

• Each stage consisting of two resistances, one gap and one capacitor.
• The final output voltage in ideal circuit = nVc, where n is number of stages and Vc is the charged voltage of
capacitor.
Vpeak
• Efficiency of Marx circuit =
nVc
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Another Illustration by Circuitdigest.com
 Generation of High Voltage Impulse
Application of Multi Stage Impulse Generator

• The major application of the impulse generator circuit is to test high voltage devices.
• Lightning arresters, Fuses, TVS diodes, different types of surge protectors, etc are tested using the
Impulse voltage generator.
• It is used in nuclear physics experiments as well as in lasers, fusion and plasma device industries.
• The Marx generator is used for the simulation purposes of lightning effects on power-line.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
By Using HWR or Half Wave Rectifier

• During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode will be forward biased and the current flows through
the diode.
• During the negative half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode will be reverse biased and the flow of current will be
blocked.
• Capacitor Filter is used to convert (smoothen) pulsating DC waveforms into constant DC waveforms.
• They suppress the DC ripples in the waveform.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Equations of Half Wave Rectifier
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Equations of Half Wave Rectifier
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Advantages of Half Wave Rectifier

• Simple and easy to construct (lower number of components)

• Cheaper upfront cost (as their is less equipment. Although there is a higher cost over time due to increased power
losses)
• Maximum voltage is equal to maximum of secondary voltage

Disadvantages of Half Wave Rectifier

• They only allow a half-cycle of sinewave, and the other half-cycle is wasted. This leads to power loss.
• They produces a low output voltage.
• The output current is not purely DC, and it still contains a lot of ripple (i.e. it has a high ripple factor)
 Generation of High DC Voltage
By Using FWR or Full Wave Rectifier

• During the positive half cycle of the AC • During the negative half cycle of the AC
voltage, the diodes D1 and D2 conducts, voltage, the diodes D3 and D4 conducts, while
while D3 and D4 are reverse-biased. D1 and D2 are reverse-biased.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Equations of Full Wave Rectifier

Advantages of Full Wave Rectifier

• Ripples decreased to half compared to half wave rectifier

• Both of the AC cycle have been fully utilized, which means lower power losses
• High ripple frequency than half wave rectifier
• Output is the maximum voltage of the supply

Disadvantages of Full Wave Rectifier

• More expensive and more components used as we need 4 diodes.

• The usage of more diodes leads to more voltage drop, losses increased and efficiency is somewhat reduced
compared to center tapped.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
By Using Center-Tapped Transformer Full Wave Rectifier

• During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the • During the negative half cycle of the AC voltage, the
diodes D1 conducts, while D2 is reverse-biased. diodes D2 conducts, while D1 is reverse-biased.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Equations of Center-Tapped Transformer Full Wave Rectifier

Advantages of Center-Tapped Transformer Full Wave Rectifier

• Ripples decreased to half compared to half wave rectifier

• Both of the AC cycle have been fully utilized, which means lower power losses
• High ripple frequency than half wave rectifier

Disadvantages of Center-Tapped Transformer Full Wave Rectifier

• Expensive to manufacture a center-tapped transformer with equal voltage on half sides

• PIV or peak inverse voltage of each diode is high as each diode must withstand full voltage
• Output is the half of the maximum voltage of the supply as each diode utilizes half of the voltage of secondary
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Half Wave Voltage Doubler Circuit

• During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode D1 will be forward biased and the capacitor C1 charges
up to the peak voltage Vsmax
• During the negative half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode D2 will be forward biased and now both of capacitor C1
and supply of the secondary will charge the capacitor C2 up to 2Vsmax at no load
• By applying KVL on the outer loop, we will get:
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Greinacher Voltage Doubler Circuit
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Delon or Full Wave Voltage Doubler Circuit

• During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode D1 will be forward biased and the capacitor C1 charges
up to the peak voltage Vsmax
• During the negative half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode D2 will be forward biased and the capacitor C2 charges
to Vsmax
• So total voltage on the output will be summation of the two voltages which is 2Vsmax at no load
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Full Wave Voltage Doubler Circuit
 Generation of High DC Voltage

Advantages of Voltage Doubler Circuit

• Can replace the expensive and heavy transformers

• Negative voltage can also be created by reversing the polarity of the diodes and capacitors
• Can increase the voltage multiplication factor by cascading the similar voltage multipliers which leads to
Cockcroft–Walton generator circuit
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Cockcroft Walton Voltage Multiplier Circuit (3 Stages in Figure)

• It consists of two capacitor columns, namely, oscillating and

smoothening columns.
• Oscillating column capacitors C1, C2, and C3 are charged in
half cycle by diodes (D1, D2, and D3).
• In next half cycle the smoothening column capacitors (C1', C2',
and C3') are charged by didoes (D1', D2', and D3').
• In steady state, in no-load condition, every capacitor in
smoothening column is charged to 2Vmax, which is two times
of maximum input voltage magnitude.
• Therefore, the maximum value of output voltage is 2nVmax in
which n is the number of multiplier stages.
• However, this is not the case in presence of a load, which
output voltage ripple exists and there is a drop in voltage due
to the load current.
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Equations of Cockcroft Walton Voltage Multiplier Circuit

V DC = 2nVmax – voltage drop – ripple voltage

As n increases, voltage drop increases and
ripples increases and maximum voltage
increases
 Generation of High DC Voltage
Proof of n optimum for producing highest output voltage
 Example on Cockcroft Walton Voltage Multiplier Circuit
A triple stage DC voltage cascade rectifier of the Cockcroft Walton type is supplied by an H.V
transformer of o/p voltage 150 kV at a frequency of 50 Hz.
If the unit capacitance is 0.04 micro farad, calculate the optimum number of stages to obtain the
maximum output high voltage when the load current is 6.12 mA.
Determine the ripple, and the terminal o/p voltage in this case.

Vmax = 150 2 kV, f = 50 Hz, I = 6.12 mA, C = 0.04 microfarad.

= 8 stages

= 1.138 MV

= 55.08 kV

VDC = 2*8*150 2 ∗ 103 - 1.138∗ 106 - 55.08 ∗ 103 = 2.201 MV