UNIT -II

MEASUREMENT OF
HIGH VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS

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By:
Venkata Sarath Panathula
Asst. Prof., Dept. of EEE
 2.1. INTRODUCTION

 Measurements of high voltages and currents involves much

more complex problems which a specialist, in common
electrical measurement, does not have to face.
 A person handling these equipments and the measuring
devices must be protected against these over voltages.
 For this, large structures are required to control the electrical
fields and to avoid flash over between the equipment and the
grounded structures.
 These structures are required to control heat dissipation
within the circuits.
 the location and layout of the equipments is very important to
avoid these problems.
 Electromagnetic fields create problems in the measurements
of impulse voltages and currents and should be minimised.

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2.2. SPARK GAP
 Measurement of the peak value of the voltage
 We can use Uniform field gaps and Rod gaps also, but
their accuracy is less
 Spark gap breakdown is independent of voltage
waveform
 A sparkover voltage of 30kV (peak) at 1 cm spacing in air
at 20 deg C and 760 torr pressure occurs for a sphere
gap

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2.2.1 SPHERE GAP
MEASUREMENTS

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2.2.1 SPHERE GAP
MEASUREMENTS
 Two spheres used are identical in shape & size
 Spacing S will give a measure of the spark voltage
 A series resistance is connected b/w the sphere to:
 Limit the breakdown current
 Supress unwanted oscillations in the source voltage

 The value of series resistance is 100 to 1000K ohms.

 The applied voltage is uniformly increased until the
sparkover occurs in the gap
 The values of sparkover voltages are specified in
 BS:358, IEC Publication 52 of 1960
 IS: 1876 of 1962

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2.2.2. SPHERE GAP
CONSTRUCTION & ASSEMBLY
 Made of Copper, Brass or Aluminum
 Designed that the flashover occur at point P
 Carefully designed and fabricated to make sure the
surface is smooth & curvature
 Curvature is measured by SPHEROMETER
 Should be free from dust, grease or other coatings

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CLEARANCES FOR SPHERE
GAP

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2.2.3. FACTORS
INFLUENCING THE
SPARKOVER VOLTAGE OF
SPHERE GAP
a) Effect of nearby earthed objects

b) Effect of atmospheric conditions

c) Effect of Irradiation

d) Effect of Polarity and waveform

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EFFECT OF NEARBY
EARTHED OBJECTS

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EFFECT OF ATMOSPHERIC
CONDITIONS
 Sparkover voltage increases with humidity
 Is about 2 to 3% over normal humidy range of 8g/m cube
to 15g/m-cube
 Will increase with size of sphere
 Will increase with pressure of water vapour in air

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EFFECT OF IRRADIATION
 For small gap spacings less than 1CM
 Reduction of 20% in sparkover voltage was observed for
spacing's of 0.1D to 0.3D for a 1.3 cm sphere gap with dc
voltages

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EFFECT OF POLARITY &
WAVEFORM
 Wavefronts less than 0.5us and wavetail less than 1/50us
the breakdown voltages are not consistant
 <2cm D- difference of 8 % between –ve & +ve impulses
of waveform

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TESTING OF CIRCUIT
BREAKERS
Why??
1. The constructional and operational characteristics

2. Electrical characteristics of the circuit which the switch or

the breaker has to interrupt or make

Types of Test
3. Dielectric Test
4. Temperature Test
5. Mechanical Test
6. Short Circuit Test
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Dielectric Tests
 Withstand tests of power frequency, lightning & Switching
Impulses
 The test voltage is applied for a period of one minute
between
(i) phases with the breaker closed,
(ii) phases and earth with C.B. open, and
(iii) across the terminals with breaker open. With this the
breaker must not flash over or puncture.

 These tests are normally made on indoor switchgear.

 The test voltage should be a standard 1/50 μ sec wave, the

peak value of which is specified according to the rated
voltage of the breaker.
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Thermal Tests
 These tests are made to check the thermal behaviour of the
breakers.
 In this test the rated current through all three phases of the
switchgear is passed continuously for a period long enough to
achieve steady state conditions.
 Temperature readings are obtained by means of thermocouples
whose hot junctions are placed in appropriate positions.
 must normally not exceed 40°C when the rated normal current
is less than 800 amps and 50°C if it is 800 amps and above.

Mechanical Tests
 B.S. 116: 1952 requires 500 such operations without failure and
with no adjustment of the mechanism.

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SHORT CIRCUIT TESTS

Direct Testing in Networks or in the fields

 Advantages:

1. Tested under actual conditions

2. Special occasions like very short line faults
3. To asses the thermal and dynamic effects of SC currents

 Disadvantages:

1. Tested at only given rated voltage and network

2. Interrupt normal services
3. Extra inconvenience and expenses in installation of controlling
and measuring equipment in filed

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 Direct Testing in Shot- Circuit Test Laboratories

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 Synthetic Testing of Circuit Breakers

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