Chapter 3

Lecture 4
Overvoltage Protections
NURADDEEN MAGAJI
 Types of Overvoltages
Power System Overvoltages
Overvoltages are voltages, appearing on the power system and exceeding the
normal operating voltage

These overvoltages are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3.1, together with the
different insulation levels, while typical magnitudes and durations are given in
Table 3.1.

Fig. 3.1 overvoltages

 Types of Overvoltages

Table 3.1 Typical magnitudes and durations of the various types of overvoltage.
Magnitude (p.u.), Duration
Temporary (50 Hz) 1.5 50 s
Switching overvoltage 4.0 10 ms
Lightning overvoltage 6.5 100μs

 Power frequency overvoltages

As shown in Table 3.1, power system apparatus are specified to operate at Um, which is usually
about 5% higher than the nominal operating voltage. There are, however, circumstances where
temporary overvoltages (TOV’s) as high as 50% of the nominal voltage may occur.

 Switching overvoltages
A power system contains a large number of capacitances (mainly the line shunt capacitances and
compensation capacitors) and inductances (e.g. transformer leakage inductances). During
disturbances transients occur in the form of damped oscillations. Typical examples are:
 Fault clearing
 Transformer magnetising current
 Capacitance switching
 Energizing of unloaded transmission lines, travelling waves
 Lightning overvoltages
 Lightning overvoltages
Lightning overvoltages on the power system are caused by the large current that flows to ground
during a lightning discharge from a cloud to earth. During such a discharge the object (e.g. a
transmission line) could be part of the discharge path to ground (direct stroke)
The nature of lightning
Generally accepted that negative charge builds up in at the base of the thundercloud with the
upper parts having positive charge. Also, positive charge is induced on the earth, directly
underneath the cloud. The base of the cloud is often at a height of 1,500 m and the overall height
of the thundercloud could be as high as 12, 000 m
 Short Duration Power Frequency Withstand Voltage
Short duration power frequency withstand voltage is the prescribed rms value of sinusoidal
power frequency voltage that the electrical equipment shall withstand for a specific period of
time normally 60 seconds.
Control of Overvoltage Due to Switching
• The overvoltages due to switching and power frequency
may be controlled by
• (a) Energization of transmission lines in one or more
steps by inserting resistances and withdrawing them
afterwards,
• (b) phase controlled closing of circuit breakers,
• (c) drainage of trapped charges before reclosing,
• (d) use of shunt reactors, and
• (e) limiting switching surges by suitable surge diverters.
 Protection against Lightning Overvoltages and
Switching Surges of short Duration

Overvoltages due to lightning strokes can be avoided or minimized

in practice by
(a) shielding the overhead lines by using ground wires above the
phase wires,
(b) using ground rods and counter-poise wires, and
(c) including protective devices like expulsion gaps, protector tubes
on the lines, and surge diverters at the line terminations and
substations..
Protective gaps: These take the form of rod or horn gaps
across insulators or transformer bushings. These gaps
provide poor protection for short, high impulses.
 Questions
Q1 What are the purposes of providing ground wire
protection for transmission lines?
(1) Ground wires are placed above Transmission line, suitable
shielding angle is provided, when the thunder clouds come
near the Tr line, since the base of the cloud has –ve charges,
+ve charges are induced in the ground wire. These induced
charges are drawn to the ground since ground wires are
earthed periodically. Consequently potential rise will be small
and hence induced lightning stroke can be prevented. Hence
the frequency of lightning stroke is reduced.
(2) When lightning strokes, takes place traveling waves are
generated, they move. Correspondingly over voltages are
induced in the ground wires, which will oppose the traveling
waves and Flattening of the High voltage curve on the
transmission line.
 Questions
Q2 Why ground rods are provided?
Solution
1) To reduce Tower footing Resistance
2) A number of rods of 15mm dia , 2.5 m to 3.0 m long
driven to the ground up to say 50m, in hard soils
3) They are interconnected and connected to the tower
footing
4) Reduction in tower footing resistance reduces the surge
impedance of the Tower and back flash over.
Q3What are the characteristics of an ideal surge
diverter?
1. When the line voltage is less than the limiting value,
leakage current should be zero. Perfect insulator and
impedance is infinite.
2. When the line voltage exceeds the limit, it should offer
zero impedance and irrespective of the voltage shape
it should by pass the voltage.
3. After the surge is bypassed & immediately after normal
voltage is restored, once again is should act as an
insulator