High Voltage Engineering

EE-421 (3:0)

Faculty: Dr. Vishal Saini

 Introduction
Course Objectives
• To learn about physical high voltage
phenomenon and their impact in power systems.
• To introduce the fundamental concepts relevant
to high voltage insulations and their
characterization.
• To understand about various factors that must
be considered while design and safer use of high
voltage systems.
 Reference Books
• John Kuffel, E. Kuffel, W. S. Zaengl - High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals
(2000)

• M S Naidu, V Kamaraju - High Voltage Engineering-Tata McGraw Hill (2013)

• Ravindra Arora, Wolfgang Mosch(auth.), Mohamed E. El_Hawary(eds.) -

High Voltage and Electrical Insulation Engineering-Wiley-IEEE Press (2011)

• Slides and Lectures: Fundamentals of High-Voltage Engineering Prof.

Ravindra Arora and Dr. Bharat Singh Rajpurohit (
https://bharatsrajpurohit.weebly.com/high-voltage-engineering-course.ht
ml
)
 Basic Terminology
• Electric Charge: The presence of an excess of
either positive subatomic particles (protons),
or negative subatomic particles (electrons) in a
substance.

• The electric charge is at rest in dielectrics,

however, it is in motion/restless in conductors.
 Basic Terminology
• Ionization is the process by which electric
charges hence potential builds up on an object

• Electric discharge- sudden movement of charge

• Electric discharge leads to equalization of the

difference of electric potential built by the
sudden movement of charge between any two
objects/electrodes
 Basic Terminology
Dielectric or Insulator
- Insulating (medium or substance), non-conductive,
non-conductor, through which electricity is
transmitted (without conduction).
- A non-conducting or dielectric; a material which
allows electromagnetic lines of force but resists
passage of electric current i.e.; flow of charges.
- Displacement current: equivalent current that is
considered to pass through an insulator for the
purpose of analysis.
Basic Terminology
Maxwell Equations
 Basic Terminology
• Electrical breakdown: The failure of electrical
insulation properties of insulating materials.
• Local breakdown: Failure of insulating properties
confined locally to a part of the total insulation
system.
• Global or total breakdown: The complete rupture or
failure of the electrical insulation.
• Electrical breakdown of insulation usually occur
between two electrodes/conductors of opposite
polarity, or between the conductor and ground.
 Basic Terminology
• Since local breakdown occurs partially, not globally, it
is also described as “Partial Breakdown” (PB) or
Partial Discharge in an electrical insulation.
• In PB, the healthy part of the dielectric continues to
provide electrical insulation between the two
electrodes in spite of failure of insulating properties
in some limited part; it does not bridge the gap
between the electrodes.
• PB can occur in any dielectric under adverse
conditions. Like breakdown, the PB phenomenon is
injurious for the dielectrics.
 Basic Terminology
• Corona: It is a stable PB phenomenon in
gaseous dielectrics.

• Streamer: It is a PB phenomenon in gaseous

dielectrics at hemispherical, spherical and
other curved electrodes, which appears like a
stream or a shower of discharge.
 Introduction
High Voltage is present around us in a variety of forms
• Lightning discharges —> so far the only “natural” form of high voltage all
other forms of HV are human-made

• HV in electric power transmission to avoid excessive line currents

• HV in applications such as
‣ ignition in IC engines
‣ xerography, accelerators, CRT, etc.
‣ pollution control (ESP, DBD, Ozone)
‣ gas discharge lamps
‣ plasma torches
‣ plasma etching
 Introduction
Advantages of high voltage in power transmission
- Transfer more power —> longer distances —> economically
- permits use of thinner conductors and hence, less cost

- Significant reduction in power loss in conductors for a given

AC line (ZC of ~250 ohm),
Ptransfer (max) = V2/ZC

‣ V (kV) : 400 700 1000 1200 1500

‣ P (MW) : 640 2000 4000 5800 9000
Rise of Power transmission levels
• 1882: 110 V DC (Edison era)
• 1886: (1 kV) AC; 2 kV AC over 30 km (Tesla era)
• 1891: 3ɸ AC at 25 kV over 170 km distance
• Today we have 800 kV, 1100 kV, 1200 kV lines
 High Voltage Electric Power Grid System
• Inter-connected Power System Network- Power Grid
• Generating stations are usually located at long distance from
each other.
• Transmission lines transfer the electrical energy from various
generating stations to the sub-stations, which is then
distributed to consumers.
• Generation voltage level in India limited to ~21.5 kV
• 200 MW capacities generate power is 11 kV
• For 500 and 650 MW machines it is at 22 kV level
• The present highest transmission voltage level in India is 765
kV ac and 800 kV dc.
 HV transmission levels across globe

PGCIL in May-2016 commissioned its UHV-AC 1200 kV National Test

Station (NTS) at Bina in Madhya Pradesh, which will enhance power
carrying capacity by 4-5 times that of 400 kV lines.
 Advantages of High Voltage Power Grid

• Lower infrastructure costs

• Increased efficiency
• Improved stability and reliability
• More efficient bulk power transfer
• Ease in meeting the peak load power demand
 High Voltage Classification
• International Electro-technical Commission (IEC
1970) has defined a “High Voltage” as that V >
than 1 kV for AC and > 1.2 kV for DC
• General classification of voltage levels
Low < 1 kV
Medium < 70 kV
High 110 kV~220 kV
EHV 275 kV ~ 800 kV
UHV > 1000 kV
 Rated Voltages and Frequencies in
Power Systems
Consumer level:
• 220 V to 240 V- single-phase, voltage is supplied between
phase and neutral for house hold consumption.
• 440 V, 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, and 11 kV- are three-phase
industrial consumer voltages.
• 3.3 kV and 6.6 kV are being phased out in order to
rationalize the system.
• The railway traction at 25 kV single-phase is one of the
biggest consumer of power spread at any particular
stretch up to 40 km of track length.
 Rated Voltages and Frequencies in Power
Systems
Generation level:
• Three-phase synchronous generators
440 V, 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV (small generators)
11 kV (110 & 220 MW),
21.5 kV (500 & 650 MW),
33 kV (1000 MW and above).

Distribution level: Three phase 440 V, 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, 11 kV, 33 kV, and
66 kV.
• With the increase in power consumption density, the power
distribution voltage levels are at rise because the power handling
capacity is proportional to the square of the voltage level.
 Rated Voltages and Frequencies in Power
Systems
Transmission with ac (HVAC):
• 132 kV, 220 kV, 380 – 400 kV, 500 kV, 765– 800 kV, 1000 kV
and 1150 kV.

Transmission with dc (HVDC):

• The dc single pole and bipolar lines at ± 100 kV, ± 500 kV, and
± 800 kV.

Frequency:
• 50 Hz is adopted in India and in most parts of the world.
• Canada, USA, and in Latin American countries 60 Hz.
 120 vs 230 V Consumer Voltage
Advantages
• 120 V rated voltage has a safer touch potential .

Disadvantages
• At 120 V double the magnitude of current is required to
deliver the same amount of power as at 230 V.
• Higher I2R losses (4 times more for the same power)
• The cross-sectional area of the conductor has to be increased
four time to maintain the same loss as before.
• Thus the consumption of power at 120 V requires four times
more copper as compared to a 230 V system- expensive.
Grounding in HV power systems
 Grounding in HV power systems
• It is a completely separate conductor, which is grounded or
earthed.
• The role of ground conductor in the power system is for protection.
• Ground conductor is present at the top of all the transmission
towers. Thus the towers are also earthed or grounded i.e. at zero
potential.
• This is for lightning protection. For a wide transmission tower, even
two ground conductors may be required for the protection of all
the live conductors from lightning.
• Being at the topmost position, the lightning strikes the ground
conductor, which protects the phase wires below that are at lower
height levels.
Types of Electrical Insulation/Dielectric

Gaseous Dielectrics
• Atmospheric air is the cheapest and most widely
used
• Other dielectrics are Nitrogen , Sulphur
hexafluoride SF6 and its mixtures with CO2 and
N2
• SF6 is very widely used in Gas Insulated
Substations (GIS), Circuit Breakers and Cables,
Transformers, etc.
Types of Electrical Insulation/Dielectric

Vacuum
• Vacuum of the order of 10-5 Torr and lower
provides an excellent electrical insulation.
• Vacuum is widely used at present as an
insulation in vacuum circuit breakers (VCB)
 Types of Electrical Insulation/Dielectric
Liquid Dielectrics:
• Organic liquids and mineral insulating oils (natural and synthetic) of
required physical, chemical and electrical properties are used very
widely in transformers, capacitors, cables and circuit breakers.

Solid Dielectrics:
• Most widely used are : XLPE, PVC, ceramics, glass, rubber, resins,
reinforced plastics, polypropylene, impregnated paper, wood, cotton,
mica, pressboards, Bakelite, Perspex, Ebonite, Teflon, etc.

Introduction of nanoparticles into solid and liquid dielectrics has been

found to enhance their insulation properties and is a popular area of
research.
 Electric Field Intensity in Dielectrics
• The electric field (E), produced due to potential on a
body, stresses the dielectric (electric insulation)
around it with “electric stress”.

• The performance of a dielectric strongly depends upon

the field configuration and the magnitude of electric
field intensity (E) with which it is stressed.

• The region around an electrified object can be

considered filled with “ lines of electric force ”.
Electric Field Intensity in Dielectrics
• The “ electric field intensity ” , or “electric field
strength ” , is defined as the electrostatic force
F per unit positive test charge q , placed at a
particular point.
• It is denoted by E – unit is “ N/C ”.
• More specifically mentioned as “electric stress
” experienced by a dielectric or an electrical
insulating material.
 Two typical
electrostatic field
structures
Electric Potential and Electric Field Intensity

• Uab is positive if the work is done

in carrying a unit positive charge
from b to a .

• The magnitude of electric field

intensity is, therefore, given by
the value of the rate of change
of potential with distance.
• Qualitative definition of “ electric strength ” of a dielectric is
the - “ maximum electric stress a dielectric can withstand
without rendering it to rupture completely ” .

• A quantitative definition is, however, complicated because a

large number of factors affect the electric breakdown of a
dielectric.

• Composition of dielectric material, presence of impurities

and imperfections in the dielectric, pressure, humidity,
temperature, electric field configuration (shape of the
electrodes, their size and gap distance), electrode material
and the duration, magnitude and the waveform of the
applied voltage.
• Intrinsic strength of a dielectric: It is defined for
gaseous and non-gaseous dielectrics differently.
• Gaseous dielectric: It is the magnitude of
breakdown voltage measured across a gap
distance of one cm in uniform field at normal
temperature and pressure (Ex. Air: 30kV/cm at
NTP).
• It is very high for solid and liquid dielectrics
compared to gaseous dielectrics. It is measured
for mm and μm, respectively, for the liquid and
solid dielectrics instead of 1 cm gap distance in
case of gaseous dielectrics.
 Enhanced breakdown
performance of
Anatase and Rutile
titania based nano-oils
DOI:
10.1109/TDEI.2016.005886
• In a time varying ac power frequency field (quasi
stationary field), the maximum electric stress
occurs at the peak value of the applied voltage, not
at its rms value.

• This must always be kept in mind while dealing

with other types of voltages, like lightning,
switching and the fast transient impulse voltages,
since their magnitudes are given only in their peak
values.
 Partial Breakdown in Dielectrics
• On applying sufficient voltage, extreme electric field
enhancement at a particular or at several locations within a
dielectric may develop depending upon the electrode
configurations.

• At such location/locations the dielectric could get stressed

excessively to the extent that it may lose its insulating
capability restricted only to this region.

• This gives rise to breakdown of the insulation locally known

as “ partial discharge ” (PD) or partial breakdown (PB).
 Partial Breakdown in Dielectrics
• The voltage applied across the dielectric, at which PB begins
locally somewhere in the dielectric, is known as “ partial
breakdown inception voltage ”, Ui .

• The voltage at which total breakdown of insulation occurs

i.e. gap between electrodes is bridged, is “complete
breakdown voltage” Ub

• PB takes place in all the dielectrics but only under extremely

non-uniform field conditions. Complete breakdown will
eventually occur in any field condition.
Classification of Partial Breakdown(PB)
Electrical and water treeing in polyethylene-insulated cable. (a) Electrical
trees grown from field-enhancing defects at the conductor/insulation
interface in early polyethylene-insulated cable. (b) water trees growing from
the conductor screen or bridging the whole insulation.
Reduction in surface tracking PD current in room
temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2021.107601

ESDD: Equivalent salt deposit density

Classification of Electric Fields

η - Schwaiger Factor, a measure of the uniformity of a field

Uniform field between two parallel plates
A uniform field can be
achieved between two
electrodes designed with
the help of Rogowsky or
Borda profiles, for the
given gap distance.

A dielectric has the

highest dielectric strength
when it is subjected to
uniform electric field.
However, it is very difficult
to realize a uniform field
in practice.
Weakly non-uniform field between two adjacent spheres
Extremely non-uniform field between needle-needle electrodes

Extremely non-uniform field

configuration is the most
commonly prevalent.

Weakly non-uniform field is

achieved often with
moderate design efforts in
coaxial insulation systems,
for example, in cables, gas
insulated systems (GIS), etc.
 Degree of Uniformity of Electric Fields (η)

• The degree of uniformity η (eta), introduced

by Schwaiger in 1922 as measure of the
uniformity of a field

Emean and Emax are the values of the mean and the maximum field
intensities in a dielectric respectively.
U is the peak value of potential difference applied between the
two electrodes at a distance d apart.
 Degree of Uniformity of Electric Fields (η)

• η serves as a ready reference that is important

information for insulation design in electrical
equipment.
• However, for determining the exact magnitude
of maximum electric stress, numerical
estimation techniques are used (FEM, FDM,
CSM, etc.)
 Geometrical characteristic factor
• Schwaiger also introduced a factor “ p ” , the
geometrical characteristic factor for electrode
configurations.
• He established that it is possible to represent
η as a function of “ p ” described as

where r is the smallest radius of curvature of electrodes, and d the shortest

gap distance between the two electrodes under consideration
For some common and practical electrode configurations, above
equation is represented graphically – known as Schwaiger
Curves. (class discussion from sec. 2.3.1, Ravindra Arora, ref. book)
Next week…Control of the electric field
intensity in dielectrics (Stress Control)