HIGH VOLTAGE

WHAT IS HIGH VOLTAGE? : Any voltage that is 1000V Or Greater for AC

AND for DC

WHY IS HIGH VOLTAGE PREFERRED ON SOME SHIPS? :

Higher POWER requirements on board ships these days is one of the
primary reasons, especially for Large Gas carriers, since extensive
cooling is required for cargo. Also Very Large Container vessels that
carrying thousands of reefer containers. Finally for ships that are using
Electrical Propulsion.

FINANCIALLY FOR OWNERS, THE COST comes down when using

HIGH VOLTAGE for a fixed power rating! For a given power
rating,CURRENT in a HV system is reduced drastically.
From Ohm’s Law we have..........

POWER(W) = VOLTAGE(V) x CURRENT(I)

Therefore it stands to reason that if POWER is fixed, then higher the voltage,
CURRENT has to come down.
e.g. Bow Thruster motor of 440kW = 440V x 1000A
OR = 1100V x 400A
OR = 11000V x 40A
This means that at a higher voltage and less current, cables carrying such a
load can be much THINNER. Windings of otherwise large sized motors is
much less, motor size reduces etc. Thus overall COST factor comes down.

WHY ARE FOLLOWING HIGH VOLTAGES NORMALLY USED ON

BOARD SHIP????

1.1kV(1100VAC), 3.3kV(3300VAC), 6.6kV(6600VAC),

11kV(11000VAC)..............etc.
(lower voltages like 110VAC, 220VAC, 440VAC.....)
& WHY NOT 1.2kV or 2.4kV or 6.3kV.....ETC.?
Because of “FORM FACTOR”
Form Factor is only considered when generating a pure
Sine Wave voltage.

RMS VALUE OF SINE WAVE = 0.707 X PEAK VALUE

PEAK VALUE OF SINE WAVE = 1.414 X RMS VALUE
AVERAGE VALUE OF SINE WAVE WOULD BE ZERO IF
TAKEN OVER THE WHOLE SINE WAVE, HENCE ONLY HALF
THE SINE WAVE IS CONSIDERED

= 0.637 X PEAK VALUE

So Form Factor, is the ratio of the RMS value to the

Average Value; Therefore, for a pure sinusoidal
waveform the Form Factor will always be equal to
1.11 i.e. irrespective of the voltage generated.

0.707 = 1.109890 appox equals 1.11

0.637

THEREFORE VOLTAGES ON BOARD SHIP IN ORDER

TO OBTAIN ADVANTAGES OF HIGH VOLTAGE, FORM
FACTOR IS CONSIDERED AND THEREFORE
1000 x 1.11 = 1.11kV but rounded down to 1.1kV
3000 X 1.11 = 3.33kV but rounded down to 3.3kV
LIKEWISE 6000 X 1.11 = 6.66Kv rounded down to
6.6kV and
10000 x 1.11 = 11.1kV rounded down to 11kV
SOME AGENCY DEFINITIONS:
IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission – Its an Organisation
that develops and publishes STANDARDS concerning electrical technologies.
e.g. IEC60092 (Electrical Installations on board ship).
IEC is used internationally.

IEEE: Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers – Its an Institution

that recommends STANDARDS for Electrical “ON-BOARD” installations,
based on US practices.

NEMA: The National Electrical Manufacturers Association – An

Organisation that Develops and Publishes STANDARDS regarding Production
and Manufacturing for technologies involving Generation, Transmission &
Use of Electricity.

NFPA: National Fire Protection Association – Its an Organisation that is

the leader in providing Fire, Electrical and Life Saving STANDARDS.

ANSI: American National Standards Institute – A U.S. entity that

provides & ensures conformity of Health and Safety STANDARDS &
Protection of the Environment.

CENELEC: European Committee for Electrotechnical

Standardization – Is a committee of Europe that is responsible for
standardization in the Electrotechnical field.

BSI: British Standards Institute – Is a national Standards body for the

U.K. that is responsible for facilitating, drafting, publishing & marketing of
British Standards & other Guidelines.

Regulations for Marine Electrical Installations (by

IEC):-
1) The Main Switch Board must consist of atleast 2 INDEPENDANT SECTIONS
each supplied by atleast one generator & so arranged, that duplicate
essential services are supplied from separate switchboard sections.
2) Distribution systems shall be 3 Phase 3 Wire & may be operated with
Neutral either Insulated or Grounded.
3) Where System Neutral is Insulated, the dielectric strength of all electrical
equipment should be sufficient to withstand a possible transient Over-
voltage to ground.**
4) Where system Neutral is Grounded, connection to ground shall be through
a resistor which is capable of limiting the Ground Fault Current to a value,
NOT GREATER THAN THE FULL LOAD CURRENT OF THE LARGEST
 CONNECTED GENERATOR & NOT LESS THAN 3 TIMES THE MINIMUM
CURRENT REQUIRED TO OPERATE ANY GROUND FAULT MONITORING
OR PROTECTION DEVICES.
5) A Neutral grounding Resistor shall be provided for each section of the
system that can operate independently.
6) A disconnecting means shall be fitted in each generator ground connection
to permit complete isolation of the generator for maintenance purposes.
7) Transformer primary neutral shall not be grounded except when all
generators are disconnected and power is supplied from shore.
8) A means of Visually and Audible indicating system to any ground fault,
shall be fitted
9) A suitable disconnecting means shall be provided on the supply side of
fuses used for the protection of instrument potential transformers.
10) Terminal Boxes and cable termination shall be of sufficient size to
accommodate cable glands and termination while maintaining minimum
cable bend. (MAX CABLE BEND ALLOWED IS 33o)
11) High Voltage and Low Voltage cable connections shall not be
accommodated in the same terminal box.

NEUTRAL ISOLATED OR NEUTRAL GROUNDED SYSTEM:-

In a 3 phase generating system, which is always connected in star connection,
each phase is connected to a common point called NEUTRAL. The neutral is
either earthed directly, insulated (kept hanging) or earthed
through a resistor.

** Overvoltages are high; In an Isolated system,

phase voltage to earth in 3 phase Star configuration
is √3 x Vphase = 1.73 x 254V = 440Volts or nearly
DOUBLE!!! THEREFORE CANNOT BE USED FOR H.V.
SYSTEM

Hence to over come these surges voltages, the Neutral can be earthed.
However, even in ordinary low voltage generators, the first method is
never used as if there is an earth fault, then it would mean
that the alternator output would be directly shorted to
earth(ground) through the equipment that has developed
the earth fault with catastrophic consequences. Therefore, this
system requires only one earth fault on a line conductor for
heavy current flow and is thus hazardous, as essential working
equipment like steering gear will have to continue running.
** Hence an INSULATED OR ISOLATED neutral system is used for
medium voltage generation, thus even if there is one earth fault, it still
provides for un-interrupted power supply. Separate trip circuits are provided
elsewhere when such a fault occurs. This is okay if there is only one earth
fault of one phase, but if another earth fault in another phase would result in a
short circuit which would trip certain safety circuits and thus put the vessel in
danger if this involves essential services. DIELECTRIC STRENGTH at
the Neutral Isolation point will have to be HIGH. Fault finding
of exact location of earth fault is difficult in this system. **THUS CANNOT
USE THE ISOLATED OR INSULATED EARTHING SYSTEM FOR H.V.

In High Voltage System, why is the Neutral Earthed via a resistor?

A Solidly Earthed Neutral helps to limit OVER VOLTAGE. But if there is a

FAULT CURRENT, this current will be VERY HIGH. If NEUTRAL is ISOLATED
then FAULT CURRENT is LOW but allows for HIGH OVER VOLTAGE. So in a
High Voltage system we want to AVOID both, HIGH OVER VOLTAGE as well as
HIGH FAULT CURRENT which would be disasterous for the generator.

Thus a LOW RESISTANCE EARTHED NEUTRAL (Called NEUTRAL EARTHED

RESISTOR) is used by inserting a resistor between the neutral of the
alternator winding and earth. Tripping devices are then used from this resistor
to immediately trip a circuit if an earth fault occurs.

Therefore..............

HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM IS EARTHED – THROUGH A NEUTRAL

EARTHING RESISTOR (NER):-
Due to disadvantage of neutral earth being isolated (Vline = √3 x VPhase,
Tracing of earth fault and isolating same), High Voltage systems use a
NEUTRAL EARTHING RESISTOR(NER). This resistor should be capable
of limiting ground fault current to a value not GREATER than the full
load current of the connected generator & not less than 3 times the
minimum current required to operate and ground fault monitoring or
protection device. The Neutral impedance shall be so chosen so that the
transient over-voltage caused by a fault is kept to a minimum. This means that
the value of the Neutral Earth Resistor should not be too high nor too low.

Calculating the value of NER:-

Generator Voltage 3.3kV, Capacity 1MW, PF =0.8

Power = √3 x VLine x ILine x CosØ

in 3ϕ, I Line = I Phase, hence from above formula we have

I Phase= I Line = 1000,000 / √3x3300x0.8 = 218.7Amps

V Phase x √3 = VLine
Therefore V Phase = 3300/√3 = 1905.3V

In order to withstand an earth fault in any phase, the value of the NER should
be
R=V/I (from Ohm’s Law), therefore

1905.3 = 8.7Ω
218.7

GENERAL SAFETY RULES

1) No work shall be carried out on any High Voltage system or apparatus until
an assessment has been carried out to highlight Dangers or Consequences
of that work (Risk Assessment).
2) No work shall be carried out on any High Voltage system or apparatus by
persons NOT Authorised or Qualified to do so (STCW, Manila 2010, Table A-
III/1 and A-III/2, stating the personnel authorized to work on HV equipment,
must be trained and posses knowledge accordingly).
3) No work shall be carried out on any High Voltage system or apparatus
until:-
(a) The System or apparatus has been Isolated from the Supply
(b) The System or Apparatus has been Properly Earthed
(c) The system or apparatus screened from any other apparatus as may be
necessary and Danger and Caution Notices posted in relevant areas.
4) No work shall be carried out on any High Voltage System or apparatus until
High Voltage Permit to Work has been issued.
5) No High Voltage Permit to Work shall be issued until ALL Competent
Persons,
who carry out such work, have been :-
(a) Made aware of the full extent of the work to be carried out.
(b) Made aware of the points of Isolation and Earthing
 (c) Made aware of any Dangers that may be present in the immediate
vicinity of the work.
6) No person shall carry out work on High Voltage system or apparatus whilst
unaccompanied by another person, who is also competent to do so.
7) On completion of the work, the competent person shall demonstrate to the
authorized person, that all work has been completed in line with the work
instruction.
8) On completion of the work, the Permit to Work shall be cancelled and all
personnel should be made aware, that it is no longer safe to work on the
High Voltage System or apparatus.
9) On completion of work, where necessary, a sanction for test shall be issued
and all persons involved, shall be made aware of any Danger that may arise
during the test and be made aware of any points of isolation that may be
necessary.
10)On completion of tests, the competent person in charge of the test shall
demonstrate to the authorized person, that all the equipment used in the
test, has been removed and that the system or apparatus is ready to be
returned to normal service after the sanction for test has been cancelled.
11)Once the Permit to Work or Sanction for tests have been cancelled, the
Authorized person shall ensure that all isolators and earths have been
removed and that it is safe to Energize the system once more.

Panel with high voltage is always “LOCKED” and is further “INTERLOCKED” with switch gear to
prevent any accidental opening during presence of High Voltage.
(Majumdar/Elstan Fernandez – page 433-438)

HAZARDS OF HV
ARCING:
During opening of current-carrying contacts in a circuit breaker or between
insulators of current carrying conductors, the medium between the contacts
becomes highly ionized, thus leading to a momentary current flow between
the contacts as they just begin the open. The path of current flow becomes so
heated up that is glows at that moment. THIS IS CALLED ARCING.
This occurs in normal ACBs for low voltage generators, hence Arc shutes are
provided to cool the arc and avoid damage. Arcing or Arc Flash in High
Voltage situations normally is followed by ARC BLAST.

ARC BLAST
In HV generating sets due to the very high voltage, this would cause and arc
flash and due to high temperature reaching up to 20000oC or greater, the air is
instantly heated up and the contacts get vapourized, thereby causing a high
intensity and high pressure wave called an ARC BLAST. The arc blast causes
large amounts of heat and light energy to be dissapated at the point of the arc.
Arc Blast hazard is based on :-
1) Fault Current
2) Arcing time
3) Distance

Effect of Arc Blast:-

1) Severe 3rd degree burns
2) Broken bones
3) Vision impaired
4) Hearing loss
5) Brain Damage and/or internal injuries
6) Punctures and lacerations
7) Death

AIR CLEARANCES
VOLTAGE (KV) PHASE TO EARTH (mm) PHASE TO PHASE(mm)
0.415 15.8 19.05
3.3 50.8 50.8
6.6 63.5 88.9
11 76.2 127

SAFE Working Distances:-

RATED VOLTAGE SAFE DISTANCE
UPTO 1000V 0.7MTRS
1000v UP TO 6600V 2.56MTRS (8’ 5”)
6600V UP TO 11000V 2.59MTRS (8’ 6”)
11000v UP TO 22000V 2.64MTRS (8’ 8”)
22000V UP TO 33000V 2.74MTRS (9’)
Hazzard Category 4 (25.1 to 40)
EARTHING DOWN: Very important for HV systems; due to high voltage,
energy may be stored in conductors and insulation. This requires to be
discharged to earth before commencement of any work. Through a earthing
contact located within the system, the earthing is done, prior which the
cabinet housing the HV components within, cannot be opened (Interlock).
Once cabinet opened, grounding stick as show can be further used to
discharge any residual charge.

Interlock Switches, Cabinet cannot be

opened without earthing down

DEAD: Means at zero potential or earth potential and disconnected from ALL
sources of energy, including residual stored energy. Checked by appropriate
Voltmeter.
CIRCUIT MAIN EARTH: It is an earth connection applied for the purpose of
making the apparatus safe to work on before a permit to work or sanction for
test is issued and which is mentioned in the document.

ACRONYMS FOR WORKING ON HV SYSTEMS

L - Locate all point for isolation
I - Isolate to prevent accidental re-energising
V - Verify that power is disconnected and that there are no secondary sources
E - Earth, using appropriate and approved equipment
D - Dead – confirm no voltage by use of proper HV test equipment

D - Disconnect
I - Isolate
E – Earth
D – Dead, confirm no voltage by use of proper HV test equipment

SWITCHGEAR USED FOR HV INSTALLATION

HV circuit breakers have to bear large power swings under fault condition.
Also when opening and closing of breakers, there would be huge arcing,
leading to ARC BLAST if a normal ACB was used and destruction of the
equipment. Therefore certain types are used where this arc is safely
quenched.

There are TWO types of Circuit Breakers used for HV. Namely

SF6 (Sulphur Hexaflouride) & VACCUM CIRCUIT

BREAKER

SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER

SF6 is a colourless, non-toxic “Man-Made” gas with good thermal
conductivity and density that is 5 times that of air.
Principle of operation:- SF6 is an electro-negative gas and has a strong
tendency to absorb free electrons. The contacts of the breaker are opened in a
high-pressure flow of SF6 gas and an arc is struck between
them. The conducting free electrons in the arc are rapidly captured by the gas
to form relatively immobile negative ions.

Advantages of SF6 Circuit Breaker

1) High Dielectric Strength
2) Very good Arc-Quenching ability
3) Excellent Thermal Stability
4) Good Thermal conductivity.
5) Non-flammable & Stable
6) Contacts very close, hence arcing negligible
7) No carbon deposits on contacts
8) Low maintenance
9) Can interrupt large current

Disadvantages:
1) In its normal pure form is remains “NON-TOXIC”. However since
it gets contaminated by copper vapour or any other metal vapour,
it mixes and causes a HIGHLY TOXIC gas(H2S), which when it
leaks, smells like ROTTEN EGGS.
2) If SF6 gas, even in its pure form escapes into the atmosphere, it
is a GREEN HOUSE GAS
3) Gas is prone to leakage, hence continuous monitoring required.
4) This Gas is very costly since it is “Man-Made”, thus Making SF6
breaker very expensive.
OPERATION
During operation, the gas that is contained in a chamber is compressed by a
moving cylinder that supports the Moving Contact of the breaker.

This forces the SF6 gas through the interrupting nozzle. When the contacts
separate, an arc is established. If current is not that high, this arc is
extinguished at the first zero crossing by pushing the SF6 gas through the arc
with the help of the piston. If the current is high, the arc may not be
extinguished at the first zero crossing but due to the pressure build up
created by the piston for the SF6 gas, this will ensure that the arc is
extinguished properly.

In the figure above, the piston is fixed, but the cylinder is connected to the
moving contact. When the breaker is opened, the cylinder along with the
moving contact, moves away from the fixed contact. This results in the piston
compressing the SF6 gas inside the cylinder, The SF6 gas flows through the
nozzle and over the arc in an axial direction.

Pressure inside the cylinder is maintained at about

5Kg/cm2
Because SF6 is a dangerous gas (contaminated-H2S and un-contaminated-
Green House Gas), its pressure is always monitored by a pressure switch to
avoid any malfunction (too high a pressure and SF6 liquifies, too low a
pressure and it will not quench the arc)
> 3.8 Bar to 5Bar = Green Indication
< 3.4 Bar = Alarm
< 2.8 Bar = Trip

VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

Principle of operation:- In this breaker, the opening and closing of the
breaker’s contacts is done in a VACUUM. Vacuum does not have any
“Solids”, “Liquids” or “Gas”. Hence, Vacuum offers highest insulating
strength, hence ideal for quenching of arc.
Vacuum of 10-6 to 10-9 TORR is required upto a minimum of 10-2
TORR
OPERATION:
Dielectric strength of Vacuum is EIGHT times greater than AIR and
FOUR times greater than SF6 Gas, Besides being totally
environmentally friendly.

Main function of any circuit breaker is to always quench the arc at the time of
separation of the contacts of the breaker.
When two faces of a contact are being separated from each other, they are in
actual fact, not separated instantly as the contact area on the contact face is
progressively reduced and ultimately reaches a point when they are finally
separated.
At the instant the contacts are thus separated in a vacuum, the current
through the contacts is thus highly concentrated on this last point of contact
on the surface and results in a very high temperature HOTSPOT. Since this
spot is in a vacuum, the metal on the contact surface is easily vaporised and
creating a conducting path for an arc to form. As the contacts move apart
further, the vacuum takes effect and breaks this path, recondensing the
vaporised metal, back on to the surface of the contacts.

These contactors as can be seen, is encapsulated in a glass like capsule.

Advantages Disadvantages
1) 8 Times greater Dielectric 1) Vacuum has to be monitored
strength than Air 4 times greater If it leaks, then it becomes
dielectric strength than SF6 like a normal ACB with severe
2) Safe and environmentally friendly consequences

3) Due contacts close to each other, very

compact.
4) Easy maintenance; glass tube easily
replaceable.

TESTS CONDUCTED IN HIGH VOLTAGE:

PRECAUTIONS
GROUND RULES:-
1) “Sanction for test” to be given to Competent Person (i.e. person having
done HV course and training and is issued with recognised certificate for
HV)
2) Area exposed to live conductors, test equipment and any High Voltage test
connection, should be regarded as high voltage enclosures.
3) Area cordoned off by red and white tape of NOT LESS than 25mm
WIDE.

4) Always TWO people have to be involved whilst conducting tests on HV

5) Appropriate PPE worn for the voltage being tested.
6) No touching of the insulation that covers or supports any conductor, unless
conductor is earthed.
7) Permit to work must be issued by Authorised Person only after PROVING
THAT EQUIPMENT IS “DEAD”
8) All cables etc. associated with HV must be presumed to be live unless
proven otherwise (Earthing down, CME)
LIVE VOLTAGE TEST – To be done with approved equipment and the
recommended safe distance from the live bus bars, & internal equipment.

WHAT IS IR TEST & HOW IS IT CONDUCTED FOR

H.V.?

IR = Insulation Resistance Test

This is done using a Megger Tester for H.V., by earthing one test prod and
using the other as the live test prod.
THE I.R. CHECK IS ALWAYS CARRIED OUT FOR A PERIOD OF
1MINUTE & READING NOTED.

NOTE:- Lloyds requires each equipment insulation to be tested to

NOT LESS THAN 7.5 times LINE TO NEUTRAL voltage but one can
test the insulation to almost TWICE the rated Voltage which is
sufficient.
e.g. 6.6kV x 2 = 13.2kV. But SOLAS says we are not
supposed to use more than 5000V for testing purposes

Ranges:- Voltage in Use Tester Range

650V 500VDC
1.1kV 1000VDC
3.3kV 2500VDC
6.6kV and > 5000VDC

HOW THEREFORE DOES ONE DETERMINE MINIMUM INSULATION

RESISTANCE FOR HV?
Thumb Rule for minimum Acceptable IR Value is (kV + 1) Mega
Ohms.
e.g. Minimum I.R = System Voltage (6.6kV) + 1 = “X” Mega Ohms
 “X” = 7.6 Mega Ohms

Q: ON THE MEGGER FOR H.V. THERE IS A THIRD TEST PROD, WHAT

IS THIS THIRD TEST PROD USED FOR?
A: It provides a return circuit to the meggar such that it bypasses a
current that you do not want to measure in a circuit under test.
(Please refer to additional notes for full explanation).

WHAT IS “PI”?
DEFINITION:-
PI means POLARIZATION INDEX (test)
In HIGH VOLTAGE, Polarization Index is a guide that is used to determine
DRYNESS AND SAFETY OF WINDINGS IN INSULATION OF MOTORS,
TRANSFORMERS AND GENERATORS, IN A HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM.

HOW TO TAKE POLARIZATION INDEX:-

1) INSULATION RESISTANCE THAT IS TAKEN USING A

INSULATION TESTER, FOR A PERIOD OF 1 MINUTE & RECORDED.

REMOVE THE TEST PRODS & THEN WAIT FOR A SHORT TIME OF ABOUT 10-
15 SECS

2) INSULATION IS THEN TAKEN FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF 10

MINUTES & RECORDED.
THE RATIO OF 10 MINS READING = POLARIZATION INDEX
1 MIN READING

THIS RATIO SHOULD BE ALWAYS >2

<1.0 Insulation is considered HAZARDOUS
1.0–1.5 Insulation is considered “BAD”
1.5-2.0 Insulation is considered as DOUBTFUL
2.0-3.0 Insulation considered as SATISFACTORY
3.0-4.0 Insulation is considered as GOOD
> 4.0 Insulation is considered as EXCELLENT

But.................

What is DAR ?
DAR or Dielectric Absorption (or Time-Resistance) Test is an
extension of the Polarisation Index (PI) test in case PI reading is
< 2.

In the PI test, we take the Insulation Resistance first for 1 minute and then
for 10 minutes and then take the ratio of this (10Mins reading
divided by 1 mins reading). A value of > 2 means very good insulation.
A reading of <2 means doubtful.

DAR measurements are useful for PI readings of < 2 for

items under test

For DAR, a shorter duration is considered where IR is first taken for 30

Secs, then a short time lapse and then taken for 1 min (60Secs).
The Ratio of IR Reading for 60Secs to 30 secs reading is
called the DAR.

In such cases, a minimum value of DAR reading of 1.25 is required.

A reading 1.6 or more is BEST

A reading of between 1.25 – 1.6 is GOOD
A reading of < 1.25 is considered BAD

PARTIAL DISCHARGE(PD)
Is a localized discharge that does not completely bridge over or arc over from one
electrode (conductor)to another. its a precursor to insulation breakdown problem.
that would deteriorate rapidly and result in catastrophic results.

DURING TESTS
There are four currents that flow when using DC voltage during the IR or PI Tests:-

CAPACITIVE CURRENT:
 The insulation behaves like a Capacitor when DC Voltage is applied
 A high current flows first and then decays.
 The IR value is to be measured AFTER THE CURRENT DECAYS therefore a
period taken as 1 minute.

CONDUCTION CURRENT:
 This current flows between the Core of conductor and the periphery.
 This is due to deterioration of insulation due to cracks,pinholes etc.
 Current is constant, i.e. does not rise or fall.
 Value normally ZERO if insulation is in good condition.

SURFACE LEAKAGE CURRENT:

 As name suggests, this current flows on the SURFACE of the insulation when
DC voltage is applied.
 This is due to collection of dirt, grime, oil etc.
 Current is constant, i.e. does not rise or fall.

POLARISATION CURRENT:
 As insultation depends on the amount of moisture, the water within insulation
becomes POLARIZED.
 That means the molecules get a polarity (+ or -) and arrange themselves
accordingly.
 This takes about 10 MINUTES to be completed. That is why in
POLARIZATION INDEX, we are taking the IR for 1 minute , then for 10
minutes and the ratio of 10/1 minute readings, gives us the POLARIZATION
INDEX.
CORONA EFFECT: Due to High Voltage Transmission and high current flow
in cables (Transmission Cables Overhead), they IONIZE the air around it
(Nitrogen molecules get excited). This ionization causes a faint purplish glow
around the cable. This glow is called CORONA Effect & is visible only at night
time against a dark background.

SKIN EFFECT: In solid conductors that carry high voltage, a magnetic field
is created and these magnetic lines passes through the centre of the
conductor. This causes EDDY currents which create their own flux lines that
OPPOSE the normal flow of the current through the central part of the solid
conductor, forcing it to flow at the outer part or skin of the solid conductor.
This is called Skin Effect. Therefore, higher the frequency, greater the skin
effect.

TO OVERCOME SKIN EFFECT, HOLLOW CONDUCTORS ARE USED.

Advantages of High Voltage use:-

1) Higher the Voltage used, lesser the current required
2) Due to less current, Cables, wires and windings and their capacity size is
reduced substantially.
3) Generator size, motors, etc. thus reduced.
4) Installation easier
5)Losses are lower due less current
6) Cost is reduced drastically.
Disadvantages of HV:-
1) Higher Insulation class rating required for cables and equipment(F and
greater).
2) High Risk Factor and hence necessary for strict adherence to stringent
safety measures/procedures.
3) Expensive switch gear has to be used.
4) Transmission losses due to Corona Effect & Skin Effect (in High Voltage
transmission lines/conducters).

HIGH VOLTAGE - MAINTENANCE

Follow all the SAFETY PRECAUTIONS discussed earlier....Take Permission
from [Link], Risk assessment, tool box meeting, Isolation, Earthing
down, Permit to Work, etc.
All electrical equipment including HIGH VOLTAGE equipment
have to be maintained regularly where cleanliness is essential for good operation.
Therefore, maintenance has to be carried out at least ONCE EVERY YEAR or
earlier if operating requirements permit.

1) In MSB and other Switchboards, all ELECTRICAL

CONNECTIONS must be sound. Tightness of nuts/bolts should be
checked. Any telltale signs of sparking should be investigated.
Parts subject to wear must be examined and replaced when necessary, such as
Limit switches, Safety Interlocking, “ARC” detector switch to be checked.

2) The accumulation of dust/dirt on electrical equipment will result in insulation

breakdown and leakage currents. Moisture or oil deposits will likewise
affect insulation resistance.
Therefore regular “IR” tests and “PI” tests to be taken (6 monthly) and
compilation of the records of these tests thereof.
Ventilation passages or ducts may become blocked, with resultant lack
of cooling and overheating, hence cleaning of the same is warranted.

3) SF6 or VCB High Voltage Breakers

SF6 Circuit breakers to be ensured that gas pressure is maintained (3.4
up to 5Kg/Cm2). The monitoring equipment for SF6 connections etc. to
be checked regularly. Leaking SF6 breakers to be replaced with new
ones asap.
Likewise for VCB, vacuum to be maintained at 10-6 TORR and the
equipment that is monitoring this, connections and readings to be
checked regularly and defective VCB component to be replaced.