Measurements of High Voltages and Currents

Subba Reddy B

DEPT. OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Bangalore, INDIA – 560 012

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Measurement of High Voltages and Currents

INTRODUCTION

Measurements of high voltages and currents involve much more complex problems
which a specialist, in common electrical measurement do not face.

High voltage equipments have large stray capacitances with respect to the grounded
structures and hence large voltage gradients are set up.

A person handling these equipments and the measuring devices must be protected
against these over voltages.

large structures are required to control the electrical fields to avoid flash over between
the equipment and the grounded structures.

Sometimes, these structures are required to control heat dissipation within the circuits.
Therefore, location & layout of equipments is very important to avoid these problems.

Electromagnetic fields create problems in measurements of impulse voltages and

currents, these should be minimized.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH AC VOLTAGES
 Series impedance voltmeter
 Electrostatic Voltmeters
 Potential Dividers
 Sphere gaps

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH DC VOLTAGES

Series Resistance micro ammeter
 Resistance potential divider
 Generating Voltmeters
 Sphere Gaps

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH AC HIGH FREQUENCY & IMPULSE VOLTAGES

 Potential Dividers (R & C)
 Peak voltmeters
 Sphere gaps

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 SPHERE GAPS
Sphere gap is considered as one of the standard methods for measurement of peak
value of d.c., a.c. and impulse voltages and is used for verifing voltmeters and other
voltage measuring devices used in high voltage test circuits.

Two identical metallic spheres separated by certain distance form a sphere gap.

The sphere gap can be used for measurement of impulse voltage of either polarity
provided that the impulse is of a standard wave form and has wave front time at least 1
micro sec. and wave tail time of 5 micro sec.

The gap length between the sphere should not exceed a sphere radius.

If these conditions are satisfied, specifications regarding shape, mounting, clearances

of spheres are met, results obtained by use of sphere gaps are reliable to within ± 3%.

Standard specifies in places where availability of uv radiation is low, irradiation of gap

by radioactive or other ionizing media to be used for voltage magnitudes below 50 kV
or for higher voltages for accurate results are to be obtained.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Specifications on Spheres and Associated Accessories
Spheres should be so made that their surfaces are smooth and their curvatures as
uniform as possible.

Curvature should be measured by a spherometer at various positions over an area

enclosed by a circle of radius 0.3 D, sparking point where D is diameter of sphere and
sparking points on two spheres are at minimum distances from each other.

For smaller size, spheres are placed in horizontal configuration whereas large dia-
spheres are mounted with axis of sphere gaps vertical and lower sphere grounded.

it is important, spheres should be so placed the space between spheres is free from
external electric fields and from bodies which may affect field between the spheres

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Influence of Nearby Earthed Objects

Influence of nearby earthed object on dc breakdown of horizontal gaps was studied

and found that breakdown voltage reduced especially when the gap length exceeded
a sphere radius.

Influence of Humidity

The effect of humidity on the breakdown voltage using spheres of 2 cms to 25 cms
diameters and uniform field electrodes were studied:
(i) The a.c. breakdown voltage is slightly less than d.c. voltage.
(ii) The breakdown voltage increases with the partial pressure of water vapour.

also been observed that:

(i) humidity effect increases with size of spheres
& largest for uniform field electrodes.
(ii) The values of voltage change for a given humidity
with increase in gap length.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Influence of Dust Particles

Dust particles floating between the gap cause results into erratic breakdown in
homogeneous or slightly inhomogeneous electrode configurations.

When dust particle come in contact with one electrode under the application of d.c.
voltage, it gets charged to the polarity of electrode and gets attracted by opposite
electrode due to field forces and breakdown is triggered shortly before arrival.

Gaps subjected to a.c. voltages are also sensitive to dust particles but the probability
of erratic breakdown is less.

Under d.c. voltages erratic breakdowns occur within a few minutes even for voltages
as low as 80% of the nominal breakdown voltages - This is a major problem, concerns
with measurements of high d.c. voltage with sphere gaps.

Protection
• To avoid excessive pitting of spheres, protective series resistances are used.
• For AC & DC value of protective resistor used may range from 0.1 to 1MΩ.
• For impulse it should not exceed 500Ω inductance should be lower than 30 uH.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Sphere – gaps Limitations

(a) Useful essentially for calibration and not measurement.

(b) Accuracy not as good as believed (>> 3% under normal conditions)
(c) Too large in size and additionally requires large clearances.
(d) Requires maintenance – Current on sparkover to be limited ( <1A peak).
Sparkover region to be kept smooth (not polished) ; alignment, irradiation.
(e) For given sphere diameter, minimum & maximum gaps limit useful range
– necessitates having several sphere gaps.
(f) Sphere gap sensitive to atmospheric pressure & temperature (and humidity
if it is excessive).
(g) During calibration of a test – setup with sphere-gap, for good
accuracy ( especially in case of high capacitance test objects ), it is
essential to keep the test object in circuit.
Also, calibration must be close to test voltage. This may not be desirable
from the point of test object.

For above reason, sphere gaps have not found favour in modern laboratories
– Yet simplicity & fool proof-ness are attractive !

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Atmospheric correction factor
[IS-2071/IEC 60060-1]
• Breakdown voltage (BDV) is affected by air density and
humidity.
• By applying the correction factor, BDV measured in given test
condition is to be converted to the value that would have
obtained under STP
(to=20oC, P=760 mmHg, Abs. humidity =11 g/m3) .
• = Peak value of measured breakdown voltage
• = peak Value at STP

• Where
= Air density correction factor
= Humidity correction factor
Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
 Determination of and

• P = Atm. Pressure (in mm of Hg)

• t = ambient temp (in oC)

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Contd..
• Calculation for involves a two step process.
• Step 1
– Measure relative humidity
– Measure ambient temp
– From graph 1, determine absolute humidity
(Ah) in g/m3
• Step 2
– Calculate ratio Ah/ g/m3
– From graph 2, determine
– Find

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
UNIFORM FIELD SPARK GAPS

The use of uniform field spark gaps for measurements of a.c., d.c. and impulse
voltages initially suggested by Bruce.
These gaps provide accuracy to within 0.2% for a.c. voltage measurements an
significant improvement compared with the equivalent sphere gap arrangement.

The portion AB is flat, The portion BC consists of a sine curve based on the axes
OB and OC and given by
CD is an arc of a circle with centre at O.
Bruce showed that the BDV for gap length S cms in air at 20°C and 760 mm Hg.
pressure is within 0.2 per cent.
He suggested the following empirical relation.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Advantages of uniform field spark gaps are:

(i) gaps provide accuracy to within 0.2% for a.c.

(ii) No influence of nearby earthed objects
(iii) No polarity effect.

However, the disadvantages being:

(i) Very accurate mechanical finish of the electrodes are required.

(ii) Careful parallel alignment of the two electrodes.
(iii) Influence of dust brings in erratic breakdown of the gap.

This is much more serious in these gaps as compared with sphere gaps
as highly stressed electrode areas become much larger.

Hence, uniform field spark gaps are normally not used for voltage
measurements.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

ROD GAPS
Rod-gaps are being used to measure peak value of PF and impulse voltages.

The gap usually consists of two 1.27 cm square rod electrodes square in section at
their end, are mounted on insulating stands so that a length of rod equal to or greater
than one half of the gap spacing overhangs the inner edge of the support.

BD voltage of rod gap increases more or less linearly with increasing relative air
density over the normal variations in atmospheric pressure & relative humidity.

Due to large variation in BDV for same spacing & uncertainties with influence of
humidity, rod gaps are no longer used for measurement of a.c. or impulse voltages.

However, recent investigations have shown, the rodgaps can be used for d.c.
measurement provided certain regulations reg. electrode configurations are observed.
Earthed electrode must be long enough to initiate positive
breakdown streamers if the high voltage rod is the cathode.
BDV will always be initiated by positive streamers for both polarities thus giving a very
small variation for humidity.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
ELECTROSTATIC VOLTMETERS
For direct measurement from hundreds of volts up to hundreds of kilovolts a.c. and d.c.
voltage measurements
Electric field according to Coulomb is field of forces. Electric field produced by voltage
& therefore, if field force could be measured, voltage can also be measured.
The voltage is applied to a parallel plate electrode arrangement, an electric field is set
up between the plates.
High internal resistance.
Insulation gas is usually air or SF6 gas for higher voltages (up to1MV, accuracy
0.1% to 1 % for special construction and 2 % for common use.

Types:
(i) Suspension of moving electrode on one arm of a balance.
(ii) Suspension of the moving electrode on a spring.
(iii) Pendulous suspension of the moving electrode.
(iv) Torsional suspension of moving electrode.

Measurement of voltages lower than 50 volt is, however, not possible, as the forces
become too small.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Electrostatic Voltmeter
Operation
High voltage is applied (LV
central point movable)
Due to electrostatic forces
deflection of rotating
Element
Light focused on the mirror
Gets reflected & measured

Limitations
•For a Constant distance d, the
sensitivity is small
Advantage
•No source loading
•Continuous Reading also possible

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

GENERATING VOLTMETER
Whenever the source loading is not permitted or when direct connection to the high
voltage source is to be avoided, generating voltmeters are employed.

The device is driven by an external constant speed motor and does not absorb power
or energy from the voltage measuring source.

Principle of operation: H is HV electrode and earthed electrode is subdivided into a

sensing or pick up electrode P, a guard electrode G and a movable electrode M, all of
which are at the same potential.

The HV electrode H develops electric field between itself & electrodes P, G & M (field
lines & electric field density σ is as shown).
If electrode M is fixed and voltage V is changed, the field density σ would change and
thus a current i (t) would flow between P & ground employed
for measurement of high voltages,
Generating voltmeter generates current proportional
to voltage to be measured, similar to electrostatic
generating voltmeter provides loss.
Output voltage depends on secondary wdg loading caused
by transformer impedances. Hence method is unacceptable for peak voltage
measurements.
Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
CHUBB - FORTESCUE METHOD
Chubb-Fortescue suggested a simple & accurate method of measuring peak value of
a.c. voltages.

Circuit consists of std capacitor, two diodes a current integrating ammeter as shown

The displacement current ic(t), is given by the rate of change of the charge and hence
the voltage V(t) to be measured flows through the high voltage capacitor C and is
subdivided into positive and negative components by back to back connected diodes.

Voltage drop across diodes can be neglected compared with voltage to be measured.
The measuring instrument is included in one of the branches.
The ammeter reads the mean value of the current.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Standard a.c. voltages for testing should not contain any harmonics, therefore, there
could be very short and rapid voltages caused by heavy pre-discharges, within test
circuit which could introduce errors in measurements.

To eliminate this problem filtering of a.c. voltage is carried out by introducing a damping
resistor in between the capacitor and the diode circuit, Fig. (b).

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Peak Voltmeters with Potential Dividers
If passive circuits are designed properly, they provide simplicity and adequate
accuracy, they are cheap, reliable and have a high order of electromagnetic
compatibility.

In contrast, sophisticated electronic instruments are costlier & their electromagnetic

compatibility (EMC) is low, hence passive circuits are not very frequently used these
days for measurement of the peak value of a.c. or impulse voltages.

Also passive circuits cannot measure high voltages directly and use potential dividers
preferably of the capacitance type.

[Link] a simple peak voltmeter circuit consisting of a capacitor voltage divider

which reduces the voltage V to be measured to a low voltage Vm.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

IMPULSE VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS USING VOLTAGE DIVIDERS

If amplitudes of impulse voltage is not high and is in range of a few kilovolts, it is

possible to measure them even when these are of short duration by using CROs.

However, if voltages to be measured are of high magnitude of order of megavolts

which normally is the case for testing and research purposes, various problems arise.

Voltage dividers required are of special design and need a thorough understanding of
interaction present in these voltage dividing systems.

Fig. shows a layout of a voltage testing circuit within a high voltage testing area. The
voltage generator G is connected to a test object—T through a lead L. These three
elements form a voltage generating system.

L consists of a lead wire & resistance to damp oscillation or to limit short-circuit

currents if test object fails. Measuring system starts at terminals of test object consists
a connecting lead CL to voltage divider D. Output of divider is fed to measuring
instrument (CRO) M.
Appropriate ground return should assure low
voltage drops for even highly transient
phenomena & keep ground potential at zero.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Voltage Divider

Voltages dividers for a.c., d.c. or impulse voltages may consist of resistors or
capacitors or a convenient combination of these elements.

Inductors are normally not used as voltage dividing elements as pure inductances of
proper magnitudes without stray capacitance cannot be built, also these inductances
would otherwise form oscillatory circuit with the inherent capacitance of the test object
and this may lead to inaccuracy in measurement of high voltages.

Height of a voltage divider depends upon the flash over voltage & this follows from the
rated maximum voltage applied.

Potential distribution may not be uniform & hence height also depends upon design of
HV electrode (top electrode). For voltages in megavolt range, height becomes large.

As thumb rule following clearances between top electrode & ground may be assumed.
2.5 to 3 metres/MV for d.c. voltages.
2.0 to 2.5 m/MV for lightning impulse voltages.
More than 5 m/MV rms for a.c. voltages.
More than 4 m/MV for switching impulse voltage.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Potential divider is simply represented by two impedances Z1 and Z2 connected in
series and sample voltage required for measurement is taken from across Z2,

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Resistance Potential Dividers

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Capacitance Potential Dividers

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Magnetic Links
Are used for the measurement of peak magnitude of the current flowing in a conductor.

These links consist of a small number of short steel strips on high retentivity. The link is
mounted at a known distance from the current carrying conductor.

Measurement of remanance possessed by link after impulse current has passed

through conductor enables to calculate peak value of current, accurate measurements,
it’s usual to mount two/ more links at different distances from same conductor.

Because of its relative simplicity, the method has been used for measurement of
lightning current especially on transmission towers.

Magnetic links help in recording peak value of impulse current but gives no information
about wave shape of current.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Faraday Generator or Magneto Optic Method
This methods of current measurement use rotation of plane of polarisation in materials
by magnetic field which is proportional to the current (Faraday effect).
Crystal C is placed parallel to magnetic
field produced by current to be measured
A beam of light from a stabilised light
source is made incident on the crystal C
after it is passed through the polariser P1
Light beam undergoes rotation of plane
of polarisation. After the beam passes through analyser P2, it is focussed on a
photomultiplier, output of which is fed to a CRO. Filter F allows only monochromatic
light to pass through it.

Advantages of the method

(i) It provides isolation of the measuring set up from the main current circuit.
(ii) It is insensitive to overloading.
(iii) As signal transmission is through an optical system no insulation problem is faced
however, this device does not operate for d.c. current.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Hall Generators

High amplitude a.c. and impulse currents can be measured by Hall Generator. Hall
Generator, though a constant control current flows, is permeated by magnetic field of
current to be measured, Hall voltage is directly proportional to the measuring current.

This method became popular with development of semi-conductor with sufficient high
value of Hall constant. The band width of such devices is found to be about 50 MHz
with suitable compensating devices and feedback.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
High Frequency and Impulse Currents
In power system the amplitude of currents may vary between few amperes to a few hundred
kiloamperes and rate of rise of currents can be 10^10A/sec and rise time can vary between a few
micro seconds to a few macro seconds. The device used for measuring such currents should be
capable of having good frequency response over a very wide frequency band.

The methods normally employed are:

(i) resistive shunts (ii) elements using induction effects (iii) Faraday & Hall effect devices.
(accuracy of these varies between 1 to 10%.)
Ckt diagram shows commonly used method for high impulse current measurement. Voltage across
shunt resistance R due to impulse current i(t) is fed to the oscilloscope through a delay cable D,
terminated through an impedance Z equal to the surge impedance of cable to avoid reflection.
Dimension of resistive element is large, will have residual inductance L & stray capacitance C. The
inductance could be neglected at low frequencies but at higher frequencies inductive reactance
would be comparable with resistance of shunt. The effect of inductance & capacitance above 1
MHz usually should be considered.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

In order to minimise stray field effects following designs of resistive elements have been
suggested and used:

1. Bifilar flat strip shunt. 2. Co-axial tube or Park’s shunt 3. Co-axial squirrel cage shunt.

Bifilar flat strip shunts suffer from stray inductance associated with resistance element & its
potential leads are linked to a small part of magnetic flux generated by current being measured.

To eliminate problems associated with bifilar shunts, coaxial shunts were developed (Fig. 4.28).
Here current enters inner cylinder of the shunt element and returns through an outer cylinder.

Space between two cylinders is occupied by air which acts like a perfect insulator. The voltage
drop across the element is measured between potential pick up point & outer case. The frequency
response of this element is almost a flat characteristic upto about 1000 MHz and the response
time is a few nanoseconds. The upper frequency limit is governed by the skin effect in the
sensitive element.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Digital transient recorders for impulse measurements

Recent technological developments have made the use of high-speed digital

recorders possible in the field of high-voltage impulse measurements.

Important advantages over the use of traditional analogue oscilloscopes and

recorders.

Obtaining impulse test records in digital form allows introduction of wide

range of digital signal processing techniques into the analysis of HV test data

These techniques enable HV test engineers to correct errors due to non

ideal voltage dividers,
• to eliminate the effects of slight variations in the form of applied impulses in
successive test records, and
• to perform statistical analyses on the results of long series of impulse tests.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Principles & historical development of transient digital recorders

Although digital techniques were available for many years, only over last decade -
use for measurements in HV impulse tests became more important.

First attempts of digital recording of non-repetitive pulses were undertaken in the late
1950s in order to enable on-line processing of recorded transients.

In 1970s electronic circuits utilizing solidstate components for high-speed A/D

conversion came into use.

Since then several mechanisms for realizing A/D conversion process are being
implemented.

Four basic A/D conversion schemes utilized in present day high-speed digital
recorders.

(1) scan conversion, (2) charge coupled device storage,

(3) flash conversion, and (4) ribbon beam conversion.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Voltage measuring system with digital recorder

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Measuring sytems
• DIAS
• HIAS

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

 Partial discharge measurements
Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Errors inherent in digital recorders

In contrast to analogue oscilloscope which writes a continuous trace of measured

signal, a digital recorder - records and store only instantaneous values of the signal
sampled at a certain rate over a finite period of time.

The input signal is reconstructed by positioning in time (according to sampling rate)

leading to the presence of two types of recording errors: referred as:
• quantization and
• discrete time sampling errors. ….. often referred to as static errors.

Requirements on the accuracy of recording instruments used in HV impulse testing

vary according to type of tests, and depend upon nature of the test objects etc..

Specification of ideal A/D recorder and parameters required for H.V. impulse testing ..
described in stds

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Calibration/Traceabilty Comparison with Reference Measuring System

The assigned scale factor of a measuring system shall be determined by

calibration.

Using comparison method, reading of measuring system is compared for

approval with the reading of the reference measuring system.

Both measuring systems indicate the same voltage V, which is the reading
multiplied with the relevant scale factor F

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
The uncertainty evaluation is related to all influences different from the
statistical comparison.

It includes following contributions to the uncertainty.

• Non-Linearity Effect (Linearity Test)
• Dynamic Behaviour Effect
• Short-Term Stability Effect
• Long-Term Stability Effect
• Ambient Temperature Effect
• Proximity Effect
• Software Effect

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Measurement of Capacitance and tan 
(a) Transformer ratio arm bridge

For higher resolution, accuracy, stability

in capacitance measurement a bridge
constructed with transformer ratio arms
will provide very high accuracy.

The primary winding is wound on a

torroidal core of high permeability also
secondary winding is wound on the core.

Amplifier, filter and null detector are connected across the the bridge.
The condition of null balance is given as Cx/Cn =Vn/Vx= Nn/Nx ,
W1,W2, W3 are windgs of differential transformer. Null detector is connected with W3

mmf in winding W1 & W2 oppose each other. If current in W1 & W2 are same no voltage will
be induced in W3. Magnitude balance is obtained by varying W1 & W2, Phase balance is
obtained by Varying R’ & C’

Test Capacitance Cx = Cn * Factor * Dial reading

Tan  = Factor * reading

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
(b) Measurement of Cap and tan  using Schering bridge

Initially all the connections are checked including the battery-

 Energize the transformer using Variac in steps

 Adjust W1 factor to least value and achieve null balance
 When Capacitance balance is obtained then adjust tan value.
 Try to achieve minimum null deflection with the null detector
 The values of Cap and tan  are recorded for various samples

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Partial Discharge Measurements

It was observed the dissipation factor tan  is dependent on voltage, it became a

criterion for monitoring of high voltage insulation.

Partial discharges are localised electrical discharges within an insulation system

restricted to part of the dielectric material. Partial discharges are classified as :

(a) Internal discharges (b) Surface discharges and (c) Corona discharges.

Internal discharges: Occur in voids or cavities within solid or liquid dielectrics

Surface discharges: appear at the boundary of different insulating materials
Corona discharges: are related to discharges in gaseous dielectrics.

The detection of discharges is based on energy exchanges which takes place

during the discharge viz: Impulse currents, dielectric loss, EM radiations, sound,
increased gas pressure, chemical reactions etc.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Electrical insulation with imperfections or voids leading to partial discharges
can be represented by an electrical equivalent circuit shown in Figure below:

When voltage across the capacitor is raised, a critical value is reached across
Ca and discharge occurs (short ckt) through the capacitor.

generally Ca Cb  Cc. A charge  qa which was present in Ca flows thro Cb &
Cc giving rise to a voltage pulse across the Cc.

A measure of voltage pulse across Cc gives amount of discharge quantity but

this measurement is difficult in practice and an apparent charge measurement
across detecting impedance is usually made.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

P D Measurement using Straight Detectors

Fig. shows simplified circuit for detecting PD. The H V Transformer is to be free
from internal discharges. A resonant filter prevents any pulses generating from
the capacitance of the windings & bushings of transformer. The signal
developed across the impedance is passed through a band pass filter &
amplifier then displayed on a DSO or a pulse counter multi channel analyzer.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

4. RIV Test (IEC-60437)
5. Visible discharge Test – Corona (IS-731)

Circuit for RIV and Corona Tests as per IEC- 60437

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

H V Transformer
• The HV transformer must be capable of supplying current required by the test
object and the coupling capacitor. Further the transformer is expected to be noise
free or the filter must limit the noise transmitted to the measuring circuit.

Low pass filter

• The RIV measurements are conducted between frequency 0.5MHz to 2.5MHz.
Thus, filter must be capable of being tuned to resonance at the frequency of
measurement.
• HV transformers have capacitance of up to several hundred pf, if the filter were
absent, some of the noise currents from the test object will flow to the transformer
presence of filter avoids this.

High voltage Bus/conductor & Terminators (T)

• The conductors should be smooth and ends terminated to be free from corona.

Coupling Capacitor
• Coupling capacitor should be having a capacitance above 1000pf (normally 5 to 6
times of the test object). CC apart from presenting low impedance path to high
frequency noise currents has also to present high impedance at PF (50Hz).

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Measuring Impedance
• Standards recommend value of measuring resistance should be about 300 or
resistance between 30 to 300 can be used but a suitable correction has to be
applied for making the resistance to be equivalent to 300.

Radio noise meter (CISPR- Std)

• The selective micro voltmeter (RI measuring instrument), model SMV 11, is a single
range measuring receiver for the frequency range 9kHz to 30MHz.
• It’s designed for selective measurement of sinusoidal radio frequency voltages, and
measurement of pulse-type interference voltages.
• The model SMV 11 can be used for the general selective voltage measurement in the
range of –20dbV to +125 dbV.
• It has three RF bandwidths, several measuring outputs, particularly the modes of
indication quasi-peak value (QP), peak value (P), root mean square value (RMS) &
average value (AV) etc, provided for measurement of pulse type interference voltages

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

6. Voltage distribution Tests

Test Procedure
• The PF voltage appearing across each disc in the insulator string is measured
using a 2 cm diameter sphere-gap with 4 mm gap spacing.
• The sphere-gap is connected across first disc of insulator string - voltage across
insulator string is gradually increased till it is just sufficient to cause a sustained
spark-over of sphere-gap – values are recorded.
• Procedure repeated for each disc in the insulator string.
• The percentage ratio of mean voltage that appears across an individual insulator
unit, say n, is given by
Vs
Vn   100
En
where, Vs =nominal spark-over voltage sphere-gap under laboratory conditions
En =mean voltage across insulator string, with sphere-gap connected across
insulator disc n.

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India

Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India
Department of Electrical Engg, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - India