43

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

EE4270 - HIGH VOLTAGE BREAKDOWN & TESTING

Time Allowed: 2 Hours February 2009

Additional Material
Graph Paper will be provided if required.

Instructions to Candidates
This paper contains 5 questions in 4 pages.
This examination accounts for 70% of the module assessment.
Total marks for the paper is 70 marks.
The maximum marks attainable is indicated in square brackets.
Answer All Questions.
This is a closed book examination and only authorised Calculators will be permitted.

Technical Information for candidates

Velocity of light in free space = 2.998 x 108 rnls

Page 2 of 4
If EE4270 High Voltage Breakdowns & Testing - February 2009 University of Moratuwa
 Question 1
(a) Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams and equations, the avalanche process
in the breakdown process of gaseous dielectrics. [2 marks]
(b) Explain the streamer mechanism for breakdown in gaseous dielectrics. [3 marks]
(c) Explain very briefly, considering the breakdown of gaseous dielectrics, why SF6 is
suitable in indoor substations. [1 mark]
(d) Show with the aid of suitable diagrams how the time lag characteristic of spark
breakdown may be determined for the standard impulse voltage waveform. [2 marks]
(e) Explain why breakdown of liquids occur below their intrinsic strength, due to the 3 types
of impurities. [3 marks]
(f) Explain the thermal breakdown of solid insulating materials. [3 marks]

Question 2
(a) A 132 kV, three-phase, 50Hz transmission line uses 18 mm diameter, equally spaced
ACSR conductors. Determine the spacing between these conductors, if it is to be
designed such that the corona inception voltage is 5% higher than the normal operating
voltage of the line at 40° C. You may assume the expression relating the electric field and
the voltage of the line as a starting point. [3 marks]
(b) Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams the cascade arrangement of
transformers to obtain high alternating voltage for testing purposes. [3 marks]
(c) A 100 kVA, 50 Hz, 230/50 kV testing transformer has an 10% leakage reactance and a
2% winding resistance. A cable of capacitance 100 nF is to be tested at 300 kV using this
transformer as part of the resonance circuit. Determine the value of the inductance (with a
Q-factor of20) required to obtain resonance and the value of the input voltage required to
obtain the required voltage. [6 marks]
(d) Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams the capacitor charging method of
measuring the peak value of a high voltage waveform. [2 marks]

Question 3
(a) A single phase cable for a 3-phase, 72.5 kV system, is to be designed using 3 insulating
materials A, B, and C with peak critical breakdown stresses of 200 kV/cm, 180 kV/cm
and 250 kV/cm and corresponding relative pennittivities of 4.4, 3.2 and 2.8 respectively.
If the conductor radius is 10 mm, determine the order and thickness of the insulation for
optimum dimensions of the cable. Take a safety factor as 2 in the design. [7 marks]
(b) By deriving the basis for sketching, sketch the field pattern in a three core belted type
cable by considering a particular instant of time. [4 marks]
(c) Using sketches, explain cross-bonding of high voltage cables. [3 marks]

}[ EE4270 High Voltage Breakdowns & Testing - February 2009 University of Moratuwa Page 3 of4
 Question 4
(a) Show that the deflecting torque of an electrostatic voltmeter is proportional to the product
of the square of the applied voltage and the rate of change of capacitance. [3 marks]
(b) Describe the principle of operation of the attracted disc electrostatic voltmeter. [2 marks]
(c) Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams why a resistive potential divider needs
to be matched to the cable connecting it to an oscilloscope, and how the matching may be
achieved. [4 marks]
(d) Describe with the aid of suitable diagrams how the dielectric loss in a lossy capacitor is
measured in comparison with a standard lossless capacitor using the x-y mode in the
oscilloscope. Show that the area of the ellipse displayed is proportional to the loss.
[5 marks]

Question 5
(a) Figure Q5 shows a circuit diagram of a
high voltage Schering Bridge, with the
values at the balance condition. If the
dielectric has a cross-section area of
0.01 m2 and the spacing of 2 em, D
determine the relative permittivity and
the resistivity of the material. [7 mark]
(b) Sketch the diagram of a typical standard
capacitor as connected in a high voltage
Schering Bridge. [J mark]
(c) Using suitable diagrams briefly describe Supply
the test cell used in the measurement of 200 kV,50 Hz
dielectric constant and loss tangent of an
Figure Q5
insulating liquid. [1 mark]
(d) Describe how resonance is used to obtain the Q- factor using such a cell. [2 marks]
(e) Describe briefly why high voltage tests are generally classified into routine tests, sample
tests and type tests (or acceptance tests) giving examples to illustrate it. [3 marks]

[END OF QUESTION PAPER]

][ EE4270 High Voltage Breakdowns & Testing - February 2009 University of Moratuwa Page 4 of4