HVE4701/101/0/2018

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2018

High Voltage Engineering IV (Theory)

HVE4701

Year module

Department of Electrical and Mining

Engineering

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES ................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 3
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 3
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 3
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 3
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 4
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)................................................................................................. 4
4.4 Library services and resources information ................................................................................... 4
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 4
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 4
7 PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING ..................................................... 4
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 5
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 5
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 5
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 5
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 5
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 5
8.4 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 6
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 6
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 7
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 17
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 17
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 17
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 17
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 17
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 17

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 HVE4701/101/0/2018

1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
Welcome to the subject High Voltage IV (Theory) (HVE4701) at UNISA. This tutorial letter
serves as a guideline to this subject. It provides you with general administrative information as
well as specific information about the subject. Read it carefully and keep it safe for future
reference. We trust that you will enjoy this course.

2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this subject is for the student to study the first principles of High Voltage
Theory in order to apply this principles in the field of High Voltage

2.2 Outcomes
For the student to give account of the High Voltage principles in the subject as well the
solving of associated mathematical problems in the field of High Voltage.

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)

Your Lecturer for High Voltage Engineering IV is Mr E Naude Pr Eng. He can be contacted at
the following number for any theoretical questions:

Tel nr : 0828067717

e-mail: enaude@gmail.co.za

Contact Times: Mondays to Fridays

18h00 – 20h00

3.2 Department
Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering: electrical&mining@unisa.ac.za

3.3 University

If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the content of this module,
please consult the publication My studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.
This brochure contains information on how to contact the University (e.g. to whom you can write
for different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times
certain facilities are open).Always have your student number at hand when you contact the
University.

3
4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed books
WADHWA, C.L. HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING. WILEY EASTERN LIMITED.

4.2 Recommended books

There are no recommended books for this module.

4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)

There are no electronic reserves for this module.
4.4 Library services and resources information
For brief information, go to www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
For detailed information, go to the Unisa website at http://www.unisa.ac.za/ and click on
Library.
For research support and services of personal librarians, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7102.

The library has compiled a number of library guides:

 finding recommended reading in the print collection and e-reserves –

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/undergrad
 requesting material – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 postgraduate information services – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 finding, obtaining and using library resources and tools to assist in doing research –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_Skills
 how to contact the Library/finding us on social media/frequently asked questions –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Important information appears in your my Studies @ Unisa brochure.

6 STUDY PLAN
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

7 PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

The practical part of this module will be covered in the module HVEPRA4.

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8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment criteria
Your final mark will be calculated by using a ratio of 20% year mark and 80% examination mark.

8.2 Assessment plan

You will find your assignments for this subject in this Tutorial Letter. Assignment 1, 2
and 3 are compulsory and all assignments will be used in the calculation of your year
mark. Please send the completed assignments to UNISA before the closing dates stated
in this section.

Assignment 1 must be completed on a mark reading sheet.

The mark for High Voltage IV (Theory) (HVE4701) is calculated as follows:

 The year mark contributes to 20%.
 The examination mark contributes to 80%

The year mark is based on all the assignment marks obtained and their contribution towards the
final year mark are as shown in the table below:

ASSIGNMENT CONTRIBUTION
NUMBER TOWARDS YEAR
MARK
1 (Compulsory) 10%

2 (Compulsory) 45%

3 (Compulsory) 45%

TOTAL = 100 %

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01.

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment 1: 799405
Assignment 2: 733844
Assignment 3: 891928

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8.4 Assignment due dates

THE CUT-OFF SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE :

Assignment 1: 22 May 2018
Assignment 2: 18 July 2018
Assignment 3: 5 September 2018

8.5 Submission of assignments

ALL ASSIGNMENTS (submitted) HAVE TO BE ATTEMPTED!!!!!!!

THE SUBMISSION OF AN EMPTY ASSIGNMENT COVER IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS :

 NO LATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 KEEP A CLEAR COPY OF THE ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR OWN REFERENCE.

THIS IS IMPORTANT, AS ASSIGNMENTS DO GET LOST.

 SUBMISSIONS OF ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “MY

STUDIES @ UNISA”.

Please note that model answers for the assignments will be dispatched to all
students within 1 week of the closing date of the assignment. This implies that
you cannot submit your assignment later than the stipulated submission date.

For detailed information and requirements as far as assignments are concerned, see the
brochure my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.

To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

 Go to myUnisa.
 Log in with your student number and password.
 Select the module.
 Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
 Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.
 Follow the instructions.

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8.6 The assignments

THE CUT-OFF SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE :

Assignment 1: (Compulsory) 22 May 2018
Assignment 2: (Compulsory) 18 July 2018
Assignment 3: (Compulsory) 5 September 2018
ASSIGNMENT 1
Complete on mark reading sheet.
1. At normal temperature and pressure, the following are excellent insulators:
1) Copper

2) Gasses

3) All liquids

2. The current conduction of Air is of the order of:

1) 1010A per cm2

2) 10 A per cm2

3) 10-10 A per cm2

3. Photoionization occurs when the amount of radiation energy absorbed by an atom or molecule
exceeds its __________ energy?
1) ionization

2) potential

3) kinetic

4. The best high voltage value to make use of distributing electricity in residential areas, is:
1) 3,3kV

2) 6.6kV

3) 11kV

5. Which one of the below insulation gases are no longer use as interrupter medium in high voltage
switchgear?
1) CO2

2) Vacuum

3 SF6

6. The value of Townsend’s second ionization coefficient has a low value for a low value of
_________:
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 1) p/E

2) E/p

3) E2/p

4) none of above

7. The process of ionization is brought about:

1) Positive ions only

2) Photons only

3) Metastable only

4) All above

8. When avalanche in the gap reaches a certain critical size, the electrical spark discharge is due
mainly to ionizations of ___________ by electron impact, positive bombardment and
photoionization:
1) liquids

2) gasses

3) solids

4) None of the above

9. If Er is the radial field due to space charge and E0 the external applied field, the transformation of
avalanche into a streamer takes place when:
1) the radial field is double the external applied field.

2) the external applied field is double the radial field

3) the radial field is about equal to the external applied field

4) None of the above

10. No breakdown occurs with small voltages below Paschen’s ____________ irrespective of the value
of pd.
1) minimum

2) maximum

3) 50% value

4) 25% value

11. Air (pd) min is about ___________ of the (pd) min value of Helium
1) one third

2) one quarter

3) one seventh

4) one tenth
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12. Paschen’s law is summarized that the breakdown voltage of a uniform field gap is a unique function
of the product of gas pressure and the ___________ for a particular gas and electrode material.
1) type of gas

2) gap length

3) field strength

4) All of the above

13. The breakdown voltage of a specimen is 65kV at STP. The breakdown voltage at 73cm Hg pressure
and 350C is
1) 60.4kV

2) 62.4kV

3) 66.0kV

4) 69.0kV

14. Pennington effect explains the ____________ in dielectric strength of many mixture of gases.
1) increase

2) decrease

3) doubling

4) none of above

15. The statistical time lag depends upon:

1) The amount of pre - ionizations present in between the gap

2) Size of the gap.

3) The amount of over voltage

4) All above

16. During thermal breakdown, the heat generated under DC conditions will be:
1) ωcE2δtanσE2

2) ωσE2

3) σE2

4) ωcδtanσE2

17. The most important properties of liquid dielectric are the dielectric strength and constant and he
electrical conductivity.
1) Above statement is all true

2) Above statement is not totally true

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 3) Above statement is totally false

18. Gas pocket on the surface of electrodes might load to formation of __________ in the liquids.
1) point charges

2) electron collisions

3) vapourizing

4) None of above

19. The treeing phenomenon can be observed in all dielectric wherever _________ fields prevail.
1) uniform

2) non-uniform

3) linear

4) diagonal

20. Some of the main requirements of the insulating materials used for power apparatus are:
1) High dielectric strength

2) Tenacity

3) Elasticity

4) All of above

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ASSIGNMENT 2
Wadhwa CL 2013 High Voltage Engineering THIRD EDITION (in two colour) is the textbook.
The textbook must be used with the High Voltage Engineering IV study guide.

Please feel free to contact me enaude@gmail.co.za regarding any issue pertaining to be

successful with your assignment and/or exam.

Question 1:

1.1 A steady current of 800 A flows through a plane electrode separated by a distance of 6 mm when
a voltage of 44 kV is applied. If a current of 80 A flows when the distance of separation is reduced
to 1 mm and the field is kept constant at 44 kV, determine the following:

1.1.1 Townsend’s first ionization’s coefficient

1.1.2 The saturation current.
(6+2=8)

1.2 With respect of the Townsend Breakdown Mechanism, answer the following questions:

1.2.1 Give the equation for the current at the anode if the voltage between the anode
and cathode is increased.
1.2.2 Derive an equation under what condition the current will become infinite.
1.2.3 What limits the current from becoming infinite?
1.2.4 Define the threshold sparking condition.
1.2.5 Discuss the three conditions that are possible with the equation that was derived
in (b) above.
(2+4+4+2+12=24)

1.3 Neglect the dielectric loss of the cable and determine the following:

1.3.1 A 100kVA 250V/200kV feed transformer has resistance and reactance of 2% and 6%
respectively. This transformer is used to test a cable at 132kV at 50Hz. The cable takes a
charging current of 1A at 132kV. Determine the series inductance required. Assume 2%
resistance of the inductor.

1.3.2 Determine the input voltage to the transformer.

(6+4=10)

(42)

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Question 2:

2.1 A ten stage Cockraft Walton circuit has a capacitance of 0.082µF. The secondary voltage of
the supply transformer is 88kV at a frequency of 150kHz. If the load current is 0.002A,
determine the:

2.1.1 Voltage regulation

2.1.2 Ripple
2.1.3 Optimum number of stages for maximum output voltage
2.1.4 Maximum output voltage
(2x4=8)
2.2. With reference to impulse generators:

2.2.1. Draw a basic three stage Marx Impulse generator diagram. Name all components
of the Marx Impulse Generator.
(7)
2.2.2. Briefly describe the operation.
(5)
2.1.3. Derive an approximate formula for calculating the combined value of the charging
capacitors and discharge resistors to obtain a desired tail time.
(6)

2.3. High Voltage Generators are potentially very dangerous due to the frequent human contact
to change test objects and make adjustments to the generator. What safety measures
would you expect on an HV Generator to minimize this risk?
(10)
(40)
Question 3:

2.1 Describe what is meant by insulation co-ordination.

2.2 Discuss the origin of switching surges.

2.3 What is the disadvantages of gap type surge arrestors over gapless MOV type (reason why
they are being phased out)
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2.4 What is BIL and SIL, what are standard or typical wave shape duration?

2.5 What line design and construction factors can negatively impact on the lightning
performance of an overhead line?
(4+4+4+5+5 = 22)
TOTAL: 100

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 ASSIGNMENT 3
Wadhwa CL 2013 High Voltage Engineering THIRD EDITION (in two colour) is the textbook.
The textbook must be used with the High Voltage Engineering IV study guide.
Please feel free to contact me enaude@gmail.co.za on any issue pertaining to be successful
with your assignment and/or exam.

Question 1:

1.4 Determine the following:

1.4.1 The breakdown voltage of a uniform sphere gap in air with a uniform gap of 11mm and a
70mm under standard atmospheric conditions?

1.4.2 The correction factor to be applied to the breakdown voltage determined under standard
atmospheric conditions if the tests are carried out at a laboratory 1700m above sea level
and 28ºC ambient temperature. (Assume the atmospheric pressure decreases by 1.3%
per 100m altitude above sea level.
(6+3=9)

1.5 When a dielectric material is subject to an electric field, charges of opposite nature is
induced on the two opposite surfaces of the material and hence a force of attraction is
developed and the specimen is subjected to electrostatic compressed forces and when
these forces exceed the mechanical withstand strength of the material, the material
collapses. If the initial thickness of the material is d 0 and is compressed to a thickness d
under the applied voltage V,
then the compressed stress F developed due to electric flied is:

F = 0.5ε0 εr (V2/d2)

Where εr is the relative permittivity of the specimen. If γ is the Young’s modulus, the
mechanical compressive strength is:

γ ln (d0 /d)

Derive a formula for Ea, the highest apparent field strength under equilibrium conditions in terms
of ε0, εr and Young’s modulus.

(10)

1.3 A surge travels down a line to a junction point. Calculate the magnitude of the transmitted and
reflected voltage and currents as per unit of the incident voltage and current, under the following
scenarios of connected surge impedance to the junction:

 Open circuit (infinite impedance)

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 Surge impedance of double the lines surge impedance.

 Matched surge impedance
 Surge impedance half that of the line
 Zero circuited (Zero impedance)
(20)

Total (39)

Question 2:

2.1 A 50Hz Schering Bridge is used to test an 11kV single core cable with a conductor radius of
12mm and an insulation thickness of 12mm. The resistivity of the insulation is given as 125GΩm
and the cable is 10km long. A balanced condition was obtained with:

 Standard HV Capacitor C1 0.2μF

 Adjustable Resistor: 200Ω
 Adjustable Capacitor: 0.01μF in parallel with a 475Ω
resistance
Calculate:

(a) Capacitance of the cable

(b) Value of insulation equivalent Rx
(c) Load loss angle.
(d) The total dielectric loss
(e) The dielectric hysteresis loss.
(13)

2.2 For a given test specimen, the dielectric constant and loss angle of the specimen is 4.2 and 0.01
respectively. Determine the electric field in kV/cm at 50Hz if the specific heat generated in the
specimen due to dielectric loss is 2200W/m3.

(7)

2.3 For a 3 phase transmission line, the following are given;

GIVEN:

(a) L = 2 X 10-7 ln (d/r) H/m = Inductance per unit length of a transmission line

And

(b) C = (2π ε)/ ln (d/r) F/m = Capacitance per phase per unit length of a transmission line

And

(c) The resistance and leakance are negligible.

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 Now, show the following:

(i) That a travelling wave moves with a velocity of light on an overhead line;
(ii) If the resistance and leakance is not taken as negligible, will the travelling wave speed
be more or less than the velocity of light?
(iii) If a cable has a dielectric material with a permittivity of εr , show that it’s speed is
proportional to (εr)-½
(14)

Total (33)

Question 3:

3.1 The type tests done on circuit breakers are classified in four groups as given below.
Answer/discuss the questions surrounding these groups:

3.1.1 There are two types of testing stations for performing short circuit testing namely
field type and laboratory type. Discuss the three drawbacks regarding field testing
and discuss the three advantages regarding laboratory testing. (6)

3.1.2 The dielectric testing has two sets of testing namely power frequency test and
impulse voltage dry withstand test. Name the three positions that the test voltage is
applied for a period of one minute where the breaker may not flash over or puncture.
(3)

3.1.3 Additional to 3.2.3 above, Briefly discuss the one minute wet withstand test. (3)

3.1.4 Briefly discuss why a thermal test is performed. (4)

(16)

3.2 Discuss how overhead line design affects the overall line BIL magnitude?
3.3 Discuss how overhead line design affects the Surge Impedance magnitude?
3.4 A circuit breaker opening results in a 2MV switching surge on an overhead line of surge
impedance 500Ω terminated into a cable of surge impedance of 60Ω Calculate the value of the
surge current and voltage transmitted into the cable.
Total (4+4+4=12)

(28)

TOTAL: 100

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8.7 Other assessment methods

None.
8.8 The examination
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The my Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study
information.

10 SOURCES CONSULTED
None.

11 IN CLOSING
Please ensure that you have all the tutorial letters and prescribed book available before starting
with your studies.

12 ADDENDUM
None.

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