HIGH VOLTAGE ON SHIPS

What is a H.V.System

1. In Industrial Practice,

Voltage upto & incl. 220V - L.V./L.T

Voltage above 220v upto 1100V - M.V.

Voltage above 1100V-110KV - H.V./H.T.

Voltages above 110 KV - E.H.V./E.H.T

What is a H.V.System

1. In Marine Practice,

Voltages upto & Incl.1000V - L.V.

Voltages above 1000V - H.V.

POWER EQUATION

AS PER OHMS LAW

POWER = VOLTAGE x CURRENT

For a given Power,

Higher the Voltage, Lesser is the Current

440 KW = 440,000 Watts = 440 Volts x 1000 Amps

1100 Volts x 400 Amps

11000 Volts x 40 Amps

 Advantages of utilising High Voltage

1. Higher voltage means Lower current, resulting in:

a) Reduction in size of cables etc. for a given Power.

b) Saving of Space and weight

c) Reduction in cost of Installation

d) Ease of Installation

e) Reduction in short circuit levels in the system

Reduction in Short Ckt.Level

Disadvantages of Using H.V Systems

1. Higher Insulation Requirements for cables and equipment used in the system.
2. Higher risk factor and the necessity for strict adherence to stringent safety procedures.

Creepage Distances and Clearance

 Major Risk Factors in HV systems

1. High inter-electrode capacitances present in HV Systems

2. Stored Energy in HV inductances
3. Arcing,Sparks and creepage(Tracking) due to Moisture,Low insulation, Loose
connections etc.

A Typical Power Cable

 Inter-Electrode Capacitances

Inter-Electrode Capacitances

1. Two Conductors of Electricity (Electrodes) Separated by an insulating media(e.g Two

adjacent cores in a Power Cable) form a Capacitor while carrying an Electrical Current.
This is called an Inter-Electrode Capacitance. While carrying an Alternating Current, they
charge and discharge during each half cycle.
2. The Charging and discharging time of these inter-electrode capacitors increase with the
voltage between the conductors. Higher the voltage, longer is the time for charging and
discharging.
3. The cores of a HV Power Cable retain their charge for a longer time even after the circuit
is de-energised posing a grave risk to anyone who comes in accidental contact with the
conductors after the circuit has been switched OFF or de-energised.
4. It is of paramount importance to ensure that conductors carrying HV currents are not only
switched off but also earthed and the charge held by them discharged fully before
allowing anyone to come in contact with the conductors.

HV inductances

1. A large amount of self-induced and mutually- induced voltages in inductive loads eg.
Motor&Transformer windings, take time to discharge these voltages even after switching
OFF the loads and pose a safety risk similar to inter-electrode capacitances.

HV Circuit Breakers

• HV Circuit Breakers may be

1. Air-Break
2. Oil-Break
3. Gas-Break or
4. Vacuum-Break (Most Popular)
5. HV Vacuum Breakers are also used as
6. HV Contactors for Motor Control.

Vacuum Break
 Advantages of Using a Vacuum Breaker

• Vacuum has a high Dielectric Strength and ensures

1. Shorter Contact Travel due to the High Dielectric Strength of the vacuum and
2. A shorter Arcing time resulting in lower arc energy.

• The above features ensure the following

1. Compact quiet unit

2. Minimum Clearance
3. Non-flammable and non-toxic
4. Contacts suffer lesser wear thereby ensuring longer life of the breaker

Testing of a Vacuum Breaker for Insulation

1. Insulation integrity of the vacuum can be checked by a Voltage Impulse tester which
produces a short duration voltage pulse (usually twice the rated voltage of the breaker). A
weak insulation of the vacuum will be detected as a current flow.
2. Lower the Insulation strength, higher will be this current.

SF 6 Breaker
 IR TESTS OF HV EQUIPMENT

1. A 5000 VDC Megger, Hand-cranking or Electronic can be used for equipments uto
6.6KV.
2. For routine testing of IR, 5000 VDC must be applied for 1 minute either by cranking at
constant speed with a Hand-cranking megger or by maintaining a 5000 VDC continuously
by a PB in an Electronic Megger.
3. At prescribed intervals and particularly after a major repair work on an equipment or
switchgear, a Polarisation Index(PI) may be taken to assess the condition of insulation of
the equipment

General Information PERMIT-T0-WORK

1. Issued by an authorised person to a responsible person who will perform the task of
repair/maintenance
2. Generally valid only for 24-Hrs. Permit to be re-validated if work extends beyond 24 Hrs.
after issue
3. Formats will vary and be customized for a particular vessel/marine installation.

PTW- BROAD GUIDELINES

1. Prepared in Carbon-copied Duplicate and has atleast five sections.

2. FIRST section states the nature of work to be carried out.
3. SECOND section declares where electrical isolation and earthing have been applied and
where Danger /Caution notices have been displayed.
4. THIRD section is signed by the Person receiving the Permit acknowledging that he is
satisfied with the safety precautions taken and the Isolation/Earthing measures adopted.
5. FOURTH section is signed by the Permit-holder that the work has been
completed/suspended.
6. FIFTH Section is signed by the Issuing authority cancelling the Permit.

A Typical PTW Format

Sanction to Test safety Certificate

1. When it is required to Test a HV equipment using LV control supply, it will be necessary

to isolate the equipment from the main HV supply but remove the earthing.
2. In these circumstances, a Sanction-to-test safety certificate is to be obtained from the
authorised person

HV LIVE-LINE TESTER
 Portable Earthing Connectors

Testing of Protective Relays in a HV System

1. As in LV systems, overall system protection in a HV system is supervised by electro-

magnetic or Static relays.
2. These relays are checked annually or as required using either a Primary Injection test or
Secondary Injection test.

POLARISATION INDEX ( PI )

1. A PI test is conducted on the equipment when the routine IR value tests are doubtful or
during annual refit or after major repairs are undertaken.
2. PI value is the ratio between the IR value recorded after application of the test voltage
continuously for 10 minutes to the value recorded after 1 minute of application.
3. A PI value of 2.0 is considered satisfactory.
4. A motor-driven megger is essential for carrying out a PI test.

MSB in a ship with Electrical Propulsion