High Voltage Engineering

-----Importance

Insulation Engineering
Any Electrical Apparatus

Conductor/s
Dielectric Material (Insulation)
Magnetic material
Others

 Conductor
Number of

Material with a Very Large

Free Electrons
- Conduct electric current

readily.

Dielectric

Ideal Dielectric
- Has no Free Electrons
- So, No current on
application of Voltage
(Non
conductor)
- Real Dielectric
Has an extremely small number of free
electrons (or charges).
Electrical breakdown at much much lower
levels (orders lower) than Intrinsic Strength.

 Dielectrics used to support/segregate

conductors at different Potentials
(Voltages) without affecting Current
Flowing Paths Electrical Insulation.
Conductors at different potentials
coming into contact at undesired
locations -> Short Circuit
(Fault/Short).

Dielectric Supports/Barriers are to prevent

short circuit
Electrical Insulations Essential in Electrical
Apparatus.
Failure of Electrical Apparatus almost always due
to failure of Electrical
Insulation.
Failure of Electrical Insulation - Dielectric Material
transforming into a Conducting Material may be in
Portions.
Thus - Study of Dielectrics is very crucial to enable
proper choice of materials as well as design of
Electrical Apparatus (Insulation Engineering).

Classification of Dielectric
Materials
1. Classification based on Physical State (at room
temperature) :
Gases
Liquids
Solids
Vacuum
Combination of 2 or more of above.
All of the above known as Insulation System.
2. Classification based on maximum permissible
working temperature (to realise desired long life)

3. Classification based on Post-breakdown behavior:

Self-restoring insulation : A medium which recovers

insulation properties after breakdown and de
energisation
Non self-restoring insulation A medium which gets
permanently damaged on occurrence of breakdown.

4. Another related classification

Exposed Insulation : Insulation whose surface is

exposed to atmosphere (and hence its vagaries such
as presence of dust moisture, rain, sun varying
temperatures, solar, UV and other radiations.
Enclosed Insulation : Insulation which is
sealed/enclosed in a Container and thus is not
exposed to atmosphere ( and its various parameters

Parameters that influence Life of

Electrical insulation :
1. Electrical Stress (E) :
working Stress
Excessive stresses due to OVER VOLTAGES.
Factor of safety.

2. Thermal Stress (T) :

variations in Ambient temperature
overloading higher temperatures.
Hot-spot Temperatures

3. Ambient Conditions :(other than

temperature)
Presence of Humidity;
Corrosive vapours, other pollutants-dust
Radiation ( solar, cosmic etc;)

4. Mechanical Stresses (M) :

During: initial handling of raw materials,
Manufacturing processes, transportation,
Commissioning in-service
mechanical stresses- faults, vibrations