CHAP 1 HV THEORY EXAM PREPARATION

In south Africa the highest voltage used is 800kV

The problem posed in High Voltage are different from those accoutered in LV such as:
1. Increased in current density because of an increase in line loading by using series
capacitors
2. Use of bundled conductors
3. High Surface voltage gradient on conductors
4. Corona problems: Audible noise, Radio interference, Corona Energy Loss, Carrier
interference and TV Interference
5. High Electrostatic field under the Line
6. Switching Surge Over Voltage which cause more havoc to air gap insulation than
lightning or power frequency voltage
7. Increased Short Circuit Currents and Possibility of Ferro Resonance Conditions
8. Use of Gap-Less Metal Oxide Arrestors Replacing the Conventional Gap Type Silicon
Carbide Arresters for both Lightning and Switching Surge Duty
9. Shunt Reactor Compensation and Use of Series Capacitors, resulting in possible
Synchronous resonance conditions and High Short Circuit Currents
10. Insulation Coordination based upon Switching Impulse levels
NB. The complexity of the above listed problems makes the study of High Voltage Engineering
Essential.

IMPORTANT BASIC TERMS

 Ion: Ionizing consist of photons and/or moving particles that have sufficient energy to
knock an electron out of an atom or molecule thus forming an ion.
 Molecule: An atom contains a small positively charged nucleus (Radius = 10-15 m) which
is surrounded at relatively large distances ( Radius = 10-10 m) by a number of electrons.
 Mol: One gram-mole of substance contains as many particles (atoms or molecules) as
there are atoms in 12 gram of the isotope carbon (12)
 Isope: Isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but different atomic
masses, because the number of neutrons in the nuclei differs
KINETIC ENERGY
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion.[1] It is defined
as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity.

In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass m traveling at

a speed v is

In relativistic mechanics, this is a good approximation only when v is much less than the speed
of light.

INTERNAL ENERGY OF A MONATOMIC IDEAL GAS

The internal energy of a substance is the sum of the various kinds of energy that the atoms or
molecules of the substance possess. A monatomic ideal gas is composed of single atoms.

PLANCK’S CONSTANT

In 1990 Planck calculated the blackbody radiation curves, using a model that represents as a
large number of atomic oscillators, each of which emits and absorbs electromagnetic waves.
To obtain agreement between the theoretical and experimental curves, Plank assumed that the
energy E of an atomic oscillator could have only the discrete values of E=0, hf, 2hf, 3hf and so
on.

E= hnf
n = 0, 1, 2, 3

Where n= a positive integer

f= the frequency of vibration in hertz
h= a constant called Planck’s constant

The experiment has shown that Planck’s constant has a value of

h = 6,626 0755 x 10-34 J s

Thus, Planck’s model for blackbody radiation sets the stage for the idea that electromagnetic
energy occurs as a collection of discrete amounts or packets of energy, the energy of a packet
being equal to hf as the figure below
PHOTONS AND THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Einstein proposed that light consist of energy packets in connection with a phenomenon called
the photoelectric effect. Because the electrons are ejected with the aid of light they are called
photoelectrons.

In photoelectric theory , Einstein proposed that light of frequency f could be regarded as a

collection of discrete packets of energy, each packet containing an amount of energy E given by

E= hf

h = Planck’s Constant

Today this energy packet are called photons.

The photoelectric effect:

According to this equation KEmax = hf – Wo

CLASSICAL GAS LAWS

A given amount of enclosed gas at a constant temperature, the product of pressure P and
Volume V is constant or PV =C= Constant

If two gases with initial volumes V1 and V2 are combined at the same temperature and
pressure then the new volume will be given by

V= V1 + V2