STUDENT NAME: TAWANDA DANIEL DENGU

REG NO. R137036H

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

MEPE504

HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION COORDINATION: ASSIGNMENT 2

LECTURER: ENG P. MUNDENDA

QUESTION 1
(a) What are the IEC impulse wave specifications? Derive the expression for tf and tt for a
virtual origin defined by 20% and 90% of the peak of the wave, draw an appropriate
sketch for this, labelling the front and tail time correctly. [10]
(b) Discuss the lightning phenomenon and the measures to mitigate its adverse effect on
equipment and humans. [10]

SOLUTION
(a) Standard impulse wave is specified by IEC with front time 1.2 µs ± 30% tolerance and
tail time (half time) 50 µs ± 20% tolerance. The disturbance definitely consists of full
wave and chopped wave.
 (b) Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere when two neighbouring
clouds of opposite charges strike each other or between a negative cloud and a grounded
object on earth. It is associated with an electrical discharge and huge sound during a
thunderstorm. When a thunderstorm generates negative charges as its ground end, the
earthed objects develop induced positive charge. The earthed objects develop induced
positive charge. The earthed objects of interest are transmission lines and towers.
Normally, it is expected that the lines are unaffected because they are insulated by a string
of insulators.
However, because of high field gradients involved the positive charges leak from the tower
along the insulator surface to the line conductors. This process may take considerable time
in order of some hundreds of seconds. When the cloud discharges to some earthed object
other than the line conductor, the transmission line conductor is left with a high
concentration of a positive charge which cannot leak suddenly. The transmission line and
the ground will act as a huge capacitor carrying appositive charge and hence over voltages
occur due to these induced charges.

Steps to mitigate the adverse effects of lightning on equipment and human being.
1.Using MOVs (Metal oxide Varistor) on electrical equipment or appliances - Few MOVs can be
added in the existing switch board to protect the appliances from high voltage spikes. If heavy
transients develop in the mains, the MOV in the circuit will short circuit the lines and the fuse/
MCB in the house will blow out or trip.

2. Lightning protection systems – implementation of lightning protection systems on

buildings to avoid strikes and damage to equipment and human life.
3. Avoid contact with water during a thunderstorm.
4. Move to the interior of your home or building, taking care to avoid concrete walls and floors.
this is because lightening can travel along metal wires or rebar in concrete structures.
5. In case of a thunderstorm, an individual should move inside a sturdy building and stay away
from the windows. If a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep
windows up.

QUESTION 2
Briefly explain the following high voltage terms:
a) System Voltage [1]
b) Basic Insulation Level (BIL) [2]
c) Impulse withstand [2]
Discuss the reasons for insulation coordination and illustrate this for lines, transformers and
switchgear in a High Voltage Substation. [10]
What is MCOV and specify it for the protection of a transformer operating at a system voltage of
330kV. [5]

SOLUTION
(a) System Voltage – is the rated voltage level of the electrical power system.
(b) Basic Insulation Level (BIL) – refers to the minimum voltage withstand of an equipment
it determines the principle dielectric qualities of the apparatus.
(c) Impulse withstand – refers to the peak value of an impulse of prescribed form and polarity
which the equipment is capable of withstanding without failure under specified conditions of test
and to which the values of the clearances are referred.

Reasons for insulation coordination.

Insulation Coordination in Power System was introduced to arrange the electrical insulation levels
of different components in the electrical power system including transmission network, in such a
manner, that the failure of insulator occurs it confides to the place where it would result in the least
damage of the system, easy to repair and replace, and results least disturbance to the power supply.
When any over voltage appears in the electrical power system, then there may be a chance of
failure of its insulation system. Probability of failure of insulation, is high at the weakest insulation
point nearest to the source of over voltage. In power system and transmission networks, insulation
is provided to the all equipment and components. The overall aim of insulation coordination is to
reduce to an economically and operationally acceptable level the cost and disturbance caused by
insulation failure. In insulation coordination method, the insulation of the various parts of the
system must be so graded that flash over if occurs it must be at intended points.

Lines – the insulation of an overhead line consists of two components, self-restoring and non-self-
restoring insulation systems. Self-restoring insulation can heal itself after a disruptive discharge.
The air around insulator strings is an excellent example of self-restoring. Insulation that loses
insulating properties or does not recover completely after a disruptive discharge caused by the
application of voltage is non restoring insulation. Generally internal insulation.
The line insulators must prevent a flashover for practically any power-frequency operating
condition and many transient voltage conditions, under any conditions of humidity, temperature,
rain, or snow, and with such accumulations of dirt, salt, and other contaminants that are not
periodically washed off by rains.
Transformers and switchgear - insulation coordination must insure that surge protection devices
such as surge arresters are adequately rated and correctly positioned within a substation to limit
transient over voltages. A process is conducted where the insulation characteristics of all
components are determined, specified and coordinated to avoid failure due to expected internal
and externally occurring surges.
The two types of analysis used in insulation coordination are Deterministic and Probabilistic. A
deterministic assessment is used for non-self-recovering insulation such as transformers or cable
or any insulation that cannot self-heal after a dielectric breakdown. Equipment of this type is given
a very specific withstand voltage known as its BIL (Basic Insulation Withstand Level) and is
verified by type tests. The BIL and related BSL and CWW are parameters of this type of insulation
and are used in the deterministic study.

MCOV – Maximum continuous operating voltage. For each arrester rating, there is a
recommended limit to the magnitude of voltage that may be applied continuously. For a 330 kV

330
= 190kV
√3
A surge arrestor with a MCOV above 190 kV is used say 200 kV