UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering
B. Sc. Engineering
Semester 7 Examination

EE3013 HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING I

Time Allowed: 2 Hours August 2018

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

This paper contains 4 questions in 3 pages.

Answer all questions.
This is a closed book examination and only authorised Calculators will be permitted.
This examination paper accounts for 70% of the module assessment. The total maximum
mark attainable is 70. The marks assigned for each question and sections thereof are
indicated in square brackets.
If you have any doubts to the interpretation of the wording of a question, make your own
decision, but clearly state it on the answer script.

TECHNICAL DATA
Permeability of free space μ0 = 4π × 10-7 H/m
Permittivity of free space ε0 = 8.854 × 10-12 F/m
Velocity of light in free space = 2.998 × 108 m/s
Question 1
(a) Briefly explain the mechanisms of polarization in dielectric materials and how they
contribute to the total effective dipole moment per molecule. [4 Marks]
(b) Explain the relationship between rate of relaxation and a dipoles response to an applied
electric field. [4 Marks]
(c) With the aid of suitable diagrams, explain how real and imaginary parts of relative
permittivity vary with the frequency of the applied electric field. [3 Marks]
(d) Identify a dielectric material used as an electrical insulation and discuss its dielectric
properties and applications. [4 Marks]
(e) Discuss the importance of the thermal properties of the material identified in (d),
considering its applications as examples. [2 Marks]

Question 2

(a) Briefly describe the Townsend’s breakdown process for gaseous dielectrics and determine
an expression for the spark breakdown criteria. [4 marks]

(b) If the following measurements were made in a Townsend type discharge, determine the
value of the Townsend’s first and second ionization coefficients. [6 marks]

d (mm) 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16
I (pA) 23 27 31 36 43 51 80 120 200 450 1050

(c) Describe very briefly with the aid of suitable diagrams the mechanism of the lightning
stroke generation above a high voltage transmission line. [5 marks]

(d) Show with the aid of suitable diagrams how the time lag characteristic of spark
breakdown may be determined for the standard impulse voltage waveform. [2 marks]

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Question 3

(a) Derive an expression for the corona inception in a two-conductor system with the radius
of each conductor r and the spacing between the conductors d. Modify it suitably to
account for normal deviations in a practical line. [3 marks]

Explain with the aid of suitable diagrams, how the expression may be extended to a three-
phase transmission line with equilateral spacing. [2 marks]
A certain transmission line has been designed to have corona inception occurring at a
voltage of 80 kV under normal temperature and pressure conditions. If the actual
ambient temperature is 35 oC and the atmospheric pressure is 765 torr, what would be the
actual corona inception voltage. [2 marks]

(b) Describe briefly the breakdown of commercial liquids below their intrinsic strength due to
the 3 types of impurities which may be present. [6 marks]

(c) Describe very briefly 3 processes by which solid insulation may breakdown below their
intrinsic strength. [3 marks]

(d) Describe the theory of shielding of an overhead transmission line and explain why a taller
tower would require a smaller protection angle from an overhead earth wire. [2 marks]

Question 4

(a) By deriving from first principles, show that the electric stress in a single core cable is not
uniform. [3 marks]
(b) Describe briefly two methods that may be used to distribute the stress more equally in the
dielectric. [4 Marks]
(c) Briefly explain the power loss that can incur in a high voltage cable. [3 Marks]
(d) In a 220 kV, 3-phase system, the insulation of a single phase cable has a relative
permittivity of 2.25 and a critical breakdown stress of 400 kV/cm (peak). In addition to
the nominal supply voltage, transformer can supply an additional voltage of 60 kV. If the
conductor radius is 19 mm, determine the radii of the sheath and of the
intersheath for optimum utilisation of the cable. Take a safety factor as 2.5 in the
design. [8 Marks]

- END OF QUESTION PAPER -

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