GENERATION OF

IMPULSE VOLTAGE AND

IMPULSE CURRENT
PREPARED BY:
JOMAR B. INSELA
BSEE-5D
GENERATION OF
IMPULSE VOLTAGE
WHAT IS IMPULSE VOLTAGE ?
• Impulse voltage is a unidirectional voltage.
• No appreciable oscillation.
• A unidirectional voltage that rapidly rises to a peak value and then
drops to zero more or less rapidly. Also known as pulse voltage.
• The significance of impulse voltage is to study the effect of
transient overvoltages generated by lightning or switching
operations on the system.
REPRESENTATION OF IMPULSE WAVE
IMPULSE GENERATOR

• An IMPULSE GENERATOR is an electrical apparatus which

produces very short high-voltage or high-current surges.
• It can be classified into two types:
a. impulse voltage generator
b. impulse current generator
BASIC IMPULSE GENERATOR
BASIC IMPULSE GENERATOR
 CLASSIFICATION OF IMPULSE VOLTAGE
GENERATOR

• SINGLE STAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR

• MULTI STAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR (MARX

GENERATOR)
SINGLE STAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
DISADVANTAGES

• PHYSICAL SIZE
• REQUIRES HIGH DC VOLTAGE
MULTI STAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
 DISADVANTAGES

• LONG CHARGE TIME

• LOSS OF EFFICIENCY
• THE SHORT LIFE SPAN OF THE SPARK GAP
• THE REPETITION TIME OF CHARGE AND
DISCHARGE CYCLE
APPLICATION OF IMPULSE GENERATOR
CIRCUIT

The major application of the impulse generator circuit is to test high voltage
devices such as:
a. Lightning arrester e. Simulation purposes of lightning effects
b. Fuse f. Insulation testing
c. Surge protectors
d. TVS diodes
 GENERATION OF
IMPULSE CURRENT
 IMPULSE CURRENT GENERATION

• A high impulse current generator consists of large number of

capacitor connected in parallel to a common discharge path.
Eg. Capacitor bank.
• The generation of impulse current waveforms of high magnitude
from 100 KA to 240 KA.
BASIC CIRCUIT OF AN IMPULSE
CURRENT GENERATOR
CAPACITOR BANK IMPULSE
CURRENT GENERATOR
CIRCUIT PRODUCING CURRENT WAVE

Rs – Charging resistor

S – Trigger spark gap
T – Test object
L–C – Pulse forming
network
Rv – Potential divider
for voltage
measurement
Rsh – Current shunt
for current
measurement
APPLICATIONS OF IMPULSE
CURRENT GENERATOR