HIGH VOLTAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR

OBSERVATION SHEET
Date

: 25/11/2013

Sphere Gap (cm)

0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4

Reading(kV)
1
2
7
10
20
25
31
31

Breakdown VoltagekV)
6
12
42
60
120
150
186
186

Breakdown Voltage vs sphere gaps

200

180

160

140

120

Breakdown Voltage (kV)

100

80

60

40

20

0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

Gap Distance (cm)

3.5

4.5

CALCUALTIONS
CS

Surge Capacitance (0.25F)

C0

Shunt Capacitance

R1D

Internal Damping Resistance

R1

Charging Resistance

ROUT

Wave Tail Resistance

0.25
0.042 F
6
C O 0.003F
C1 C S / 6

R1 6 15 + 180
270
ROUT (2000 5000)/(200 0 + 5000)
1.4286 k

Efficiency ( )

C1
0.042

0.933 93.3%
C1 C O
0.042 .003

Wave front time

Wave front is considered from 30% to 90%

Tr 3.243 R 1 C O
Tr 3.243 0.933 270 (0.003 10 6 )
Tr 2.45s

Tr

0.693 (2000 // 5000) (0.042 10 6 )

0.933
44.57 s

Tr
Tr

Wave tail time

0.693 R OUT C1

Stored Energy at Maximum Voltage

Maximum Voltage

E max Vmax

C1
C1 CO

0.042
0.042 0.003
280kV

E max 300
E max

Maximum Energy
1
2 1
2
Pmax = C s V max + C 0 E max
2
2
Pmax = 2007.6 J

Peak inverse voltage of the diode

Peak inverse voltage of the diode

= 30

2 kV

= 51.96kV

DISCUSSION
Difference between the practical values and theoretical values
Theoretical value for wave tail timeis 44.57 s

while Practical value is 34 s

Theoretical value Produced impulse voltageis 300 kV

while practical value is 280 kV

Those differences can be occurred due to

The capacitors will not be charged up to full 300kV voltage because of voltage division from

series resistors.
Human Errors occurred whenmeasuring physical quantities and doing calculations.
Resistance of the connecting wires neglected during calculations.
Capacitor values and charging resistor values can vary.
Breakdown strength of air will reduce due to successive ionizations from repeated
breakdowns.

Use of impulse generator

An impulse generator is an electrical apparatus which produces very short high-voltage or highcurrent surges. Such devices can be classified into two types: impulse voltage generators and impulse
current generators.
Impulse generators with a defined voltage waveform
These generators are used for the high-voltage insulation/dielectric testing of components, devices
and equipment. Capacitive loads will slow down the voltage front time. To compensate for capacitive
loads above 5 nF, some generators have a selectable output resistance value and may even change the
generator discharging capacitor value. Inductive loads, such as transformers, motor windings and
electrical generator windings require the careful design of the waveshaping network to avoid ringing
on the voltage impulse .
Impulse generators with a defined current waveform
These generators are used for high-current component and device testing. The waveform is typically
produced by an LCR series circuit that has a damping factor of less than one. Such a design requires
that the load voltage is kept to be much smaller than the charging voltage.

Charging and Discharging Process of the Impulse Generator

The charging circuit consists of a high voltage step up transformer and a high voltage

rectifier. It gives a HVDC supply to the capacitors.

In the impulse voltage generator there are capacitors, resistors, and spark gaps.
Several capacitors are charged in parallel simultaneously and discharged in series when the

break down voltage of the spark gaps is reached.

The gaps of spark gaps which discharge the capacitors are changed to control thevoltage of

voltage waveform.
The breakdown of the controlling sphere gap occurs first and it initiates the triggering of the

other sphere gap.

Normally an impulse voltage is a unidirectional voltage which rises speedily without
appreciable oscillations, to a peak value and then falls less rapidly to zero.

Series resistors

Spark gaps

Capacitors

Operation of impulse generator

Uncontrolled operation
R2

a.c. supply

h.v. transformer

The peak value of the supply voltage is more than the break down voltage of the sphere gap
in the uncontrolled operation. Therefore it closes once the voltage across the gap builds up to
a value more than its breakdown value.

Then the capacitor would discharge through the impulse generator circuit while producing an
impulse waveform.

The impedance of the impulse generator circuit is much lower than that of the impulse
generator charging circuit. As a result the rectifier and other related components could be
ignored during the impulse.

The capacitor would charge up once again in a repetitive manner.

Both the time of occurrence of the impulse and the exact magnitude are not controllable
because the breakdown of a sphere gap is not exactly a constant and it is statistical.

Impulse generator waveforms for uncontrolled operation

ControlledPulse
operation
v

e
R2

a.c. supply

h.v. transformer

Though the same basic circuit is used, the capacitor is permitted to reach the full charging
voltage without the breaking down of the sphere gap.
The spark over voltage is arranged at a slightly higher value than the charging voltage.
Another sphere gap is used to initiate the breakdown of the gap.
Here there is a special arrangement with a third sphere between the other two, in order to
initiate breakdown of the gap.
Here the capacitors are charged in parallel but discharge in series.

Impulse generator waveforms for controlled operation

The Control Panel

The Control Panel is used to raise the input voltage which is given to the impulse

generator until the breakdown occurs.

There is a voltmeter and ammeter in order to measure input current and input
voltage of the control panel.
Control Panel

Impulse generator Charging unit

V measuring potential device

Important Features of oscilloscopes

Storage facility should be there with the oscilloscope.

The sampling frequency of the oscilloscope should be high enough to capture the
waveform with a good accuracy. Because the impulse only appears for a very short
time and during that short duration it is necessary to take a snapshot of the impulse
waveform.

Observed Waveform

References: High Voltage Engineering by Prof.J. Rohan Lucas