HIGH VOLTAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR

Instructed By: Dr. Asanka Rodrigo Name Index No Group Date of Per : M.P.D.S.C. Kularathna : 080246F :6 : 22/03/2012

OBSERVATION SHEET

Name Index No Group Date of Per Experiment

: M.P.D.S.C. Kularathna : 080246F :6 : 22/03/2012 : HIGH VOLTAGE IMPULSE GENERATOR

Instructed By : Dr. Asanka Rodrigo

Observed Experiment Data Gap Distance (mm) 5 10 15 20 25 30 Increasing Distance V1 (kV) 18 36 80 92 132 138 V2 (kV) 18 36 85 96 130 140 Decreasing Distance V3 (kV) 48 60 100 116 130 138 V4 (kV) 48 64 100 116 132 140

Avg. (kV) 33 49 91.25 105 131 139

CALCULATION Voltage at break down state vs Distance Distance (mm) 5 10 15 20 25 30 Voltage (V) 33 49 91.25 105 131 139

Voltage at break down state Vs Distance of the sphere gap

Relevant capacitance and resistance values were directly obtained from the equipment and as follows.

Surge Capacitanc e Shunt Capacitanc e Charging Resistance Wave Tail Resistance

Efficiency

C1 =

0.25 F = 0.042 F 6 C 2 = 0.003 F R1 = 20 k R2 = 2 k

C1 0.042 = = 0.933 C1 + C 2 0.042 + 0.003

100% 90%

50%

10%

T Wave front Time Theoretical Value

t f = 2.75R2 C 2 (Assuming 10% to 90% voltage difference and its corresponding time)
Where,

R2 = 2 k , C2 = 0.003 F
t f = 2.75 0.933 2 10 3 0.003 10 6 = 15.39 s

Wavetail Time Theoretical Value

tt =

0.693 R1C1 (Assuming 50% of maximum voltage of the impulse and its corresponding time at the falling tail side)
R1 = 20 k , C1 = 0.042 F , = 0.933
tt =

Where,

0.693 20 10 3 0.042 10 6 = 0.624 ms 0.933

Maximum Voltage

E max = Vmax E max = 300 E max Maximum Energy Stored

Pmax = Pmax Pmax

C1 C1 + C 2

0.042 0.042 + 0.003 = 280 kV

1 1 C1 Vmax + C 2 E max 2 2 1 1 = ( 0.042 10 6 300 10 3 ) + ( 0.003 10 6 300 10 3 ) 2 2 = 2007 .6 J

DISCUSSION: High voltage equipments are tested after manufacturing to check whether they are able to withstand surges caused in during operation. The impulse generator produces the required voltage. Followings are the special features of the impulse generators They are two kinds of impulse generators i. ii. i. ii. Single stage impulse generator Multistage impulse generator Uncontrolled operation Controlled operation

There are two operation methods of impulse generators

Simplest form of the single stage impulse generator

R2

e(t)
C1 R1 C2

Here the high direct voltage required is obtained from a high voltage step-up transformer through a high voltage rectifier. Multistage impulse generator To obtain large impulse voltages, a multistage impulse generator is used so that the relative size and the cost of the high voltage transformer can be kept small. The basic idea is to charge a number of capacitors in parallel through a rectifier from a high voltage transformer and then to discharge them in

series. It gives the output voltage equal to the charging voltage multiplied by the number of stages in the impulse generator. This equipment facilitates to obtain large impulsive voltages in order to carry out high voltage tests.
Rc + Rc RID Cs RID Cs Rc Rc RID Cs RED Rc C0 Vc Rc Rc Cs RID Cs RID RID _ Rc Rc Cs Rout 5k

VL

The Power supply of impulse generator consists of a high voltage step-up transformer with a rectifier assembly connected to form a full wave bridge circuit. The full wave bridge circuit has better voltage regulation characteristics than voltage doublers circuits and does not require any capacitors for voltage doubling. The circuit uses compensated selenium rectifiers which are selected to withstand high current surges, voltage reversals and flashovers. Uncontrolled operation In the uncontrolled operation, the break down voltage of the sphere gap is less than the peak value of the supply, so that it effectively closes when the voltage across the gap builds up above its breakdown value. The capacitor would then discharge through the impulse generator circuit producing an impulse waveform. The impedance of the impulse generator charging circuit is much higher than that of the impulse generator circuit so that during the impulse the rectifier and other related components could be disregarded. Subsequently, the capacitor would charge up again and the process would be repetitive. However, as the breakdown of a sphere gap is not exactly a constant but statistical, the time of occurrence of neither the impulse nor the exact magnitude are controllable. Controlled operation In the controlled mode of operation, the same basic circuit is used, but the capacitor is allowed to reach the full charging voltage without the sphere gap breaking down. The spark over voltage is set at slightly higher than the charging voltage. In this case, at the sphere gap we need a special arrangement, such as a third sphere between the other two, to be able to initiate breakdown of the gap.

R2

e(t)
C1 Pulse V R1 C2

Trigatron gap The third sphere arrangement is not very sensitive. A better arrangement is to have an asymmetrical arrangement.

10kV DC

CRO
Trigaration

Impulse generator charging and discharging process R1

v
C1

R2

C2

e(t)

Consider simple form of impulse generator v 1 ( e t e t ) e(t ) = . R1C 2 Where, C1 + C 2 1 = and = R2 ( C1 + C 2 ) R2 C1C 2 Six stage Impulse generator charging and discharging process

Rc + Rc RID

a
Cs RID Cs

Rc RID Rc Cs RED Rc C0

Vc Rc

Cs

RID

b
Rc

Cs RID

Cs Rout

5k RID

VL

Rc

Rc

C0 Cs RID Rc Rc RED Rout

shunt capacitor (3nF) surge capacitor (0.25 uF) internal damping resistors (15 ) charging resistors (20 k) charging resistors (40 k ) external damping resistor (12.5-180 k) wave tail resistor (2 k)

The resistance and capacitance units are arranged so that the sphere gaps are placed one above the other. The capacitors are mounted vertically above each other with layers of insulation separating them. The circuit is shown in the above figure. During the positive cycle of the supply of the primary side of the charging unit all three capacitors in a-b, d-e and g-h branches charged up to +V. (maximum rectified DC voltage). During the negative cycle the capacitors in branches b-c, e-f and h-i are charged up to +V Once the initial pulse (10kV) breaks down the trigatron gap, the breakdown of the successive gaps occurs in the following manner. Then the capacitors discharge through the load and RED and Rout acts as wave front time resistor and the wave tail time resistor respectively. Assumptions i. ii. i. ii. the leakage across the capacitors is negligible disregard the arc voltage drops voltage across a capacitor cannot change suddenly(at breakdowns) breakdowns occurs simultaneously as voltage drops across sphere gaps are sufficient enough,

Reasons

Vgc = 3V, Vid = 5V and Vfj = 6V The Control Panel

This is used to increase the input voltage to the impulse generator up to the breakdown occurs. To measure input current and input voltage of the control panel, there is a voltmeter and ammeter. Important Features of oscilloscope The oscilloscope we used has the storage facility, as it is a digital oscilloscope. The impulse appears for a very short time. We take a snapshot of the impulse waveform. The sampling frequency of the oscilloscope should be high enough to capture the waveform with a greater accuracy. Wave front time The wave front time is as the time from the initial point of the waveform to rising about 10% to 90% of the peak value. Wave tail time The wave tail time is given as the time from the initial point of the waveform to falling to 50% of the peak value. In the High Voltage Laboratory we did our experiment by using a multi stage impulse generator. This equipment facilitates to obtain large impulsive voltages in order to carry out high voltage tests. The Power supply of impulse generator consists of a high voltage step-up transformer with a rectifier assembly connected to form a full wave bridge circuit. The full wave bridge circuit has better voltage regulation characteristics than voltage doublers circuits and does not require any capacitors for voltage doubling. The circuit uses compensated selenium rectifiers which are selected to withstand high current surges, voltage reversals and flashovers. Errors involved Main errors was the measuring the sphere gap there was no accurate measuring method to take that measurement Changing of breakdown strength of air due to the ionization Capacitor values may not be the exact value Capacitors are not all charged to the same voltage due to the resistances that come in series during charging. Measurement errors

REFERENCES: Lucas, J R, High Voltage Engineering.