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Overvoltage protection of low voltage systems,

2nd edition [Book Review]

Article in IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine August 2005

DOI: 10.1109/MEI.2005.1490002 Source: IEEE Xplore

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 ing drying and degassing techniques. Al-
though not comprehensive, this chapter
does contain practical information used in
industry.
This book would be of interest to power
transformer designers, utility engineers
who need to know about the interaction of
the transformer with the power system, and
power engineering students.
Practical Power Distribution
for Industry
by J. de Kock and C. Strauss
Newnes
An Imprint of Elsevier
Linacre House, Jordan Hill
Oxford OX2 8DP
Phone: 44 (0) 1865 853333
In the US
Elsevier
200 Wheeler Road
Burlington, MA 01803
Phone: (800) 545-2522
Fax: (800) 568-5136
www.newnespress.com
ISBN# 0-7506-6396-0
183 pp, - $49.95 (Paperback), 2004
This tutorial style text on power distri-
bution focuses on the practical application
of medium voltage (1 to 36 kV) power dis-
tribution components. The book provides
concise technical details, accompanied by
well-written text explaining the details for
understanding the basic behavior of
switchgear, power cables, transformers,
power factor correction, grounding, light-
ning protection, and network systems in
electrical systems. Readers will gain prac-
tical technical know-how for becoming
knowledgeable in some of the critical fac-
tors important in selecting switchgear,
power cables, power transformers, power
factor correction, and calculating short-cir-
cuit currents. However, those already fa-
miliar with medium voltage power distri-
bution components and operation will find
this book too basic.
For switchgear, basic operation is re-
viewed as is recent technology (e.g., inter-
nal arc proofing) and advantages and dis-
advantages of different types of technol-
ogy. The chapter on cables reviews calcu-
lations necessary for sizing cables, a de-
scription of various cable types, the prac-
56
tical aspects of pulling cables, and has a
convenient listing of the electrical and
physical properties of various cable sizes.
I found the chapters on compensation and
transformers to be very informative. Com-
pensation included not only basic calcula-
tions for shunt and series capacitor values
and location, but also discussed their af-
fect on motor loads. The section on trans-
formers has a very good review of various
three-phase configurations with vector dia-
grams and lots of drawings, and the effects
of faults and in-rush current. However, it
was lacking explanations on positive and
negative sequencing, thermal consider-
ations, and per-unit calculations.
Although not very broad in coverage,
this book does give the reader an excellent
overview of the more practical aspects of
some medium voltage power distribution
components in an electrical system. It
would be best suited for engineers or tech-
nicians who may not design these compo-
nents but still need a basic working knowl-
edge about medium voltage systems.
Modern Vacuum Systems
by A. Chambers
CRC Press LLC.
2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (800) 272-7737
Fax: (800) 374-3401
www.crcpress.com
ISBN# 0-8493-2438-6
353 pp, - $80.96 (Hardcover), 2005
There are many measurement systems,
research applications and modern devices
(flat panel displays, field emitting arrays,
CRT tubes, etc.) that use vacuum systems.
This book presents the fundamentals of
vacuum technology along with some mod-
ern applications. The book begins by re-
viewing the fundamentals of vacuum,
about two-thirds of the book. Although
these topics (gas physics, surface outgas-
sing, gas flow, and pumping) are nothing
new, the authors clear and engaging style
of writing makes this a good book to learn
these concepts. There are lots of illustra-
tions and many equations to help in the
design of vacuum systems. Examples of
some design equations include flow
through long and short pipes and apertures.
Some of the other topics cover molecular
description of gases in general, scattering
of molecules at surfaces, sputtering, and
descriptions and operation of a wide vari-
ety of vacuum pumps. There is one chap-
ter on methods used to measure vacuums,
including the typical gauges. There is a
good description on partial pressure
gauges, especially a detailed review of the
now widely used quadrupole gauge. The
final three chapters deal with examples of
lab vacuum systems, applications, and con-
struction of vacuum components. The ex-
amples are most useful as they illustrate
how to deal with various issues in real
world vacuum systems such as pumping
water vapor, pumping through a long nar-
row pipe, differential pumping, roots
pumps, and high vacuum systems for coat-
ings. The applications include some very
interesting descriptions of how recent de-
vices operate, including flat panel displays,
a brief description of vacuum coating sys-
tems, and a number of other scientific and
industrial applications. Coupled with the
references, these applications will give the
reader many ideas regarding modern
vacuum systems.
This would be an excellent resource for
engineers and scientists needing to learn
the fundamentals of modern vacuum tech-
nology.
Overvoltage Protection of
Low Voltage Systems, 2nd
Edition
by P. Hasse
The Institution of Electrical Engineers
Michael Faraday House
Six Hills Way, Stevenage
Herts. SG1 2AY, United Kingdom
Phone: 44 (0) 20 7240 1871
Fax: 44 (0) 20 7240 7735
http://www.iee.org/publish/books
ISBN# 0-85296-781-0
364 pp. - 62 / $93 (Hardcover), 2000
Lightning strikes can cause extensive
damage to buildings and property, espe-
cially to sensitive electronics, including
computer networks and other devices con-
nected to the low voltage power grid. This
book illustrates the destructive power of
lightning, examines how it causes damage
to low voltage power systems, and reviews
steps needed to mitigate or prevent light-
ning damage in low power systems. It
IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine
begins by illustrating, using real world
examples, the kind of damage that can be
afflicted on the electrical systems inside
buildings, houses, aircraft, and industrial
plants. It then discusses how lighting
surges can be coupled into power systems
even by indirect strikes. This delves into
various types of coupling modes such as
ohmic, inductive, and capacitive. This is
very useful for understanding how to pro-
tect against lighting strikes. Then, the
majority of the book is dedicated to de-
tailing protective measures focusing on
German VDE and IEC standards. The vari-
ous types of protection discussed, for low
voltage power systems, cover protection
zoning, surge protection, varistors, light-
ning arresters, and protective devices.
Some of the specific devices include opti-
cal coupling, isolating spark gaps, surge
arresters, fuses, grounding rods, and the
Blitzductor. There are also specific ex-
amples for protecting electronic networks
including computer networks and telecom-
munication systems. There are also spe-
cific applications, some of which include
a central computer, fire alarm system, TV
transmitter, and airport control tower
among others.
The book is filled with many photo-
graphs of devices damaged by lightning
and illustrations of low voltage power sys-
tem protective devices used in the IEC
market. Engineers who need to develop
protective systems for low voltage power
distribution systems will find this book to
be very useful for obtaining a good under-
standing of the ways in which lightning
can damage power systems and gain ideas
for protecting such systems.
Principles of Electronic
Materials and Devices, 2nd
Edition
by S.O. Kasap
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121-2298
Phone: ( 877) 833-5524
Fax: (614) 759-3749
http://www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
ISBN# 0-072-45636-1
760 pp. - $130 (Hardcover + CD), 2002
July/August 2005 Vol. 21, No. 4
View publication stats
Electronic solid-state devices are ubiq- As long as you are not looking for an
uitous today. Applications include PCs, in-depth book in solid-state physics, this
digital cameras, wireless communications, is an excellent introduction to solid-state
and many other consumer, commercial, physics. Even the practicing engineering
and military electronic devices. Knowing may even find this to be a good reference.
the fundamentals of solid-state materials
is a primary requirement for electrical en-
gineers, physicists, and materials scientists. Modern Magnetic Materials -
This textbook and CD-ROM are a great
Principles and Applications
introduction to understanding the funda-
by R. C. OHandley
mentals of solid-state materials and de-
John Wiley & Sons
vices. It combines the areas of solid-state
111 River Street
theory, materials, and electromagnetics
Hoboken, NJ 07030
into a very straightforward, understandable
Phone: (877) 762-2974
text aimed at an undergraduate or begin-
Fax: (800) 597-3299
ning graduate level student. The author
http://www.wiley.com
clearly describes the theory of many of the
ISBN# 0-471-15566-7
key concepts for the foundation of solid-
767 pp. - $156 (Hardcover), 2000
state materials and details many of their
applications. Much of the clarity in the
Because magnetism involves a wide
writing is attributed to conveying the prin-
range of disciplines including electrical
ciples without developing detailed math-
engineers, material scientists, physicists,
ematical derivations with the intent to make
metallurgists, chemists, and others, this text
it a more practical engineering-oriented
would have broad interest. Because of the
text. The author has successfully aimed at
wide and diverse world of magnetics, the
developing a physical understanding of the
intent of the author was to present a foun-
concepts presented through the use of in-
dation of the most widely used concepts
tuitive examples including drawings, illus-
today in magnetic materials and describe
trations, graphs, tables of physical data, and
some of the most recent applications. The
many practical applications. These con-
depth of coverage allows the reader to gain
cepts are also reinforced with the color il-
enough background to understand the
lustrations in the CD, containing a PDF and
physics and underlying material issues to
PowerPoint files of all of the illustrations
be able to understand the current literature
in color and additional selected topics and
in much of the field. Much of the book is
solved problems not in the textbook. There
dedicated to magnetic material behavior.
are problems at the end of each chapter
A key feature of this book is in the authors
for assignment to the student, with the so-
ability to clearly explain much of the fun-
lutions manual, supported by McGraw-
damental physics by practical examples
Hill, also available.
and tying together many difficult and
Some of the topics covered include
sometimes disparate subjects. These in-
electrical and thermal conduction in sol-
clude the role of quantum mechanics and
ids, quantum physics, semiconductor
spectroscopy to magnetics along with prac-
theory and devices, dielectric materials and
tical examples of magnetic recording me-
insulation, magnetic properties, and opti-
cal properties. Additional topics in this
dia. The author recognizes the real world
and stresses the effects of processing on
second edition include conduction in in-
material characteristics rather than strictly
sulators, Hall effect, phonons, and thermal
theory. Many of the graphs and charts in-
properties. In addition to the typical dis-
clude material properties along with criti-
crete devices (pn junction, BJT, JFET, and
cal processing parameters. He also pro-
LED), the book could be improved by add-
vides a concise summary at the end of each
ing more sophisticated solid-state devices
chapter to reinforce understanding.
used in modern electronics, such as the
The author begins the book by laying
various types of sensor arrays used in elec-
the foundation for magnetics, including
tronic imaging devices among others.
magnetostatics, exchange interactions,
57