BEF45203 – High Voltage Engineering

Tutorial - HV Generation & Measurement

1. Describe briefly with the aid of suitable diagrams, one form of electrostatic generators used
in generating high dc voltages.

2. Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams the cascade arrangement of transformers
to obtain high alternating voltage for testing purposes.

3. A 200 kVA, 230V/50 kV, 50 Hz, testing transformer has an 8% leakage reactance and a 2%
winding resistance. An insulator of capacitance 20 nF is to be tested at 300 kV using this
transformer as part of the resonance circuit. Determine the value of the inductance (Q-
factor = 15) required to obtain resonance. Determine also the value of the input voltage
required.

4. Describe with the aid of suitable diagrams the Cockroft-Walton method of generating high
direct voltages for testing purposes.

5. A six-stage impulse generator designed to generate the standard waveform (1.2/50 µs) has
a per stage capacitance of 0.01 µF to be used to test transformers with an equivalent
winding to earth capacitance of 1 nF. A peak output voltage of 550 kV is required for testing
the transformer. The wavefront time is to be defined based on 30% and 90% values.
a. With the aid of appropriate calculations select the values of the resistive elements in the
circuit to produce the required waveform.
b. Draw the basic circuit diagram of the multi-stage impulse generator indicating all relevant
values on it. Indicate also on the diagram the wavefront and wavetail control resistors
and the charging resistors.
c. Determine the nominal energy of the impulse generator designed.

6. Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams the capacitor charging method of
measuring the peak value of a high voltage waveform.

7. Describe briefly the use of sphere gaps in high voltage measurements.

8. Derive an expression for the deflecting torque of an electrostatic voltmeter used to measure
high voltages.

9. Explain briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams, why a potential divider connected at the
output of an impulse generator needs to be matched to the cable connecting it to an
oscilloscope and how matching may generally be achieved. You may select any specific
type of potential divider as an example.

10. A sphere gap should breakdown at standard atmospheric conditions at voltage of 120kV.
Calculate the applied voltage to the sphere gap in the test conditions where the ambient
temperature and pressure is 35ºC and 765 torr.

11. Describe briefly, with the aid of suitable diagrams, why a resistive potential divider needs to
be matched to the cable connecting it to an oscilloscope, and how the matching may be
achieved.