Measurement Of High

Voltages
& High Currents
Unit 4

High Voltage Measurement

Techniques

Measurement Of High DC Voltage

Series Resistance Micrometer
Resistance Potential Divider
Generating Voltmeter
Sphere and Other Gaps

Sphere Gaps
Applicatios:

Voltage Measurement (Peak) - Peak values of voltages may be measured

from 2 kV up to about 2500 kV by means of spheres.

Arrangements:

1.

Vertically with lower sphere grounded (For Higher Voltages)

2.

Horizontally with both spheres connected to the source voltage or one

sphere grounded (For Lower Voltages).

Sphere Gaps

Sphere Gaps

The arrangement is selected based on the relation between the

peak voltage, determined by sparkover between the spheres, and
the reading of a voltmeter on the primary or input side of the highvoltage source. This relation should be within 3% (IEC, 1973).

Standard values of sphere diameter are 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100,
150, and 200 cm.

The Clearance around the sphere gaps:

Fig C :Breakdown voltage

characteristic of sphere gaps

Sphere Gaps

The effect of humidity is to increase the breakdown voltage of

sphere gaps by up to 3%.

Temperature and pressure, however, havea significant influenceo n

breakdown voltage.

Breakdown Voltage under normal atmospheric conditions is, V s=kVn

where k is a factor related to the relative air density (RAD) .

The relation between the RAD() and the correction factor k:

Under impulse voltages, the voltage at which there is a 50%

breakdown probability is recognized as the breakdown level.

Sphere Gaps
Factors Influencing the Sparkover Voltage of Sphere Gaps

i.

Nearby earthed objects,

ii.

Atmospheric conditions and humidity,

iii.

Irradiation, and

iv.

Polarity and rise time of voltage waveforms.

The limits of accuracy are dependant on the ratio of the spacing d

to the sphere diameter D, as follows:

d < 0.5 D

Accuracy = 3 %

0.75 D > d > 0.5 D Accuracy = 5 %

For accurate measurement purposes, gap distances in excess of

0.75D are not used

Sphere Gaps

High Ohmic Series Resistance

with Microammeter

Resistance (R) :

Constructed with large wire wound

Value: Few hundreds of Mega ohms Selected to

give (1-10A) for FSD.
Voltage drop in each element is chosen to avoid
surface flashovers and discharges (5kV/cm in air,
20kV/cm in oil is allowed)

Provided with corona free terminals.

Material: Carbon alloy with temperature coefficient
of 10-4/oC .
Resistance chain located in air tight oil filled PVC
tube for 100kV operation with good temp stability.

Mircoammeter MC type

Voltage of source, V=IR

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High Ohmic Series Resistance

with Microammeter

Impedance of the meter is few ohms. i.e, very less

compared to R so the drop across the meter is negligible.

Protection: Paper gap, Neon Glow tube, a zener diode with

series resistance Gives protection when R fails.

Maximum voltage: 500kV with 0.2% accuracy.

Limitations:

Power dissipation & source loading

Temp effects & long time stability

Voltage dependence of resistive elements

Sensitivity to mechanical stresses

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Resistance Potential Divider

It uses electrostatic voltmeter or high impedance

voltmeter.

Can be placed near the test object which might not

always be confined to one location

Let, V2-Voltage across R2

V2 V1

(R R2 )
Highvoltagemagnitude,
V1 V2 1
R2 transients due to:
Sudden voltage changes during

R2
(R1 R2 )

Switching operation
Flashover of test objects
Damage due to stray capacitance across the elements &
ground capacitance

To avoid sudden changes in voltages, voltage

controlling capacitors are connected across the
elements
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Resistance Potential Divider

At high voltage ends, corona free termination is used to

avoid unnecessary discharges.

Accuracy:

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0.05% accuracy up to 100 kV

0.1% accuracy up to 300 kV
0.5% accuracy for 500 kV

Generating Voltmeter

Generating
voltmeter:
A
variable
capacitor electrostatic voltage generator.

It generates current proportional

voltage under measurement.

This arrangement provides loss free

measurement of DC and AC voltages

It is driven by synch. motor, so doesnt

observe
power
from
the
voltage
measuring source

The high voltage electrode and the

grounded electrode in fact constitute a
capacitance system.

The capacitance is a function of time as

the area A varies with time and, therefore,
the charge q(t) is given as,

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to

Generating Voltmeter
and,i(t )

dq (t )
dV (t )
dC (t )
C (t )
V (t )
dt
dt
dt

For d.c. Voltages,

Hence
If the capacitance C varies sinusoidally between the limits C 0 and (C0 +
Cm) then
C = C0 + Cm sin t
and the current i' is then given as, i(t) = im cos t , where im = VCm
Here is the angular frequency of variation of the capacitance.

Generally the current is rectified and measured by a moving coil meter

Generating voltmeters can be used for a.c. voltage measurement also

provided the angular frequency is the same or equal to half that of
the voltage being measured.

Above fig. shows the variations of C as a function of time together with

a.c. voltage, the frequency of which is twice the frequency of C (t).
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Generating Voltmeter

Instantaneous value of current i(t) = Cm fvV(t)

where fv = 1/Tv the frequency of voltage.

Since fv = 2fc and fc =1/( 60/n) we obtain,

I(t) = (n/30) CmV(t)

Fig. shows a schematic diagram of a generating

voltmeter which employs rotating vanes for variation
of capacitance

High voltage electrode is connected to a disc

electrode D3 which is kept at a fixed distance on the
axis of the other low voltage electrodes D2, D1, and
D0.

The rotor D0 is driven at a suitable constant speed by a synchronous motor.

Rotor vanes of D0 cause periodic change in capacitance between the

insulated disc D2 and the high voltage electrode D3.

Number and shape of vanes are so designed that a suitable variation of

capacitance (sinusodial or linear) is achieved.
The a.c. current is rectified and is measured using moving coil meters. If the
current is small an amplifier may be used before the current is measured.

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Generating Voltmeter

Generating voltmeters are linear scale instruments and applicable over a

wide range of voltages.

The sensitivity can be increased by increasing the area of the pick up

electrode and by using amplifier circuits

Advantages:

i.

Scale is linear and can be extrapolated

ii.

Source loading is practically zero

iii.

No direct connection to the high voltage electrode

iv.

Very convenient instrument for electrostatic devices

Limitations:
i.

They require calibration

ii.

Careful construction is needed and is a cumbersome instrument

requiring an auxiliary drive

iii.

Disturbance in position and mounting of the electrodes make the

calibration invalid.

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