while that of switching show that the charge

generated is slightly above that of the

supply voltage.
The study therefore
hypothesized the similarity between
switching and lightning voltages.

Development and comparison of results

for switching and lightning impulse
simulator using Matlab GUI (multistage: Marx stage) and Excel.
Introduction ...............................................1

Introduction

Graphical user interface ............................1

Basic Concept of Marx generator .........2

The paper is divided into major sections,

the first focuses on the major method of
distinguishing the existing difference
between switching and lighting while the
last method, is based on statistical analysis
difference switching and lightning.

Theoretical concept ............................... 2

Specific Investigation............................3
Results and Discussion .........................3
Statistical analysis .....................................4
Conclusion ................................................6
References .................................................6

Graphical user interface

Abstract
Flash (switching and lightning) is a major
cause of the interruption in power supply,
thereby causing the destruction of systems.
Performance and efficiency of the power
system or electrical equipment are known
to reduce if the phenomenon of lightning
occurs repeatedly and prolonged. Marx
generator can rapidly generate a high
voltage. The same is true with the voltage
flash. This study looks at the GUI and
analysis of the data for excel and Matlab
graphs as the major simulation method used
in switch and lightning impulse voltage.
The results have indicated that the voltage
in both cases increases rapidly to match that
of the supply voltage as the switch is
toggled on and decreases gradually. In
multi-stage switching in both cases, the
result indicates that the charge increases
multi-times more than the voltage supplied.
The results for 8 stage shows that the for
lightning impulse, the charge increases
multi-times that of the voltage supplied

Graphical user interface (GUI) was

developed to aid in the analysis of
efficiency and design of an impulse
generator [1]. GUI makes programs easier
to use, hence their appearance are friendly
to use as compared to their complex nature.
Consequently, an ideal application is userfriendly,
practical
and
efficient.
Nonetheless, GUIs languages are easier in
the sense that their command languages are
simple.
IG operation often leads to the production
of very short high-voltage surges hence are
classifiable in two types: impulse current
generators and impulse voltage generators
[2]. The insulation strength of electrical
power equipment is tested using high
impulse voltages against the switching
surges. Such tests are fundamental in the
testing of insulators, lightning arresters, and
fuses.
IG is made of a capacitor that is often
charged for the level of voltage required
and discharged through the same circuit.
The circuit parameters are adjustable to
produce the required impulse voltage of the
shape desired [3]. Marx Generator, on the
1

other hand, is the best and simplest ways of

charging capacitors in parallel and
discharge in series [4]. Marx generators by
definition are the common ways of
generating high voltage impulses for testing
when the charging supply is less than the
voltage supply required.
Impulses can be categorized in terms of
duration of the wave: short duration
impulse e.g. lightning, longer duration
impulse e.g. switching charge and
oscillatory voltages [5, 6]. According to
International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC), the insulated transmission line must
withstand standard lightning impulse
voltage and standard switching impulse
voltage wave shape [7]. This is because
transient over voltages arising from
lightning and switching surges often lead to
a steep build-up of voltage on transmission
lines besides other electronics [8].
High voltage impulse generators as an
apparatus are quite significant in
Electrotechnology in the investigation of
the impacts of switching surges and
lightning impulses as elements of the power
system [9]. The equipment is useful in other
electrical apparatus like thermonuclear
fusion, lasers, and plasma devices.
The impulse voltage generator is made of
internal resistors, capacitors, wave shaping
elements like inductor or resistor and spark
gaps [10]. The capacitors can produce high
short circuit charges. Production of high
short circuit charges is possible since the
capacitors are initially and specifically
charged in parallel to a certain voltage
about ground via charging resistors by a
direct current source which is high-voltage
and low-current. The wave shaping element
like an inductor and resistor then discharges
the capacitor in parallel. The charging and
discharge are done simultaneously as the
spark gap spark-over. The low level of

inductance is crucial in the production of

high current for a specified charging
voltage [11].
Basic Concept of Marx generator
Considering at the figure below

Figure 1: Impulse Generator Circuit for

single impulse generator.
Therefore, the basic circuitry unit of an
impulse generator can be said to have a
capacitor, , which is connected in series
and charged from a DC source, , resistor,
and spark gap G. Further definition of the
current of the circuit can be given by

() = sin , where = 2, =

42 and is an inductance.

However, the basic circuit unit for the

multi-stage impulse generator has more
than one switch, resistor, and capacitors as
shown below.

Figure 2: Impulse Generator Circuit for

multiple impulse generator.
Theoretical concept

A Marx generator was developed by Erwin

Otto Marx in 1924 [12]. The purpose of the
generator was to generate a high-voltage
pulse from a low-voltage DC supply.
Marx generator operates by charging the
capacitor in parallel and discharging them
in series respectively. The power source to
2

(discharge) will be represented by =

produce this phenomenon is an alternation

in the current with steady DC output
voltage while the generator produces a
pulse.

where is the constant time for

discharge
circuit.

Specific Investigation
In this paper, an investigation on the effect
of lightning and switching impulse of a
Marx generator using single stage and
multi-stage is investigated. The study relied
on GUI simulator to produce the graphical
results for interpretation.

Figure 4: Lightning impulse voltage

generator (3 stage).

Results and Discussion

In Figure 4, the capacitor voltage is
increased by the charging to higher values.
The capacitors are discharged in series and
charged in parallel. As a result, the voltage
output is multi-times higher than the supply
voltage. This observation correlate to that
noted by [13] that as the number of stages
increase in impulse circuit, the peak voltage
increases. The capacitors 1 and 2 first
keep the switch open hence the capacitors
are charged. As the switch is toggled, the
capacitors are discharged. This shapes the
wave circuit due to the generation of sharp
impulse.
It is worth noting that the capacitors are not
charged at the same time since there
resistance in series in the circuit.
Consequently, the impulse output voltage is
often less than the apparent voltage. Also as
stages increases, voltage increases, which
at the same time is limited to series
resistance theoretically. Thus, increasing
the number of stages also increases the
resistance effect. Therefore, the variation in
peak impulse reduces as the stages
increases. This is evident in Figure 5. This
is also evident in Figure 9. However as the
number of stages increases further, like in
Figure 8 for 9 stage switching impulse

The figures presented below show single

and multi-stage simulator for different
impulses.

Figure 3: Switching impulse voltage

generator (single stage).
Figure 3 above is also known as single
exponential waveform [12]. In the above
figure, (Fig. 2), the maximum voltage is
indicated as 0.78 . The diagram show
that as capacitor 1 is charged through high
series resistor 1, the charge in the
capacitor gradually increases to a level
matching that of a supply voltage, V. This
is caused by the fact that during the
charging process, the resistors charge
increases then falls to zero as the charge in
the capacitor 1 increases. As 2 switch is
moved closer, the charge in 1 discharges
through resistance 2 such that the charge
and discharge is simultaneous. The decay
3

voltage generator, the output voltage

becomes less but still higher than the supply
voltage.

Figure 7: Lightening impulse voltage

generator (8 stage).

Figure 5: Switching impulse voltage

generator (3 stage).
It is evident in the figure above that peak
voltage increases as some stages increases.
At the beginning of the stages, the increase
is more. However, as the stages increase,
the peak voltages changes becomes less.

Figure 8: Switching impulse voltage

generator (8 stage).
Statistical analysis
Figure 6: Lightning impulse voltage
generator (4 stage).
Figure 6 above is a typical standard full
lightning impulse where the voltage is
noted to rise to its peak in microseconds
then falls gradually to zero [14]. The rising
part is known as a front while the maximum
is the peak and the decrease as the tail.
Consequently, the waveform is represented
by exponential functions with varying time
frames.
The observation noted in Figure 7 below is
similar to that observed in Figure 5 above.
Contrastingly, in Figure 6, the capacitor
voltage is increased by the charging to
higher values. The capacitors are
discharged in series and charged in parallel.

This section will entail hypothesis testing of

different result obtained from the research
to justify the observation in the graphical
representation. The results are tabulated as
follows.
Table 1: Data
N

1
2
3
4
5
6
4

Lightning
impulse
(kV)
1050
1175
1425
1550
650
1665

Switching
impulse
(kV)
850
950
1050
1175
930
1245

Difference
(kV)
200
225
375
375
-280
420

7
8
9
10

2100
1550
1425
1050

1550
1175
1050
850

Analysis using excel

550
375
375
200

N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

200 + 225 + + 200

= 281.5
10

2
(200 + 281.5)2 + (225 + 281.5)2 +
+ (200 + 281.5)2
=
9
= 118998.09

Lightning impulse (kV) Switching impulse (kV)

1050
1175
1425
1550
650
1665
2100
1550
1425
1050
Mean difference
Variance
Standard deviation

Difference (kV)
850
950
1050
1175
930
1245
1550
1175
1050
850

200
225
375
375
-280
420
550
375
375
200
281.5
118998.0921
344.9610008

Figure 9: calculations
Table 2: t-test

Hence

t-Test:
Two-Sample
Assuming Equal Variances
= 118998.09
= 344.961
Mean
Variance

0 : = 0 = 0
: 0
0 =

Observations
Pooled
Variance
Hypothesized
Mean
Difference
df
t Stat

281.5 0
10 = 2.58
344.961
= 0.05
0.025,9 = 2.262
= 0.0631

P(T<=t) one-tail

> 0.05,
0 there isnt a difference
between the switching and lightning
voltages.
@ = 0.01,
0.005,9 = 3.25
0.01 < > 0.02
> = 0.01
Hence
0 , there isnt difference between
the switching and lightning voltages.

t Critical onetail
P(T<=t) twotail
t Critical twotail

Variable
1
1364
161293.3
333
10
103597.3
611
0

Variable
2
1082.5
45901.38
889
10

18
1.955640
645
0.033106
012
1.734063
607
0.066212
023
2.100922
04

= 0.06 > 0.05 hence indicating

weak evidence against the null hypothesis.

Consequently, we fail to reject the null

hypothesis.

References
[1] V. Kamble and A. Sharma,
"Developing GUI Tool for Analyzing
the Effect of Wave-Tail-Resistance
Location on Impulse Generator
Efficiency,"
in
International
Conference on Emerging Trends in
Engineering and Technology, Patong
Beach, Phuket (Thailand), 2013.

Conclusion
The t-test results from excel also indicate
that at 0.05 = 0.06 > 0.05
hence portraying weak evidence against the
null hypothesis, so we fail to reject the null
hypothesis. This is similar to conclusion
drawn from calculation. The results noted
in statistical analysis are also similar to that
noted from GUI observation and analysis.
Therefore, it is worth noting that there is no
difference in voltages used during
switching and lighting.

[2] M. S. Naidu and V. Kamaraju, High

voltage engineering, Tata McGrawHill Education, 2013.
[3] M. T. Sutherland, Impulse rotor
generator, Google Patents, 2011.
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"Performance of a Multi-Stage
Impulse
Generator
(Marx
Generator)," International Journal of
Ethics in Engineering & Management
Education, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 1-5,
2015.
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1939.
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Electro-technical
Commission, "International Standard
IEC 61499-1 Function Blocks
International
Electrotechnical
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[9] J. Y. Zhou and S. A. Boggs, "Low
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IEEE
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electrical insulation, vol. 11, no. 4,

pp. 597-603, 2004.
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[12] E. Marx, "Versuche ber die Prfung
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