Development and comparison of results

for switching and lightning impulse

simulator using Matlab GUI (multi-

stage: Marx stage) and Excel.

Introduction...............................................1
Graphical user interface............................1
Basic Concept of Marx generator.........2
Theoretical concept...............................2
Specific Investigation............................3
Results and Discussion..........................3
Statistical analysis.....................................4
Conclusion................................................6
References.................................................6

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 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.

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

Introduction
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.
Graphical user interface
Graphical user interface (GUI) was
developed to aid in the analysis of
efficiency and design of an impulse
generator [1]. GUI makes programs easier
1

to use, hence their appearance are friendly

to use as compared to their complex
nature. Consequently, an ideal application
is user-friendly, practical and efficient.
Nonetheless, GUIs languages are easier in
the sense that their command languages
are simple.

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.

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.

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 sparkover. The low level of inductance is crucial
in the production of high current for a
specified charging voltage [11].

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 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

Basic Concept of Marx generator

Considering at the figure below

Marx generator operates by charging the

capacitor in parallel and discharging them
in series respectively. The power source to
produce this phenomenon is an alternation
in the current with steady DC output
voltage while the generator produces a
pulse.

Figure 1: Impulse Generator Circuit for

single impulse generator.

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.

Therefore, the basic circuitry unit of an

impulse generator can be said to have a
capacitor, C , which is connected in
series and charged from a DC source,
V , resistor, R and spark gap G.
Further definition of the current i of the
circuit
can
be
given
by
V t
R
i ( t )=
e sin t , where
=
,
L
2L

1
R2
2
LC 4 L
inductance.
=

and

is

Results and Discussion

The figures presented below show single
and multi-stage simulator for different
impulses.

an

However, the basic circuit unit for the

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

Figure 3: Switching impulse voltage

generator (single stage).
Figure 2: Impulse Generator Circuit for
multiple impulse generator.

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 MV . The diagram
show that as capacitor C 1 is charged
through high series resistor R 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

Theoretical concept
A Marx generator was developed by Erwin
Otto Marx in 1924 [12]. The purpose of
the generator was to generate a highvoltage pulse from a low-voltage DC
supply.
3

charge increases then falls to zero as the

charge in the capacitor C 1 increases.
As G2 switch is moved closer, the
C1
charge in
discharges through
resistance R 2 such that the charge and
discharge is simultaneous. The decay
(discharge) will be represented by

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
voltage generator, the output voltage
becomes less but still higher than the
supply voltage.

t
CR

where CR is the constant

v =V e
time
for
discharge
circuit.

Figure 4: Lightning impulse voltage

generator (3 stage).
Figure 5: Switching impulse voltage
generator (3 stage).

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 C 1
and C 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 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.

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

Figure 6: Lightning impulse voltage

generator (4 stage).
4

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.

Statistical analysis

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.

Lightning
impulse
(kV)

Switching
impulse
(kV)

Difference
(kV)

1050

850

200

1175

950

225

1425

1050

375

1550

1175

375

650

930

-280

1665

1245

420

2100

1550

550

1550

1175

375

1425

1050

375

10

1050

850

200

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

Figure 7: Lightening impulse voltage

generator (8 stage).

200+225++ 200 =281.5

D=
10
S 2=

( 200+281.5 )2 + ( 225+281.5 )2 + + ( 200+281.5 )2

=11
9

Hence
S= 118998.09
344.961

Figure 8: Switching impulse voltage

generator (8 stage).

H 0 : D =0=0
5

H A : D 0
T0=

281.50
10=2.58
344.961

=0.05
t 0.025, 9=2.262
Figure 9: calculations

pvalue=0.0631

Table 2: t-test

pvalue>0.05 ,

t-Test:
Two-Sample
Assuming Equal Variances

Accept H 0 there isnt a difference

between the switching and lightning
voltages.

Variable
1

Variable
2

Mean

1364

1082.5

Variance

161293.3
333

45901.38
889

Hence

Observations

10

10

Accept H 0 ,
there isnt difference
between the switching and lightning
voltages.

Pooled
Variance

103597.3
611

Hypothesized
Mean
Difference

Analysis using excel

df

18

t Stat

1.955640
645

@ =0.01 ,

t 0.005,9=3.25
0.01< pvalue>0.02

pvalue> =0.01

P(T<=t)
tail

one- 0.033106
012

t Critical one- 1.734063

tail
607

P(T<=t)
tail

two- 0.066212
023

t Critical two- 2.100922

tail
04

pvalue=0.06> 0.05 hence indicating

weak evidence against the null hypothesis.
Consequently, we fail to reject the null
hypothesis.

Conclusion
The t-test results from excel also indicate
pvalue=0.06> 0.05
that at 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.

References
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"Developing GUI Tool for Analyzing
the Effect of Wave-Tail-Resistance
Location on Impulse Generator
7

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