Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Chapter 2
2.1 Introduction
Power equipment have to withstand the effect of transient overvoltages such as those
resulting from lightning strikes or switching during their service life. Assessment of the
electrical stresses within a power system is an important aspect of insulation coordination.
Specific high voltage test requirements, voltage levels, procedures etc. are specified and
written in international standards like The International Electro technical Commission (IEC),
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) etc.. The standards are regularly revised to suit the current needs of the
modern power system.
- 15 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
IV. Risk assessment and the cost of failure to get an effective and economical solution for
coordination.
- 16 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
Fig. 2.1 Standard Full Lightning Voltage Impulse Waveform [72, 73]
The electrical strength of insulation of power equipment is often expressed in terms of the
crest value of a standard lightning impulse named as basic lightning impulse insulation level
(BIL). BIL may be either a statistical or a conventional BIL. Statistical BIL is applicable
specifically to self-restoring insulations. It is the crest value of a standard lightning impulse
for which the insulation exhibits a 90% probability of withstand (or a 10% probability of
failure) under specified conditions. The conventional BIL is applicable specifically to non
self-restoring insulations. It is the crest value of a standard lightning impulse for which the
insulation does not exhibit disruptive discharge when subjected to a specific number of
applications of this impulse under specified conditions [72, 73]. If the impulse waveform has
oscillations such that the frequency of oscillations is greater than 0.5 MHz or overshoot and
its duration is less than 1 μs, it is essential to draw the mean curve for the evaluation of the
peak value. If the oscillations are present on the front, the front time should be taken on the
mean curve drawn through these oscillations. These mean curves may be created manually or
with a mathematical tool [74].
- 17 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
(a) (b)
Fig. 2.2 Lightning Voltage Impulse Chopped on a) Tail and b) Front [72, 73]
- 18 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
Test voltages actually appearing in a test circuit can contain oscillations at the peak as well as
oscillations on the front. These occur due to a variety of external factors such as external
electric and magnetic fields, weather conditions, etc. IEC 60060-3 “Definitions and
requirements for on-site testing”, 2006 [75] provides the details of the lightning and
switching impulse voltage of aperiodic or oscillating wave shape.
The electrical strength of insulation of power equipment is often expressed in terms of the
crest value of a standard switching impulse and is known as the basic switching impulse
insulation level (BSL). It may be either a statistical BSL or a conventional BSL. Statistical
BSL is applicable specifically to self-restoring insulations. It is the crest value of a standard
switching impulse for which the insulation exhibits a 90% probability of withstand (or a 10%
probability of failure) under specified conditions. Conventional basic switching impulse
insulation level (BSL) is applicable specifically to non self-restoring insulations. It is the crest
value of a standard switching impulse for which the insulation does not exhibit disruptive
discharge when subjected to a specific number of applications of this impulse under specified
conditions [72, 73].
- 19 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
II. The rectangular impulse current has an approximately rectangular shape and is defined by
the duration of the peak Td and the total duration Tt (Fig. 2.4 (b)). Rectangular impulse
currents have Td of 500 μs, 1000 μs, or 2000 μs, and Tt from 2000 μs to 3200 μs. The
terms used to characterize switching impulse current waveforms are [73]:
The virtual origin, O1, of an impulse current is the intersection with the time axis of a
straight line drawn through the 10% and 90% points on the front.
T1 known as virtual front time is defined as 1.25 times the interval between the instants
when the impulse is 10% and 90% of the peak value (point C and point B as shown in Fig.
2.4 [73])
T2 is virtual time to half-value and is time interval between the virtual origin and the
instant on the tail at which the current has decreased to half the peak value.
Td is the duration of peak of a rectangular impulse current and is defined as the time
interval during which the impulse current exceeds 90% of its peak value.
Tt is total duration of a rectangular impulse current and is defined as the time during which
the current is greater than 10% of its peak value.
The permissible tolerance limits for exponential currents are ±10 % for the peak value,
front time and time to half value and for rectangular currents are ±20 % for peak value and
duration of the peak.
- 20 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
(a) Exponential current impulse waveform (b) Rectangular current impulse waveform
Fig. 2.4 Current impulse waveform a) Exponential and b) Rectangular [73]
- 21 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
equal to the surge impedance of the line. Different test voltage levels depending on the
voltage rating of the transformer winding under test is given in Table 2.1 [79].
Table 2.1 Rated withstand voltages for transformer with highest voltage for equipment, Um
< 300 V [79]
2.4.2 Cables
IEEE Std. 82-2002 [80] and IEC 60230-1966 [81] describes the test procedure for impulse
testing of insulated conductors (cables) and cables with accessories installed (cable systems).
A standard 1.2/50 μs wave is used for lightning impulses and standard 250/2500 μs wave is
used for switching impulses. According to IEEE Std. 82-2002 [80], a minimum cable length
of 9 m between grounded ends of the test terminations, when no other accessories are
involved should be used for impulse testing. When other accessories are included in the test
circuit, a minimum cable test length of 4.5 m between the ends of accessories, and between
the accessories and grounded end of the test terminations, should be used. Both ends of the
cable conductor shall be connected to the impulse generator. The cable systems shall be
subjected to a series of 10 positive impulses at the voltage specified. A positive polarity
impulse of 50 %, then 65 %, and then 80 % of the intended test shall be applied to the
conductor, with the outer electrode grounded. Immediately after the application of the 10
positive impulses, the generator shall be re-calibrated for negative polarity, and a series of 10
- 22 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
negative impulses of the same specified voltage shall then be applied to the cable systems.
The oscillographic records of at least the first and tenth impulses in each series should be
recorded. The voltage withstand strength is expressed in terms of basic insulation levels
(BIL). The BIL for different voltage levels are shown in Table 2.2 [80].
Table 2.2 Basic insulation level (kV) for different voltage class in cables [80]
- 23 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
whether the arrester spark overvoltage for a standard 1.2/50 lightning impulse can exceed the
discharge voltage obtained from an 8/20 discharge current as per Table 2.3[82].
Table 2.3 Lightning impulse classifying current [82]
The 1.2/50 impulse spark over determination test is performed using at least five positive and
five negative waves. The maximum arrester voltage recorded during the five positive and five
negative polarity standard lightning impulses shall be compared to the discharge voltage
obtained with the currents in Table 2.3. If the classifying current discharge voltage exceeds
the voltage values measured during the impulse test no further testing is required on this
wave shape otherwise, the 1.2/50 impulse protective level has to be determined. The
magnitude and wave shape of the switching surge discharge-voltage wave for each wave
shape shall be a minimum of 1.2 times the arrester discharge voltage corresponding to the
switching surge classifying current specified in Table 2.4. The test consists of at least five
positive and five negative wave applications for each of the following times from zero to
crest on the prospective voltage wave:
a) 30 μs to 60 μs
b) 150 μs to 300 μs
c) 1000 μs to 2000 μs
- 24 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
Residual voltages are derived from the type test data and from the maximum residual voltage
at a lightning impulse current used for routine tests as specified and published by the
manufacturer. According to IEC standard, the arrester shall be subjected to a standard
lightning impulse voltage dry test as stated in IEC 60060-1, 2010 [72]. During the impulse
test fifteen consecutive impulses at the test voltage value are applied for each polarity. The
arrester shall be considered to have passed the test if no internal disruptive discharges occur
and if the number of the external disruptive discharges does not exceed two in each series of
15 impulses. The test voltage shall be equal to the lightning impulse protection level of the
arrester multiplied by 1. 3. The 10 000 A and 20 000 A arresters with rated voltages of 200
kV and above shall be subjected to a standard switching impulse voltage test according to
IEC 60060-1, 2010 [72]. Arresters for outdoor use shall be tested in wet conditions, arresters
for indoor use in dry conditions. Fifteen consecutive impulses at the test voltage value shall
be applied for each polarity. The arrester shall be considered to have passed the test if no
internal disruptive discharges occur and if the number of the external disruptive discharges
does not exceed two in each series of 15 impulses. The test voltage shall be equal to the
switching impulse protection level of the arrester multiplied by 1.25. Residual voltage type
test is performed to obtain the data necessary to derive the maximum residual voltage. It
- 25 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
includes the calculation of the ratio between voltages at specified impulse currents and the
voltage level checked in routine tests. The latter voltage can be either the reference voltage or
the residual voltage at a suitable lightning impulse current in the range 0.01 to 2 times the
nominal discharge current depending on the manufacturer's choice of routine test procedure
[52].
Standards Description
This standard summarizes standard methods and basic techniques for
IEEE Std. 4 high-voltage testing applicable to all types of apparatus for
(2013) alternating voltages, direct voltages, lightning impulse voltages,
switching impulse voltages, and impulse currents [73].
IEEE Std. 998 This standard provides guide for direct lightning stroke shielding of
(2012) substations [83].
IEEE Std. 1122 This standard defines the requirements for digital recorders for
(1998) measurements in high voltage impulse tests [85].
- 26 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
- 27 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
- 28 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
- 29 -
Chapter 2. Insulation Co-ordination and Standards
- 30 -