EE3092 -Laboratory Practice V

BREAKDOWN CHARACTERISTICS OF AIR GAPS

Instructor:- Mr. L.S.N. Bambarawane

Name: - V.I.P. Dasanayake Index Number: - 090075M Group: - G3 Submission date: -03/04/2012

Calculations
Considering given equations; Vn =

V-Breakdown voltage at given pressure and temperature Vn-Breakdown voltage at standard pressure and temperature Gas density correction factor Pressure (P)- 750 mmHg Temperature (T)- 30 0C

= 0.9543

Specimen calculation to calculate real breaking down voltage; Considering the sphere rod to rod with 1.5 cm air gap;

Vn =

Gap spacing (cm) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Rod Observed230v 15 24 31 37 39 42 55 59 61 Actual100kv 6.834 10.934 14.124 16.857 17.769 19.135 25.058 26.881 27.792

Plate ObservedActual230v 100kv 16 28 39 57 73 75 93 102 111 7.290 12.757 17.769 25.969 33.259 34.170 42.371 46.472 50.572

Sphere ObservedActual230v 100kv 22 42 60 76 87 111 124 136 10.023 19.135 27.336 34.626 39.638 50.572 56.495 61.962 -

Breaking down of air gaps

Gap spacing (cm) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
70.000

Vn(kV) Rod 6.834 10.934 14.124 16.857 17.769 19.135 25.058 26.881 27.792 Plate 7.290 12.757 17.769 25.969 33.259 34.170 42.371 46.472 50.572 Sphere 10.023 19.135 27.336 34.626 39.638 50.572 56.495 61.962

60.000

Rod Plate Sphere

50.000

Breaking down voltage(kV)

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

0.000 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 Gap spacing(cm) 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Discussion
1. High Voltage Lab arrangement High voltage lab is consisted with two main parts, as controlling section

(figure 1) and testing area (figure 2) which is situated at upstairs and downstairs respectively.

Figure 1

Figure 2

When it comes to the ground floor, there are lots of safety precaution are being taken to avoid any harm to any equipment in the room or to any live stock. Since this a place where deal with high currents and flashovers from breakdown of air during the testing, it may dangerously affect to live stock.( human body can withstand for only about 50V, but here we are dealing with kilo Volts). Some of the safety precautions which are being taken are as follows.

 Mainly the control room and the testing are separated, so that there is a huge distance from the experiments doing in testing area, to ensure the operators safety. All the testing area is being earthed for the protection of live stocks and all the equipments. Experiment are done in the high voltage lab, huge currents may passed through air. To prevent any harm from those to any live stock and avoid any other unnecessary touching, there is a metal railing which is earthed perfectly. And it is made such that, a plug is set to front door of the testing area to cut off the main power supply from the controlling panel, so we can make sure that plug connection is done after everybody in the room left There is a metal rod which covered with a insulation, and perfectly earthed. This is used to discharge any charge on the conductors. (this is normally done , before practical is begin)

2.

Method of HV AC generation

Normally in these types of transformers, need to be insulated for about 100kV. These are normally step up transformers comes with cascade type. If the voltage is higher value than 100kV, then low voltage winding is connected to the primary of the first transformer, which is earthed. Using a tapping system to the secondary side of the first transformer, low value is given to the primary side of the second transformer and this transformer is not earthed. The rest of the transformers are also not earthed And this process is done continuously until meet the requirement (Ex:-if want a higher voltage). And that make the cascade system. This cascade system is done, so that the current in the secondary will be low compared to the primary side. So the required cross section of the conductor will be less, which means the cost is reduced. Another advantage of this system is that, we dont need to transport a huge transformer with a high cost. Since the cascade system is using, no need to transport huge transformers, so cost for transportation will be reduced. (When the transformer use higher ratio of voltage the price for that also increase) 3. Reason to use a 2M resistor When the voltage is increasing, after some value breakdown will occur. In the breakdown the discharging current will increase suddenly, and it may cause for overheat the winding of the transformer. So 2M additional resistor is connected series to the current flow, so that current will be limited. So cost for improving insulation and limiting current will be reduced.

4. Factors affect for the breakdown voltage of the air for a given pair of electrodes Pressure

At first when the pressure is increasing breaking down voltage is reduced since the electron collision is much easier when the electrons are very close to each other. But for further increasing of pressure, (for very high pressure) the collision is very difficult since electrons are very close to each other. Temperature When the temperature in increasing, electrons absorbed the thermal energy and they will be emitted from the valance band of the molecule. So with increasing temperature, breaking down voltage also increased Electrode separation.

With the increasing gap, the path required to spark to happen will be increasing, it is like resistance increasing with length of a rod, when the gap between rods is increasing the breaking down voltage is also increasing. Area of the electrode When the area of the electrode is increasing, breaking down voltage is reducing, because when the area is increasing the probability of happening a discharge between rods are high.

 Surface contamination If the surface contamination is high, breaking down voltage will be reduced

Surface finish. If the surface is rough or surface with edges, breaking down voltage will be low. Since the probability if the emitting electrons from rough surfaces and pointed edges are high.

5. Measuring of HV (Sphere Gap method) The basic idea of this measuring the breakdown voltage between two sphere for given condition and for standard condition. Using Sphere Gap method for Measuring of HV break down is the most common method since it is very reliable, so it can be use for calibration easily. In the standard level there are even measured values for given gap spaces in tables. The breakdown strength will depends on sphere size, distance between them .etc normally spark gap id used for determine the voltage peak value, for the calibration of voltage measuring devices. The schematic diagram for air breakdown voltage test using standard sphere gap method is shown below.

Schematic Circuit showing the source and Breakdown voltage measuring unit using standard

Following figure 3 shows the breakdown voltage characteristic of sphere gaps.

Figure 3

When the gap between two spheres is increased, the uniform field between two spheres is getting distorted, so accuracy falls.

(P.T.O)

Some of the graphs of breaking down voltage variation with some factors are given below.

Variation of sphere radius and air breakdown voltage

Variation of sphere radius and electric field distribution

References
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_12/8.html

A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Power Control and Drives by PARASELLI BHEEMA SANKAR (Roll No: 209EE2168) Measurement of High Voltage lecture note by Prof. J.R. Lucas