ELEC5205: High Voltage Engineering (2013 - Semester 2)

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Unit: ELEC5205: High Voltage Engineering (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Electrical and Information Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Sathiakumar, Swamidoss
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: ELEC3203. The following previous knowledge is assumed for this unit. Circuit analysis techniques, electricity networks, power system fundamentals.
Brief Handbook Description: The unit provides advanced knowledge associated with high voltage engineering methods, techniques and equipment. It is divided into two sections. The first section presents fundamentals of the failure mechanisms of solid, liquid and gaseous insulation at high voltages. It also discusses consequent design principles for high-voltage equipment; of the generation of high direct, alternating and impulse voltages for testing high-voltage equipment; and of methods for monitoring and assessing the condition of high-voltage equipment such as dissolved gas analysis for oil-filled transformers and partial discharge in cables. The second section presents in detail all the high-voltage equipment and in particular underground cables, overhead transmission lines, transformers, bushings and switchgear. It finally offers asset management solutions for modern transmission and distribution electricity networks.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Professor MacAlpine, Mark
Dr Mitchell, Keith
Timetable: ELEC5205 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 12
3 Laboratory 2.00 1 12
4 Project Work - in class 2.00 1 13
5 Independent Study 3.00 1 13
T&L Activities: Tutorial: Tutorials on practical examples and industrial case studies.

Laboratory: Laboratory experiments with the power system simulator and other equipment such as diagnostics of transformer, high-voltage current transformer etc.

Project Work - in class: Project work and testing in the lab using the power system simulator

Independent Study: Review of industrial standards and applications, industrial case studies

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Select testing methods and analyse results for a given high-voltage equipment Design (Level 4)
Use of software to design overhead lines and underground cables and perform advanced calculations Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 5)
Analyze industrial equipment. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
Locate key technical information about high-voltage testing equipment and methods including industrial standards. Information Seeking (Level 2)
Prepare laboratory reports, project reports and deliver presentations Communication (Level 2)
Analyze industrial case studies

Perform testing and assess equipment in the laboratory
Professional Conduct (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 4)
1. Capacity to demonstrate an understanding of design methods for overhead lines and underground cables at the level of planning, selection and construction.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 5)
2. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of high voltage engineering techniques.
3. Proficiency in performing calculations for the selection of cables, overhead lines and high-voltage equipment.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
4. Ability to conduct analysis of industrial equipment.
Information Seeking (Level 2)
5. Ability to identify the most suitable equipment for performing specific testing on high-voltage applications.
Communication (Level 2)
6. Ability to write a report to communicate project work.
Professional Conduct (Level 2)
7. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the professional environment of engineering work in terms of testing, commissioning and assessment techniques for oil-immersed equipment such as transformers and switchgear, based on a high-voltage testing facility site visit.
8. Proficiency in assessing transformers and other equipment in the laboratory by testing and then developing diagnostics.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Final Exam No 40.00 Exam Period 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8,
2 Project No 20.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
3 Lab Report Yes 30.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
4 Participation Yes 10.00 Multiple Weeks 2, 5, 6, 7,
Assessment Description: Project: Project presentation

Lab Report: Laboratory

Final Exam: 2hr exam at the end of semester

Participation: Visit to high-voltage laboratory and transmission an distribution substations and main control centre
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD (High Distinction), D (Distinction), CR (Credit), P (Pass) and F (Fail) as defined by Academic Board Resolutions: Assessment and Examination of Coursework. Details of Academic Board Resolutions are available on the University`s Policy website at http://www.usyd.edu.au/ab/policies/Assess_Exam_Coursework.pdf Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Faculty Policies & Procedures: Academic Honesty in Coursework. All students must submit a cover sheet for all assessment work that declares that the work is original and not plagiarised from the work of others.

Coursework assessment and examination policy. The faculty policy is to use standards based assessment for units where grades are returned and criteria based assessment for Pass/Fail only units. Norm referenced assessment will only be used in exceptional circumstances and its use will need to be justified to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Special consideration for illness or misadventure may be considered when an assessment component is severely affected. This policy gives the details of the information that is required to be submitted along with the appropriate procedures and forms.

Special Arrangements for Examination and Assessment. In exceptional circumstances alternate arrangements for exams or assessment can be made. However concessions for outside work arrangements, holidays and travel, sporting and entertainment events will not normally be given.

Student Appeals against Academic Decisions. Students have the right to appeal any academic decision made by a school or the faculty. The appeal must follow the appropriate procedure so that a fair hearing is obtained.

Note that policies regarding assessment submission, penalties and assessment feedback depend upon the individual unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, will be found above with other assessment details in this unit outline.

All university policies can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/policy

Various request forms for the Faculty of Engineering and IT can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms/
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Recommended Reference/s: Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
  • Electric Cables Handbook
  • High Voltage Engineering
  • High Voltage Engineering and Testing
  • High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals
  • High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals
  • High Voltage : Measurement, Testing, and Design
  • Transmission and Distribution Electrical Engineering
Note on Resources: Website for the unit.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction to high-voltage engineering, testing voltages, testing with power frequency voltages, testing with lightning impulse voltages, testing with switching impulses, testing with DC voltages, testing with very low-frequency voltages, generation of high voltages, DC, AC to DC conversion, cascade circuits, voltage multiplier with cascaded transformers, generation of high AC voltages
Week 2 testing transformers, series resonant circuits, impulse voltages, impulse voltage generator circuits, multistage impulse generator circuits,
Week 3 measurement of high voltages, peak voltage measurement by spark gaps, rod gaps, electrostatic voltmeters, ammeter in series with high ohmic resistors and high ohmic voltage dividers
Week 4 voltage dividing systems and impulse voltage measurements, capacitor voltage dividers,electrical breakdown in gases, ionization and decay process, surge breakdown voltage breakdown in solid and liquid dielectrics,
Week 5 Non-destructive insulation testing techniques, dynamic properties of dielectrics, in the time and frequency domain, insulation ageing basic partial discharge testing circuit, PD instruments
Week 6 overvoltages, testing procedures and insulation coordination, the lightning mechanism, energy in lightning, switching surge test voltage characteristics, laboratory high-voltage testing procedures and statistical treatment of results
Week 7 Insulation coordination, insulation level, Statistical approach to insulation coordination, design and testing of external insulation, contamination and the environment, flashover mechanism of polluted insulators under AC and DC, contamination testing,
Week 8 Transformer condition monitoring and diagnostics, transformer testing, preventative maintenance
Week 9 High-voltage switchgear, circuit configurations for high and medium voltage switchgear installations, SF6-insulated switchgear, Station layouts, surge arresters, busbar connections,
Week 10 Overhead power lines, electrical parameters, lightning protection, earthing, loading and strength, sag and tension cancellations
Week 11 Basics of underground cables, testing and maintenance methods, calculations and ampacity, types and selection
Week 12 Cable fault locating methods, condition monitoring and diagnostics,electrical safety and professional practices in the field.
Week 13 Revision
STUVAC (Week 14) Week free from classes.
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Electrical (Power) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Law 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Master of Engineering (Power) 2011, 2012
Computer Engineering 2010
Electrical 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Bioelectronics) 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012
Electrical Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Commerce 2012, 2013, 2011
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Law 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Software 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Telecommunications 2010
Bachelor of Information Technology (Computer Science) 2010, 2011, 2012
Information Technology(Computer Science)/Bachelor of Arts 2012
Graduate Certificate in Engineering 2011, 2012, 2013
Graduate Diploma in Engineering 2011, 2012, 2013
Master of Engineering (2013+ ) 2013
Master of Engineering (Electrical) 2011, 2012
Master of Engineering (Network) 2012
Master of Engineering (Wireless) 2012
Master of Professional Engineering (Electrical) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Master of Professional Engineering (Power) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Computer Engineering/Commerce 2010
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications)/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Information Technology(Computer Science)/Bachelor of Science 2012
Flexible First Year (Stream B)/Science 2012

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project Management and Teamwork (Level 2) No 0%
Design (Level 4) Yes 6.25%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 5) Yes 28.34%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) Yes 12.92%
Information Seeking (Level 2) Yes 15.42%
Communication (Level 2) Yes 8.75%
Professional Conduct (Level 2) Yes 28.34%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.