Electrical Engineering

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Voltage dip performance analysis.
(2009) Nzimande, Timothy M.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Koch, Robert G.
The power quality performance of South African utilities has been regulated through the application of NRS 048-2 standard. The earliest edition of the power quality standard (NRS 048- 2:1996) defines compatibility levels for voltage dips in the form of annual dip limits for each voltage dip type. Actual measured utility dip performance has consistently resulted in higher dip numbers than the limits imposed in the standard. On the other hand, the dip limits were considered to be less restrictive by industrial customers. The revised power quality standard addresses the difficulties in managing voltage dip performance based on dip limits as specified in the first edition of NRS 048-2. This new philosophy does not define dip limits; instead, utilities are required to develop specific strategies to manage dip performance according to customer requirements. This research work develops an alternative approach to the management of dip performance as opposed to the application of dip limits. The study analyses measured voltage dip records for a steel-processing plant and a pulp and paper plant. The supply network for each plant is modelled to define dip influence zones as a function of fault locations. The principal results of this study are critical circuits, causes of dips, dip influence zones and the key elements of the proposed approach in communicating dip performance. The optimised approach was presented to and adopted by the customers involved.
Optimal placement of shunt capacitor banks on a sub-transmission network.
(2009) Ntusi, M.; Mbuli, M.
The optimal capacitor placement problem is the determination of the optimal location of the shunt capacitors on the sub-transmission networks such that energy losses are minimised, the power factor and the network voltage profile are improved. During this period when Eskom is experiencing an unacceptably low generation reserve margin, it’s quite critical that the electrical Transmission and Distribution network losses be kept to a minimum to optimise on the scarce generation that is available to supply South Africa’s current and future power demand. One of the ways of minimising technical losses is through the optimal placement or installation of capacitor banks on the network. The placement of shunt capacitors on a bulk Transmission network is essentially to improve the voltage profile on the network, increase system security and reduce transmission losses. The optimal placement of shunt capacitors with the above objectives would assist in minimising the cost of the investment whilst maximising the return on investment to the utility. This research subject is treated as an optimization problem and hence optimization solutions were considered to address the “Optimal capacitor placement problem”. This optimisation problem is solved for all loading levels i.e. peak, standard and off peak periods and for different seasons in a given typical year. This thesis investigates the capability of Genetic Algorithms technique in solving this optimisation problem. Genetic algorithms utilize a guided search principle to develop a robust solution to this research problem. Given their capability to traverse the complicated search space with a multivariate objective function, Genetic Algorithm are versatile and robust to locate the global optimum of the objective function. These Genetic Algorithms (GA’s) were implemented on real sub transmission networks modelled on DigSilent/ Powerfactory. The modelled GA’s on DigSilent were then tested on different network types i.e. commercial, mining, residential and industrial load mixes. The solutions determined by the different GA’s are then compared in terms of time taken to locate the solution, reliability and robustness. The most reliable GA is then identified and recommended as the preferred optimisation approach. A methodology of using GA’s to solve the above mentioned problem is therefore proposed
A probabilistic based application design guide for the use of tubular conductors in the design of high voltage substations.
(2008) Groenewald, Abraham Johannes Smit.; Van der Merwe, W. C.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.
The requirement for new and existing outdoor air insulated substations to support larger blocks of power in restricted spaces requires an investigation into new bus conductor systems. This study has considered the use of supported, as opposed to suspended, round tubular conductors that have high current capacity necessary for this purpose. The advantages are associated with the fact that smaller clearances are attainable as a result of the restriction of horizontal deflection under fault conditions, and vertical deflection under own weight (sag) due to the rigidity of the tubular conductors as long as the bus tube is correctly sized for the application. Since the tubes are sized for mechanical strength, they are generally oversized electrically, allowing greater flexibility in busbar configuration. Forces due to gravity, wind vibration, fault current and tubular conductor thermal expansion, as well as the restrictions on electromagnetic fields have been considered. The design criteria for conductor and insulator strength calculations also formed part of the study. The study was carried out in a step-by-step analysis of the above considerations. An Excel based programme was developed to analyse the sensitivity of conductor and insulator strength calculations, due to errors in the estimation of various parameters that are required for these calculations. The tolerances in manufacturing and deviations in experimental data were determined and used to evaluate the results obtained and provide a level of confidence that any errors that may arise could be mitigated against by choosing the correct components. The result of the study is a design guide that allows substation designers to develop tubular busbar systems that will operate successfully in the conditions they were designed for. The guide provides an integrated design approach with methods for calculating the forces to which rigid bus structures are subjected.
A study of the electrical environment below HVDC transmission lines.
(2008) Govender, Dhevandhran.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Britten, Anthony C.
The main aim of this project was to determine the extent to which the study of electric fields and ions in a laboratory can be used to study the electrical environment below High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission lines. The focus of the study was to set up small scale laboratory experiments and to compare these results to actual line measurements and to software simulations. The laboratory tests were undertaken at the HVDC Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus). The software simulations that were conducted as part of this study were done using EPRI TL 3.0 and Microsoft Excel. Initially tests conducted were the measurement of the induced voltage and corona leakage current on a floating object. The next set of laboratory tests conducted was the measurement of ion current density and the electric field at ground level. The ion current density was measured with a Wilson Plate (lm2) and the electric field at ground level was measured using a JCI static monitor field meter (JCI 140) and a Monroe (257D) Portable Electrostatic Fieldmeter, with an elevated earth plane. Measurements of ion current density and electric field at ground level were also taken under an operating HVDC transmission line (Cahora Bassa to Apollo), in order to compare the laboratory measurements and simulations with real line measurements. The results have shown that the electrical parameters (i.e. ion current, induced voltages, corona currents, electric field, ion density, space charge) are higher under the negative pole as compared to the positive pole. The results of the laboratory measurements show that the ion currents under the negative polarity are almost double the ion currents that were measured under positive polarity, while the electric field under negative polarity was 20 percent higher than under positive polarity. Measurements of the electric field show that the total electric field below the line is greatly enhanced when corona generated space charge is present. The results of the EPRI TL Workstation simulations show good correlation with the EXCEL® simulations. However, there was poor correlation between EPRI simulations and test line measurements in the laboratory. The EPRI simulations show good correlation to the measured electric field values below the Cahora Bassa line. The comparison between the actual measurements on the test line and the Cahora Bassa line showed poor correlation and this was attributed to factors such as scaling, laboratory size constraints, ion concentration in laboratory, line loading and wind speeds.
Dynamic performance of numerical distance protection relays in heavily series compesated networks
(2010-08-31) Leoaneka, Clarence Moketjema
Series compensating capacitors were initially introduced in transmission networks mainly to increase the
Performance analysis of voltage regulating relays with circulating current control algorithms using hardware-in-loop real-time simulator techniques
(2010-08-31) Modisane, Thabo
Electrical power distribution networks are required to provide power to customers at nearconstant
Investigation into the performance of outdoor insulators under high humidity conditions.
(2010-09-06) Garrard, Joanne.
performance of high voltage outdoor insulators can be greatly affected by weather conditions. The weather conditions under investigation are cold temperatures coupled with high humidity levels. Weather data from a number of coastal stations around South Africa was analyzed to determine whether surface condensation was likely on outdoor insulators under these weather conditions. A heat transfer equation was used to determine the response of the insulator surface temperature to the environmental temperature. It was found that surface condensation would occur on the insulator surfaces which would lead to sudden, heavy wetting of the surface. Outdoor insulators in coastal environments are often heavily polluted, due to salt spray, and when wet, a conductive layer can form on the insulator surface. This conductive layer can result in appreciable leakage currents flowing on the insulator surface, often leading to premature failure. The finite element method program, Maxwcll, was used to simulate the outdoor insulators both under these polluted, wet conditions and under unpolluted conditions. Both cases were simulated for a silicone rubber, glass cap-and-pin and two EPDM outdoor insulators. The polluted insulators were simulated with varying pollution severities. The results of the simulations are analyzed and the surface resistances of the wet polluted insulators were calculated. An experiment was' set up to mask the environmental weather conditions found which would lead to surface condensation. The insulators under test were placed in a chilled weather chamber which introduced a steam fog to simulate the humidity. The leakage current was measured and recorded for comparison with the simulation results. The results of the weather chamber test showed that surface condensation resulted in more severe wetting than manual wetting. The weather chamber surface resistances calculated were much lower than those calculated by the Maxwcll simulations. This was due to the difference it humid particle temperature in the condensation rate equations used for the Maxwell simulations, and the humid particle temperature of the steam fog used in the weather chamber. Polluted coastal outdoor insulators exposed to the above weather conditions will experience larger than normal leakage currents which will lead to premature failure of the units.
Condition monitoring of transformers : the acoustic method.
(2010-10-20) Moodley, Adrian Darryl.
Partial discharges (p.d.'s) are a major source of the progressive deterioration of insulation in
Analysis of high voltage current transformer under deteriorating and failed insulation.
(2006) Mahlasela, Vusumuzi Samuel.; Chol, A. M.; Jimoh, Abdullahi Adekilekuna.
Data pertaining to the number of failed high voltage current transformers installed in
The use of an auxiliary spark gap placed across the surge arrester of a medium voltage transformer.
(2007) Reddy, Ravichandran.; Hoch, Derek A.
A possible lower cost alternative to medium voltage line arresters and parallel-connected surge arresters is the use of parallel-connected spark gaps across a metal oxide surge arrester. The function of the spark gap is to protect the transformer when the surge arrester fails. Clearly the breakdown voltage characteristics of such a gap need to be carefully co-ordinated with the transformer insulation and those of the arrester. Eskom (Electricity Supply Commission of South Africa) is the national electrical utility that provides the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in South Africa. The majority of Eskom's electricity reticulation is done with either 11 kV or 22 kV electrical overhead networks. An unacceptable number of Eskom's pole mounted power transformers on these networks have failed over the past few years. The high failure rate of Distribution transformers in Eskom, South Africa has previously been highlighted and investigated in an MSc thesis, the most recent being the thesis completed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal by Chatterton [6]. The thesis proposed possible solutions to the problem but experienced high implementation costs and particular technical issues before widespread implementation could prove viable for the Distribution System. The average transformer failure rate for the Distribution Eastern Region for the twelve month period taken as a moving average was calculated to be 5.19 % per annum at the end of November 2005 and 3.84 % at the end of November 2006. (Eskom Eastern Region Plant report, November 2006). International norms seem to indicate that a transformer failure rate of between 0.5% and 1.0% per annum is acceptable, Chatterton [6]. The reason for the increased failure rates during 2005 was attributed to incorrect Ground Lead Disconnect (GLD) specifications by one of the major surge arrester manufacturers. The incorrect GLD specifications have resulted in premature and nuisance operations. These were triggered by low intensity lightning storms as a result of the lower threshold trigger values. These premature operations have left numerous transformers vulnerable for periods as long as six months and have resulted in the transformer failures increasing from 2.4% quoted by Chatterton [6] in 2002 to 5.19% in 2005 and a reduction to 3.84 % in November 2006 once the problem was identified and the GLDs corrected. See annexure A, Figure A1 of the Plant report for November 2006 for performance details. Hence, this manufacturing flaw and the GLD's sensitivity to specification necessitate further investigation into the spark gap as back-up protection. The spark gap therefore becomes more viable than line or double surge arresters due to its cost effectiveness and robustness. This thesis was based on an idea proposed by Eskom's (Industrial Association Resource Centre) IARC. The aim was to investigate the technical feasibility of using a spark gap to grade with a distribution class surge arrester whilst the surge arrester was operational. The purpose of the spark gap was to act as back-up protection when the arrester fails. Experimentation was undertaken via simulation using the FEMLAB software to model the most suitable gap and geometry for a given rod diameter. The breakdown characteristic of the rod was well understood and verified. Thus, the results obtained from the simulation were compared against the laboratory experiments for the same rod diameters and tip shapes used in the simulation. The results have been analyzed to determine whether the spark gap is a feasible solution for use with surge arresters to protect the transformer from induced strikes following arrester failure.
Towards efficient power consumption in ad hoc networks.
(2006) Ignatov, Iordan Grigoriev.
Three dimensional flame reconstruction towards the study of fire-induced transmission line flashovers.
(2007) Crompton, Colin.; Hoch, Derek A.
The work presented in this thesis focuses on the problem of reconstructing threedimensional models of fire from real images. The intended application of the reconstructions is for use in research into the phenomenon of fire-induced high voltage flashover, which, while a common problem, is not fully understood. As such the reconstruction must estimate not only the geometry of the flame but also the internal density structure, using only a set of a few synchronised images. Current flame reconstruction techniques are investigated, revealing that relatively little work has been done on the subject, and that most techniques follow either an exclusively geometric or tomographic direction. A novel method, termed the 3D Fuzzy Hull method, is proposed, incorporating aspects of tomography, statistical image segmentation and traditional object reconstruction techniques. By using physically based principles the flame images are related to the relative flame density, allowing the problem to be tackled from a tomographic perspective. A variation of algebraic tomography is then used to estimate the internal density field of the flame. This is done within a geometric framework by integrating the fuzzy c-means image segmentation technique and the visual hull concept into the process. Results are presented using synthetic and real flame image sets.
A study of HVDC transmission line audible noise and corona loss in an indoor corona cage.
(2007) Lekganyane, Mokwape Johannah.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Britten, Anthony C.
The main objective of this research was to study DC conductor corona loss (CL) and audible noise (AN) in the context of local climatic conditions, through corona cage measurements, and do a comparative analysis of the measured data with results available in literature and EPRI TLW software simulation results. The ultimate aim was to assess the applicability of the software to our local conditions and hence determine, if necessary, appropriate correction factors for application in HYDC transmission line designs. For this study, short term measurements of corona AN and currents were carried out in an indoor meshed cylindrical corona cage, under DC and AC voltages. The cage was later converted into a short test line and some of the measurements repeated. The DC supply was obtained from a two stage ±500 kV Walton-Cockroft generator. The AC voltages were obtained from a 2x 100 kV, 50 Hz, AC test transformer set. The tests were performed using single solid and stranded aluminum conductors with three different diameters (1.6 cm, 2.8 cm, and 3.5 cm). All the measurements were carried out at low altitude. A CoroCAM I camera was used to determine the corona inception gradients and to observe the corona activity at different surface gradients and under different voltages and polarities. AN measurements at different conductor surface gradients were done using the Rohde&Schwarz and the Bruel&Kjaer sound level meters. To obtain the frequency spectra, a Bruel&Kjaer octave-band filter set attached to the sound level meter was used. The measured data was corrected for both height and length effects, and then compared with simulations from the EPRI-TLW software through curve fitting. A digital micro-ammeter connected to the centre of the cage through a 560 .Q measuring resistor was used to measure the corona current. Current pulses were viewed using a digital storage oscilloscope. To verify the corona current results obtained from the cage measurements, current measurements were also done for a point-plane spark gap. The corona current data was, later on, used to evaluate the total corona power loss for DC. The results obtained from test line measurements were used to compare the CL and AN for different configurations. The effect of the space charge under DC voltages was assessed through current measurements. The measurements were done with the cage covered with an aluminum foil to trap the charge and then repeated with the cage uncovered. On the test line, the space charge effect was investigated using a high power fan blowing along the conductor, to simulate the wind factor. The results of this study have shown the characteristics of corona discharges under different system voltages. The results also give an understanding of how factors such as conductor surface conditions and size, polarity and system voltage affect CL and AN. Both CL and AN were found to increase with conductor size for the same conductor surface gradient and to be higher for stranded conductors. Positive polarity DC and AC noise levels were higher than the negative polarity levels. CL under positive polarity DC was lower than the negative polarity loss. The effects of space of space charge were noted to some extend. The comparison of test line results and cage results showed that CL depends more on the gap size and the shorter the gap the higher the loss. Hence CL results were not compared with the software simulations. The comparison between the corrected AN results and the software simulations showed a very good agreement. The comparison was done for the 3.5 cm and the 2.8 cm diameter conductors under both positive and negative polarities. The trends compared through curve fitting were quite similar and the trend line equations were of the same order of magnitude. The magnitudes of the corrected noise levels were higher than the CRIEPI and BPA predictions but closer to the EPRl prediction. Generally there is a very good and encouraging agreement between the available literature, simulation results and the results obtained from the laboratory measurements. It is proposed, as part of further studies, to extend this work to high altitude regions and use bundled conductors as well. Consideration of different and larger test configurations will provide an understanding of the effects of geometry on corona discharges. Space charge analysis will also assist in determining the effect of space charge on different configurations.
An investigation of the influence of silver doping on the intergranular 'weak-link' properties of the superconducting system Y1Ba2Cu307-x.
(2006) Jarvis, Alan Lawrence Leigh.; Broadhurst, Anthony D.; Doyle, Terence Brian.
High-temperature superconducting materials have found considerable technological application and still have a largely unrealised potential. The key to unlocking this potential depends on a better understanding of their properties; in particular, the maximum 'critical current density' which these materials, in the form of wires, tapes, thin-films and bulk monolithic forms, are able to support for high-current applications. The 'critical current density' in a polycrystalline high-temperature oxide superconductor system is determined by a percolation process of the super current through a three dimensional grain-boundary network. Grain-boundaries in these systems behave as Josephson junction 'weak-links' and they severely limit the critical current density in the presence of even moderate self or applied magnetic fields. In the present work, isothermal quasi-static magnetisation measurements on the polycrystalline YIBa2Cu307-x system are presented and analysed. An effective granular penetration depth in conjunction with a critical state model, which includes an approximate treatment for the percolation process, is used to obtain many of the salient physical parameters of the grain-boundary Josephson junctions and of the three-dimensional grain boundary junction network. Determination of the temperature and magnetic field dependence of several of these parameters, in particular a magnetic field-independent critical current which depends on the micro structure of the grain-boundary junction network, allows for testing and verification of models of the weak-link and network behaviour. This treatment has been carried out specifically on various silver doped polycrystalline Y1Ba2Cu30 7-x specimens in order to determine and quantify the effects of silver doping. An improvement in the critical current density with silver doping is explained in terms of silver scavenging and ridding grain-boundaries of impurities, and a proximity effect where trace amounts of silver residing in the grain-boundaries decreases the normal resistance of the grain-boundary Josephson junction. The insight gained from silver doping experimentation led to a macroscopic investigation into the joining of large single-domain YIBa2Cu307-x specimens for large-scale applications.
Improved transmission line protection performance concerning high resistance faults.
(2006) Matshidza, Rhulani Daphney.; Zivanovic, Rastko.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.
ESKOM has relied primarily on impedance-based measurement protection relays for the protection of transmission lines. One of the main disadvantages of distance relays is the limited fault resistance measurement capability. High-resistance faults are characterised by low fault currents, therefore the impedance calculated would be much bigger and so the fault will appear to be beyond the protected line. The main aim of the study is to gain clear understanding of the capability of the existing relays used in Eskom Transmission network, to be able to give recommendations on the refinements to the transmission line protection philosophy required to improve future protection performance. Omicron relay tests, showed that the dynamic characteristics of the three selected relays which were tested covers more fault resistance than that of the normal static impedance and also that the effect of DC offset is negligible with regards to fault resistance measurement capability. Normally the relays have built in algorithms which are able to filter nuisance signals. Theoretical case study that compared the most used relays in Eskom Transmission was done and the results are documented. Settings recommendations to improve fault resistance coverage were deduced from the above study. Fault investigation by using digital simulations (Matlab simulations) has proven the lack of capability to operate for some impedance relays in some fault conditions, as the fault resistance sometimes moves fault impedance beyond relay characteristic even when actual . polarization of the relay is considered. Analysis of the protection performance in transmission proved that high resistance faults accounts for at least half of protection equipment performance index (PEPI) incidents. Finally the author made recommendations to improve the protection performance concerning high resistance faults.
Investigations into the upgrading of transmission lines from HVAC to HVDC.
(2007) Naidoo, Pathmanathan.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Muftic, Dzevad.; Britten, Anthony C.
Emanating from the proceedings of CIGRE 2004, a new idea for higher power transmission by recycling and up rating high voltage alternating current transmission lines for high voltage direct current application was presented at the HYDC working group session. To date, there is no known application of the idea. Globally, transmission congestion, power transfer bottlenecks with restricted and limited power transfers and unobtainable servitudes challenge electric power utilities. The literature review shows that since the early sixties, several authors have studied this proposal. However, no applications were done. Admittedly, early HYDC technology was troubled by problems with multi-terminal designs, external insulation breakdown in the presence of DC stress and mercury valve rectifiers struggled with arc backs. To date, power electronic and external insulation technology has grown and matured for confident application both in point to point and multi-terminal application. The economic costs of introducing the DC technology are also more affordable given reducing prices due to higher volume of purchases. With promising developments in insulation and power electronic technology and driven by South Africa's surging growth in the consumption of electrical energy; the subject of upgrading HYAC transmission for HYDC application is revisited. For the research, the emphasis is beyond FACTS and towards a solution that could develop into a new supergrid that could overlay the existing national grid. Thus, the solution is prepared specifically for the case of recycling existing assets for higher power transfers. The working environment is defined by the difficulty in acquiring new powerline servitudes, transmission congestion in complex networks, the need for electrical islands within complex interconnections, and the need for enhanced power system stability and to promote new ancillary services energy management. The focus of this research study was to determine the technical feasibility of upgrading of existing HYAC circuits for HYDC application. It is assumed that the transmission line will remain as is in structure, layout and mechanical design. The changing of external line insulators using live line technology is an accepted modification to the original HYAC line, if required. From the study, we conclude that not all HYAC lines are recommended for upgrade to HYDe. We introduce boundary conditions as a first step towards checking on the suitability of the proposed upgrade from HVAC to HYDC mode. Emanating from this study, the first paper published introduced the initial boundary conditions as being only those lines where the "unused gap" between surge impedance loading and conductor current carrying capability is appreciable and large; generally three to four times surge impedance loading. In the case where the unused gap is the smallest or negligible, then we do nothing. In between, where the unused gap is about two to three times the surge impedance loading, then we can consider active or passive compensation using the HVAC FACTS technology options as proposed by EPRl. Having determined the candidate transmission line configuration for the proposed upgrade to HYDC application, we select the DC operating voltage as based on the voltage withstand capability of external insulation for varying environmental conditions. In addition, the DC voltage will generate allowable electrical fields and corona effects within and outside the transmission servitude. The optimum DC operating voltage would satisfy the conditions of minimum transmission power losses and volt drop for the case of maximum power transfers; within the limits of electrical fields and corona effects.
WiMAX performance analysis in a selected rural area in South Africa.
(2006) Naidoo, Deshree.; Afullo, Thomas Joachim Odhiambo.
Bringing broadband access to rural and remote communities has been a very difficult task due to the high cost of installation and complete lack of infrastructure in certain areas. Options currently under serious consideration to enable this access have included GSM, CDMA, Power line telecommunications, and DSL technologies. However, with the addition of the IEEE 802.16 standard - commonly referred to as WiMAX - with its various advantages, another serious option is now being considered. WiMAX is standard developed to provide wireless broadband access to metropolitan area networks. It is capable of providing LOS and NLOS coverage in the range of 350 km with data rates up to 75 Mbps. This research therefore looks at the WiMAX standard MAC and PHY layers with special focus on the PHY layer properties enabling provision ofNLOS coverage (WirelessMAN OFDM PHY). The research evaluates the performance of WiMAX in a rural environment in terms of coverage and traffic analysis. Other aspects include multipath fading and channel estimation. The traffic analysis is carried out using traffic projection formulated over a period often years for Nkandla, a typical rural area in South Africa. This is done to evaluate the sustainability of the designed base stations over the ten-year period with the growing traffic.
Bird streamer initiated breakdowns under HVDC conditions.
(2007) Naidoo, Kribashen.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Britten, Anthony C.
This dissertation describes the role played by bird streamers in transmission line faults under HVDC conditions. The research was initiated due to the lack of knowledge of these faults under HVDC conditions. An explanation as to what bird streamers faults are, the role they play in the breakdown of air-gaps and a means of preventing bird streamer caused faults from occurring is made Experimental work has been carried out in order to gain an understanding of these faults under HVDC conditions. The overall aim of the experiments was to find a horizontal distance (protected zone) on an HVDC tower top, in order to prevent birds from perching around the centre of the tower. This will lead to a reduction of bird streamer caused faults. A brass rod was used as the artificial streamer in the experiments, under both negative and positive polarity (voltages in the range 0 to 220 kV DC were applied). Later in the experimental phase, a string soaked in a saline solution was used as a more realistic simulation of a bird streamer. QuickField™, an FEM package, was used to simulate the electric field in the region of the live conductor fitting and the tip of the bird streamer, to assess the degree of distortion of the electric field caused by the introduction of the bird streamer. These simulations served as means of verifying the laboratory experiments. This dissertation has proposed a relationship between the breakdown voltage and the protected zone length, based on the air-gap breakdown voltages for both I-String and V-String insulator configurations in the air-gap range 0 to 350 mm. These curves can be used in the design of transmission lines, as a means of reducing bird streamer faults.
A study of pole top fires on 22kV wood pole power lines in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2007) Persadh, Ajith Koowarlall.; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.; Britten, Anthony C.
The majority of Eskom's 22kV lines use wood as the support structure material. The economics of wood pole cross arms and their flashover withstand capabilities outweigh those of steel cross arms. However, wood pole structures are vulnerable to what is known as a Pole Top Fire. When insulators and wood cross arms become polluted, small and sustained leakage currents flow along the surface of the insulator and thereafter into the wood itself. This eventually leads to burning of the wood. Many of the 22kV lines traverse vast rural lands, going over people's path ways. If this fire is not discovered timeously, it can cause breakage of the relevant cross arm or the pole itself. A broken cross arm usually causes the outer phase conductor to hang between one and two meters above ground. When it's dark, rural inhabitants cannot see clearly and walk directly into these low lying energized conductors which cause severe injuries and often fatalities. Low hanging conductors cannot be detected electrically and are potentially hazardous to humans and animals. Safety is currently one of the highest priorities for Eskom Distribution and hence there is a dire need to mitigate Pole Top Fires. The researcher hypothesizes that the implemented mitigating technique of bonding does not eliminate Pole Top Fires. In this study accurate statistics on Pole Top Fires in KwaZulu - Natal are provided and causes of fires investigated to provide an understanding thereof. Two basic mechanisms of burning have been identified and explained. These are surface tracking and sparking, and internal sparking. This has helped to explain what mitigation techniques will be effective. A critical analysis on the performance of recommended mitigation techniques is conducted. This study therefore aims to conclude on the effectiveness of implemented techniques to mitigate Pole Top Fires. By comprehensive and critical analysis of a complex operational and safety related problem technical options for mitigating or eliminating the fires are identified, critically analyzed and only those options that are really technically feasible are proposed. This has not been properly done in Eskom before. It is within this context that this research has been undertaken.
A DSP-based digital controller for a thyristor controlled series capacitor
(2007) Pillay, Anand.; Rigby, Bruce S.
The power transfer capability of long high voltage transmission lines is often limited by the inductive reactance of the transmission line. Series compensation is in some instances employed to lower the inductive reactance of the transmission line which increases the transmission line power transfer capability. Numerous methods have been employed to provide series compensation of a transmission line. One such method is to use a thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC). A thyristor controlled senes capacitor (TCSC) belongs to the flexible altemating CUlTent transmission systems (FACTS) family of devices. It is a variable capacitive and inductive reactance device that can be used to provide series compensation in high voltage transmission lines. One of the significant advantages that a TCSC has over other series compensation devices is that the TCSC's reactance is instantaneously and continuously variable. This means that the TCSC can be used not only to provide series compensation but can also be used to enhance the stability of the power system. However accurate control of the TCSC is challenging due to its highly non-linear variable reactance characteristic. The TCSC consists of back to back thyristors that control the reactance of the TCSC. By changing the trigger angle of these back to back thyristors it is possible to vary the reactance of the TCSC. The reactance characteristic becomes highly non linear at higher levels of compensation; at such operating points the trigger angle of the thyristors needs to be accurately controlled to avoid small variations in the thyristor trigger angle causing significant variation in the reactance of the TCSC. Literature has shown that there is an acceptable limit to the resolution of the thyristor trigger angle based on the parameters of the components used in the TCSC. If a controller is developed to meet this acceptable level of thyristor trigger angle resolution, then the operation of the TCSC will also be acceptable and its operation will not result in unwanted fluctuations in the transmission line variables. This thesis details the development of such a controller for use in a laboratory-scale TCSC. The thesis then goes on to present the practical results obtained from laboratory experiments on the laboratory-scale TCSC with the TCSC triggering controller being used to control the operation of the laboratory-scale TCSC. For purposes of comparison and benchmarking, a detailed simulation model of the laboratory-scale TCSC is developed to take into account the non-ideal properties of the components used in make-up of the laboratory-scale TCSC since the theoretical model is derived assuming ideal conditions. The detailed simulation model is also used to aid in the redesign the power circuit of the laboratory-scale TCSC in an attempt to improve the perfonnance of the laboratory-scale TCSC by obtaining better agreement between the theoretical and practical results. The redesigned laboratory-scale TCSC is used to obtain practical results to COnfill11 the findings of the simulation studies. Finally, the TCSC triggering controller is tested using a real time digital simulator (RTDS). The simulation model developed on the RTDS consisted of a two area, four generator power, with the TCSC connected between the two areas. The RTDS simulation model is used to study the ability of the TCSC to damp inter-area mode oscillations and hence the RTDS simulation model incorporated a power oscillation controller. The input of TCSC triggering controller was "connected" to the power oscillation damping controller and the output of the TCSC triggering controller was "connected" to the thyristors of the TCSC.

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