ABSTRACT

This report details why we study high voltage and power engineering, under high power
engineering we have several subdivisions such as generation, transmission and distribution.

Generation deals with the processes involved in producing electric power from other
sources, it is basically an energy conversion process, the voltage at the power generation
stage is fairly high but it will still be stepped up before the next stage which is transmission
by a step up transformer.

Transmission deals with the movement of an electricity from the generation site or power
plant to an electrical substation by means of cables, the voltage at which electricity is
transmitted in this stage is high to minimize the line losses.

Distribution is the final stage in electricity delivery, power is transmitted from the substation
in this stage to the individual consumers. We also deal with power system protection under
high power engineering which is the means by which we protect transmission lines and
power apparatus from damages.

All this aspects of high power engineering deal with high voltages and this voltages can
cause significant harm to living organisms, and this is one of the reasons why the study of
high power engineering is so important, to provide engineers with the knowledge to work
on this systems safely and to protect other individuals from the dangers of high voltages
Table of Contents
Cover Page………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....2

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..4

Chapter One (High Power Generation)………………………………………………………………………5

Chapter Two (Power Transmission and Distribution)………………………………………….……..7

Chapter Three (High Power System Protection)……………………………………………………… 10

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12
INTRODUCTION
The demand for the generation and transmission of large amounts of electric power today,
necessitates its transmission at extra-high voltages, since transmission of power at high
voltages minimizes losses. At this juncture, a practicing electrical engineer or a student of
electrical engineering is expected to possess a knowledge of high voltage techniques and
should have sufficient background in high voltage engineering.

High power or voltage engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the generation
and transmission of electricity at high voltages. The numerical definition of 'high voltage'
depends on context. Two factors considered in classifying a voltage as "high voltage" are the
possibility of causing a spark in air, and the danger of electric shock by contact or proximity.
The definitions may refer to the voltage between two conductors of a system, or between
any conductor and ground. In electric power transmission engineering, high voltage is
usually considered any voltage over approximately 35,000 volts. This is a classification based
on the design of apparatus and insulation.

The International Electrotechnical Commission and its national counterparts (IET, IEEE, VDE,
etc.) define high voltage as above 1000 V for alternating current, and at least 1500 V for
direct current—and distinguish it from low voltage (50–1000 V AC or 120–1500 V DC) and
extra-low voltage (<50 V AC or <120 V DC) circuits. The term high voltage usually means
electrical energy at voltages high enough to inflict harm on living organisms, therefore
equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant particular safety requirements
and procedures. This is another reason why the study of high power engineering is vital
CHAPTER ONE
To fully discuss why we study high voltage/power engineering, we must first explain high
voltage engineering and its components. Under high voltage/power engineering, we have
the following subtopics:

1. Generation of high voltages/power

2. Transmission of high voltages/power
3. Distribution of high voltages/power
4. High power system protection

High Power Generation

High Power generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary
energy. For electric utilities in the electric power industry, it is the first stage in the delivery
of electricity to end users, the other stages being transmission, distribution, energy storage
and recovery, after the generation, the voltage is increased by a step up transformer before
transmission.

The potential benefits of electrical energy supplied to a number of consumers from a

common generating system were recognized shortly after the development of the
‘dynamo’, commonly known as the generator. The first public power station was put into
service in 1882 in London (Holborn). Soon a number of other public supplies for electricity
followed in other developed countries. The early systems produced direct current at low-
voltage, but their service was limited to highly localized areas and were used mainly for
electric lighting. The limitations of d.c. transmission at low-voltage became readily apparent.
By 1890 the art in the development of an a.c. generator and transformer had been
perfected to the point when a.c. supply was becoming common, displacing the earlier d.c.
system. The first major a.c. power station was commissioned in 1890 at Deptford, supplying
power to central London over a distance of 28 miles at 10000V. From the earliest
‘electricity’ days it was realized that to make full use of economic generation the
transmission network must be tailored to production with increased interconnection for
pooling of generation in an integrated system. In addition, the potential development of
hydroelectric power and the need to carry that power over long distances to the centers of
consumption were recognized. Power transfer for large systems, whether in the context of
interconnection of large systems or bulk transfers, led engineers invariably to think in terms
of high system voltages. The electric power (P) transmitted on an overhead a.c. line
increases approximately with the surge impedance loading or the square of the system’s
operating voltage. Thus for a transmission line of surge impedance ZL at an operating
voltage V, the power transfer capability is approximately P = V2/ZL.
CHAPTER TWO
Power Transmission

Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating
site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines which
facilitate this movement are known as a transmission network. This is distinct from the local
wiring between high-voltage substations and customers, which is typically referred to as
electric power distribution. The combined transmission and distribution network is known
as the “power grid” or “grid”.

Most transmission lines are high-voltage three-phase alternating current (AC), although
single phase AC is sometimes used in railway electrification systems. High-voltage direct-
current (HVDC) technology is used for greater efficiency over very long distances (typically
hundreds of miles). HVDC technology is also used in submarine power cables (typically
longer than 50 km, and in the interchange of power between grids that are not mutually
synchronized. HVDC links are used to stabilize large power distribution networks where
sudden new loads, or blackouts, in one part of a network can result in synchronization
problems and cascading failures.

Electricity is transmitted at high voltages (115 kV or above) to reduce the energy loss which
occurs in long-distance transmission. Power is usually transmitted through overhead power
lines. Underground power transmission has a significantly higher installation cost and
greater operational limitations, but reduced maintenance costs. Underground transmission
is sometimes used in urban areas or environmentally sensitive locations.

A lack of electrical energy storage facilities in transmission systems leads to a key limitation.
Electrical energy must be generated at the same rate at which it is consumed. A
sophisticated control system is required to ensure that the power generation very closely
matches the demand. If the demand for power exceeds supply, the imbalance can cause
generation plant(s) and transmission equipment to automatically disconnect or shut down
to prevent damage. In the worst case, this may lead to a cascading series of shut downs and
a major regional blackout. Electric transmission networks are interconnected into regional,
national, and even continent wide networks to reduce the risk of such a failure by providing
multiple redundant, alternative routes for power to flow should such shut downs occur.
Transmission companies determine the maximum reliable capacity of each line (ordinarily
less than its physical or thermal limit) to ensure that spare capacity is available in the event
of a failure in another part of the network.

Overhead transmission

High-voltage overhead conductors are not covered by insulation. The conductor material is
nearly always an aluminum alloy, made into several strands and possibly reinforced with
steel strands. Copper was sometimes used for overhead transmission, but aluminum is
lighter, yields only marginally reduced performance and costs much less. Overhead
conductors are a commodity supplied by several companies worldwide. Improved conductor
material and shapes are regularly used to allow increased capacity and modernize
transmission circuits. Conductor sizes range from 12 mm2 (#6 American wire gauge) to 750
mm2 with varying resistance and current-carrying capacity. Thicker wires would lead to a
relatively small increase in capacity due to the skin effect (which causes most of the current
to flow close to the surface of the wire). Because of this current limitation, multiple parallel
cables (called bundle conductors) are used when higher capacity is needed. Bundle
conductors are also used at high voltages to reduce energy loss caused by corona discharge.

Today, transmission-level voltages are usually considered to be 110 kV and above. Lower
voltages, such as 66 kV and 33 kV, are usually considered sub transmission voltages, but are
occasionally used on long lines with light loads. Voltages less than 33 kV are usually used for
distribution. Voltages above 765 kV are considered extra high voltage and require different
designs compared to equipment used at lower voltages.

Since overhead transmission wires depend on air for insulation, the design of these lines
requires minimum clearances to be observed to maintain safety. Adverse weather
conditions, such as high wind and low temperatures, can lead to power outages.
Underground transmission

Electric power can also be transmitted by underground power cables instead of overhead
power lines. Underground cables take up less right-of-way than overhead lines, have lower
visibility, and are less affected by bad weather. However, costs of insulated cable and
excavation are much higher than overhead construction. Faults in buried transmission lines
take longer to locate and repair. Underground lines are strictly limited by their thermal
capacity, which permits less overload or re-rating than overhead lines. Long underground
AC cables have significant capacitance, which may reduce their ability to provide useful
power to loads beyond 50 miles (80 kilometers). DC cables are not limited in length by their
capacitance.

High Power Distribution

Power distribution is the final stage in the delivery of electric power; it carries electricity
from the transmission system to individual consumers. Distribution substations connect to
the transmission system and lower the transmission voltage to medium voltage ranging
between 2 kV and 35 kV (which is a fairly high voltage) with the use of transformers. Primary
distribution lines carry this medium voltage power to distribution transformers located near
the customer's premises. Distribution transformers again lower the voltage to the utilization
voltage used by lighting, industrial equipment or household appliances. Often several
customers are supplied from one transformer through secondary distribution lines.
Commercial and residential customers are connected to the secondary distribution lines
through service drops. Customers demanding a much larger amount of power may be
connected directly to the primary distribution level or the sub transmission level
CHAPTER THREE
High Power System Protection

Power-system protection is a branch of electrical power engineering that deals with the
protection of electrical power systems from faults through the isolation of faulty parts from
the rest of the electrical network. The objective of a protection scheme is to keep the power
system stable by isolating only the components that are under fault, whilst leaving as much
of the network as possible still in operation. Thus, protection schemes must apply with very
pragmatic and pessimistic approach to clearing system faults. The devices that are used to
protect the power systems from faults are called protection devices. Types of protective
devices include relays and circuit breakers

Protective devices are utilized at different stages in the electricity distribution process, such
as in:

Generating: In a power plant, the protective relays are intended to prevent damage to
alternators or to the transformers in case of abnormal conditions of operation, due to
internal failures, as well as insulating failures or regulation malfunctions. Such failures are
unusual, so the protective relays have to operate very rarely. If a protective relay fails to
detect a fault, the resulting damage to the alternator or to the transformer might require
costly equipment repairs or replacement, as well as income loss from the inability to
produce and sell energy.

Transmission and Distribution: Protection on the transmission and distribution serves two
functions: Protection of plant and protection of the public (including employees). At a basic
level, protection looks to disconnect equipment which experience an overload or a short to
earth. Some items in substations such as transformers might require additional protection
based on temperature or gas pressure, among others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reasons why we study high power engineering, is to have a better
understanding of the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power and the
infrastructure and equipment used to do the aforementioned, it also helps us understand
high power system protection, which is necessary to protect the entire system form faults
by isolating certain parts from the entire system. This is very important to avoid damage to
equipment and even appliances at the end user stage. High power engineering deals with
high voltages at certain stages in the electricity generation to distribution system and high
voltages are detrimental to living organisms and therefore care must be taken in all work
involving high voltages, this makes the study of high power engineering paramount.
References
1. E. kuffel, W.S Zaengl, J.kuffel. (2000). High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals.
Newnes Publishing

2. M.S Naidu, V kamaraju. (1995). High Voltage Engineering. McGraw Hill Publishing

3. High voltage. (2017, December 15). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
13:42, January 16, 2018, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_voltage&oldid=815591060