A new type of voltage divider

for the measurement of high impulse and a. c. voltages

HAEFELY

K.Feser

Description of a new type of voltage divider for the measurement of standard test voltages; based upon well known performances of presently existing capacitive voltage dividers, this new type is characterized by negligible measurement errors. The recently developed capacitive voltage

Introduction

As a general rule. voltage dividers are used for the measurement of high lightning. switching and a. c. voltages. Such voltage dividers have to reduce to some 100 V. i.e. to the normally used measurement or recording value of voltage, high and extra high voltages up to several million volts. while giving on the low voltage side a true reproduction of the high voltage applied to the test object. It would be, in principle, possible to design an optimal voltage divider for any particular voltage stress measurement.

In practice, however, h. v. laboratories must have at their disposal a voltage divider designed for easy handling and being of universal use. Voltages used for acceptance tests of electric equipment in h. v. laboratories are essentially the 1.2/50 lightning impulse voltage. the 1.2/50 front or tail chopped lightning impulse voltage, the switching impulse voltage as well as a.c. voltage

[1], [2], [3].

The voltage divider and the object under test are generally connected by means of a metal conductor a few meters long, this in view of avoiding any mutual influence. This conductor influences however the transfer ratio quality of the whole measure circuit, so that the transfer ratio of the voltage divider has necessarily to take into account the lead-in connexion [4], [5], [6].

A distinction is made between capacitive or resistive voltage dividers. Resistive ones have an important effect on the voltage curve in case of a low overall resistance, while their transfer characteristics are unfavourable in case of a high overall resistance. Besides, the problem of energy involved in case of a voltage stress of long duration is difficult to master; this is why this type of voltage divider cannot be used. because of the imposed requirements, for the measurement of lightning, switching, a.c. and chopped lightning voltages. They could eventually be used to satisfy only one or two of the indicated conditions.

divider which can at the same time also serve as a load capacitor, consists. in its high voltage unit, of a number of series connected resistors and capacitors. Alone the capacitive transfer ratio is usedfor the measurement, so that the low voltage unit is composed of capacitors only.

Review of performance standards of capacitive voltage dividers

Following criteria must be considered for the selection of capacitive voltage dividers to be used in test laboratories:

a) high voltage appearing on the test circuit must be transferred with maximum accuracy to the secondary output of the voltage divider. Coaxial cable on the I. v. side as well as the measuring instrument (i. e. oscillograph) can be chosen so that they will not further distort the impulse wave shape.

b) influence of the voltage divider on the shape of voltage applied to the test object must either be negligible when the voltage divider is used solely as a measuring device or, on the contrary, have an optimum effect, for instance when the divider is simultaneously used as a load capacitor of the impulse test circuit. The latter solution has the advantage of being economic and ensures at the same time a better use of the available space.

c) the capacitive voltage divider should be easily adaptable to any actual voltage value produced by the impulse generator, connected in parallel or in series, or when only part of the generator stages are used. The accuracy of the transfer ratio should be maintained also in this particular case and it would be an advantage to be able to use the same I. v. units even if the number of active generator stages is reduced.

d) it should be possible to determine easily the transformation ratio.

Measurement and interpretation of response time should be possible with 1,10re or less certitude in view of correcting, by means of this response time. impulse waves chopped in their front. This means that a strongly oscillating or insufficiently attenuated response time curve is not desirable.

Existing designs of capacitive voltage dividers

Three different types of voltage dividers using the capacitive transfer ratio, but only partially complying with the above mentioned conditions, are known to this day.

1. Purely capacitive voltage divider

Capacitance of a sphere-gap or a series connected circuit of individual capacitances made of oil-impregnated paper coils form the h. v. capacitance of a purely capacitive voltage divider.

Translated from Bulletin ASE 62 (1971), Nr.19, p. 929,..935

E 1-12

lig.1

Reproduction, by two different voltage dividers, of the rise of the lightning impulse wave (Rda ~ 0)

time sweeping: 200 us/grating

peak value of impulse voltage: 2000 kV

a) purely capacitive voltage divider, C ~ 500 pF

b) damped capacitive voltage divider. C ~ 291 pF. R ~ 758 Q

Such dividers can be used for the measurement of a.c. and switching impulse voltages. However, measurement of lightning impulse voltages could call forth considerable oscillation in the front of the impulse wave (fig. I a).

According to [1]. a maximum ripple of 3% is tolerated at the impulse voltage peak value. The oscillation should remain by ± 10% inferior to the momentary voltage value during the first 50% of the voltage rise. Fig. I shows the voltage curve on the test object (i. e. asphere-gap) measured either with the aid of a capacitive divider (fig. I a) or, simultaneously, with a damped capacitive divider (fig. 1 b), whereas fig.2 illustrates the equivalent circuit corresponding to the measurement.

Oscillograms offig. I show clearly that natural oscillations are initiated in the circuit used with a purely capacitive divider and voltage on the test object must not necessarily be identical with the one measured by means of a capacitive divider. As will be shown later, oscillations of fig. I can be efficiently attenuated by means of an appropriate circuit (for instance, by using an outer damping resistor). Provided that the damped capacitive voltage divider reproduces correctly the considered phenomena, fig. I b shows the voltage curve on the test object, i. e. also on the input side of the capacitive divider. As to fig. I a. it reproduces the voltage measured by means of a purely capacitive voltage divider. Such a divider may start oscillating due to unsufficient attenuation in the divider itself or in the lead-in connexion, but these oscillations do not occur at all on the test object, which makes the more difficult any analysis of the voltage withstand ability of the test object. Fig. I b shows clearly that the test object is solicited only by a relatively small frontal ripple caused by a quick firing

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of the last sphere-gap of the generator in connection with the load circuit. Practically no other oscillations occur on the test object (fig. I b).

Having examined the voltage divider in the rest circun as a whole, let us consider the divider, together with its lead-in connexions, as a measuring instrument. This may be done by the measure of the response time of the divider, together with the lead-in which forms an integrated part of the impulse voltage measurement [4]. Fig. 3 shows the diagram used for response time measure and fig. 4 reproduces the response curve of a 3 MY (Ctot = 450 pF) capacitive divider with its 6 m long lead-in. An analysis of the response time is practically impossible in view of rather strong oscillations and basically two different compensating phenomena can be perceptible.

High frequency oscillations are due to transient wave reflexions appearing on the unsufficient terminal impedances of the lead-in, part of the oscillations being caused by the delay-line behaviour of the capacitive divider. The considerably lower frequency oscillation, which is also prejudicial to the measurement of slower phenomena of some ps can be considered as being practically stationary and as a part of the total inductance L and of the total capacitance C. The oscillation time of an L-C oscillating circuit can be determined by T = 2 tt /LE. A total inductance of some 17 .uH (conductor inductance ~. 9 pH, capacitance inductance "= 8 pH) can be accounted for in the considered test diagram [7], the capacitance of the divider being 450 pF. An oscillation time of T = 0.55 us can be calculated with these datas, which perfectly corresponds to the measured oscillation time (fig.4a). These practically non-attenuated oscillations of the L-C oscillating circuit always appear with sudden voltage variations on the capacitance. It is thus possible to observe such oscillations on chopped impulses after the chopping of the impulse voltage.

2. Capacitive voltage dividers with damping resistor Transfer characteristic of the purely capacitive voltage divider, measured with rectangular impulses, can be divided in two essential parts:

a) transient waves phenomena on the lead-in and in the divider, due to unsufficient terminal impedances;

b) fundamental stationary low voltage oscillation. due to the non damped L-C oscillating circuit.

This fundamental oscillation can be avoided in practice by placing a resistor in the head of the capacitive voltage divider. The place of this resistance, placed either at the input or at the output of the lead-in, or even distributed all through it, has no influence on the low frequency oscillation. For practical reasons, the resistor will be usually placed at the head of the voltage divider. Not only

Fig.2

Equivalent diagram of the test circuit arrangement

Impulse capacitance: Cs ~ 10.7 nF

inner damping resistor: Rdi = 324 Q

outer damping resistor: Rda ~ 0/260 Q

discharge resistor: Re = 5.33 kQ

capacitive divider: C = 500 pF

damped capacitive divider: CT = 291 pF, RT = 758 Q

does such a resistor act by damping the fundamental oscillation, but it also influences considerably the behaviour of transient waves in the lead-in and in the divider itself. A voltage divider of some MY shows indeed, due to its length, a certain delay time [8], the divider impedance acting on the lead-in as a terminal impedance as shown clearly in fig. 5. In figures 5 a and 5 b, the lead-in is actually terminated by its impedance; fig. 5a shows that this impedance acts favourably on the transient waves at the lead-in input. If the resistor is placed in the head of the divider (fig.Sb), the damping resistor for transient wave phenomena is connected between two conductors and cannot be considered as being an ideal termination. Fig.6 shows that even an external damping resistor of some 260 Q placed between the impulse generator and the voltage divider in the actual test arrangement, can substantially dampen oscillations on a voltage wave. This test arrangement differs from the one illustrated in fig. 2 solely by the addition of a damping resistor Rda of 260 Q. Fig.6a shows that in this particular case the oscillations of the voltage divider are slighter and

,-

Fig.3

Measurement circuit for the determination of the response time of a voltage divider

with lead-in connexion

I rectangular impulse generator 2 lead-in (6 m long)

3 voltage divider

4 measure cable

5 measure instrument (oscillograph)

a comparison with an oscillogram taken with the aid of a damped capacitive voltage divider (fig. 6 b) shows a better concordance between the voltage on the test object and the voltage on the l.v, terminal of the capacitive voltage divider. The outer damping resistor in question can naturally be used not only to dampen oscillations but also to shape the front time of the 1.2/ls standard impulse wave,

3, The damped capacitive voltage divider

The damped capacitive voltage divider, consisting of a series circuit of a large number of single resistors and capacitors, is an instrument warranting excellent transfer characteristics even for measurement of steepest voltage impulses [9],

This type of divider, developed for the measurement of most sudden voltage variations [9], must be adapted to every measuring circuit employed because of its RC response behaviour in the case of such measures of sudden voltage changes [7],

A damped capacitive voltage divider designed with optimum characteristics, can be the source, during normal h.v. test condi-

Fig.4

Response time curve of a voltage divider (Rd ~ 0\

a) 200 ns/grating

b) I lis/grating

tions, of some difficulties in producing a standard lightning wave, should no sufficiently large load capacitance be available, To obtain the best transfer characteristics, the resistance should satisfy to the relation

[9]

Such a dimensional provision leads to the fact that this voltage divider will influence considerably the voltage wave shape on the test object, if load capacitances are small; the reason being that the inner time constant of the divider, T = RT· CT has a value of the order of the front time value of the lightning wave,

This action of the damped capacitive voltage divider on the voltage wave shape on the test object can be explained by means of fig, 7. It has been understood for the following considerations,

--.--- .. _-_.- II
a
.-.:"'I I
r.
IE! g D'
R ..
• .+ I
- t
+
.1. •• - .L -
... _ _'. __ ... ---~-.
b
n
?~ :I' ill,; ~ Z ~ ~
" -
~ v
,
,
I Fig. 5

Response time curve of a capacitive voltage divider with damped lead-in time sweeping: 200 ns/grating

a) damping resistor Rd ~ 270 n at the lead-in start

b) damping resistor Rd ~ 270 n at the lead- in end,

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Fig.6

Reproduction, by two different voltage dividers (Rda ~ 260 n l. of the rise of the lightning impulse wave

time sweeping: 200 ns/grating

peak value of impulse voltage: 2000 kV

a) purely capacitive voltage divider, C = 500 pF

h) damped capacitive voltage divider, CT = 291 pF, RT = 758 n

that the damped capacitive voltage divider has been optimally designed, i. e. that it satisfies to the condition

Such a design leads in practice to mounting in a 2 MY divider a resistor of 700 ... 1200 n (L, ~ 5 ... 10 pH, Cet ~ 80 ... 150 pF). Fig.7a shows the equivalent diagram for the determination of the voltage rise, whereas fig.7b illustrates the voltage curve in case of a negligible load capacitance Cb• It can be seen that during the first moment, due to the resistances Rd and R, the voltage on the test object rises abruptly if any inductance is neglected, and reaches subsequently peak value with time constants (Rd + RT) . c. As shown in fig. 7 c, even small load capacitances are sufficient to obtain instead of a sudden voltage rise on the resistor terminals, a loading of the load capacitance Cb with time constants Rd Cb and an overloading with time constants RT . CT' A bend is visible in the ascending part of the voltage curve, this bend being determined by the time constants and capacitance values. Ifload capacitances are small, such a dependence may become critical for the front shape of the lightning wave, as the impulse shape gets considerably modified with capacitance variation of the test object. Under certain conditions (C, very small, RT· CT ~ 0.5 JiS), this could lead to a generation of a lightning wave not complying with the standards.

A damped capacitive voltage divider of such a design cannot be used, under any circumstances, as a load capacitor, if the capacitance of the test object is small. Fig.8 shows a voltage oscillogram of a test circuit, without its proper load capacitance, using a damped capacitive voltage divider and a bend in the ascending part of the curve is clearly recognizable. Due to a high

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resistance value, an oscillation cannot initiate during the voltage nse,

Solution of this problem becomes only possible when both functions are separated, i. e. a proper load capacitance is available to adjust the impulse shape, and a damped capacitive voltage divider is used for the voltage measurement, this divider influencing the main circuit only in a negligible way and being optimally designed for voltage measurement.

Optimum design of a damped capacitive voltage divider means also that an outer damping resistor is provided at the input of the measure circuit. Its value, added to the value of the inner resistance at the measure point will be of the same order as the one of the lead-in impedance. This damping resistor must be calibrated with reference to the transformation ratio of the divider. Fig.9 shows the response curve of a 4 MY damped capacitive voltage divider. It can be seen that to obtain an optimum response curve, it is necessary that the damping resistor at the lead-in input forms, together with the inner resistance at its terminals, the best possible termination of the lead-in. For instance, if a voltage drop must be measured on the test object, the inner resistance in question will have approximately a zero value. In case of a sudden voltage drop, this resistance will be solicited correspondingly to the ohmic resistors of the measuring circuit. In practice, such a damping resistor, for instance for the lead-in of a 4 MY divider having a resistance of 800 n, will have an ohmic value of 300 n and will get therefore a voltage of 1000 kV. This means that an appropriate supporting structure will have to be provided. This is why the remarquable transfer properties of a damped capacitive voltage divider can be fully put to use only in research laboratories, where the divider has just the one function of a measuring instrument and can be thus specially adapted to the particular measure circuit.

Capacitive voltage divider with damping distributed on the primary side

Should a damped capacitive voltage divider be also used as a load capacitance in case of small capacitances of the test object,

b

c

t-

t_

Fig. 7

Equivalent diagram for the determination of voltage rise and basic voltage rise curves of damped capacitive voltage dividers

a) equivalent diagram. impulse capacitance Cs• load capacitance Cb, divider capacitance CT. damping resistance Rd. divider resistance RT• sphere-gap KF. test circuit PA

b) voltage rise without load capacitance Cb

c) voltage rise with small load capacitance

the time constant of the divider (T = RT· CT) should be diminished and the optimum transfer characteristic must be given up. This is the reason why a new type of voltage divider has been developed; its h. v. unit consists of series connected capacitances and resistances, whereas the I. v. part consists only of capacitances. Such a capacitive voltage divider, having damping resistors distributed in the primary, has the particular feature that the total resistance of its h.v. unit complies with condition

R ~ 0.25 ... 1.54

where L is the total inductance and C the total capacitance of the divider. The ohmic values are thus much smaller than it would be the case with a damped capacitive voltage divider. Particular features of this new divider type can be best shown by fig. 10, where R' and C are respectively the single resistances and capacitances of the h. v. circuit, whereas the I. v. unit consists only of capacitance C2.

The basic stationary oscillation is damped by reason of condition

R ~ 0.25 ... 1.54

of the design. In practice. this condition leads also to the fact that the lead-in with an impedance r, ~ 300 n can be terminated by its own impedance. With other words, the lead-in is terminated in this case with the impedance on the voltage divider, so that difficulties on the test object of lead-in termination over a damping resistor placed at the lead-in input and due to a variable and sometimes complex inner resistance can be avoided. Impedance

of a capacitive divider has a value of some 200 n if the h. v. unit has a small inductance tL; = total divider inductance, Cet = total capacitance to ground). Distribution of resistors in the h. v. unit leads to a higher active impedance, which allows a perfect termination of the lead-in by its own impedance, so that such a divider

Fig. 8

Reproduction of the rise of the lightning impulse wave by means of a damped capacitive voltage divider, with a small load capacitance

time sweeping: Ills/unit. 10 I's/unit

peak value of impulse voltage: 700 kV

calibration voltage: 200 V

Fig.9

Response curve of a 4 MV damped capacitive voltage divider.

CT ~ 360 pF. RT ~ 1440 n. 100 us/grating

a) without damping resistor at the lead-in start

b) with a damping resistor at the lead-in start (Rd ~ 365 !1)

does not need any external damping resistor. The proposed design leads to most favourable resistance values of about 50 ... 200 Q. so that the inner time constant of the capacitive divider remains sufficiently small and such a divider is thus entirely efficient also as a load capacitor during lightning impulse tests. Distribution of resistances has also the advantage of damping internal oscillations of the capacitive voltage divider.

The basic idea of the new divider type is that transfer proprieties of the capacitive part are used to record voltage stress. This becomes possible when the inner time constant is some 5 to 10 times smaller than the voltage rise to be measured. It is further to be noted that transient wave phenomena on the line and in the divider (the former thanks to the end termination, the latter thanks

C'

R - n R' C' C - n

R'

,;0:

I I I I I

Fig. 10

Basic arrangement of the capacitive voltage divider with damping resistors distributed on the primary side

I lead-in; 2 voltage divider

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to the resistance) are well damped by means of distributed resistances.

Even a 100 Q resistance shows an inner damping of the oscillations in the divider [10]. It is through tests that the utility of this new divider type for measurements of lightning, chopped lightning. switching and a.c. voltages can be properly demonstrated. Fig. II shows the response curve of a 1.6 MY voltage divider with damping on the primary unit. Transfer proprieties of the capacitive divider (Ctot = 900 pF, Rtot = 152 Q) correspond very well to theoretical notions. The time constant T= R· C = 152.900.10-12 = 137 ns, with which the response curve ascends, is to be noted. Transient waves are well attenuated. Systematic study of the resistance value shows that excellent transfer proprieties are obtained with a resistance of about 50 ... 200 Q.

It goes without saying that the same h. v. unit may be used for a damped capacitive voltage divider which, given a sufficiently low value of the inner time constant, can also serve as a load capacitance. Fig. 12 shows the response curve ofa 1.6 MY (900 pF. 152 Q) h.v. unit, with a RC element in the 1.v. unit.

The damped capacitive voltage divider shows, even when not equipped with damping resistors in a 5 m long lead-in, a very good response curve. With a 100 Q resistance at the lead-in input, only a minimum oscillation is observed (fig. 12b). In practice, it will be also of advantage to equip the head of the divider with such a resistance.

If a capacitive voltage divider damped on the primary side is considered according to criteria mentioned above, following statements can be made:

, ' i J.

~

. .,

. .

Fig. II

Response curve of a 1.6 M V capacitive voltage divider with damping resistors distributed on the primary side

CT = 900pF,RT = 152[.1

a) 100 ns/grating

b) 200 ns/grating

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Fig. 12

Response curve of a 1.6 MV damped capacitive voltage divider CT = 900pF, RT = 152[.1

time sweeping: 200 ns/grating

a) without damping resistor at the lead-in start

b) with a damping resistor at the lead-in start (Rd = 100 Q).

ref. a: an input voltage of a given shape is accurately transposed because of a sufficient damping of the stationary oscillation and thanks to favourable values of the end termination.

ref. b: with the choice of a low value of resistance, the time constant of the divider will be so small that such a divider can be used as a load capacitance for impulse voltages mentioned above; the voltage shape on the test object can be influenced only in a favourahle manner, even if the capacitance of this object is small.

ref. c: parts of the h.v. unit can be at any moment ano according to circumstances short-circuited or taken away; this has no influence on the transfer ratio proprieties. as the calibrating conditions remain unchanged; further. the same l.v. unit can remain in use.

ref. d: the transfer ratio is easily determined, as only the capacitive transformation is used for measurements. The resistance acts only as a damping resistor for compensating process and also as a terminal resistor for transient wave phenomena. This is why this type of divider does not need any calibration. usually rather difficult and time consuming, of the ohmic transfer ratio over to the capacitive one.

Measurement and interpretation of the response time can be made easily.

Summary

Research laboratories and industrial high voltage test platforms must have at their disposal voltage dividers able to measure any required voltage with sufficient accuracy. This is a necessity in view of the numerous and complex measurements which have to be executed. The above mentioned considerations show that the capacitive voltage divider with damping resistors distributed on its primary side perfectly complies with the requirements for the measurement of standard voltages in high voltage test platforms operated by manufacturing companies.

Starting with fundamental technical requirements, various known types of voltage dividers are examined as to whether they

can comply with conditions imposed. Based on theoretical considerations and practical measurements, a new type of voltage divider has been developed, bringing a number of advantages in measurements of lightning, switching, a. c. and chopped lightning voltages. The capacitive voltage divider with distributed damping consists, on the h. v. side, of a number of series connected resistors and capacitors, while the I. v. side is composed of capacitors only. Resistance value of the h. v. unit is about 50 ... 200 n, so that the time constant of the divider (T = RT· CT) is sufficiently small to allow the use of such a divider as a load capacitance when capacitances of the test objects are small.

It can be briefly stated that if a voltage divider has to be used for the measurement of very steep voltage stresses, a damped capacitive voltage divider, jointly with a load capacitor having a sufficient capacitance value, should be used. In all other cases, where standard voltages will be produced and have to be measured, and where a voltage divider will have to act simultaneously as a load capacitance, it will be preferable to take advantage of the capacitive voltage divider with damping distributed on the primary side.

Literature

[I] Essais it haute tension. Publication de la Clil No.60. Deuxierne edition. 1962.

[2] Erzeugung und Messung von Hochspannungen. Teil I: Bestimmungen fiir die Erzeugung und Anwendung von Wechsel- und Gleichspannungen fur Priifzwecke. VDE 0433, Part 1/1.66.

[31 Erzeugung und Messung von Hochspannungen. Teil 3: Bestimmungen fiir die Erzeugung und Anwendung von StoBspannungen und Stollstromen fur Priifzwecke. VDE 0433, Part 3/4.66.

[4] W'.Zaengl: Zur Ermittlung der vollstandigen Ubertragungseigenschaften eines StoBspannungs-Messkrcises. ETZ-A 90 (1969) 19, pp.457-462.

[5] W.Zaengl: Der StoBspannungsteiler mit Zuleitung. Bull. SEV 61 (1970) 21. pp.1003-1017.

[6] A. Rodewald: Uber den Einfluss des Wellenwiderstandes der Zuleitung auf das Rechteckstoss- Ubertragungsverhalten eines StoBspannungs- Messkreises. ETZ-A 86 (1965) I. pp.24-25.

[7] H. Kdrner : Die Erzeugung steilster StoBspannungen hoher Amplitude. Dissertation at the Munich Polytechnic 1967.

[8] W. Zaengl und K. Feser: Ein Beitrag zur Berechnung des Ubertragungsverhaltens von StoBspannungsteilern. Bull. SEV 55 (1964) 25. pp.1249-1256. [9] W.Zaengl: Ein neuer Teiler fiir steile StoBspannungen. Bull. SEV 56 (1965) 7, pp.232-240.

[10] K.Feser: Ein Beitrag zur Berechnung der Spannungsverteilung von Hochspannungskondensatoren. Bull. SEV 61 (1970) 8, pp. 345-348.

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