EE 254 Surge Protection

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute

University of the Philippines Diliman

Electrical Transients
An electrical transient is an outward manifestation
of an abrupt change in system configuration, such
as when a switch opens or closes in an electric
circuit.
1. The transient period is very short;
2. The frequency of the transient is very high;
3. The transient currents and/or voltages are
very large; and
3. Power system components will be subjected
to excessive stresses if the transient effects
are not mitigated.

Definitions
A surge is a transient wave of current, potential or
power in an electric circuit.
A lightning surge is a transient electrical
disturbance caused by lightning.
A switching surge is a heavily damped transient
electrical disturbance associated with switching.
An impulse is a surge of unidirectional polarity.
The Standard Lightning Impulse is a full impulse
with a front of 1.2 s and a tail of 50 s.
The Standard Switching Impulse is a full impulse
with a front of 250 s and a tail of 2500 s.

Assumptions on Circuit Elements

1. All circuit elements are assumed to be linear.
vR

L
iR

Resistance

C
iL

Inductance

vC
Capacitance

2. All circuit elements are assumed to be invariant

with time.
3. Whenever possible, all circuit elements will be
assumed to be lumped.

Fundamental Circuit Principles

1. The current through an inductor cannot change
instantaneously.
iL L
+ vL -

2. The voltage across a capacitor cannot change

instantaneously.
iC C
+ vC -

3. Energy conservation must be preserved at all

times.

Power System Representation

At steady state, only power-frequency components
are present. In general, capacitances may be
neglected. To simplify the analysis of the problem,
resistance may be initially omitted, but its effect is
included in the interpretation of the final results.
Power Transformer:
At steady state, a loaded transformer is modeled
by its leakage reactance while an unloaded
transformer is represented by its magnetizing
reactance. Under transient condition, transformer
capacitance must be included. Typical values of
capacitance are given in ANSI/IEEE C37.011-1979.

Example: Given a 25 MVA 115Y34.5Y kV threephase transformer with Z=10%. Assume a total
capacitance to ground of 2 nF at the 115 kV side.
Find the equivalent circuit for loaded condition at
60 Hz and 1 MHz.
XL
Equivalent Circuit at
i
the 115 kV side
XC
At 60 Hz, we get

XL
Equivalent Circuit at
the 115 kV side

At 1 MHz, we get

Equivalent Circuit at
the 115 kV side

XC

Synchronous Generator:
Immediately after a fault, the machine is modeled
by its sub-transient reactance. A few cycles later,
the transient reactance is used. At steady state,
the machine is represented by its synchronous
reactance. For high-frequency transients, the
effect of winding capacitance must be included.
Transmission Line:
For short and medium-length lines, the lumpedparameter model is used. Capacitance is neglected
for short lines. For long lines, the line is modeled
using distributed parameters.

Generator Armature Capacitance

Generator MVA

Winding Capacitance
to Ground, F

Steam Turbine, 2 poles Conventional Cooling

15 to 30
30 to 50
50 to 70
70 to 225

0.17 0.36
0.22 0.44
0.27 0.52
0.34 0.87
Hydro Driven

360-720 rpm, 10 to 30
85-225 rpm, 25 to 100

0.26 0.53
0.90 1.64

Complete table can be found in ANSI/IEEE C37.011-1979

Phase Bus Capacitance

Isolated Phase Bus
Amp
1,200
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
10,000
12,000

Segregated Phase Bus

15 kV, pF/ft 23 kV, pF/ft 15 kV, pF/ft

8.9-14.3
8.0-12.4
10
10.2-14.3
9.0-12.4
10.0-10.2
10.2-14.3
9.0-12.4
10.0-10.2
14.0-14.3
12.4-13.5 10.0-12.6
14.0-19.0
12.7-15.8 12.5-14.9
14.0-19.0
13.5-15.8 15.0-17.1
17.3-22.6
14.4-17.6
17.1
21.7
17.6
21.7
18.1
23.7
20.5

Complete table can be found in ANSI/IEEE C37.011-1979

Outdoor Bushing Capacitance

kV Rating
15
34.5
69
115
138

Amp Rating
600
1,200
1,200
2,000
1,200
2,000
1,200
1,600
1,200
1,600

Range in F
160 180
190 220
170 390
240 360
160 290
210 320
250 420
250 430
250 420
250 460

Complete table can be found in ANSI/IEEE C37.011-1979

Principle of Superposition
In a linear electric circuit containing N independent
sources, the current (or voltage) in any branch is
equal to the algebraic sum of N components, each
of which is due to one independent source acting
alone.
Note: Reducing an independent source to zero:
1. For a voltage source, remove the source and
replace with a short circuit;
2. For a current source, remove the source and
replace with an open circuit.

Thevenins Theorem
Consider a linear circuit which can be represented
by two networks, A and B. Suppose we want to
simplify network A.
x

Linear
Network
A

Linear
Network
B

Thevenins Theorem states that Network A can be

replaced by a single voltage source Vth which is
connected in series with a single impedance Zth.

Zth

Vth

Linear
Network
B

Vth= open-circuit voltage from terminal x to

terminal y, with network B removed
Zth= the equivalent impedance from terminal x
to terminal y, looking into network A, with
all independent sources reduced to zero.

Voltage Injection Method

In a linear circuit, the closing of a switch may be
simulated by injecting a voltage source vk across
the terminals of the switch, which is equal to the
negative of the voltage that would appear across
the switch if it had remained open. The voltage (or
current) at any point in the network is equal to the
sum of two components:
1. The voltage (or current) that would appear at
the point if the switch had remained open; and
2. The voltage (or current) at the point due to the
injected voltage source vk, with all sources and
initial conditions set to zero.

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

vk
-

Network before closing

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

v=0
-

Network after closing

vk

+
vk +-

Equivalent network after closing

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

vk

+
-

RLC
only

vk

vk

Equivalent network after closing

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

vk
-

RLC
only

Equivalent network after closing

Example: Find all currents and voltages.

I2

I1 4
+

24v

+V - +
1

We get

V2
-

I2

I1 4
24v

We get

+V 1

16v

8
-

Example: Back-to-back Switching of Capacitors

34.5 kV
Bus

5 F
Bank 1

vk
-

5 F

Bus inductance
between the two
banks is 10 H

Bank 2

At t=0, the switch is closed to energize bank 2.

Assume that at the instant of switching, the system
voltage is at its peak value and that the incoming
capacitor is uncharged. Find the equivalent circuit
for t 0 using the voltage injection method.

The peak value of the system voltage is

If the switch does not close, the voltage across the

switch for t 0 is
Equivalent circuit for t 0
Note: i(t) is the
current in the
incoming bank.

5 F

10 H
i(t)
5 F

vk(t)

Current Injection Method

In a linear circuit, the opening of a switch may be
simulated by injecting a current source ik through
the terminals of the switch, which is equal to the
negative of the current that would flow through the
switch if it had remained closed. The voltage (or
current) at any point in the network is equal to the
sum of two components:
1. The voltage (or current) that would appear at
the point if the switch had remained closed; and
2. The voltage (or current) at the point due to the
injected current source ik, with all sources and
initial conditions set to zero.

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

ik

Network before opening

Network after opening

i=0

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

i=0

ik

ik

Equivalent network after opening

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

ik

RLC
only

ik

Equivalent network after opening

RLC,
Sources,
ICs

ik

RLC
only

ik

Equivalent network after opening

Example: Current Chopping

34.5 kV
Bus
Vacuum
CB

No Load

At t=0, the vacuum circuit breaker is opened to

de-energize an unloaded transformer. Assume that
at the instant of switching, the magnetizing
current is at its peak value of 4.74 Amps. The total
capacitance at the 34.5 kV side is 6,000 pF. Find
the equivalent circuit for t 0 using the current
injection method.

If the circuit breaker does not open, the current

through the switch for t 0 is

Equivalent circuit for

t0

Ls

ik
6nF

v(t) Lm
-

Note: v(t) is not

the total voltage
across the
transformer.

First-Order Transients
Consider the homogeneous differential equation

with initial condition x(0)=X0.

The solution can be shown to be an exponential of
the form

Substitution gives

After canceling the exponential term, we get

or
Thus the solution is

At t=0, we get

The final solution is

RL Network
Consider the circuit shown. Let
i(0) = I0. From KVL, we get for
t0

R
i

Substitution gives

Note: The transient response of an RL network is a

decaying exponential with a time constant =L/R.

RC Network
Consider the circuit shown. Let
vC(0) = V0. From KCL, we get
for t 0

R
i

+
-

vC

Substitution gives

Note: The transient response of an RC network is a

decaying exponential with a time constant =RC.

Second-Order Transients
Consider the homogeneous differential equation

The solution can be shown to be an exponential of

the form

Substitution gives

After canceling the exponential term, we get the

characteristic equation

Using the quadratic formula, we get two roots

Thus the solution is

Note: The roots may be real or complex numbers.

Series RLC Circuit

t=0

Consider the circuit shown.

From KVL, we get for t 0
R

L
i
C

Differentiating once, we get

Note: The circuit is described by a homogeneous

second-order differential equation.

Example: Real and Distinct Roots (Over-damped

Case)
t=0

E=12 V
R=10
vc(0)=0

L=1 H

+
-

For t 0, we get

Differentiating once, we get

or

vC
-

The characteristic equation is

Using the quadratic formula, we get the two roots

Substitution gives
and the roots
are s1=-2 and s2=-8. The total response is

Initial Conditions: At t = 0+,

0

From (2), we get

Evaluate Constants: Differentiate the total

response. We get

At t=0+

Solving simultaneously, we get K1=2 and K2=-2.

Thus,

Example: Real but Repeated Roots (CriticallyDamped Case)

t=0 R
L
E=12 V
R=8
vc(0)=0

L=1 H

+
-

vC
-

The characteristic equation is

whose roots are s1=s2=-4. When the roots are real
but repeated, the transient response can be shown
to be given by

Substitution gives
and

At t=0+

We get K1=12. The complete response is

Example: Complex Roots (Under-damped Case)

E=12 V
R=6
vc(0)=0

L=1 H

t=0

+
-

R
i

L
+

vC
-

The characteristic equation is

whose roots are s1,s2=-3 j2.65. When the roots
are complex conjugates, i,e. s1,s2=- jd, the
transient response is given by

Substitution gives
whose derivative is

At t=0+

We get

Plot of the Currents

R=8

R=10
R=6

Series LC Circuit
t=0

Consider the circuit shown.

From KVL, we get for t 0

+
-

L
i
C

vC

or

The characteristic equation is

whose roots are imaginary. We get s1,s2= jn and
the transient response is given by

The initial conditions are

and
Substitute in

We get

Substitution gives

We can also show that

where
= surge impedance,
= natural frequency, rad/sec

Plots of vc for various values of vC(0+) are shown.

4E
3E
2E
E

vC(0+)=-2E
vC(0+)=-E
vC(0+)=0

-E
-2E
Note: The voltage across the capacitor oscillates
symmetrically above and below the source.

 The Lecture Notes are prepared by the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Institute initiated by Prof. Artemio P. Magabo
With contributions from Dr. Allan C. Nerves and Prof. Rowaldo D. del Mundo