EE 8701 - HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

UNIT 1 – CAUSES OF OVER VOLTAGES

1. The electrical field developed within clouds before a lightning stroke occurs can be
of the order of
(a) 0.1 kV/cm
(b) 1.0 kV/cm
(c) 100 kV/cm
(d) 10 kV/cm

ANS: D

2. The maximum voltage gradient at the ground level due to a charged cloud before
lightning strikes, can be as high as
(a) 1 V/cm
(b) 30 V/cm
(c) 30 V/m
(d) 300 V/cm
ANS: D

3. The velocity of wind currents required for charge separation inside the moving
clouds is of the order
(a) 1 to 5m/s
(b) 5 to 10m/s
(c) 10 to 20m/s
(d) 50 to 200m/s
ANS: C
4. The peak value of lightning stroke currents are of the order
(a) 100 A
(b) 1000 A
(c) 10 to 100 kA
(d) 106A
ANS: C

5. The rate of rise of current (dI/dt) in lightning strokes is

(a) 1 kA/µs
(b) 100 kA/µs
(c) 100 A/ms
(d) 1000 kA/ms
ANS: B
6. The ground flashover density (Ng) in any region due to lightning activity is about
(TD =thunderstorm days)
(a) 0.1 to 0.2TD/km2-year
(b) 1 to 2TD/km2-year
(c) 30 to 50TD/km2-year
(d) 5 to 15TD/km2-year
ANS: A

7. Surge impedance of loss less transmission line is (if L — inductance/m, C —

capacitance/m)
(a) C / L
(b) L / C
(c) 1/ LC
(d) LC

ANS: C

8. The reflection coefficient for a travelling voltage wave at a junction of two

impedances Z1 and Z2 is
Z1 Z 2
(a)
Z1  Z 2
Z Z
(b) 2 1
Z 2  Z1
2Z 1
(c)
Z1  Z 2
2Z 2
(d)
Z1  Z 2
ANS: B

9. Overhead transmission lines are protected from lightning overvoltages by

(a) counter poise wires
(b) protector tubes
(c) ground or shield wires above the main conductors
(d) shunt reactors
ANS : C

10. In order to limit the overvoltages developed on ground wires due to lightning
strokes, the tower footing resistance should be less than
(a) 1000 Ω
(b) 100 Ω
(c) 25 Ω
(d) 1 Ω
ANS : C
11. The material used in gap less surge arresters used in hv power system is
(a) graphite
(b) aluminium oxide
(c) zinc oxide
(d) silicon carbide
ANS : d

12. Switching surge is

A. high voltage dc
B. high voltage ac
C. short duration transient voltage
D. hyperbolically dying voltage
ANS : C

13. A 3 phase single circuit transmission line is 400 km long. If the line is rated for
220 kV and having R = 0.1Ω/km, L = 1.26mH/km and C = 0.009μF/km. Find
the surge impedance neglecting resistance of the line.
(a) Zc =410 .8 Ω
(b) Zc =374.2 Ω
(c) Zc =326.5 Ω
(d) Zc =282.6 Ω
ANS:B

14. A 3 phase single circuit transmission line is 400 km long. If the line is rated
for 220 kV and having R = 0.1Ω/km, L = 1.26mH/km and C = 0.009μF/km.
Find (1) the surge impedance (2) the velocity of propagation neglecting
resistance of the line.
(a) ν = 3 x 108 km/sec
(b) ν =3 x 105 km/sec
(c) ν =3 x 109 km/sec
(d) ν =3 x 1012 km/sec
ANS:B

15. A 3 phase single circuit transmission line is 400 km long. If the line is rated
for 220 kV and having R = 0.1Ω/km, L = 1.26mH/km and C = 0.009μF/km. If
a surge of 150 kV (infinitely long tail) strikes at one end of the line, what is
the time taken for the surge to the other end of line?
(a) t = 1.22 ms
(b) t = 1.16 ms
(c) t = 1.33 ms
(d) t = 1.05 ms
ANS:C
 16. A transmission line of 500-Ω surge impedance is connected to a cable of 60Ω
surge impedance at the other end. If a surge of 500 kV travels along the line to
the junction point. Find the reflection coefficient at the junction?
(a) a = 0.786
(b) a = 0.818
(c) a = 0.678
(d) a = 0.582
ANS: A
17. A transmission line of 500-Ω surge impedance is connected to a cable of 60Ω
surge impedance at the other end. If a surge of 500 kV travels along the line to
the junction point. Find the reflection coefficient at the junction?
(a) b = 0.186
(b) b= 0.214
(c) b= 0.368
(d) b= 0.252
ANS: B
18. In order to limit the over voltages developed on ground wires due to lightning
strokes, the tower footing resistance should be less than
(a) 1000 Ω
(b) 100 Ω
(c) 25 Ω
(d) 1 Ω
ANS : C
19. A 400 Ω Overhead line is connected to a cable having a surge impedance of 50
Ω, the transmission coefficient into the cable is
(A) 2/9 (B) 1/4 (C) -16/9 (D) 1/9

Ans : A

20. For a typical heavy duty (10 kA rated) surge arrester, the discharge voltage at
rated current will be of the order of
(A) 1 pu
(B) Less than 2.0 pu
(C) More than 3.5 pu
(D) 2.2 to 3.0 pu

Ans: D
21. The volt ampere characteristics of nonlinear resistor used in surge arrester
is given by
(A) V=K I2 (B) V=K In (C) V=K I-n (D) V=K1I+K2I-1

Answer: B
22. The equivalent circuit of a Surge arrester may be represented as
(A) Capacitor
(B) An inductor
(C) Non linear resistor
(D) Resistor
Answer : C
23. Indirect strokes near overhead transmission lines induce overvoltages due to
(A) Electrostatic induction
(B) Both electrostatic and electromagnetic induction
(C) Only electromagnetic induction
(D) Conduction currents through line conductors
Answer : B
24. The Maximum rate of rise of surge currents that occur in overhead lines is
(A) 2 to 3 kA/µs
(B) Less than 1kA/µs
(C) 5 to 10 kA/µs
(D) Greater than 10 kA/µs
Answer: A
25. The velocity of return or main stroke may be of the order of (C = velocity of
light)
(a) 0.01 C
(b) 0.001 C
(c) 0.1 C
(d) 0.8 C
26, The attenuation constant of a transmission line in terms all the parameters
R, L, G and C is

Answer: C
27. Velocity of leader strokes in lightning discharges is about
(a) 1.5x105cm/s (b) 1.5x106cm/s
(c) 1.5 x 107 m/s (d) 1.5 x 108 m/s
ANS: C
28. Leakage resistance of counterpoise wires should be
(a) less than Surge impedance (b) more than Surge impedance
(c) equal to than Surge impedance (d) none of the above
ANS:A
UNIT 2 – ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN

1. According to Townsend current growth process the current ( I) in a uniform

electric field gap is
(a) I0e− αd
(b) I0eαdααα(c) I0e γd
(d) I0e−γd
ANS : b

2. Electrical conduction in gases was first studied in 1905 by

(a) Loeb
(b) Maxwell
(c) Townsend
(d) Hertz
ANS : c

3. The breakdown criterion in a uniform field electrode gap is

(a) α−γd= 1

(b) α =
1 
(c) γeαd= 1
(d) γe−αd=1
ANS : c

4. An electronegative gas is one in which

(a) positive ions are formed along with electrons
(b) the gas has inherent negative charge
(c) gas is ionized due to electron bombardment
(d) the gases in which electron gets attached to form negative ion
ANS : D

5. SF6 is a
(a) neutral gas
(b) electronegative gas
(c) ionizes easily to form ions
(d) non-attaching gas
ANS : b

6. Time lag for breakdown is

(a) time difference between instant of applied voltage and occurrence of breakdown
(b) time taken for the voltage to rise before breakdown occurs
(c) time required for gas to breakdown under pulse application
(d) none of the above.
ANS : a
7. Paschen’s law states that
(a) breakdown voltage is a function of electric field
(b) breakdown voltage is a function of pd
(c) α and γ depends on E/p
(d) electronegative gases have high breakdown voltage.
ANS : b

8. The mechanism of breakdown in vacuum is due to

(a) particle exchange
(b) field emission
(c) clump formation
(d) all of the above
ANS : d

9. Maximum dielectric strength obtained with pure liquids is about

(a) 100 kV/mm
(b) 10 kV/mm
(c) 1 MV/mm
(d) 50 kV/mm
ANS : a

10. Conduction and breakdown in commercial liquids is affected by

(a) solid particles
(b) vapour or air bubbles
(c) electrode material
(d) all the above three factors a, b and c
ANS : d

11. In a pure liquid dielectric, with the increase in hydrostatic pressure, the
breakdown stress
(a) increases linearly up to some extent and does not change afterwards
(b) increases exponentially
(c) decreases
(d) none of the above
ANS : a

12. Aging in electrical insulating materials under an electrical field means

(a) gradual reduction in dielectric strength which may lead to breakdown
(b) decrease in insulation resistance of the materials
(c) progressive building up of disruptive discharges inside the material
(d) all the above
(e) none of the above
ANS : d
13. Electrochemical breakdown and deterioration of insulating material is due to
(a) temperature rise
(b) oxidation, hydrolysis or some other chemical action
(c) only due to hydrolysis and moisture effects
(d) none of the above
ANS : b

14. If Er is the radial field due to space charge and E0 the externally applied field,
the transformation of avalanche into a streamer takes place when

(a) Er < E0 (b) Er > E0

(c) Er ≈ E0 (d) (a) and (c) (e) (b) and (c)

ANS : c
15. Liquids with solid impurities
(a) have higher dielectric strength
(b) of large size have higher dielectric strength
(c) has lower dielectric strength as compared to pure liquids
(d) none of the above
ANS : c
16. To determine intrinsic dielectric strength, the time of application of voltage is
of the order of
(a) 10–8 sec (b) 10–6 sec (c) 10–4 sec (d) No such consideration
ANS : A

16. The electrical breakdown strength of insulating materials depends on

(A) nature of applied voltage
(B) imperfections in dielectric material
(C) pressure, temperature and humidity
(D) all of the above.
ANS : D

17. Electro-mechanical breakdown of solid insulating materials occurs due to

(A) magnetic bum (B) vibrations
(C) mechanical stresses produced by the electrical field
(D) electrical stresses produced by the voltage fluctuations.
ANS : C
18. Corona results in
(A) improvement in power factor
(B) increased capacitive reactance of transmission lines
(C) radio interference (D) better regulation.
ANS : C
19. Corona effect can be identified by
(A) bushy sparks (B) faint violet glow
(C) red light (D) arcing between conductors and earth.
ANS : B
20. The phenomenon of corona is generally accompanied by
(A) a bang
(B) a hissing sound
(C) magnetic hum
(D) all of the above.
ANS : B
21. Formative time lag depends on the mechanism of the avalanche growth in gap.
The formative time lag is usually
a. Much shorter than the statistical time lag
b. Much greater than the statistical time lag
c. Equal to the statistical time lag
d. None of these
ANS : A
22. For operating power frequency voltages, a surge arrester has to be a
a. Conductor b. Non-conductor
c. Semiconductor d. None of these
ANS : B
23. Liquids dielectrics are mainly used as
a. Impregnants in high voltage cables b. In capacitors
c. For filling up transformers d. All of these
ANS : D
24. A gas in normal state is almost a perfect
a. Conductor
b. Insulator
c. Semi-conductor
d. Dielectric
ANS : B

25. The spreading of spark channels during tracking, in the form of the branches of
a tree is called
a. Bunching
b. Treeing
c. sparking
d. none of these
ANS : B
26. What will the breakdown strength of air for large gaps 20 cm under uniform
field conditions and standard atmospheric conditions?
(a) 43.45 KV/cm
(b) 30.08 KV/cm
(c) 25.58 KV/ cm
(d) 24.52 KV / cm
ANS : C

27. A steady current of 600 μA flows through the plane electrode separated by a
distance of 0.5 cm when a voltage of 10 kV is applied. Determine the
Townsend’s first ionization coefficient if a current of 60 μA flows when the
distance of separation is reduced to 0.1 cm and the field is kept constant at the
previous value.
(a) 7.67 /cm.Torr
(b) 11.51 /cm.Torr
(c) 5.75 /cm.Torr
(d) 6.76 /cm.Torr
ANS : C

28. In an experiment in a certain gas it was found that the steady state current is
5.5 ×10−8A at 8 kV at a distance of 0.4 cm between the plane electrodes.
Keeping the field constant and reducing the distance to 0.2 cm results in a
current of 5.5 × 10−9A. Calculate Townsend’s primary ionization coefficient α.
(a) 7.676 /cm.Torr (C) 11.513 /cm.Torr
(b) 5.268 /cm.Torr (d) 6.762 /cm.Torr
ANS : C
29. What is the critical threshold distance for sustained discharge if
α = 2.43/cm and γ = 6.823 × 10−4.
(a) 1 cm.
(b) 3 cm
(c) 2 cm
(d) 4 cm
ANS : B
30. A solid specimen of dielectric has a dielectric constant of 4.2, and tan δ =
0.001 at a frequency of 50 Hz. If it is subjected to an alternating field of 50
kV/cm, calculate the heat generated in the specimen due to the dielectric loss.
(a) 0.186 mW/cm3
(b) 0.623 mW /cm3
(c) 0.291 mW/ cm3
(d) 0.291 µw/ cm3
ANS : C

31. A solid specimen of dielectric dielectric constant of 4.0, shown in the figure
has an internal void of thickness 1mm. The specimen is 1cm thick and is
subjected to a voltage of 80 kV(rms). If the void is filled with air and if the
breakdown strength of air can be taken as 30 kV(peak)/cm, find the voltage at
which an internal discharge can occur.
(a) 9.75 KV
(b) 3 KV
(c) 10 KV
(d) 11KV
ANS : A
UNIT -3 GENERATION OF HIGH VOLTAGES AND HIGH CURRENTS

1. In the half wave rectifier, charging current can be limited by using an additional
a. Resistance in series with the secondary of the transformer
b. Inductance in series with the primary of the transformer
c. Inductance in series with the primary of the transformer
d. Capacitance in series with the secondary of the transformer

2. Peak to peak ripple is defined as

(a) the difference between average dc voltage and peak value
(b) the difference between maximum and minimum dc voltage
(c) the difference between maximum ac and average dc voltages
(d) the difference between ac (rms) and average dc voltages

3. The voltage doubler circuit is suitable for the voltage up to

a. 2V b. 4V c. 6V d. 8V

4. Optimum number of stages for Cockcroft Walton voltage multiplier circuit are (if
Vmax= supply voltage, f= frequency, I = load current, C = stage capacitance)

Answer : D

5. A generating voltmeter is a
a. Variable capacitor electrostatic voltage generator
b. Constant capacitor electrostatic voltage generator
c. Variable inductor electrostatic voltage generator
d. Constant inductor electrostatic voltage generator

6. In Van de Graaff generators, the shape of high voltage electrode is nearly spherical to
avoid
a. High surface field gradients b. Corona c. Local discharges d. All of these

7. Capacitance Voltage Transformer can be connected to a

a. High impedance device b. Low impedance device
c. Relay coil d. Only (b) and (c)

8. In testing with a resonant transformer, the output voltage is

(a) rectangular wave (b) triangular wave (c) trapezoidal wave (d) pure sine wave

9. In a multistage impulse generator, for producing very high voltages, a bank of

capacitors is
a. Charged in parallel and then discharged in series
b. Charged in series and then discharged in parallel
c. Charged in parallel and then discharged in parallel only
d. Charged in series and then discharged in series only

10. Impulse current generator output wave-form is

(a) damped oscillatory wave
(b) overdamped wave
(c) critically damped wave
(d) can be damped waved or damped oscillatory wave
11. To minimise the inductance in impulse current generator circuits
(a) capacitor are connected in parallel
(b) capacitors are subdivided into smaller units
(c) air core inductors are used in series
(d) discharge path is made into a rectangular path

12. A oscillatory impulse waveform is represented by

(a) e-at cos bt (b) e+at cos bt (c) e-at-e-bt (d) eat-ebt

13. The energy rating of different resistors in impulse generators of medium and large size
is
(a) less than 1 kJ (b) 10 to 20 kJ (c) 1 to 2 kJ (d) 2 to 5 kJ

14. Impulse generators needed to test gas-insulated systems are required to produce
impulse voltages waves of
(a) 0.1/1 or 0.3/3 μ second
(b) 1/10 and 1/50 μ second
(c) (c) 1.2/50 and 25/250 μ second
(d) 4/20 and 8/20 μ second

15. In a series RLC circuit, the wave front and wave tail times are controlled by changing
the value
a. R only b. R and L simultaneously
c. R and C simultaneously d. L and C simultaneously

16. A trigetron gap is used with

(a) cascade transformer units (b) impulse current generator
(c) impulse voltage generator (d) dc voltage double units

17. A Van de Graaff generator has a belt speed of 2.5 m/s, charge density of 10 μc/m2 and
a belt width 2 m. The maximum charging current is
(a) 50 μA (b) 5 μA (c) 2 μA(d) 12.5 μA

18. An impulse voltage generator has a generator capacitance of 0.01 μF, load capacitance
of 1 nF, front resistance of R1 = 110 Ω and tail resistance of R2 = 400 Ω. The tail time
is

(a) 40 μs (b) 55 μs (c) 50 μs (d) 10 μs

19. A 16-stage impulse voltage generator has stage capacitance of 0.125 μF and a charging
voltage of 200 kV. The energy rating in kJ is

(a) 40 (b) 50 (c) 80 (d) 640

20. For an optimally damped R-C divider, the damping resistance R1 connected in hv arm
is equal to (L = high voltage lead inductance, and Cg = equivalent ground capacitance)

Answer : A
21. An R-C voltage divider has hv an arm capacitance, C1 = 600 pF, resistance = 400 Ω
and equivalent ground capacitance Cg = 240 pF. The effective time constant of the
divider in nanoseconds is

(a) 108 (b) 90 (c) 69 (d) 32.

22. Cock –craft Walton type voltage multiplier circuit has eight stages with capacitances
all equal to 0.05 µF. the supply transformer secondary voltage is 125KV at a frequency
of 150 Hz and load current is 5 mA. Find the optimum number of stages for
minimum voltage regulation.
(a) 8 (b) 14 (c) 12 (d) 16

23. A 12 stage impulse voltage generator has a generator capacitance of 0.126 μF, load
capacitance of 1000 pF, front resistance of R1 = 800 Ω and tail resistance of R2 = 5000
Ω. The front time is
(a) 4.3 μs (b) 3.5 μs (c) 5.1 μs (d) 2.2 μs

24. A peak reading voltmeter is required to measure voltage upto 150 kV. The peak
voltmeter uses an RC circuit, a microammeter and a capacitance potential divider.
The potential divider has a ratio of 1200 : 1 and the micrometer can read upto 10 μA.
Determine the value of R and C if the time constant of RC circuit is 8 secs.
(a) R= 1.2 MΩ ; C=0.01 μF (b) R= 12.0 MΩ ; C=0.1 μF
(c) R= 12.5 MΩ ; C=0.64 μF (d) R= 0.120 MΩ ; C=0.64 μF

25. Calculate the correction factors for atmospheric conditions, if the laboratory
temperature is 37°C, the atmospheric pressure is 750 mmHg, and the wet bulb
temperature is 27°C.
(a) 0.8152 (b) 0.7863 (c) 0.9327 (d) 1.2365

26. A 16-stage impulse voltage generator has stage capacitance of 0.125 μF and
a charging voltage of 200 kV. The energy rating in kJ is
(a) 40
(b) 50
(c) 80
(d) 640
ANS : A

27. With in the limits of regulation and ripple, the maximum voltage and
current rating to which a ‘dc’ voltage multiplier can be built in
(a) 1 MV, 10 ma
(b) 2 MV, 20 ma
(c) 1 MV, 100 ma
(d) no limitation
ANS : B
28. The energy rating of different resistors in impulse generators of
medium and large size is
(a) less than 1 kJ
(b) 10 to 20 kJ
(c) 1 to 2 kJ
(d) 2 to 5 kJ
ANS : D
29. An 8-stage impulse generator has 1.2 μF capacitors rated for 167 kV. If it
has to produce a 1/50 μs waveform across a load capacitor of 15,000 pF,
find the values if the wave front and wave tail resistances.
(a)R1 = 24.4 ohms, R2 = 409.6 ohms
(b)R1 = 24.4 ohms, R2 = 502.8 ohms
(c) R1 = 32.6ohms, R2 = 409.6 ohms
(d)R1 = 32.6 ohms, R2 = 502.8 ohms
ANS : A

30. A cockcroft Walton type voltage multiplier has an 10 stages with

capacitances all equal to 0.16 µF. The supply transformer secondary voltage is
110KV at afrequency of 150 Hz. If the load current to be supplied is 10mA,
determine the optimum number of stages for minimum regulation

(a) 8 (b) 10 © 12 (d)16

ANS : D
UNIT – 4 – MEASUREMENTS OF HIGH VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS
1. Series capacitance voltmeters were used with cascade transformers for measuring rms
values up to
a. 100 kV b. 500 kV c. 800 kV d. 1000 KV

2. Which of the following technique/method is-used for the measurements of ac high

frequency voltages ?
(a) Peak voltmeter (b) Series resistance micro ammeter
(c) Resistance potential divider (d) Any of the above.
3. Which of the following method or technique can be used for the measurement of high dc
voltages ?
(a) Generating voltmeter (b) Electrostatic voltmeter
(c) Peak voltmeter (d) Any of the above.

4. CVT when tuned does not have

(a) ratio error (b) phase angle error

(c) both ratio and phase angle errors (d) temperature error

5. Electrostatic voltmeters can measure

(a) only dc voltage (b) both dc and ac voltages up to high frequency
(c) impulse voltages (d) ac, dc and impulse voltages

6. For an RC divider to be compensated, the condition is

(a) R1C1=R2C2 (b) R1C2=R2C1
(c) R1C1 = R2 Cg (d) (R1+R2)(C1 + C2)μs.
7. All of the following methods/techniques can be used for the measurement of high ac
voltages EXCEPT
(a) Potential dividers (b) Potential transformers
(c) Electrostatic voltmeters (d) Half effect generators.
8. In sphere gaps, the sphere are made of
(a) aluminium (b) brass (c) bronze (d) any of the above.

9. Sphere-gap measurement of peak voltage has an error of

(a) <±1% (b) 5 to 10% (c) 3 to 5% (d) <3%

10. Shunts used for measuring impulse currents, in the range 10 kA-50 kA will have a
resistance of the order of

(a) 10 to 25mΩ (b) 0.1 to 1 mΩ (c) 100 to 500 mΩ (d) 0.1 to 1.0Ω.

11. The type of measuring device preferred for measurement of impulse currents of short
duration is
(a) Park’s tubular shunt (b) current transformer
(c) Hall generator (d) Faraday ammeter.
12. Secondary arm of a resistance impulse voltage divider consists of
(a) a few resistors connected in series
(b) a few resistors connected in parallel
(c) a single wire wound resistor of very high power rating
(d) a linear resistor in parallel with a non-linear resistor of high power rating

13. Using uniform field spark gap, the breakdown voltage for 10 mm gap length is
(a) 34.25 kV (b) 30.30 kV (c) 36.25 kV (d) 32.73 kV

14. A generating voltmeter is required to measure voltage of15 kV. If the indicating meter
reads a minimum current of 2 μA , determine the capacitance of the generating voltmeter.
Assume that the speed of driving synchronous motor is 1500 rpm.
(a) 1.5 pF (b) 0.15 µF (c) 10nF (d) 1.2 µF

15. A tesla coil has a primary winding rated for 10 kv with 2µF capacitance on the primary side
and 1nF of capacitance on the secondary side. If the energy efficiency is 5%. Calculate the
output voltage.
(a)30KV (b) 50KV (c) 100KV (d) 1000KV

16. The main factors that affect the sparkover voltage of sphere gap are
(a) humidity and waveform
(b) nearby earthed objects and atmospheric conditions
(c) diameter of the sphere
(d) gap spacing, diameter and waveform
ANS : B
17. Rogowski coils and high frequency current transformers have bandwidth of
about
(a) 100 KHz
(b) 10 MHz
(c) 1.0 MHz
(d) 1100 Hz
ANS : B
18. A tesla coil has a primary winding rated for 20 KV with 4 µF capacitance on
primary side and 2nF on secondary side . If the energy efficiency is 8% then
determine output voltage.
(a) 110 KV
(b) 200KV
(c) 253KV
(d) 324KV
ANS : C

19. An R-C voltage divider has hv an arm capacitance, C1 = 600 pF, resistance = 400 Ω
and equivalent ground capacitance Cg = 240 pF. The effective time constant of the
divider in nanoseconds is

(a) 108
(b) 90
(c) 69
(d) 32.
20. A generating voltmeter has to he designed so that it can have a range
from 20 kV dc If the indicating meter reads a minimum current of
2μα , what should the capacitance of the generating voltmeter be?
(a) 0.1 nF
(b)0.9nF
(c) 0.01 mF
(d)0.09nF
21. A resistance divider of 1400 kV (impulse) has a high-voltage arm of 16
kilo-ohms and a low-voltage arm consisting 16 members of 250 ohms, 2
watt resistors in parallel. The divider is connected to a CRO through a
cable of surge impedance 75 ohms and is terminated at the other end
through a 75 ohm resistor. Calculate the exact divider ratio.
(a)1238.3
(b)1365.2
(c)1186.8
(d)1200.6
22. A generating voltmeter is to read 250 kV with an indicating meter having
a range of (0-20) μA calibrated accordingly. Calculate the capacitance of
the generating voltmeter when the driving motor rotates at a constant
speed of 1500 r.p.m.
(a) 0.72 pF
(b) 0.12pF
(c) .72nF
(d) 0.12nF

23. A bifilar strip shunt has a resistance of 100 mΩ and inductance of 0.1 μH
with a parallel capacitance of 5 pF across its terminal. What will be its
step response. Determine the rise time of the shunt.
(a) 0.01 ns
(b) 0.02 ns
(c) 0.01ms
(d) 0.02ms

24. To measure a high-voltage of peak value abut 150 kV, the suitable sphere
gap would be (diameter in cm)
(a) 5 or 10 (b) 10 or 15
(c) 15 or 25 (d) 50 or 100
25. In C- tan δ test, a steep increase in tan δ, when the applied voltage
increases from 100% to 110% indicates.
(a) insulation is failing
(b) presence of an internal discharge
(c) increase in relative permittivity
(d) decrease in insulation resistance
UNIT – 5- TESTING AND INSULATION COORDINAYION
1. Fifty per cent flashover voltage is defined as
(a) the voltage at which the flashover probability is 0.5
(b) the voltage at which corona discharge appears before flashover
(c) the voltage at which the flashover occurs alternately when applied
several times
(d) the average value of withstand voltage and flashover voltage.
ANS:A

2. Most important tests conducted on isolators and circuit breakers are

(a) voltage withstand tests
(b) short circuit tests
(c) high current tests
(d) temperature rise tests.
ANS:B
3. Fault location in an HV cable is done by
(a) voltage withstand test
(b) partial discharge scanning tests
(c) life tests
(d) impulse testing
ANS:B

4. In impulse testing of transformers fault location is usually done by

(a) neutral current oscillogram
(b) chopped wave oscillogram
(c) observing for noise or smoke
(d) scanning method
ANS:A

5. The most important test to assert the proper functions of a surge diverter is
(a) 100% impulse withstand test
(b) front of wave spark over and residual voltage tests
(c) impulse current test
(d) pollution tests
ANS:B

6. The salt-fog test done on insulators is

(a) impulse test
(b) power frequency pollution test
(c) impulse current test
(d) switching surge test
ANS:B
7. C- tan δ test on electric bushings is done using
(a) impulse generator
(b) high voltage Schering bridge
(c) power frequency cascade transformer unit
(d) resonant transformer
ANS:B

8. Impulse testing of transformers indicates

(a) winding to ground insulation strength
(b) winding to winding insulation strength
(c) dielectric strength, quantity of insulation and processing
(d) induced voltages in other windings during transients
ANS:C

9. A high-voltage dielectric test done on HVDC valves is

(a) dc corona test
(b) synthetic test
(c) fast transient or steep fronted impulse test
(d) back-to-back test

10. A better method to detect fault during impulse testing is to

(a) observe the windings after tests
(b) record more number of test oscillograms of currents and voltages
(c) use digital recording of waveforms
(d) analyse the waveforms using waveform analysis techniques such as
transfer function techniques

11. Proper insulation coordination is ensured by

(a) Volt- Time characteristics
(b) Static characteristics
(c) Dynamic characteristics
(d) None of the above
12. The uses of induced over voltage test in transformer is
(a) Reduced core saturation
(b) Limit charging current
(c) Check insulation strength
(d) All the above
13. Which one is used in the the testing of bushings
(a) Partial discharge tests
(b) Poer frequency test
(c) Impulse voltage test
(d) Thermal test
14. Basic impulse level (BIL) of a power system is define as
(A) The minimum insulation impulse withstand voltage of any power equipment or
apparatus
(B) The maximum power frequency withstand voltage of any power equipment for
apprentice
(C) The minimum power frequency withstand voltage of any apparatus or power
equipment
(D) The peak value of highest system voltages
Answer : A
15. The BIL of a power system is usually chosen as
(A) 25% to 30% more than the protective level offered by the protective devices
(surge arresters etc.)
(B) 50% more than the protective level offered by the protective devices (surge
arresters etc.)
(C) 5% to 10% more than the protective level offered by the protective devices
(surge arresters etc.)
(D) Highest lightning Surge voltage expected.
Answer : A
16. In EHV and UHV system, the type of Surge divider used for overvoltage
protection is
(A) Valve type Si C arrester (B) Gap less Zno arrester
(C) Gap less Si C arrester (D) Rod gap
Answer:B
17. The duration of switching surges in GIS is
(A) Milliseconds (B) Microseconds
(C) Few nanoseconds and less than a microseconds
(D) Few tens of microseconds
Answer : C
18. In EHV and UHV system, ratio of BIL to SIL will be usually
(A) Less than unity (B) More than 1.5
(C) 1.5 to 2.0 (D) 1.2 to 1.5
Answer: D
19. The Purpose of insulation coordination is to
(A) Limit the overvoltages
(B) To protect the electrical apparatus against overvoltages
(C) To grade the insulation of different power apparatus and overhead lines such that
the list important and easily replaceable apparatus flashes or fails first and the most
important one is protected to the highest level.
(D) None the above
Answer : C
20. Standard atmospheric condition as per Indian Standard Specifications are
(a) temp = 27°C, pressure = 1013 millibans and humidity = 17 gms/m3
(b) temp = 20°C, pressure = 1013 millibans and humidity = 11 gms/m3
(c) temp = 27°C, pressure = 1013 millibans and humidity = 11 gms/m3
(d) temp = 27°C, pressure = 1000 millibans and humidity = 17 gms/m3.

21. In wet flashover tests, the conductivity of water used is

(a) 10 ±1.5 μ Siemens
(b) 100 ±15 μ Siemens at ambient temperature
(c) 45 ±10 μ Siemens at room temperature
(d) < 1.0 μ Siemens at 27°C.

22. Most important tests conducted on isolators and circuit breakers are
(a) voltage withstand tests
(b) short circuit tests
(c) high current tests
(d) temperature rise tests.

23. The salt-fog test done on insulators is

(a) impulse test
(b) power frequency pollution test
(c) impulse current test
(d) switching surge test

24. A high-voltage dielectric test done on HVDC valves is

(a) dc corona test
(b) synthetic test
(c) fast transient or steep fronted impulse test
(d) back-to-back test

25. RIV tests on transmission line hard ware is done to

(a) determine the induced noise due to corona
(b) interfering electric field in the neighborhood of power lines.
(c) high frequency signals induced in power lines
(d) determine or measure noise generated in radio frequency range due to
corona or partial discharges