Support for standardisation of high voltage testing with composite and combined wave shapes

As part of the production of equipment for high voltage electricity grids, high voltage tests are performed to verify that the equipment can withstand the operational voltage stresses. Such ‘withstand tests’ are performed using combined and composite waves, where lightning impulse (LI) or switching impulse (SI) waves are superimposed on AC or DC. Both the technical understanding of the generation and measurement of such high voltage wave forms and the regulations in international standards are not sufficient for the current requirements. Therefore, a European metrology project with industrial partners, universities and seven European metrology institutes (NMI) is started in 2020. In three technical work packages the metrological and standardisation need will be issued. First, the relationship between impulse voltages with AC or DC measurement, and related detrimental effects due to combining wave shape tests will be reliably determined. New measurement instruments, low voltage generators and measurement evaluation software will be created. Traceable high voltage measurement systems and calibration services for composite and combined wave shapes, with a target amplitude uncertainty of less than 2 % will be developed at the NMIs. The capabilities of these NMIs will be confirmed with aid of a high voltage comparison campaign at PTB. The uncertainty of existing voltage dividers and measuring systems used in tests with composite and combined wave shapes will be accurately determined. Finally, the research results will be forwarded to the ongoing revision of the IEC 60060 series.