Electronic & electrical engineeringHigh Voltage Technologies & Electrical Plant Diagnostics

This group is engaged in fundamental and applied research covering electrical plant, high voltage (HV) materials and components, pulsed power technologies, discharges in gases and fluids, non-thermal plasma for environmental and bio-medical applications.

The group has a strong track record of pioneering research into many practical applications of HV technology and has spun out four successful companies in recent years. The research, conducted within three main themes, covers a range of topics, including:

  • ultra-fast high energy switches for particle beam fusion experiments
  • measurement and location of partial discharges in electrical insulation
  • diagnosis of defects in HV equipment such as GIS, transformers and cables
  • inactivation of bacteria using electrical impulses, non-thermal plasma for environmental and bio-medical applications

Core areas of expertise

Electrical Plant & Diagnostics

Central to the research into advanced diagnostic techniques for electrical plant is the David Tedford High Voltage Technologies Laboratory. Equipment in this facility includes an EPSRC-funded 100 kV AC test set with digital partial discharge (PD) detection equipment, which underpins many on-going research projects.

Current areas of activity include:

  • PD monitoring in substations and power transformers
  • the application of ultra-high frequency (UHF) techniques to locate defects in power transformers
  • development of multiple-defect location techniques
  • investigation of electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques for powering autonomous wireless sensors

The team is also active in other areas relating to electrical plant, including fundamental research into PD detection and location in HV distribution cables, fault location in cable networks, EMC issues in substations and the performance of non-conventional lightning protection systems.

Pulsed power

The HVT group is internationally leading in its research into fundamental techniques for ultra-fast switching and high peak power devices as well as the development and implementation of new industrial applications of pulsed power technology. Research themes include:

  • studies into ultra-fast plasma closing switches
  • high repetition rate switching
  • high power ultrasound (HPU) generation technology
  • high frequency insulation co-ordination and diagnostics
  • pulsed modulator design and prototyping

Industrial applications of pulsed power have been developed with partners in the oil and gas industries to develop a plasma channel drilling technology. Pulsed power treatment of surfaces has also been developed and applications to the processing of industrial waste products are proving effective.

Based within pulsed power is the Robertson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilisation Technologies (ROLEST).  This is a world-class research facility established in collaboration with bioscientists and dedicated to the development of novel electrical technology to meet a variety of disinfection and sterilisation requirements. Staff in this, undertake leading-edge research into electrically based methods designed to achieve effective inactivation of microbial pathogens.

Electrical Materials

Insulating materials underpin many electrical technologies, where they must withstand high electrical stresses and often harsh environmental conditions. To avoid premature failure, reliability and longevity are key issues. Challenging operating regimes, such as high temperatures and non-standard AC waveforms in switched mode power supplies or converter stations, present new challenges for insulation science.

Studies into the physics of electrical materials and insulating gases are being carried out and measurement technologies for dielectric systems and insulation coordination have been developed. Studies of damage due to surface contamination have resulted in the development of pollution monitoring technology.

Facilities

Electronic & Electrical Engineering Lab

High Voltage Technologies (HVT) & Electrical Plant Diagnostics

This group has a number of unique state-of-the-art facilities. These include:

  • David Tedford High Voltage Technologies Laboratory (20 × 12 × 10 m)
  • Fully equipped interlocked test bays, high current and high voltage supplies and screened rooms with filtered power supplies
  • LDS-6 digital partial discharge (PD) test & measurement system
  • Marx impulse generators, GIS test rigs (including a 500 kV encapsulated transformer), vacuum test vessels and environmental chambers
  • Pulsed power components, systems and industrial applications of the technology
  • PD research capabilities (gaseous, liquid and solid insulation)
  • High frequency diagnostics (UHF PD detection and location)
  • UHF sensor design and calibration
  • PD detection and location in MV cable networks
  • Electromagnetic modelling, on-site testing and consultancy