Power Quality

Training Courses

Overvoltages and Transients

LPQIVES is co-financed by:

LPQIVES is a programme of:

LPQI is part of:

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 Module 4

Overvoltages and Transients

1 INTRODUCTION
The aim of this module is to provide the user a detailed overview of the overvoltages and transients
related problems, by supplying a guidance for insulation coordination and design, for the selection
of the electric strength of equipments, of surge arresters or portective spark gaps, and for
structures protection installations.

1.1 General aims

This module’s general aim is to provide the attendants the basic knowledge about overvoltages
and transients related issues, and some tools for the choice and design of the protecting measures
for devices and structures.
The aim is achieved through 8 didactic sections, as follows:
− Section 1: Overvoltages and transients ;
− Section 2: Insulation coordination, definitions, principles and rules;
− Section 3: Standard withstand voltage tests;
− Section 4: Protective devices;
− Section 5: LV, MV and HV surge arresters;
− Section 6: Risk assessment for the choice of protecting measures against the effects of
lightning
− Section 7: Protection of structures against lightning
− Section 8: Maintenance and inspection of LPS

1.2 Target groups

This module’s target group includes: designers, experts, installers, others, users, utility, and all
those who wish to expand their knowledge in Overvoltages and transients issues.

2 SPECIFIC AIMS AND TOPICS

The pathway of learning consists of a 2 days course, subdivided in sections (with different
duration), with these contents and related aims.

1st day
Contents Introduction to overvoltages and transients, concept of insulation coordination,
withstand voltage tests and protective devices.
Aims The aim of the first day lessons is to introduce the basic knowledge related to
overvoltages and transients (definitions, origin, standards, related problems), and
the key concept of insulation coordination and protection.
2nd day
Contents Risk assessment for the choice of protecting measures, protection of structures
against lightning (design of protective installations (LPS)), maintenance and
inspections of LPS.
Aims The second day lessons aim is to provide the attendants some practical
informations and tools on the risk assessment and the choice of protecting
measures. The last section of the course will be dedicated to the key problem of
installations inspection and maintenance.

Below there’s a detailed overview of the course contents.

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2.1 Pathway of learning flow chart

Tim e p rog re ssio n K n o w le dg e

S e ction L esson
(h ou rs) le ve l

E xisting kn ow led g e Lesso n an d discu ssion

re qu ire m e n ts

1
L esson and pra ctica l train ing
1

O ve rvo lta ge s
an d tran sie nts
ba sics

2 2
In su la tio n
c oo rdin ation
a sp ects

3 3
W ith sta nd vo lta ge
te sts b a sics

5 5
P ro tec tiv e de vic es
c ha ra cteristics

6 ,5 6
P ro te ction ch oice
too ls

9 8
S truc tu res pro tec tio n
de sign as pe cts

En d o f th e
10 co urse

3 COURSE DETAILED PROGRAM

General notes:
− each day there will be one coffee break (30 mins) which will divide the lesson in two parts no
longer than 2,5 hours;
− at the beginning of the course the lecturer will explain course aims and at the end he will verify
their fulfilment through a knowledge test;
− the course will be divided in theoretical and practical sections;
− at the end of the lessons, a user satisfaction survey will help the lecturer in monitoring the course
quality.

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First day:

30 mins Participants registration and course introduction

60 mins Section 1: Overvoltages and transients

− Definitions (power frequency voltages, temporary voltages, switching and
lightning voltages)
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 2: Insulation coordination, definitions, principles and rules

− Definitions (insulation coordination, self restoring insulation, non self restoring
insulation, classification of voltages and overvoltages, standard voltage
shapes, insulation level)
− Procedures for insulation coordination (general outline of the procedure,
determination of the representative overvoltages, determination of the
coordination withstand voltages, determination of the required withstand
voltages, selection of the rated insulation levels, list of standard short duration
power frequency withstand voltages, list of standard impulse withstand
voltages, ranges for highest voltage for equipment, selection of the standard
insulation levels)
Modality: Lesson

30 mins Coffe break

30 mins Section 3: Standard withstand voltage tests

− General requirements, standard short duration power frequency withstand
voltage tests, standard impulse withstand voltage tests
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 4: Protective devices (Basics, non linear resistor-type surge arresters,
expulsion-type surge arresters, spark gaps, application of different protective
devices)
− Types (technologies), reference standards, rated values, protection levels
Modality: Lesson and discussion

60 mins Section 5: LV, MV and HV surge arresters

− Protection principles, components, implementations of components, products
standards, examples.
Modality: Lesson and discussion

Second day

90 mins Section 6: Risk assessment for the choice of protecting measures against the
effects of lightning
− Introduction, the risk of damage due to lightning, frequency of lightning,
damage probability, frequency of damage, average possible losses,
procedures for risk assessment.
Modality: Lesson and practical training

60 mins Section 7: Protection of structures against lightning

− Design of the LPS, external lightning protection installation (LPI), air
termination systems, down-conductor systems, earth termination systems,
camping and joints, material and dimensions.
Modality: Lesson and practical training
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30 mins Coffe break

60 mins Section 8: Maintenance and inspection of LPS

− Scope of inspections, order of inspections, maintenance
Modality: Lesson and practical training

60 mins Final discussion; end of the course; user’s questionnaire; knowledge test;
Confirmations of attendance

4 TEACHING METHODS
Teaching methods are summarized in three main moments:
− knowledge transfer (Lesson)
topics exposure by the lecturer with the help of slides and eventually other electronic tools
(animations, data sheets, didactic movies…);
− deepening/learning verification (Discussion)
general discussion stimulated by the lecturer (also during the lesson) to verify knowledge
transfer and to eventually deepen particular topics;
− practical training (and eventually laboratory activities)
group work (~ 6 persons/group) for topics deepening, practical problems solution and case
studies overview under the supervision of the lecturer.

During all the sections, the lecturer will always attend, with teaching and/or activity coordination
duty.

5 DIDACTIC MATERIAL AND TOOLS

The didactic tools which will be used by the lecturers will be:
− Blackboard
− Video-projector
− Notebook
− Microphone

The lecture room will be suitable to allow the use of all the above listed didactic tools and to enable
group work for the addendants.

Each user will receive, during the registration, a folder containing:

− course program;
− lecture notes containing all or part of the lecture slides.

Some additional electronic tools will be available also in electronic format at: http://www.leonardo-
energy.org/drupal/ .

The folder will also include a user satisfaction questionnaire and a knowledge test (which will be
both filled and submitted at the end of the course).

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6 EXISTING KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
The user’s existing knowledge should include:

Level
Topic
Basic Medium High
Mathematical analysis •
Statistic •
Electrical circuits •
Power systems •
Power quality •

7 ACQUIRED COURSE KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

At the end of this course the user will have learned the basic aspects related to overvoltages and
transients (definitions, origin, standards, related problems), and the key concept of insulation
coordination and protection along with some practical informations and tools on the risk
assessment and the choice of protecting measures.

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