M. Tech. Electrical Engineering / Investigates the reasons behind the poor performance of distance relays on series compensated lines. In order to achieve this objective, a case study will be established in a power system software (DigSilent Power Factory). Furthermore, a practical incident that occurred on Eskom's compensated network will be examined. However, prior to investigating the performance of the distance relay on transmission lines, there are some other critical aspects that have to be thoroughly understood. These aspects include amongst others: transmission line modelling ; numeric relay algorithms ; distance protection philosophies ; series compensation phenomena ; analysis of distance relays performance on both compensated and uncompensated lines and the action and influence of the MOV. The study will provide a better understanding regarding the dynamic behaviour of the impedance protection relay under fault conditions on series compensated lines and the behaviour of the MOV during a fault.

In order to sustain transmission grid availability and reliability it is imperative that the condition of vital and costly high voltage equipment is ascertained on a continuous or regular basis. It is necessary to establish the effective diagnostic tools or surveillance devices that can be used to assess equipment condition. Emphasis has been placed on refining well-established and more novel but developing condition assessment techniques. It is important to note that condition assessment of equipment also allows the opportunity to predict failure. Based on a complete and systematic assessment, the failure of defective equipment may be evident or predicted in time, thus preventing a forced outage and loss of valuable 'system minutes'. It has also become necessary to extend the life of existing equipment since most of them are reaching the end of their useful life. Replacement strategies have proven to be ineffective due to financial and resource constraints experienced by utilities. Life extension is the work required to keep equipment operating economically beyond its anticipated life, with optimum availability, efficiency and safety. One of its principal components is condition assessment, with the possibility of predicting remnant life. As a result, refurbishment projects are then raised. Refurbishment by replacement, uprating, modifications or change of design of certain key components to extend the life usually requires a substantial amount of capital to be invested. These projects must be economically justified. This thesis focuses on establishing condition assessment techniques for major power equipment such as power transformers. Assessment techniques for instrument transformers and circuit breakers are included, since these are commonly replaced or modified under refurbishment projects. An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the effectiveness of integrating data of two diagnostic techniques i.e. dissolved gas analysis (on-line) and acoustic detection of partial discharges. It was found that there is a correlation between data obtained from an acoustic detection system and an on-line single gas (Hydrogen) analyser. By integrating the data of both on-line monitoring systems, the diagnostic process is further enhanced. In addition, the location of a fixed discharge source was verified by using an acoustic detection system. Further, the sensitivity of the acoustic technique to partial discharge inception voltage, relative to the established electrical detection technique was determined for the experimental arrangement used. The results obtained indicated that this is an effective technique for the evaluation of activity within a transformer structure. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

The objective of the proposed research is to quantify the limits of overstressed and aging circuit breakers in terms of probability of failure and to provide guidelines to determine network reconfigurations, generator commitment, and economic dispatch strategies that account for these limits. The proposed temporary power system operating strategies address circuit breaker adequacy issues and allow overstressed breakers to be operated longer and more reliably until they are replaced with adequate equipment. The expansion of electric networks with new power sources (nuclear plants, distributed generation) results in increased short-circuit or fault currents levels. As fault currents increase, they will eventually exceed circuit breaker ratings. Circuit breakers exposed to fault currents in excess of their ratings are said to be overstressed, underrated, or inadequate. Insufficient ratings expose overstressed breakers to increased failure probabilities. Extensive common-mode outages caused by circuit breaker failures reduce the reliability of power systems. To durably avoid outages and system unreliability, overstressed breakers must eventually be replaced. Large-scale replacements of overstressed breakers cannot be completed in a short time because of budgetary limits, capital improvement schedules, and manufacturer-imposed constraints. Meanwhile, to preserve the ability of old and overstressed breakers to safely interrupt faults, short-circuit currents must be kept within the limits imposed by the ratings and the age of these breakers by using the substation reconfiguration and generator commitment strategies described in this study. The immediate benefit of the above-mentioned operating strategies is a reduction of the failure probability of overstressed breakers obtained by avoiding the interruption of currents in excess of breaker ratings. Other benefits include (i) increased network reliability, (ii) restored operating margins with respect to existing equipment, and (iii) prioritized equipment upgrades that enhance the long-term planning of power systems.

Os inversores multiníveis podem se beneficiar de filtros de saída reduzidos devido ao menor conteúdo harmônico do sinal sintetizado, dado que suas saídas possuem menores diferenças de tensão durante seu chaveamento. Sua desvantagem é causada pelo elevado número de chaves controladas normalmente necessário para seu funcionamento, e seus circuitos auxiliares. No objetivo de reduzir o número de chaves utilizadas em um inversor de sete níveis, uma nova topologia para um inversor de sete níveis de tensão é apresentada, construída a partir de duas fontes de tensão assimétricas conectadas em série e seis chaves semicondutoras. Este trabalho analisa os princípios de operação desta topologia e a lógica de chaveamento necessária para seu funcionamento. O arranjo proposto não oferece a possibilidade de redução de tensão sobre as chaves, conforme apresentado nas topologias clássicas de inversores com ponto neutro grampeado a diodo ou capacitor e de células em série, mas reduz a quantidade dos componentes necessários para a composição dos sete níveis, sendo possível utilizá-lo em inversores de baixa tensão, devido à seu menor tamanho e complexidade. O estudo apresenta a estrutura resultante em forma de um inversor monofásico por modulação de largura de pulso com disposição das portadoras em oposição de fase, com sete níveis igualmente espaçados, utilizando apenas seis chaves e duas fontes de tensão com alimentação assimétrica, em que a principal fonte tem o dobro da tensão da outra fonte. O funcionamento da topologia é verificado em simulação e implementação de protótipo de 860W. Uma outra versão também é apresentada analiticamente, com melhor grampeamento da tensão, utilizando oito chaves comandadas com uma lógica mais simplificada. Por fim, algumas propostas são sugeridas para a geração dos dois barramentos de tensão necessários. / Multilevel inverters can benefit from reduced output filters due to the lower harmonic content of the synthesized signal, since their outputs have lower voltage differences during their switching. Its disadvantage is caused by the high number of controlled switches and its auxiliary circuits normally required for its operation. In order to reduce the number of switches used in a seven-level inverter, a new topology for a seven level and its auxiliary circuits inverter is presented, constructed from two asymmetrical voltage sources connected in series and six semiconductor switches. This work analyzes the principles of operation of this topology and the switching logic required for its operation. The proposed arrangement does not offer the possibility of voltage reduction on the switches, as presented in the classical inverters topologies with diode or capacitor clamping or the series connected cells, but it reduces the amount of components necessary for the composition of the seven levels, being possible to use it in low voltages inverters, due to its smaller size and complexity. The study presents the resulting structure in the form of a single-phase inverter, using the pulse-width modulation with phase-contrast carriers technique, with seven equally spaced levels, using only six switches and two voltage sources with asymmetrical voltages, in which the main source has double the voltage of the other. The operation of the topology is checked with simulation and an implementation of a 860W prototype. Another version is also presented analytically, with better voltage clamping, using eight keys controlled with a more simplified logic. Finally, some proposals are suggested for the generation of the two necessary voltage rails.