Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation considers the wideband modelling of capacitive voltage sensors for open-air transmission line applications. Two novel topologies were introduced, namely a differential parallel plate sensor with a floating faraday cage for the interface instrumentation and a coaxial sensor mounted around the earth conductor with a faraday cage connected to the earth conductor. The modelling and analysis procedures included the derivation of equivalent circuit models in order to simulate the calibration factor, the loading effect of the interface instrumentation and the effect of leakage to ground, both in the time- and frequency domain. In order to obtain a flat frequency response from very low frequencies (less than 5 Hz) to very high frequencies (several MHz) it is important that the interface instrumentation have a high input impedance and galvanic isolation be maintained. This was achieved by developing interface instrumentation with a fibre-optic link operated from battery power. The instrumentation represents a fairly unique approach in that the data is digitised before transmission across the serial fibre-optical link, where-as conventional interfaces use analogue optical technology. Despite the added complexity and high power requirements introduced by the digitising process, the improved versatility is expected to yield a superior interface solution. The instrumentation has a bandwidth of approximately 6 MHz, with an optional anti-aliasing filter at 1 MHz. Special consideration should be given to the support structure as any unbalanced leakage to ground will introduce variations in the frequency response towards the low-frequency end. Leakage of a 100 MQ was found to influence the frequency response of the circuit up to frequencies of 1 kHz. Extensive simulation studies were conducted to obtain qualitative and quantitative insight into the differential sensor topology and the associated electric fields. The improvement of a differential plate sensor over the traditional single element plate sensor was demonstrated using twodimensional simulations. Further simulations with a three-dimensional package showed that the two-dimensional simulations are insufficient, because the boundary conditions and end effects have a great influence on the calibration factor of the sensor. Extensive laboratory tests were also undertaken to evaluate the sensor topology as well as the effects of the interface instrumentation and leakage to ground. Excellent correlation were found between the measured and simulated waveforms, both in the time- and frequency domains regarding the calibration factor as well as the added poles or zeros at low frequencies. It can therefore be deduced that a valid circuit model was suggested for these sensor topologies in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 1 MHz. Keywords: Capacitive sensors, Open-air voltage sensors / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling beskou die wyeband modellering van kapasitiewe spanningsensors vir opelug transmissie lyn toepassings. Twee oorspronklike topologieë is voorgestel, naamlik 'n differensiële parallel plaat sensor met 'n aparte faraday hok vir die koppelvlak instrumentasie en 'n koaksiale sensor wat rondom die aardgeleier monteer word met die faraday hok ook aan die aardgeleier gekoppel. Die modellerings en analise prosedures het ingesluit die afleiding van ekwivalente stroombaanmodelle vir simulasie van die kalibrasiefaktor asook die belasingseffek van die koppelvlak instrumentasie en lekweerstand na grond in beide die tyd- en frekwensie gebiede. Om 'n plat frekwensieweergawe te verkry vanaf baie lae frekwensies (laer as 5 Hz) tot by baie hoë frekwensies Cn paar MHz), is dit belangrik dat die koppelvlak instrumentasie 'n hoë intreeimpedansie het en galvaniese isolasie verseker word. Dit was bereik deur koppelvlak instrumentasie te ontwikkel met 'n optiese vesel koppeling wat met battery krag aangedryf word. Die instrumentasie verskaf 'n redelik unieke aanslag in die opsig dat die data gemonster word voordat dit oor die seriële optiese vesel skakel gestuur word, terwyl konvensionele koppelvlakke analoog optiese tegnologie gebruik. Ten spyte van die toegevoegde kompleksiteit en hoë drywingsvereistes van die versyferingsproses, het die instrumentasie se veelsydigheid toegeneem tot die mate dat dit as 'n beter koppelvlak oplossing beskou word. Die instrumentasie het 'n bandwydte van ongeveer 6 MHz, met 'n opsionele teen-vou filter by 1 MHz. Die ondersteuningstruktuur is van besondere belang aangesien enige ongebalanseerde lekweerstand na grond afwykings in die frekwensieweergawe sal veroorsaak aan die lae frekwensie kant. Lekweerstand van 100 MQ sal die frekwensieweergawe beïvloed tot by ongeveer 1 kHz. Uitgebreide simulasies is gedoen om kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe insig in die differensiële sensor topologie en die geassosieerde elektriese velde te verkry. Die verbetering van 'n differensiële parallel plaat sensor in vergelyking met die tradisionele enkel element plaat sensor is demonstreer met twee-dimensionele simulasies. Verdere simulasies met 'n drie-dimensionele pakket het gewys dat die twee- dimensionele simulasies onvoldoende is aangesien grensvoorwaardes en randeffekte 'n groot invloed het op die kalibrasiefaktor van die sensor. Uitgebreide laboratorium toetse is ook gedoen om die sensor topologie sowel as die effekte van die koppelvlak instrumentasie en lekweerstand na grond te evalueer. Uitstekende korrelasie is gevind tussen gemete en voorspelde golfvorms, in beide die tyd- en frekwensie gebied met betrekking tot die kalibrasie faktor sowel as die toegevoegde pole en zeros by lae frekwensies. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat 'n geldige stroombaanmodel voorgestel is vir die sensor topologieë vir die frekwensie bereik van 10Hz to 1 MHz. Sleutelwoorde: Kapasitiewe sensors, Ope-lug spanningsensors

published_or_final_version / Electrical Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering

A method for simulating the transient responses of networks containing lossless transmission lines and lumped parameter elements of circuits, both linear and nonlinear, has been developed and investigated. The method combines the technique of network analysis and that of modal decomposition of transmission lines. A prototype computer simulation program, called UANTL, based on the developed algorithm has been implemented. Several example networks have been simulated using this program. The results have been compared with those generated by the well known circuit simulator program called SPICE. UANTL has shown several advantages over SPICE in simulating the transient responses of networks containing transmission lines. A description of the prototype version of UANTL and a summary of the results of numerical experiments are included.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong. / Mimeographed.

Thesis--M. Sc.(Eng.), University of Hong Kong. / Mimeographed.

M. Tech. Electrical Engineering. / Explores classification and tracking algorithms for the purpose of automated power line overhead inspection.

published_or_final_version / Electrical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Wind loading considered in the design of overhead transmission lines is based on extreme values of synoptic wind, i.e. boundary layer wind originating from largescale meteorological pressure systems. Localized high intensity wind (HIW) storms such as tornadoes and downbursts are a different type of extreme wind frequently causing failures of overhead lines. This thesis covers the design aspects of overhead transmission lines when subject to localized HIW storms. A comprehensive review of the literature is included on the effects of such wind storms on lines and on mitigation measures. Furthermore, several options for the design of self-supporting transmission towers against localized HIW are discussed based on numerical simulations of several simple load cases on four examples of lattice structures.

Wet snow accumulating and shedding from overhead transmission lines can lead to a number of serviceability, safety and mechanical reliability issues. An innovative and inexpensive method to reproduce wet snow accretions on a cable in a controlled environment is explained. Wet snow sleeves were experimentally reproduced by using this technique to study their shedding mechanism. A numerical modeling technique using nonlinear finite element analysis is proposed to evaluate the dynamic response of an overhead cable subjected to any snow-shedding scenario. A time function is associated to the mass and weight of each snow element, which enables its virtual removal from the model at the time prescribed by the user. The response of a single span of overhead ground wire subjected to total and partial snow shedding scenarios is evaluated.

No description available.