Woldia University
Woldia Institute of Technology
School of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Power Systems-ECEg4132
Chapter-3
Power System Transients
4/4/2025 By: Gedef .Y Email:gedefyirgalem@[Link] 1
Outline
• Introduction
• Surge phenomenon
• Propagation of surges (Traveling waves)
• Reflection and Refraction of waves
• Attenuation of Traveling waves
• Determination of system voltage produced by traveling waves
• Generation of switching over-voltages on Transmission lines
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Introduction
• The transient is a pulse which is of very short duration but of very high
intensity.
• The time period when transient voltage and current occur is in the range of
micro-seconds to mill- seconds.
• Good examples of transients are:
I. Lightening occurring in the sky in the period of monsoon, which is nothing
but the heavy discharge of millions of volts and millions of amperes. This
wave travels along the length of three line at a certain velocity. This may
cause damage to the equipment's connected to the system.
II. Opening of the circuit breaker, ground fault on line or in equipment etc.
insulation of the equipment gets punctured due this high voltage.
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Surge Phenomenon
• Surges or transients, are overvoltage spikes or disturbances on a power
waveform that can damage, degrade, or destroy electronic equipment in home,
commercial building, industrial, or manufacturing facility.
• Transients can reach amplitudes of tens of thousands of volts.
• A power surge is a phenomenon that results when something causes a boost
in the overall electrical charge at some point in power lines.
• This event increases the electrical potential energy in the lines & causes
more power to be discharged from the wall socket and into appliances or a
load.
• A power surge is a fast yet short duration of electrical transients in current,
voltage or transferred energy that happens in an electrical circuit.
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Con’t…
• Typically a power surge is caused by an over supply of voltage either from
the power company or from various external sources.
• The most well-known cause of power surges is electrical storms.
• When lightning strikes near power lines, even if there is no direct contact,
the rapid ionization of the air and the amount of energy in the lightning are
enough to induce additional potential energy in the lines, causing a power
surge.
• The best way to prevent appliances from being damaged by power surges
caused by lightning is to unplug them during lightning storms.
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Voltage surge or Transient Voltage
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Con’t…
• A sudden increase in voltage that lasts for 3
nano-seconds or more is called a voltage
surge.
• They are harmful because they cause the
wires in your electronic equipment to
overheat.
• This can lead to breaks & cracks in the wires
to equipment failure.
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Con’t…
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Types of Power System Transients
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Causes of System Transients
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Con’t…
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A. Switching Surges
B. Arcing Ground
C. Resonance
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Con’t…
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NEXT…………….
Travelling Waves
4/4/2025 By: Gedef .Y 15
