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Hawkins Electrical Guide v. 08 (of 10) / Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A progressive course of study for engineers, electricians, students and those desiring to acquire a working knowledge of electricity and its applications cover

Hawkins Electrical Guide v. 08 (of 10) / Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A progressive course of study for engineers, electricians, students and those desiring to acquire a working knowledge of electricity and its applications

Chapter 2: CHAPTER LXIII WAVE FORM MEASUREMENT
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The manual presents a practical, question-and-answer style course for engineers and electricians, explaining hands-on methods for measuring electrical waveforms, including oscillographs and photographic and projection recording techniques, with instrument diagrams and operating details. It lays out switchboard designs and connection diagrams, and addresses alternating-current wiring factors such as mutual and self-induction, impedance, skin effect, corona, and conductor sizing, supported by tables and worked examples. It also discusses power-station classification, site and layout considerations, machinery and piping arrangements, and construction features. Throughout, technical explanations are paired with calculations, illustrative figures, and practical guidance for installation and testing.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Hawkins Electrical Guide v. 08 (of 10)

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Hawkins Electrical Guide v. 08 (of 10)

Author: N. Hawkins

Release date: September 28, 2015 [eBook #50068]
Most recently updated: October 22, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Marshall and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAWKINS ELECTRICAL GUIDE V. 08 (OF 10) ***

THE THOUGHT IS IN THE QUESTION THE INFORMATION IS IN THE ANSWER

HAWKINS ELECTRICAL GUIDE
NUMBER EIGHT


QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
&
ILLUSTRATIONS

A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF STUDY FOR ENGINEERS,
ELECTRICIANS, STUDENTS AND THOSE DESIRING TO
ACQUIRE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF

ELECTRICITY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

A PRACTICAL TREATISE
by
HAWKINS AND STAFF

THEO AUDEL & CO. 72 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK.

COPYRIGHTED, 1915,
BY
THEO. AUDEL & CO.,
New York.

Printed in the United States.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
GUIDE No. 8

WAVE FORM MEASUREMENT 1,839 to 1,868


Importance of wave form measurement—methods: step by step; constantly recording—classes of apparatus: wave indication; oscillographsstep by step methods—Joubert's; four part commutator; modified four part commutator; ballistic galvanometer; zero; Hospitalier ondograph—constantly recording methods: cathode ray; glow light; moving iron; moving coil; hot wire—oscillographs—moving coil type; construction and operation; production of the time scale; oscillograms—falling plate camera; its use.

 
SWITCHBOARDS 1,869 to 1,884


General principles: diagram—small plant a.c. switchboard—switchboard panels; generator panel; diagram of connections—simple method of determining bus bar capacity—feeder panel—diagrams of connection for two phase and three phase installations.
 
ALTERNATING CURRENT WIRING 1,885 to 1,914


Effects to be considered in making calculations—induction; self- and mutual; mutual induction, how caused—transpositions—inductance per mile of three phase circuit, table—capacity; table—frequency—skin effect; calculation; table—corona effect; its manifestation; critical voltage; spacing of wires—resistance of wires—impedance—power factor; apparent current; usual power factors encountered; example—wire calculations—sizes of wire—table of the property of copper wire—drop; example—current—example covering horse power, watts, apparent load, current, size of wire, drop, voltage at the alternator, and electrical horse power.

 
POWER STATIONS 1,915 to 1,988


Classification—central stations; types: a.c., d.c., and a.c. and d.c.; reciprocating engine vs. turbine—location of central stations; price of land; trouble after erection; water supply; service requiring direct current—size of plant; nature of load; peak load; load factor; machinery required; example; factors of evaporation; grate surface per horse power—general arrangement of station; belt drive with counter shaft; desirable features of belt drive; conditions, suitable for counter shaft drive; location of engine and boilers; the steam pipe; piping between engine and condenser; number and type of engine; superheated steam; switchboard location; individual belt drive; direct drive—station constructionfoundationswallsroofsfloorschimneys; cost of chimneys and mechanical draft; high chimneys ill advised—steam turbine; types: impulse and reaction; why high vacuum is necessary; the working pressure—hydro-electric plants—water turbines; types: impulse, reaction—isolated plantssub-stations; arrangement; three phase installations; reactance coils in sub-stations; portable sub-stations.

 
MANAGEMENT 1,989 to 2,114


The term "management"—selection; general considerations—selection of generators; efficiency of generators; size and number; regulation—installation; precautions; handling of armatures; assembling a machine; speed of generators; calculation of pulley sizes; gear wheels—belts; various belt drives; horse power transmitted by belts; velocity of belt; endless belts—switchboards; essential points of difference between single phase and three phase switchboard wiring; assembling a switchboard; usual equipment. Operation of Alternators—alternators in parallel; synchronizing; lamp methods; action of amortisseur winding; synchronizing three phase alternators; disadvantage of lamp method—cutting out alternator; precautions; hunting—alternators in series. Transformers; selection; efficiency; kind of oil used; detection of moisture; drying oil; regulation; transformers in parallel; polarity test—motor generators; various types and conditions requiring same—dynamotors; precautions—rotary converters; objections to single phase type; operation when driven by direct current, by alternating current; most troublesome part; efficiency; overload; starting; starting current. Electrical measuring instruments; location; readings; station voltmeters; points relating to ammeters; attention necessary; usual remedies to correct voltmeter—how to test generators; commercial efficiency; various tests. Station Testing: resistance measurement by "drop" method—methods of connecting ammeter voltmeter and wattmeter for measurement of power—motor testing: single phase motor—three phase motor, voltmeter and ammeter method; two wattmeter method; polyphase wattmeter method; one wattmeter method; one wattmeter and Y box method—three phase motor with neutral brought out; single wattmeter method—temperature test, three phase induction motor—three phase alternator testing: excitation or magnetization curve test—synchronous impedance test—load test—three phase alternator or synchronous motor temperature test—direct current motor or generator testing: magnetization curve—(shunt) external characteristic—direct current motor testing; load and speed tests—temperature test, "loading back" method—compound dynamo testing: external characteristic, adjustable load—transformer testing: external characteristic, adjustable load—transformer testing: core loss and leakage or exciting current test—copper loss—copper loss by wattmeter measurement and impedance—temperature—insulation—internal insulation—insulation resistance—polarity—winding or ratio tests.


CHAPTER LXIII
WAVE FORM MEASUREMENT

The great importance of the wave form in alternating current work is never denied, though it has sometimes been overlooked. The application of large gas engines to the driving of alternators operated in parallel requires an accurate knowledge of the wave form, and a close conformation to a sine wave if parallel operation is to be satisfactory. It is also important that the fluctuations in magnetism of the field poles should be known, especially if solid steel pole faces be used.

If an alternator armature winding be connected in delta, the presence of a third harmonic becomes objectionable, as it gives rise to circulating currents in the winding itself, which increase the heating and lowers the efficiency of the machine.

That the importance of having a good wave form is being realized, is proved by the increasing prevalence in alternator specifications of a clause specifying the maximum divergence allowable from a true sine wave. It is however perhaps not always realized that an alternator which gives a good pressure wave on no load may give a very bad one under certain loads, and the ability of the machine to maintain a good wave form under severe conditions of load is a better criterion of its good design than is the shape of its wave at no load.

The question of wave form is of special interest to the power station engineer. Upon it depends the answer to the questions: whether he may ground his neutral wires without getting large circulating currents; whether he may safely run any combination of his alternators in parallel; whether the constants of his distributing circuit are of an order liable to cause dangerous voltage surges due to resonance with the harmonics of his pressure wave; what stresses he is getting in his insulation due to voltage surges when switching on or off, etc. It has been shown by Rossler and Welding that the luminous efficiency of the alternating current arc may be 44 per cent. higher with a flat topped than with a peaked pressure wave, while on the other hand it is well known that transformers are more efficient on a peaked wave. Also the accuracy of many alternating current instruments depends upon the wave shape.

In making insulation breakdown tests on cables, insulators, or machinery, large errors may be introduced unless the wave form at the time of the test be known. It is not sufficient even to know that the testing alternator gives a close approximation to a sine wave at no load; since if the capacity current of the apparatus under test be moderately large compared with the full load current of the testing alternator, the charging current taken may be sufficient to distort the wave form considerably, thus giving wrong results to the disadvantage of either the manufacturer or purchaser.

The desirability of a complete knowledge of the manner in which the pressure and current varies during the cycle, has resulted in various methods and apparatus being devised for obtaining this knowledge. The apparatus in use for such purpose may be divided into two general classes,

  1. Wave indicators;
  2. Oscillographs.

and the methods employed with these two species of apparatus may be described respectively as,

  1. Step by step;
  2. Constantly recording.

that is to say, in the first instance, a number of instantaneous values are obtained at various points of the cycle, which are plotted and a curve traced through the several points thus obtained. A constantly recording method is one in which an infinite number of values are determined and recorded by the machine, thus giving a complete record of the cycle, leaving no portion of the wave to be filled in.

The various methods of determining the wave form may be further classified as:

  ❴ Joubert's method;
  ❴ Four part commutator method;
  ❴ Modified four part commutator method;
1. Step by step   ❴ Ballistic galvanometer method;
  ❴ Zero method;
  ❴ By Hospitalier ondograph.
    ❴ cathode ray;
  ❴ by use of various types   ❴ glow light;
2. constantly recording   ❴ of oscillograph, ❴ moving iron;
  ❴ such as ❴ moving coil;
    ❴ hot wire.
     

Joubert's Method.—The apparatus required for determining the wave form by this step by step method, consists of a galvanometer, condenser, two, two way switches, resistance and adjustable contact maker, as shown in fig. 2,589.

The contact maker is attached to the alternator shaft so that it will rotate synchronously with the latter. By means of the adjustable contact, the instant of "making" that is, of "closing" the testing circuit may be varied, and the angular position of the armature, at which the testing circuit is closed, determined from the scale, which is divided into degrees.

A resistance is placed in series with one of the alternator leads, such that the drop across it, gives sufficient pressure for testing.

Ques. Describe the method of making the test.

Ans. For current wave measurement switch No. 1 is placed on contact F, and for pressure wave measurement, on contact G, switch No. 2 is now turned to M and the drop across the resistance (assuming switch No. 1 to be turned to contact F) measured by charging the condenser, and then discharging it through the galvanometer by turning the switch to S. This is repeated for a number of positions of the contact maker, noting each time the galvanometer reading and position of the contact maker. By plotting the positions of contact maker as abscissæ, and the galvanometer readings as ordinates, the curve drawn through them will represent the wave form.

The apparatus is calibrated by passing a known constant current through the resistance.

Ballistic Galvanometer Method.—This method, which is due to Kubber, employs a contact breaker instead of a contact maker. The distinction between these two devices should be noted: A contact maker keeps the circuit closed during each revolution for a short interval only, whereas, a contact breaker keeps the circuit open for a short interval only.

Fig. 2,592, shows the necessary apparatus and connections for applying the ballistic galvanometer method. The contact breaker consists of a commutator having an ebonite or insulating segment and two brushes.

In operation the contact breaker keeps the circuit closed during all of each revolution, except the brief interval in which the brushes pass over the ebonite segment.

The contact breaker is adjustable and has a scale enabling its various positions of adjustment to be noted.

Ques. Describe the test.

Ans. The contact breaker is placed in successive positions and galvanometer readings taken, the switch being turned to F, fig. 2,592, in measuring the current wave, and to G in measuring the pressure wave. The results thus obtained are plotted giving respectively current and pressure waves.

Ques. How is the apparatus calibrated?

Ans. By sending a constant current of known value through the resistance R.

Zero Method.—In electrical measurements, a zero method is one in which the arrangement of the testing devices is such that the value of the quantity being measured is shown when the galvanometer needle points to zero.

In the zero method either a contact maker or contact breaker may be used in connection with a galvanometer and slide wire bridge, as shown in figs. 2,595 and 2,596.

Ques. What capacity of battery should be used?

Ans. Its voltage should be as great as the maximum pressure to be measured.

Ques. What necessary condition must be maintained in the battery?

Ans. Its pressure must be kept constant.

Ques. How are instantaneous values measured?

Ans. The bridge contact A is adjusted till the galvanometer shows no deflection, then the length AS is a measure of the pressure.

The drop between these points can be directly measured with a voltmeter if desired.

Ques. How did Mershon modify the test?

Ans. He used a telephone instead of the galvanometer to determine the correct placement of the bridge contact A.

Ques. How can the instantaneous values be recorded?

Ans. By attaching to the contact A, a pencil controlled by an electro-magnet arranged to strike a revolving paper card at the instant of no deflection, the paper being carried on a drum.

Hospitalier Ondograph.—The device known by this name is a development of the Joubert step by step method of wave form measurement, that is to say, the principle on which its action is based, consists in automatically charging a condenser from each 100th wave, and discharging it through a recording galvanometer, each successive charge of the condenser being automatically taken from a point a little farther along the wave.

As shown in the diagram, fig. 2,597, the ondograph consists of a synchronous motor A, operated from the source of the wave form to be measured, connected by gears B to a commutator D, in such a manner that while the motor makes a certain number of revolutions, the commutator makes a like number diminished by unity; that is to say, if the speed of the motor be 900 revolutions per minute, the commutator will have a speed of 899.

The commutator has three contacts, arranged to automatically charge the condenser cc' from the line, and discharge it through the galvanometer E, the deflection of which will be proportional to the pressure at any particular instant when contact is made.

In fig. 2,597, GG' are the motor terminals, HH' are connected to the condenser cc' through a resistance (to prevent sparking at the commutator) and I, I' are the connections to the service to be measured.

A permanent magnet type of recording galvanometer is employed. Its moving coil E receives the discharges of the condenser in rapid succession and turns slowly from one side to the other.

Cathode Ray Oscillograph.—This type of apparatus for measuring wave form was devised by Braun, and consists of a cathode ray tube having a fluorescent screen at one end, a small diaphragm with a hole in it at its middle, and two coils of a few turns each, placed outside it at right angles to one another. These coils carry currents proportional to the pressure and current respectively of the circuit under observation.

The ray then moves so as to produce an energy diagram on the fluorescent screen.

Fig. 2,600.—General Electric moving coil oscillograph. The moving elements consist of single loops of flat wire carrying a small mirror and held in tension by small spiral springs. The current passing down one side and up the other, forces one side forward and the other backward, thus causing the mirror to vibrate on a vertical axis. The vibrator elements fit into chambers between the poles of electro-magnets, and are adjustable, so as to move the beam from the mirror, both vertically and horizontally. A sensitized photographic film is wrapped around a drum and held by spring clamps. The drum, with film, is placed in a case and a cap then placed over the end, making the case light, when the index is either up or down. The loading is done in a dark room. A driving dog is screwed into the drum shaft, and which, when the drum and case are in place, revolves the film past a slot. When an exposure is to be made, the index is moved from the closed position, thus opening the slot in the case and exposing the film to the beam of light from the vibrating mirrors when the electrically operated shutter is open. The slot is then closed by moving the index to "Exposed." A slide with ground glass can be inserted in place of the film case or roll holder to arrange the optical system when making adjustments. The shutter operating mechanism is arranged so as to hold the shutter open during exactly one revolution of the film drum. There are two devices connected to the shutter operating mechanism; one opens the shutter at the instant the end of the film passes the slot; the other opens immediately, at any part of the film, and both give exposure during one revolution. The first is useful when making investigations in which the events are either recurring, or their beginnings known or under control, and the second when the time of the event is not under control, such as the blowing of fuses or opening of circuit breakers.

The instrument is much used in wireless telegraphy, as it is capable of showing the characteristics of currents of very high frequency.

Glow Light Oscillograph.—This device consists of two aluminum rods in a partially evacuated tube, their ends being about two millimeters apart. When an alternating current of any frequency passes between them a sheath of violet light forms on one of the electrodes, passing over to the other when the current reverses during each cycle. The phenomenon may be observed or photographed by means of a revolving mirror.

Moving Iron Oscillograph.—This type is due to Blondel, to whom belongs the credit of working out and describing in considerable detail the principles underlying the construction of oscillographs.

The moving iron type of oscillograph consists of a very thin vane of iron suspended in a powerful magnetic field, thus forming a polarized magnet. Near this strip are placed two small coils which carry the current whose wave form is to be measured.

The moving iron vane has a very short period of vibration and can therefore follow every variation in the current.

Attached to the vane is a small mirror which reflects a beam of light upon some type of receiving device.

The Siemens-Blondel oscillograph shown in fig. 2,604, is of the moving coil type, being a development of the moving iron principle.

Moving Coil Oscillograph.—The operation of this form of oscillograph is based on the behaviour of a movable coil in a magnetic field.

It consists essentially of a modified moving coil galvanometer combined with a rotating or vibrating mirror, a moving photographic film, or a falling photographic plate. The galvanometer portion of the outfit is usually referred to as the oscillograph as illustrated in figs. 2,608 to 2,612, representing diagrammatically the moving system.

In the narrow gap between the poles S, S of a powerful magnet are stretched two parallel conductors formed by bending a thin strip of phosphor bronze back on itself over an ivory pulley P. A spiral spring attached to this pulley serves to keep a uniform tension on the strips, and a guide piece L limits the length of the vibrating portion to the part actually in the magnetic field.

A small mirror M bridges across the two strips as shown. The effect of passing a current through such a "vibrator" is to cause one of the strips to advance while the other recedes, and the mirror is thus turned about a vertical axis.

Figs. 2,608 to 2,612.—Vibrator of Duddell moving coil oscillograph and section through oil bath of electro-magnet oscillograph. The vibrator consists of a brass frame W, which supports two soft iron pole pieces P,P. Between these, a long narrow groove is divided into two parts by a thin soft iron partition, which runs up the center. The current being led in by the brass wire U, passes from an insulated brass plate to the strip, which is led over an ivory guide block, down one of the narrow grooves and over another guide block, the loops round the ivory pulley O, which puts tension on the strip by the spring N, back to the guide block again, up the other narrow groove, and out by way of the insulated brass plate and lead U. Halfway up the grooves the center iron partition R is partially cut away to permit of a small mirror M, bridging across from one strip to the other, being stuck to the strips by a dot of shellac at each corner. The figure illustrates one type of vibrator in which P is removable from W for ease in repairing. In type 1, these pole pieces P,P are not removable. The vibrators are placed side by side in the gap between the poles S,S of the electro-magnet, see fig. 2,610. Each vibrator is pivoted about vertical centers, the bottom center fitting in the base of the oil bath, and the one at the top being formed by a screw in the cock piece Y. It can thus be easily turned in azimuth, its position being fixed by the adjusting screw L, a spiral spring serving to keep the vibrator always in contact with this screw. Since each cock piece can be independently moved forward or backward, each vibrator can be tipped slightly in either of these directions so that complete control over the mirrors is obtained and reflected spots of light may be made to coincide with that reflected from the fixed zero mirror, which latter is fixed to a brass tongue in between the two vibrators. A plano-convex lens of 50 cm. focal length is fixed on the oil bath in front of the vibrator mirrors to converge the reflected beams of light. It will be noticed that this lens is slightly inclined so that no trouble will be given by reflections from its own surface. The normal distance from the vibrator mirrors to the scale of photographic plate is 50 cm., and at this distance, a convenient working deflection on each side of the zero line is 3 to 4 cm. This is obtained with a R.M.S. current through the strips of from .05 to .1 of an ampere according to wave form, etc. The maximum deflection on each side of the zero line should not exceed 5 cm. while the maximum R.M.S. current through the strips should in no case exceed .1 ampere.

Each strip of the loop passes through a separate gap (not shown in the figure). The whole of the "vibrator," as this part of the instrument is called, is immersed in an oil bath, the object of the oil being to damp the movement of the strips, and make the instrument dead beat. It also has the additional advantage of increasing by refraction the movement of the spot of light reflected from the vibrating mirrors.

The beam of light reflected from the mirror M is received on a screen or photographic plate, the instantaneous value of the current being proportional to the linear displacement of the spot of light so formed.

With alternating currents, the spot of light oscillates to and fro as the current varies and would thus trace a straight line.

To obtain an image of the wave form, it is necessary to traverse the photographic plate or film in a direction at right angles to the direction of the movement of the spot of light.