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High voltage laboratory

A researcher conducting an electrical experiment in the high voltage lab.
Two students operating a piece of heavy equipment in the high voltage lab.
A student using a spanner to adjust a large piece of equipment in the high voltage lab.
Two students operating a salt-fog chamber.
More Information

About the High voltage laboratory

The Tony Davies high voltage laboratory (TDHVL) is a centre for research into dielectric materials and insulation systems, as well as high voltage and related phenomena. The lab houses state-of-the-art facilities and is supported by a specialist engineering team who are all involved in the latest research. We are also a commercial testing house and offer a consultancy service.

Part of: The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory

Technical specification

The lab comprises 4 main areas:

  • High voltage test lab
  • Medium voltage test lab
  • Materials characterisation lab
  • Materials preparation room

Laboratory facilities include:

  • 2 main high voltage halls
  • 15 discreate high-voltage test areas
  • Temperature and humidity controlled room 5-50oC, 10-80%RH
  • Faraday room
  • Environmental/salt-fog chamber
  • Materials laboratory for electrical, thermal, mechanical and optical characterisation
  • Partial discharge, capacitance and tan delta measurements
  • Sample preparation room
  • Forensic rooms (X-ray analysis, Raman microprobe and infrared spectroscopy)
  • Specialist high voltage engineering workshop

High voltage supplies:

  • 1MV/50kj lightning and switching impulse generator
  • 300kV AC, pd free
  • 600kV DC

Medium voltage supplies:

  • 280kV lightning and switching impulse generator
  • 200kV AC, pd free
  • 140kV DC
  • Range of current transformers (to 3kA)

Vacuum systems:

  • Bi-turbo vacuum chamber (ultra-high throughput vacuum system)
  • Vertical vacuum chamber (thermal testing capabilities)
  • Spherical vacuum chamber

Related research areas

Electronics and computer science

Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) is the leading university department of its kind in the UK. We have an international reputation for research, with over 550 researchers working across a wide range of computer science and electronics topics.

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