The most asked interview questions for Electrical Engineers
1- Why cables are not used for long distance transmission?
Cables are not used for long distance transmissions due to their large charging currents.
2 - Mention the 3 main parts of the cable?
Conductor, dielectric, sheath
3 - What is the function of conductor?
Conductor provides the conducting path for the current.
4 - What is the function of sheath in cables?
The sheath does not allow the moisture to enter and protects the cable from all external influences like chemical or electrochemical attack, fire etc.
5 -Mention the conductor materials in cables?
Copper, Aluminum
All occupies greater space than copper for a given conductance.
Both are high electrical conductivity.
6 - What is the purpose of stranding of conductors?
Stranding increases the cable. It has flexibility. Resistance of the
7 - Define the segmental conductors.
The stranded wires which are compacted by the rollers to minimize the air spaces between the individual wires are called segmented conductors. Here the conductor size is reduced for a given conductance.
8. State the properties of insulating materials.
It should have high insulation resistance, high dielectric strength, and good mechanical properties, non-hygroscopic, capable of being operated at high temperatures, low thermal resistance and low power factor.
9. Mention the commonly used power cables.
Impregnated paper, Polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene
10. Mention the advantages of PVC over paper insulated cables.
Reduced cost and weight, Insulation is resistant to water, Simplified jointing, increased flexibility No plumbing required.
11. State the merits of paper insulated cables.
High current carrying capacity, long life and greater reliability
12. Where polythene cables are used?
-being non-hygroscopic used in cables for submarines and damp soil.
- being lighter used as aerial cables for vertical installations.
13. State the advantages of polythene insulators.
They are non-hygroscopic, light in weight, low dielectric constant, low loss factor and low thermal resistance.
14. By what materials cable sheaths are made?
Lead sheaths and Aluminums sheaths.
15. In what way Al sheaths are superior to lead sheaths?
Al sheaths are smaller in weight, high mechanical strength, greater conductivity, cheap, easy to manufacture and install, withstands the required gas pressure without reinforcement.
16. Where CSA sheath is used in cables?
Corrugated seamless aluminums sheath is used in high voltage oil filled cables and telephone lines.
17. Why it is used?
It is used because it is very flexible and easily by repeated bending the sheath is not distorted and it is not damaged. It has lesser weight and reduced thickness.
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18. Why protective covering is done in cables?
To protect the cables from mechanical damage, corrosion and electrolytic action when laid direct in the ground the protective covering is made.
19. By what material protective covering is made?
Bitumen &Bituminized materials, PVC and layers of fibrous materials.
20. What is meant by serving of a cable?
Layers of fibrous material permitted with waterproof compound applied to the exterior of the cable is called serving of a cable.
21. Why armoring is done in the cables?
To protect the sheath from mechanical damage.
22. Why armoring is not done in single core cables?
The presence of magnetic material within the alternating magnetic field of a single core cable produces excessive losses. Hence single core cables are left unarmored with non-magnetic materials like tin-bronze or silicon-bronze tapes or wires.
23. Why Al is used as an armour material?
It has non-magnetic properties, high conductivity and mechanical strength.
24. What is meant by grading of cables?
The method of equalizing the stress in the dielectric of the cable is called the grading of cables.
25.Mention the methods of cables.
Capacitance grading and intersheath grading.
26.Why the capacitance of the cable is very high than the capacitance of the overhead lines?
The distance between the conductors are small. The distance between the cores and the earthed sheath is also small. The permittivity of the cable insulation is 3 to 5 times greater than that of air insulation.
27.Write the expression of the capacitance of a single core cable.
( (2πε)= C=q/v
( ln(R/r)
28.What is meant by charging current of a cable?
The capacitance of a cable determines the charging current. The charging current restricts the use of cables on EHV lines. The current carrying capacity of an a.c cable is also reduced by the charging current.
29.Why power loss occurs in the dielectric of a cable?
-due to conductivity of insulation
-Dielectric hysteresis or dielectric absorption.
-Ionization or corona
30. Why all transmission and distribution systems are 3 phase systems?
A 3 phase a.c circuit using the same size conductors as the single phase circuit can carry three times the power which can be carried by a 1 phase circuit and uses 3 conductors for the 2 phases and one conductor for the neutral. Thus a 3 phase circuit is more economical than a 1 phase circuit in terms of initial cost as well as the losses. Therefore all transmission and distribution systems are 3 phase systems.
31. Why the transmission systems are mostly overhead systems?
Because of the cost consideration, the transmission systems are mostly overhead systems.
32.Why all overhead lines use ACSR conductors?
ACSR conductors comprises of hard drawn aluminum wires stranded around a core of single or multiple strand galvanized steel wire. They provides the necessary conductivity while the steel provides the necessary mechanical strength. Has less corona loss. The breaking load is high and has less weight.
33.Why transmission lines are 3 phase 3 wire circuits while distribution lines are 3 phase 4 wire circuits?
A Balanced 3 phase circuit does not require the neutral conductor, as the instantaneous sum of the 3 line currents are zero. Therefore the transmission lines and feeders are 3 phase 3 wire circuits. The distributors are 3 phase 4 wire circuits because a neutral wire is necessary to supply the 1 phase loads of domestic and commercial consumers.
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34.Why overhead line conductors are invariably stranded?
They are stranded to make them flexible during erection and while in service.
35 . Stat the advantages of interconnected systems.
Any area fed from one generating station during overload hours can be fed from another power station and thus reserved capacity required is reduced, reliability of supply is increased and efficiency is increased.
36. What is a ring distributor?
A ring distributor is a distributor which is arranged to form a closed circuit and is fed at one or more than one point.
37. State any two advantages of ring main system.
Less voltage fluctuations at consumer’s terminals. Less copper is required as each part of the ring carries less current than in radial system.
38. Mention the disadvantages of a 3 wire system
In 3 wire system a third wire is required.The safety is partially reduced.A balancer is required and therefore cost is increased.
39. What are the advantages of a 3 wire dc distribution system over a 2 wire dc distribution system?
If 3 wire system is used to transmit the same amount of power over the same distance with same efficiency with same consumer voltage we require 0.3125 times copper as required in 2 wire system.
40. Mention the differences between 3 wire and 3 phase 4 wire distribution system?
3 phase 3 wire is employed for balanced loads, but 3 phase 4 wire is employed for unbalanced loads.
3 phase 3 wire is used for transmission but 3 phase 4 wire is used for distribution of power to consumers.
41. State kelvin’s law.
The annual expenditure on the variable part of the transmission system should be equal to the annual cost of energy wasted in the conductor used in that system.
42. State any two limitations of kelvin’s law.
It is difficult to estimate accurately the annual charge on the capital outlay. It does not give the exact economical size of the conductor.
43. Define resistance of the transmission line.
It is defined as the loop resistance per unit length of the line in a single phase system. In 3 phase system it is defined as the resistance per phase.
44. Define inductance of a line.
It is defined as the loop inductance per unit length of the line.Its unit is henrys per meter.
45. Define capacitance of a line.
It is defined as shunt capacitance between the two wires per unit line length. Its unit is farads per meter.
46. What is skin effect?
The steady current when flowing through the conductor ,does not distribute uniformly, rather it has the tendency to concentrate near the surface of the conductor. This phenomenon is called skin effect.
47. Why skin effect is absent in dc system?
The steady current when flowing through a conductor distributes itself uniformly over the whole cross section of the conductor.That is why skin effect is absent in dc system.
48. What is the effect of skin effect on the resistance of the line?
Due to skin effect the effective area of cross section of the conductor through which current flow is reduced. Hence the resistance of the line is increased when ac current is flowing.
49. On what factors the skin effect depend?
Nature of the material, Diameter of the wire , Frequency and shape of the wire.
Most Asked Electrical Engineering Interview Questions
50. Define symmetrical spacing.
In 3 phase system when the line conductors are equidistant from each other then it is called symmetrical spacing.
51. What is the necessity for a double circuit line?
To reduce the inductance per phase and to increase the efficiency.
52. Mention the factors governing the inductance of a line.
Radius of the conductor and the spacing between the conductors.
53. Define a neutral plane.
It is a plane where electric field intensity and potential is zero.
54. Define proximity effect.
The alternating magnetic flux in a conductor caused by the current flowing in a neighbouring conductor gives rise to a circulating current which cause an apparent increase in the resistance of the conductor.This phenomenon is called as proximity effect.
55. What is the effect of proximity effect?
It results in the non uniform distribution of current in the cross section, and the increase of resistance.
56. What is a composite conductor?
A conductor which operates at high voltages and composed of 2 or more subconductors and run electrically in parallel are called composite conductors.
57. What is a bundle conductor?
It is a conductor made up of 2 or more sub conductors and is used as one phase conductors.
58. Mention the advantages of using bundled conductors.
Reduced reactance, reduced voltage gradient , reduced corona loss .reduced interference
59. What is corona?
The phenomenon of violet glow, hissing noise and production of ozone gas in an overhead line is called corona.
60. Mention the factors affecting corona.
Atmosphere,conductor size, spacing between conductors and line voltage.
61.Define critical disruptive voltage.
It is defined as the minimum phase voltage at which corona occrus.
62. Define visual critical voltage.
It is the minimum phase voltage at which corona appears all along the line conductors.
63. State any two merits of corona.
Reduces the effects of transients produced by surges.System performance is improved.
64. Give the two demerits of corona.
The transmission efficiency is affected. Corrosion occurs.
65. Mention the methods of reducing corona effect.
By increasing the conductor size and conductor spacing.
. Why ACSR conductors are used in lines?
If the size of the conductor is larger corona effects are reduced and reduces the proximity effect.Hence they are used in lines.
Sample Electrical Engineer Interview Questions and Answers
67. Define medium lines.
Lines having length between 60 and 150 km and line voltages between 20 and 100kv are called medium lines.
68.Define short lines.
Lines having lengths below 60km and voltages below 20kv are called short lines.
69.Mention the limitations of end condenser method.
This over estimates the effects of line capacitance.It is assumed to be lumped or concentrated.
70. Mention the demerits of HVDC transmission.
Electric power cannot be generated at high dc voltages.
The dc voltages cannot be stepped up for transmission of power at high voltages.
The dc switches and circuit breakers have their own limitations.
71. What are the advantages of high voltage ac transmission.
The power can be generated at high voltages.
The maintenance of ac substation is easy and cheaper.
72. Mention the disadvantages of high voltage ac transmission.
An ac line requires more copper than a dc line.
The construction of an ac line is more complicated than a dc transmission line.
Due to skin effect in the ac system the effective resistance of the line is increased.
73. Mention the limitations of using very high transmission voltage.
The increased cost of insulating the conductor.
The increased cost of transformers ,switch gears and other terminal apparatus.
74. Mention the terminal equipments necessary in HVDC system.
Converters, mercury arc valves and thyristors.
75. Define sag of a line.
The difference in level between the points of supports and the lowest point of the conductor is called as sag.
76. Mention the factors that affect sag in the transmission line.
Weight of the conductor,length of the span , working tensile strength and the temperature.
77. What is the reason for the sag in the transmission line?
While erecting the line , if the conductors are stretched too much between supports then there prevails an excessive tension on the line which may break the conductor. In order to have safe tension in the conductor a sag in the line is allowed.
78. Mention the methods of laying the cables.
Direct laying , draw in system and solid system
79. Mention the advantages of direct laying of cables.
It is simple and cheaper method.It gives the best conditions for dissipating the heat generated in the cables.
80. State any 2 disadvantages of direct laying method.
Localisation of Fault is difficult . It cannot be used in congested areas where excavation is inconvenient.
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Electrical Engineer Interview Question Guide
1. What are the functions of protective relays
To detect the fault and initiate the operation of the circuit breaker to isolate
the defective element from the rest of the system, thereby protecting the system from
damages consequent to the fault.
2. Give the consequences of short circuit.
Whenever a short-circuit occurs, the current flowing through the coil increases to an
enormous value. If protective relays are present , a heavy current also flows through the
relay coil, causing it to operate by closing its contacts.The trip circuit is then closed , the
circuit breaker opens and the fault is isolated from the rest of the system. Also, a low
voltage may be created which may damage systems connected to the supply.
3. Define protected zone.
Are those which are directly protected by a protective system such as relays,
fuses or switchgears.If a fault occurring in a zone can be immediately detected and or
isolated by a protection scheme dedicated to that particular zone.
4. What are unit system and non unit system?
A unit protective system is one in which only faults occurring within its
protected zone are isolated.Faults occurring elsewhere in the system have no influence
on the operation of a unit system.A non unit system is a protective system which is
activated even when the faults are external to its protected zone.
5. What is primary protection?
Is the protection in which the fault occurring in a line will be cleared by its
own relay and circuit breaker.It serves as the first line of defence.
6. What is back up protection?
Is the second line of defence , which operates if the primary protection
fails to activate within a definite time delay.
7. Name the different kinds of over current relays.
Induction type non-directional over current relay,Induction type directional
over current relay & current differential relay.
8. Define energizing quantity.
It refers to the current or voltage which is used to activate the relay into
operation.
9. Define operating time of a relay.
It is defined as the time period extendind from the occurrence of the
fault through the relay detecting the fault to the operation of the relay.
10. Define resetting time of a relay.
It is defined as the time taken by the relay from the instant of isolating
the fault to the moment when the fault is removed and the relay can be reset.
11. What are over and under current relays?
Overcurrent relays are those that operate when the current in a line exceeds a
predetermined value. (eg: Induction type non-directional/directional overcurrent relay,
differential overcurrent relay)whereas undercurrent relays are those which operate
whenever the current in a circuit/line drops below a predetermined value.(eg: differential
over-voltage relay)
12. Mention any two applications of differential relay.
Protection of generator & generator transformer unit; protection of large motors
and busbars .
13. What is biased differential bus zone reduction?
The biased beam relay is designed to respond to the differential current in terms
of its fractional relation to the current flowing through the protected zone. It is essentially
an over-current balanced beam relay type with an additional restraining coil. The
restraining coil produces a bias force in the opposite direction to the operating force.
14. What is the need of relay coordination?
The operation of a relay should be fast and selective, ie, it should isolate the fault
in the shortest possible time causing minimum disturbance to the system. Also, if a relay
fails to operate, there should be sufficiently quick backup protection so that the rest of the
system is protected. By coordinating relays, faults can always be isolated quickly without serious disturbance to the rest of the system.
15. Mention the short comings of Merz Price scheme of protection applied to a power transformer.
In a power transformer, currents in the primary and secondary are to be compared.
As these two currents are usually different, the use of identical transformers will give
differential current, and operate the relay under no-load condition. Also, there is usually a
phase difference between the primary and secondary currents of three phase transformers.
Even CT’s of proper turn-ratio are used, the differential current may flow through the
relay under normal condition.
16. What are the various faults to which a turbo alternator is likely to be subjected?
Failure of steam supply; failure of speed; overcurrent; over voltage; unbalanced
loading; stator winding fault .
17. What is an under frequency relay?
An under frequency relay is one which operates when the frequency of the system
(usually an alternator or transformer) falls below a certain value.
18. Define the term pilot with reference to power line protection.
Pilot wires refers to the wires that connect the CT’s placed at the ends of a power
transmission line as part of its protection scheme. The resistance of the pilot wires is
usually less than 500 ohms.
19. Mention any two disadvantage of carrier current scheme for transmission line only.
The program time (ie, the time taken by the carrier to reach the other end-upto
.1% mile); the response time of band pass filter; capacitance phase-shift of the
transmission line .
Top Job Interview Questions for Electrical Engineers
20. What are the features of directional relay?
High speed operation; high sensitivity; ability to operate at low voltages; adequate
short-time thermal ratio; burden must not be excessive.
21. What are the causes of over speed and how alternators are protected from it?
Sudden loss of all or major part of the load causes over-speeding in alternators.
Modern alternators are provided with mechanical centrifugal devices mounted on their
driving shafts to trip the main valve of the prime mover when a dangerous over-speed
occurs.
22. What are the main types of stator winding faults?
Fault between phase and ground; fault between phases and inter-turn fault
involving turns of the same phase winding.
23. Give the limitations of Merz Price protection.
Since neutral earthing resistances are often used to protect circuit from earth-fault
currents, it becomes impossible to protect the whole of a star-connected alternator. If an
earth-fault occurs near the neutral point, the voltage may be insufficient to operate the
relay. Also it is extremely difficult to find two identical CT’s. In addition to this, there
always an inherent phase difference between the primary and the secondary quantities
and a possibility of current through the relay even when there is no fault.
24. What are the uses of Buchholz’s relay?
Bucholz relay is used to give an alarm in case of incipient( slow-developing)
faults in the transformer and to connect the transformer from the supply in the event of
severe internal faults. It is usually used in oil immersion transformers with a rating over
750KVA.
25. What are the types of graded used in line of radial relay feeder?
Definite time relay and inverse-definite time relay.
26. What are the various faults that would affect an alternator?
(a) Stator faults
1, Phase to phase faults
2, Phase to earth faults
3, Inter turn faults
(b)
1, Earth faults
2, Fault between turns
3, Loss of excitation due to fuel failure
(c) 1, Over speed
2, Loss of drive
3, Vacuum failure resulting in condenser pressure rise, resulting in
shattering of the turbine low pressure casing
(d) 1, Fault on lines
2, Fault on busbars
27. Why neutral resistor is added between neutral and earth of an alternator?
In order to limit the flow of current through neutral and earth a resistor is
introduced between them.
28. What is the backup protection available for an alternator?
Overcurrent and earth fault protection is the backup protections.
29. What are faults associated with an alternator?
(a) External fault or through fault
(b) Internal fault
1, Short circuit in transformer winding and connection
2, Incipient or slow developing faults
30. What are the main safety devices available with transformer?
Oil level guage, sudden pressure delay, oil temperature indicator, winding
temperature indicator .
31. What are the limitations of Buchholz relay?
(a) Only fault below the oil level are detected.
(b) Mercury switch setting should be very accurate, otherwise even for
vibration, there can be a false operation.
(c) The relay is of slow operating type, which is unsatisfactory.
32. What are the problems arising in differential protection in power transformer and how are they overcome?
1. Difference in lengths of pilot wires on either sides of the relay. This is
overcome by connecting adjustable resistors to pilot wires to get equipotential
points on the pilot wires.
2. Difference in CT ratio error difference at high values of short circuit currents
that makes the relay to operate even for external or through faults. This is
overcome by introducing bias coil.
3. Tap changing alters the ratio of voltage and currents between HV and LV sides
and the relay will sense this and act. Bias coil will solve this.
4. Magnetizing inrush current appears wherever a transformer is energized on its
primary side producing harmonics. No current will be seen by the secondary.
CT’s as there is no load in the circuit. This difference in current will actuate the
differential relay. A harmonic restraining unit is added to the relay which will
block it when the transformer is energized.
33. What is REF relay?
It is restricted earth fault relay. When the fault occurs very near to the neutral
point of the transformer, the voltage available to drive the earth circuit is very small,
which may not be sufficient to activate the relay, unless the relay is set for a very low
current. Hence the zone of protection in the winding of the transformer is restricted to
cover only around 85%. Hence the relay is called REF relay.
34. What is over fluxing protection in transformer?
If the turns ratio of the transformer is more than 1:1, there will be higher core loss
and the capability of the transformer to withstand this is limited to a few minutes only.
This phenomenon is called over fluxing.
35. Why busbar protection is needed?
(a) Fault level at busbar is high
(b) The stability of the system is affected by the faults in the bus zone.
(c) A fault in the bus bar causes interruption of supply to a large portion of the
system network.
36. What are the merits of carrier current protection?
Fast operation, auto re-closing possible, easy discrimination of simultaneous
faults .
37. What are the errors in CT?
(a) Ratio error
Percentage ratio error = [(Nominal ratio – Actual ratio)/Actual ratio] x 100
The value of transformation ratio is not equal to the turns ratio.
(b) Phase angle error:
Phase angle _ =180/_[(ImCos _-I1Sin _)/nIs]
38. What is field suppression?
When a fault occurs in an alternator winding even though the generator circuit
breaker is tripped, the fault continues to fed because EMF is induced in the generator
itself. Hence the field circuit breaker is opened and stored energy in the field winding is
discharged through another resistor. This method is known as field suppression.
39. What are the causes of bus zone faults?
_ Failure of support insulator resulting in earth fault
_ Flashover across support insulator during over voltage
_ Heavily polluted insulator causing flashover
_ Earthquake, mechanical damage etc.
40. What are the problems in bus zone differential protection?
_ Large number of circuits, different current levels for different circuits for
external faults.
_ Saturation of CT cores due to dc component and ac component in short
circuit currents. The saturation introduces ratio error.
_ Sectionalizing of the bus makes circuit complicated.
_ Setting of relays need a change with large load changes.
Electrical Engineering Interview Questions for Students
41. What is static relay?
It is a relay in which measurement or comparison of electrical quantities is made
in a static network which is designed to give an output signal when a threshold condition
is passed which operates a tripping device.
42. What is power swing?
During switching of lines or wrong synchronization surges of real and reactive
power flowing in transmission line causes severe oscillations in the voltage and current
vectors. It is represented by curves originating in load regions and traveling towards relay
characteristics.
43. What is a programmable relay?
A static relay may have one or more programmable units such as microprocessors
or microcomputers in its circuit.
44. What is CPMC?
It is combined protection, monitoring and control system incorporated in the static
system.
45. What are the advantages of static relay over electromagnetic relay?
o Low power consumption as low as 1mW
o No moving contacts; hence associated problems of arcing, contact bounce,
erosion, replacement of contacts
o No gravity effect on operation of static relays. Hence can be used in
vessels ie, ships, aircrafts etc.
o A single relay can perform several functions like over current, under
voltage, single phasing protection by incorporating respective functional
blocks. This is not possible in electromagnetic relays
o Static relay is compact
o Superior operating characteristics and accuracy
o Static relay can think , programmable operation is possible with static
relay
o Effect of vibration is nil, hence can be used in earthquake-prone areas
o Simplified testing and servicing. Can convert even non-electrical
quantities to electrical in conjunction with transducers.
46. What is resistance switching?
It is the method of connecting a resistance in parallel with the contact space(arc).
The resistance reduces the restriking voltage frequency and it diverts part of the arc
current. It assists the circuit breaker in interrupting the magnetizing current and capacity
current.
47. What do you mean by current chopping?
When interrupting low inductive currents such as magnetizing currents of the
transformer, shunt reactor, the rapid deionization of the contact space and blast effect
may cause the current to be interrupted before the natural current zero. This phenomenon
of interruption of the current before its natural zero is called current chopping.
48. What are the methods of capacitive switching?
• Opening of single capacitor bank
• Closing of one capacitor bank against another
49. What is an arc?
Arc is a phenomenon occurring when the two contacts of a circuit breaker
separate under heavy load or fault or short circuit condition.
50. Give the two methods of arc interruption?
_ High resistance interruption:-the arc resistance is increased by elongating, and
splitting the arc so that the arc is fully extinguished
_ Current zero method:-The arc is interrupted at current zero position that
occurs100 times a second in case of 50Hz power system frequency in ac.
51. What is restriking voltage?
It is the transient voltage appearing across the breaker contacts at the instant of arc
being extinguished.
52. What is meant by recovery voltage?
The power frequency rms voltage appearing across the breaker contacts after the
arc is extinguished and transient oscillations die out is called recovery voltage.
53. What is RRRV?
It is the rate of rise of restriking voltage, expressed in volts per microsecond. It is
closely associated with natural frequency of oscillation.
54. What is circuit breaker?
It is a piece of equipment used to break a circuit automatically under fault
conditions. It breaks a circuit either manually or by remote control under normal
conditions and under fault conditions.
55. Write the classification of circuit breakers based on the medium used for arc extinction?
_ Air break circuit breaker
_ Oil circuit breaker
_ Minimum oil circuit breaker
_ Air blast circuit breaker
_ SF6 circuit breaker
_ Vacuum circuit breaker
56. What is the main problem of the circuit breaker?
When the contacts of the breaker are separated, an arc is struck between them.
This arc delays the current interruption process and also generates enormous heat which
may cause damage to the system or to the breaker itself. This is the main problem.
57. What are demerits of MOCB?
_ Short contact life
_ Frequent maintenance
_ Possibility of explosion
_ Larger arcing time for small currents
_ Prone to restricts
58. What are the advantages of oil as arc quenching medium?
• It absorbs the arc energy to decompose the oil into gases, which have
excellent cooling properties
• It acts as an insulator and permits smaller clearance between line conductors
and earthed components
59. What are the hazards imposed by oil when it is used as an arc quenching medium?
There is a risk of fire since it is inflammable. It may form an explosive mixture
