INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE

EEN-206: Power Transmission and Distribution

Lecture - 11

Chapter 2: Overhead Transmission Lines

• Corona
Static Shielding

Static Shielding (Theory Concept)

Static Shielding (Theory Concept)
I 2  I x  I1  I C 1
I3  I y  I 2  IC 2
I4  I z  I3  IC3
Voltages can be equal if
 3V
I x  IC1
 C x (3V )   C V
C C
Cx  
 2V 3 n 1
Also, I y  I C 2
 C y (2V )   C (2V )
V 2C 2C
Cy  
2 n2
3C pC
Similarly, CZ  and Cp 
Static Shielding (Theory Concept) n  3 n  p 
Static Shielding (Practice)

• In practice, it is very difficult to achieve

the condition of equal voltages.

• However the partial advantage can be

gained by this method using grading ring
(guard ring) and used normally.

• Further, when the horn gap is also used, it

also protect the insulator from the
flashover.
Ques-03
Each of the three insulators forming a string has a self capacitance of C Farad. The shunting capacitance between earth
and metal work of each insulator is 0.18C while it is 0.1C between metal work and line.
a) Calculate the voltage across each insulator as a percentage of line conductor voltage to earth and string efficiency.
b) If the guard ring is provided, increasing the capacitance between line and metal work of lowest unit to 0.25C.
Calculate redistribution of voltage and new string efficiency.

Explanation and Hints

b) Applying KCL at node A:
𝐼 +𝐼 =𝐼 +𝐼
𝑗ωC 𝑣 + jω (0.1C) (𝑣 + 𝑣 ) = 𝑗ω 0.18C 𝑣 + 𝑗ωC 𝑣
Now, KCL at node B
𝐼 +𝐼 =𝐼 +𝐼
𝑗ωC 𝑣 +𝑗ω(0.25C) 𝑣 = jω (0.18C) (𝑣 + 𝑣 ) + jωC 𝑣
And,
𝑣 +𝑣 +𝑣 =𝑉 η= * 100
∗
Few Other Questions

Equipment

At substation G
Transformer

At Home

• Potential Difference is important.

• Earthing/grounding design
o Touch Potential
o Step Potential
Overhead transmission lines, how wind pressure acting on conductor
increases its length, hence sag?

7
Overhead transmission lines, how wind pressure acting on conductor
increases its length, hence sag?

𝑤𝑙 Vertical Sag
𝑑= 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑 cos(𝜙)
2𝐻

Displace and elongate

 Corona
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_discharge 9
What is Corona?

“Corona is a luminous discharge due to ionization of the air

surrounding an electrode, caused by a voltage gradient exceeding a
certain critical value (breakdown strength of air (gas)).”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_discharge
Ionization and Breakdown Process

 The electrons gets accelerated in electric field. The

velocity of electron depends on the intensity of the electric
field.
 If the electric field strength exceeds certain critical value,
electrons gain sufficient velocity and energy to knock one
of the outer orbit electron from the one of the two atoms
of air molecule.
 This is called as ionization and the ion formed with the
missing electrons are called as positive ion.
 Both electrons then again gets accelerated in electric field
causing more ionizations and ultimately forms an electron
avalanche.
Uniform Field
HV HV V

GND GND
V
E
d

𝜂= in hundreds or thousands
Voltage Electric Field
Non-Uniform Field

𝜂=

It is in thousands

Conductor

• There are always free-electrons in the air due to

ultraviolet radiations from sun, cosmic rays from
outer space, radioactivity of earth, etc.

• Therefore in non-uniform field, some region of

dielectric experiences higher field strength than the
critical value, while other region field stress is well
Ground
below critical value.
Corona
HV V
• The breakdown of a gas takes place when a self sustained
discharge or ionization process is set in.
d
• This takes place when the electric field stress exceeds a
certain critical value.
GND
• For air breakdown strength (at 250C
and 760 mm Hg) is 30
kV/cm for DC and 30 kV/cm (peak) for AC.

• In the case of uniform field, this condition is satisfied at all

the points and there will be complete breakdown by
forming an arc between the electrodes.

• However, if the electric field is highly non-uniform the

breakdown condition may not be all over the gap.
 Corona Formation
• Thus, self sustained discharge condition will be valid only in the
strong field region giving rise to corona.

• This associated with a glow and a hissing (or frying sound) and
when it takes place in air and ozone, oxides of nitrogen and nitric
acid (in the presence of moisture) are formed.

• The corona manifests itself by visual corona, audible noise, radio

interference.

• The avalanches, being electrons in motion, actually constitute

electric current and produces electro-magnetic field in the vicinity.
Since they are sudden and short in duration induce high frequency
voltage pulses in nearby radio antenna.

• The positive conductor has more uniform bluish (or violet)

white glow near to conductor

• Negative polarity isolated reddish tufts or beads are formed.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_discharge
Why Corona is Important for transmission lines?

• Corona from conductors may cause audible noise and radio

interference.
• Audible noise from conductors may violate noise standards.
• Radio noise from conductors may interfere with radio, television,
and communications systems.
• Corona loss may be significant (during rainy season) when
compared with resistive loss of conductors.
• Corona can cause possible damage to polymeric insulators.
• Therefore, corona free lines needs to be designed which requires
an understanding of factors that affect corona.
 Corona (Laboratory Testing)

Ref: Gonen T., “Electric Power Transmission System Engineering: Analysis and Design”, John Wiley and Sons.
 Corona (Laboratory Testing)

Ref: Gonen T., “Electric Power Transmission System Engineering: Analysis and Design”, John Wiley and Sons.
 Corona (Testing)

Ref: Gonen T., “Electric Power Transmission System Engineering: Analysis and Design”, John Wiley and Sons.
Critical Disruptive Voltage
• The minimum potential difference required between the conductor to start ionization is
called critical disruptive voltage or corona inception voltage
a b Also D >> r for typical power transmission line
r P r
+q -q Ex 
q

q

q 1 1 
  
x 2 0 x 2 0  D  x  2 0  x  D  x  
D q  D 
Ex   
2 0  x  D  x  

Potential Difference between the conductor

q 1 1 
r r
q q
  ln( D  r )  ln(r )  ln(r )  ln( D  r )
D r
V Dr Dr 2 0  x  D  x   2 0
Ex       ln x  ln( D  x ) r

2
  0
 0 V
 D  r  D  r
2
q q q D q
V ln  ln  ln  D
2 0 r2  0 r  0 r  ln 
 r
Critical Disruptive Voltage
V V
 0 V V ' V '
q  D  q 2 2
Ex    and  D
2 0  x  D  x    ln  a b
 r r P r

1 
 0 V D  V / 2   D  +q -q
Ex       x
 D  2 0  x  D  x    D   x  D  x  
 ln   ln  D
 r   r 
In the given system, voltage with respect to ground V’=V/2

V'  D  Gradient will be maximum at V'  D  V ' 1

Ex    Emax    
 D   x  D  x   conductor surface i.e. x=r  
 D   r D  r   D   r 
 ln   ln   ln 
 r   r   r

 D
Therefore, V '  r Emax  ln 
 r 
Critical Disruptive Voltage

 D When Emax reaches g0 (breakdown

V '  Emax r  ln  strength of air) air breaks down. V '  g 0 r ln  D r 
 r 
 For 250C and 760 mm Hg, and smooth cylindrical conductor
30
g 0  30 kV/cm (Peak/DC) OR g0   21.2 kV/cm (rms)
2
 Above g0 is for fair (standard) weather conditions, at any other condition,

V '  g 0   r ln  D r  
where, δ is the relative air density or air density correction factor.
p 273  25 p
   0.392
273  t 760 273  t