EE 3092 Laboratory Practice V

CORONA CHARACTERISTICS















Instructed by : Mr. M. K. C. D. Chinthaka

Name : L.H.P.N.Gunawardena
Index No : 100170U
Group : 04
Date of Performance : 03 / 10 / 2013
Date of Submission : 14 / 10 / 2013

OBSERVATIONS

Name : L.H.P.N. Gunawardena.
Index No : 100170U
Group : 04
Date of per. : 03 / 10 / 2013
Instructed by : Mr. M. K. C. D. Chinthaka
Practical : Corona Characteristics

a) Transformer Ratio = 220 : 50,000

b)

Voltage (kV)
Disruptive critical voltage (Hissing noise)
8.41
Visual critical voltage
12.50
Visual corona formation voltage
18.18
Final breakdown voltage
30.68

c) Dimensions
I n cm
String diameter
0.08
Cage diameter
29.00
















CALCULATION

The readings obtained must be corrected for standard temperature and pressure.
V Breakdown voltage at a pressure P and temperature T
(P is an mmHg and T is in
0
C.)
V
n
Breakdown voltage at standard temperature and pressure (760 mmHg & 20
0
C)
T Temperature
P Pressure
Gas density correction factor

Where,





In during the practical,

Room temperature (T) = 30
0
C

Atmospheric Pressure (P) = 766.8398 mmHg (1009 mb)









Disruptive critical voltage

)

Assuming m
0
= 0.98

String diameter (2r) = 0.08 cm
Cage diameter (2d) = 29 cm

)







Visual critical voltage

[ (

)]

)

Here, m
V
= 1.0 for smooth conductors
0.72 for local corona on stranded wires (patches)
0.82 for decided corona on standard wires (all over the wire)

Considering formation of local corona on stranded wires (patches), m
v
= 0.72

[ (

)]

)



Power loss for experiment

The power loss due to corona is proportional to the square of the difference between the
line-to-neutral voltage and the disruptive critical voltage of the line. It is given by the empirical
formula,

DISCUSSION

1. Explain the phenomenon of corona formation based on the observations. What is the
impact of this phenomenon for high voltage overhead transmission lines?

A corona is a process by which a current, perhaps sustained, develops from an electrode
with a high potential in a neutral fluid, usually air, by ionizing that fluid so as to create
a plasma around the electrode. The ions generated eventually pass charge to nearby areas of
lower potential, or recombine to form neutral gas molecules.
When the potential gradient is large enough at a point in the fluid, the fluid at that point
ionizes and it becomes conductive. If a charged object has a sharp point, the air around that
point will be at a much higher gradient than elsewhere. Air near the electrode can become
ionized (partially conductive), while regions more distant do not. When the air near the point
becomes conductive, it has the effect of increasing the apparent size of the conductor. Since the
new conductive region is less sharp, the ionization may not extend past this local region.
Outside this region of ionization and conductivity, the charged particles slowly find their way
to an oppositely charged object and are neutralized.
Corona Discharge Effect is affected by many things such as Conductor Diameter, number
of conductors per phase, phase spacing, conductor surface condition, weather, altitude, and
temperature and line voltage. Effects of Corona Discharge Effect constitute power loss in the
transmission lines popularly called as corona loss, production of ozone gas, and interference
with the neighboring Radio and Television communication lines.
Corona Discharge Effect is defined as Self Sustained Electric Discharge in which the field
Intensified Ionization is localized only over the portion of the distance between the electrodes.

2. What is the importance of the liquid resistor used in the experiment set up?

We use liquid resistor as it gives an acceptable protection to the reverse direction elements of
the circuit. Since we are dealing with high voltage, we must make sure each and every equipments
safety as well. On the other hand it is very cheap. And also accuracy of the resistance is not in our
interest we can go for this liquid resistor.

3. Comment on the theoretical values and practical values (for corona characteristics)
obtained during the experiment given reasons.

Corona has inverse relationship between air densities. Air density in the laboratory area is not
what we expected. Due to this practical values can differ from theoretical values.
The copper rod that we used in this practical might not have uniform cross section.
Measuring the distance between the rods was done using a ruler and this may have introduced
great errors in the readings.
Due to the high possibility of having several impurities due to formation of oxide and other
factors the theoretical values may differ from the practical values.
Increase of voltage could not be done as smoothly as required due to mechanical limitations of
the equipment used.
Though the temperature and pressure values were considered as constants in our calculations
most probably they would differ during the practical.

4. How you differentiate breakdown of non uniform field from uniform fields?

In a uniform electric field, a gradual increase in voltage across a gap produces a breakdown
of the gap in the form of a spark without any preliminary discharges. On the other hand, if the
field is non-uniform, an increase in voltage will first cause a localized discharge in the gas to
appear at points with the highest electric field intensity, namely at sharp points or where the
electrodes are curved or on transmission line conductors. This form of discharge is called a
corona discharge and can be observed as a bluish luminance accompanied by a hissing sound.


REFERENCES

Corona discharge/http://electricalnotes.wordpress.com
Impact of coronas on transmission line//http://ethesis.nitrkl.ac.in
http://en.wikipedia.org/
High voltage engineering by professor JR Lucas