You are on page 1of 7

1.

Introduction

The most common insulating medium used as dielectric in electrical conduction


is air. Hence, it is essential that the behaviour of air under different conditions of
electric stress is understood. The amount of stress upon the dielectric is relies on
the type and the magnitude of applied voltage that is subjected to. The type of
applied voltage can be either AC, DC or impulse. The distribution of the electric
field in the dielectric can be either uniform or non-uniform, depending on the
geometry of the electrode used. This will then influence the magnitude of electric
stress being exerted on the dielectric which in this case is air.
The purpose of the experiment is to conduct the Corona Inception Test in
air with the objective to investigate the breakdown voltage of air under AC or DC
voltage in uniform and non-uniform fields. If the electric field is uniform, 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 discharge in the gas
to appear at points with highest electric field intensity, namely at sharp points or
where the electrodes are curved or on transmission lines which gradually leads
to a flash-over, this phenomenon is the Corona.
Corona is a phenomenon that has the capability for degrading insulators,
and causing systems to fail. The corona inception voltage is dependent on the
type and polarity of the electric field excitation of either DC or AC as well as the
geometry of the electrode. For instance, the corona inception voltage has a high
likelihood of occurrence when the electrode used is a positive point electrode,
whereas, for a negative point electrode it prevents the corona inception voltage.
Corona, also known as partial discharge, is a type of localized emission resulting
from transient gaseous ionization in an insulation system when the voltage
stress, i.e., voltage gradient, exceeds a critical value. The ionization is usually
localized over only a portion of the distance between the electrodes of the
system. Corona can occur within voids in insulators as well as at the
conductor/insulator interface.
Corona inception voltage is the lowest voltage at which continuous
corona of specified pulse amplitude occurs as the applied voltage is gradually

increased. Corona inception voltage decreases as the frequency of the applied


voltage increases. Corona can occur in applications as low as 300V. This form of
discharge is called a corona discharge and can be observed as a bluish
luminescence. This phenomenon is always accompanied by a hissing noise, and
the air surrounding the corona region becomes converted into ozone.

2.0

Objectives

The first objective of this experiment is to investigate the corona inception


voltage of air under AC or DC voltage in uniform and non-uniform fields. The
second objective is to investigate the breakdown voltage of air under AC or DC
voltage in uniform and non-uniform fields. The third and final objective is to
understand the relationship between the magnitude of the corona inception
voltage and breakdown voltage of air with varied gap spacing of electrodes.

3.0

Methodology

The experiment was carried out by following a specific methodology as stated in


the Lab Manual. Prior to conduction the experiment, all the relevant safety
precautions as mentioned in the Lab Manual were observed and understood.
These safety measure were followed at all times. Upon reviewing the safety
measure, the hardware setup and connections of the experiment was done as
per the schematic diagram as seen in Section 4.0 of this report. The point-toplane electrode configuration was used in the experiment. Upon completing the
setup, the setup was verified by a group member as well as the lab instructor.
Once the high voltage setup was verified and approved, the test area in which
the experiment was being conducted was cleared and the safety lock was closed.
All necessary safety precautions were taken.
The light of the test area was then switched-off. The high voltage setup
was then energized via switching on the power supply and the control desk. The
gap spacing of the electrode was then set to 10mm via the control desk. After
adjusting the gap spacing as desired, the applied voltage of the electrode was
gradually increased while observing the tip of the point electrode for the

occurrence of flash-over of a purplish-luminescence. When flash-over occurred,


the voltage at which the flash-over occurred was recorded as the flash-over
indicates the corona inception voltage for that particular gap spacing. The
voltage was then gradually increased further until orange-yellow spark occurred
indicating the occurrence of breakdown and the voltage value at the breakdown
was recorded indicating the breakdown voltage. Two reading were taken for each
of the corona inception voltage and the breakdown voltage for 10mm gap
spacing and the average of these values were calculated and recorded. The
steps were repeated for two other different values of gap spacing which was
30mm and 50mm. The corona inception voltage and breakdown voltage for the
30mm and 50mm gap spacing were recorded. The results were recorded and
tabulated as seen in Table 1 in Section 5.0 of this report.
After completion of the experiment, the control desk was switched-off
followed by the main power supply, thus, switching-off the high voltage setup.
The safety lock of the test area was then opened and a grounding rod was used
to discharge the high voltage setup before dismantling the setup. The floor was
discharged first prior to entering the test area. This was followed by discharging
of the electrode, capacitors and transformer. No part of the high voltage setup
was touched or contacted before discharging. All the necessary safety precaution
were taken. The high voltage setup was then dismantled and the components
were placed back accordingly to their respective places.

4.0

Schematic Diagram

5.0

Results

The following results as seen in Table 1 were obtained from the experiment that
was conducted. The results obtained are analyzed and discussed detail in Section
6.0 of this report.

Table 1: Corona inception voltage and breakdown voltage values with


different gap spacing
Readings

Corona Inception Voltage

Breakdown Voltage (kV)

Gap

(kV)
10mm

30mm

50mm

10mm

30mm

50mm

Spacing
1st

14.70

30.50

35.50

16.70

33.80

46.05

14.80

30.60

39.90

16.80

33.90

46.70

Average

14.75

30.55

37.70

16.75

33.85

46.38

nd

6.0

Discussion

The average values of the results form Table 1 in Section 5.0 were used to plot
the graph showing the relationship of the corona inception voltage and
breakdown voltage with the three gap spacing used which is 10mm, 30mm and
50mm. The graph plot is as seen in Figure 1. As can be seen in Figure 1, both the
corona inception voltage and breakdown voltage increases as gap spacing
increases. However, the corona inception voltage is slightly lower than the
breakdown voltage. This is because corona discharge happens first before the
voltage breakdown, which it can be heard by a hissing noise.
When subjected to a non-uniform electric field under AC condition, corona
discharge happens first in the localized areas when there is an increase in
excitation voltage. This is because of the field strength at the electrode with
strong curvature of air increases and then the air surrounding it experiences
stress high enough to be dissociated into ions making the atmosphere
conducting. This results in electric discharge around the conductors due to the
flow of these ions, giving rise to a faint luminescent glow, along with the hissing
sound. Due to their high mobility, the electrons rapidly leave the ionizing region
of the electric field. The discharges will intensify with an increase of stress level
to the point that eventually a breakdown will occur.

Figure 1: Graph of corona inception voltage and breakdown voltage


versus gap spacing under AC condition

However, in a non-uniform electric field under DC condition, the slower


ions build up a positive space charge in front of the point electrode and change
the potential distribution. When the point electrode is negative, the electrons
move towards the plate. The remaining ions cause very high electric field
strengths immediately at the tip of the point electrode, whereas the rest of the
field region shows only slight potential differences.

7.0

Conclusion

As a conclusion, from the experiment it has been understood that the corona
inception voltage occurs before the occurrence of the breakdown voltage with
the corona inception voltage being lower than the breakdown voltage. The
corona inception voltage is identified by the characteristic purplish-luminescence
that it produces and it also produces a hissing noise as the voltage is gradually
increased this hissing gets louder. Moreover, it is also understood that as the gap
spacing increases the voltage value at which corona and breakdown occurs also
increases. The objectives of the experiment have been achieved successfully.

References

Gumurthy, G.R. 2003. Corona between point plane electrodes in air at


atmospheric pressure Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation
and Dielectric Phenomena. pp. 305 - 306.
Hogg, M.G., Timoshkin, I.V., McGregor, S.J., Wilson, M.P. and Given, M.J. 2015.
Polarity Effects on Breakdown of Short Gaps in a Pointplane Topology in
Air. Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of
Strathclyde.
Javadi, H., Farzaneh, M. and Peyda, A. 2010. Determination of Electric Field at
Inception Based upon Current-Voltage Characteristics of AC Corona in
Rod-Plane Gaps. Iranian Journal of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
6(2):119-128.

Kuffel,

E.,

Zaengl,

W.S.

and

Kuffel,

J.

2000.

High

Voltage

Engineering

Fundamentals. Newnes Oxford.


Meek, J.M. and Craggs, J.D. 1953. Electrical Breakdown of Gases. John Wiley, New
York.
Maglaras, A. and Topalis, F.V. 2009. Influence of ground and corona currents on
dielectric behavior of small air gaps. IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul.
16(1):32-41.
Warne, L.K., Jorgenson, R.E. and Kunhardt, E.E. 2014. Criterion for sparkbreakdown in non-uniform fields. Journal of Applied Physics. 115(14):
143-303.
Madhu, V. and Bhavya, K. MEASUREMENT OF AIR BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE USING
STANDAD SPHERE GAP METHOD. Journal of Electrical Engineering.

You might also like