fields in these lines generates corona currents in
Corona Noise on HVAC and
HVDC
KUSHAL UJALA DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRICAL AND ELELCTRONICS
C.S.I.T., DURG
Kushalujala@gmail.com
ROOPESH KUMAR SAHU DEPARTMENT
OF ELECTRICAL AND ELELCTRONICS
C.S.I.T., DURG
Abstract : The paper presents an experimental
research in the corona noise on a 400kV
overhead power line with a horizontal
disposition of conductors.The high voltage
power line in its role of a communication
channel is a source of different noises
characterizing an important feature of this
communication media. The main objective was
measuring & modeling the corona noise.
Measurements of the Power Spectrum Density
(PSD) and relative corona noise within a power
frequency period are presented for different
weather condition. The algorithm for measuring
variations in the corona noise level by 7.95 dB at
foul weather condition by 2.9dB at fair weather
condition. An appropriate computer model of the
corona noise complaint with the measurement
results is proposed.
1) Introduction
The corona noise is caused by partial
discharges on insulator & in air surrounding
electrical conductors of overhead power lines.
Discharges occur on three diiffernt phase
conductors at different times.The corona noise
level is considerably dependent on the weather
conditions.It is well known that the effect of the
corona noise is particularly strong in the foul
weather conditions.
Properties of the corona noise are significant for
both analogue & digital power line
communications but their influences on
decreasing the channel quality are different.The
analogue Power Line Carrier(PLC) modem is
tolerant to degradation of channel quality caused
by corona noise.Thus , the modeling of this noise
was based on the Additive White Guassian Noise
(AWGN).
2) Corona Noise
Ionization of air surrounding conductors
of the HV power lines caused by electrostatic
the form of impulse pulses. Corona discharges ,
randomly distributed along the HV power lines,
inject current impulses into bundle conductors
Discharges on the three different phase
conductors occur at different times.When even
the voltage on a particular phase is high enough ,
a corcna burst occurs and noise is generated .
Although the conductors are designed to
minimize corona discharges surface irregularities
caused by damage, insects , raindrops or
contamination may locally enhance the electric
field strength sufficiently high for corona
discharges to occur.[1]
The corona noise level generated by
over head power lines suffer from various
parameters such as:-
atmospheric conditions,
line length,
avg value of altitude,
size of conductors and their
configuration,
type of connection,
bundle conductor composition,
voltage gradient, and
ground resistance
The corona generated currents change
with atmospheric and also environmental
conditions that can not be defined accurately and
are uncertain in nature . Apart from atmospheric
conditions, which have a predominant influence
on corona noise level and vary during the time ,
there are also some other factors that also affect
the level of the noise PSD but they are almost
constant in any weather conditions and normal
operations of the power line. Because of the
nature of the corona noise , the HV power lines
as a communication channel desnot represent an
AWGN environment .
3) Measurment Analysis and Methodology
3.1. Measurment Analysis
A basic setup for the noise
measurement is shown in Fig1. The PLC LINE
Trap Units (LTUs) are connected in series with
the power line to contribute a correct
transmission and reception of the power line
carrier signals . The LTU impedance for the
power line frequency is high and for the
industrial frequency it is very low . A coupling
ckt. is used to connect the measurement
equipment to the HV power line and to protect
the equipment from being damaged because of
the 400kv/50Hz signal. Functions of the bandpass filter with:
coupling device for noise measurement a)
equipment , match impedances and electrical
insulation between the HV power line and the
measurement equipment. central
freque
ncy
199
kHz
and
bandw
idth
22kHz
b)

cent
ral

Fig.1 Pictorial representation of Corona Noise freq

measurement uen

The corona noise measurement were cy

conducted at a substation on 3-phase , 274
50Hz,400kv power line with a horizontal
dispositon of conductors. This type of the power kHz
line is common and can be found all over and
Europe. Noise measurement on this HV power
line were made with an existing coupling ckt. ban
infrastructure for 2-phase connection . Corona dwi
noise measurements were conducted with band
dth
pass filters shown in Fig1. Amplitude
characteristics of the four selected filters with a 3 20
db bandwidth are depicted in Fig2.
kHz
c)

cent
ral
freq
uen
cy
273
kHz
and
ban
Fig. 2. Amplitude characteristics of the applied dwi
 dth collects and stores all the measured data . The
stored waveform pts. are samples of the
34 measured signal and they are defined by the
kHz times and amplitude value consisting of a
sequence of measured pts. We have analysed a
d) signal waveform consisting of :
equidistant waveform samples and
cent sequence of minimum and maximum
waveform pts. of noise samples.
ral
freq
4) PSD of the HV Power Lines Noise
uen
cy Similarly as signals, the noise too can be
described in a spectral domain. Because of its
280 random nature it is usually defined in terms of
kHz PSD that can be used as a measure of a
continuous broadband noise and discrete
and peaks.PSD measures distribution of the noise
ban power with frequency Therefore, the noise PSD
represents an avg noise level in the frequency
dwi
domain. In practice ,we can only measure PSD in
dth a finite band.Fig 3 shows the noise level which
can be measured at high frequency cable in a
90
substation.Results of the noise PSD
kHz measurements made at fair weather cond. are
given in fig 3a.Using the same approach ,the
noise PSD was measured also at foul weather
3.2. Measurement methodology conditions are given in fig3b.This has been taken
from Ref[1].
1. PSD From fig3 we can see that the following is
1. Average RMS voltage at the filter o/p of characteristics for the measured PLC channel:
a given bandwidth,and corona noise
2. Variation in the RMS voltage within a interference with other power line
power frequency period . carriers
The spectrum/network analyzer HP 3589A Foul weather conditions significantly affect the
was used for estimation of the noise PSD and corona noise .The noise level at such conditions
measurements of interferance from external is approx 15 db above the level at fair weather
sources. The measurements were conducted at conds.Also obsereved from fig 3 is that the
fair and foul weather conditions using the corona noise PSD decreases with the increasing
spectrum/network analyzer at the input of a frequency.With the obtained results avg levels of
bandpass filter(fig1.) with 100 avgs and a the background noise and spectral components
bandwidth of 1 Hz. The noise power level for caused by other noise sources existing on the
different bandwidths was calculated by using the obsereved power line can now be determined.
following expression:-

PN f 1 = PN f 2 +10 log{f1/{f2}

The avg RMS voltage can be measured with

Fluke 199C Scopemeter and can be verified.
To measure variations in the RMS
corona noise within a power frequency period,
waveform need to be recorded. This can be done
with a Fluke 199C Scopemeter . The meter can
be controlled by a personal computer that also

(a)
(b)
Fig. 3. PSD of the noise measured at a high-
frequency cable at fair weather (a) and foul
weather conditions (b)
To know how the freq content changes
over the period of the industrial freq,which is not
possible from PSD investigations into the corona
noise should be envisaged in the freq band with
no spectral components from other sources of
interference such as for eg. PLC systems, radio-
navigation systems and broad cast radio
stations.Therefore,to determine the corona noise
behavior during a power freq period appropriate
filters are needed. The selection of the central
freq and bandwidth of such filters depends on
PSD of an actual power line and a transfer
function of the both the coupling circuits and the
LTU .The filtered signal is composed of a
continuous background and corona noise.
5) Contributing Factors to HVDC Corona
Noise
Corona performance of HVDC transmission
lines has become very important not only for
existing transmission lines but for new lines as
well. It has become an important research
question how ,on HVDC lines ionized particles
formed during corona are carried from conductor
surroundings to the earth wire hence affecting
power line carrier communication.[3-4]
This research is important for determining
the levels of radio interference that impact on
communication systems and contributions of
corona on power losses, audible noise and
television interference.
The study of corona noise is important
particularly in schemes such as the Cahora Bassa
where two monopolar lines a distance of one km
apart are used for HVDC power transmission. in
this transmission scheme PLC communication is
achieved by coupling the signals between the
pole conductors and the shield wire .
Telecommunication techniques [5] are used to
transmit information from various distant points
within the power system for use by the protective
equipment of the power systems located at the
substation or at the converter stations. The kind
of teleportation information depends on the
requirements of protection system itself. the
reliability and availability of the PLC channel
over which the teleportation signals are
transmitted has to be ensured at all times. Hence
it is important to study corona noise and its
effects.[6]
Previous studies has also shown that
electromagnetic coupling between the pole
conductors and the shield wire has resulted in the
shield wire going into corona as well as
formation of corona discharge does not mean full
loss of insulating properties by the gaseous
space, However its formation is undesirable
because of electromagnetic interference and
corona loss effects it has. Corona phenomena
results from the partial electrical breakdown or
ionization of air surrounding a power conductor
corona occurs when the conductor surface
electric field intensity exceeds the breakdown
strength of surrounding air , in free space , there
are always some free electrons present because
of radioactivity and cosmic rays.
Corona discharges, which lead to radio noise are
pulsating in nature, producing pulses of current
and voltage on the conductors of transmission
lines, which then propagates to the
communication
channels in the
form of radio
noise. The level of
radio interference
in the vicinity of a
transmission line
depends on
corona generation
on the conductors
and the
propagation of corona currents on the
conductors. electromagnetic fields resulting from
corona disturbances in the operation of PLC
systems or devices over a wide range of
frequency. These unwanted disturbances which
lead to radio noise, pulsating in nature,
producing pulses of current and voltage on the
conductors of transmission lines. Radio noise
levels at any point, depends on the shape of
corona, current pulses which are the source of
interference currents in the conductors.
Corona phenomena is the self sustained
electric discharge in which field intensified
ionization is localized only over a portion of
the distance between the electrodes. It appears as
reddish tufts or beads ,a visible bluish white
glow depending on the polarity of the conductors
or whether it is AC or DC corona .As corona is
initiated ,a hissing sound is heard and Ozone gas
is formed which can be detected by its unique
order and the condition may be seen after dark
near high voltage transmission lines ,as a
luminous halo surrounding the wires .As the
conductor voltage is increased partial discharges
are produced at a faster rate until ,at a critical
field a steady corona glow is obtained [5].The
onset gradient for a dc system at which
ionization begins for dry air is given by peeks
formula as:-
Ec=30m[1+(0.308/r)] KV/cm weather conditions, show that the character of
Where = relative air density, m=conductor
roughness factor, r=conductor radius in cm
=(p/760)*(293/273+) (0<m<1)
Where p=atmospheric pressure in mm of
mercury
=ambient temp.in degree C
6)Results And Discussions
If we add sharp points to the
conductor on the rough surfaces
then the effects which can be seen is
as shown in Figure 4
Fig. 4 Corona which can be observed at high
Voltage with sharp points on the conductor
If we energize the test line to still
higher volts on positive polarity
then Corona Pulses can be
observed.
The corona current analysed was in
the range of micro amps.
It shows that a clean conductor
produces less current than a dirty
one and if two shield wires are
connected in parallel ,less noise
would be produced.
8) Conclusion
In this paper we present results of our
investigation into the relative corona noise
dependence on the power frequency voltage in
HV power line communications .Our approach
was based on results of our measurements, as
well as those of statistical analysis of the
captured data and modeling at different weather
conditions
By measuring PSD we determined the
various types and levels of noise sources existing
on the power line[7-8]. We established that the
relative corona noise describes the corona noise
behavior during a power frequency period.
From results of our measurements and
those of statistical analysis we can conclude that
the corona noise cannot be describe as a white
noise with a constant variance .The results of our
measurement which were conducted at foul and
the corona noise is similar to the one of the
Gaussian noise with a variable variance during a
power frequency period.
The analysis prove that the signal to-
noise ratio varies during a power frequency
period at all weather conditions but is higher at
foul weather condition than at fair weather
conditions. As a consequence of the SNR
variations the probability of error is also variable
and considerably affects the reliability of digital
communications
These attain results are very important as they
provide solid basis for investigation into channel
coding techniques in the digital PLC
communications.
In conclusion, the method of analyzing
corona has been demonstrated by using examples
of experiments that have already been
conducted. The paper has shown that corona can
be investigated using observations, through
which one can observe the corona inception on
the conductor surfaces. The use of an
oscilloscope for observing and obtaining corona
wave forms has also been demonstrated. These
wave forms can be analyzed further, although
this has not been done at this stage of the
research. The study of the corona currents and
radio noise levels have so far, been useful in
understanding corona behavior of HVDC power
lines.
References

1. INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISION, IEC REPORT (1980) Planning of
(single-side band) power line carrier systems.
Geneva.
2. CIGRE STUDY COMMITTEE 35 Working
Group 09 (2000) Report on Digital Power Line
Carrier.
3. D.C.Smith,The major Control and Protection
Functions of the Telecommunication System
Installed on the Cahora Bassa- Apollo Scheme.
4. F. Venter , Class Notes on HVDC Systems
Design and Operation,Durban, May 2001
5. M.S.Naidu, V.Kamaraju.High Voltage
Engineering,2nd ed..McGraw-Hill,1995.
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Engineering,Khanna Publisher,1982.
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Design and Operation,Durban, July 2001.
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Carrier,CIGRE,Paris,1979.