Corona Effects

I2R LOSS AND CORONA LOSS

• The average power-handling capacity of a 3-phase e.h.v. line and
percentage loss due to I 2R heating are
• When compared to the I2R heating loss, the average corona
losses on several lines from 345 kV to 750 kV gave 1 to 20 kW/km
in fair weather, the higher values referring to higher voltages.
• In foul-weather, the losses can go up to 300 kW/km. Since,
however, rain does not fall all through the year (an average is 3
months of precipitation in any given locality) and precipitation
does not cover the entire line length, the corona loss in kW/km
cannot be compared to I2R loss directly.
• A reasonable estimate is the yearly average loss which amounts
to roughly 2 kW/km to 10 kW/km for 400 km lines, and 20-40
kW/km for 800 km range since usually higher voltages are
necessary for the longer lines.
• Therefore, cumulative annual average corona loss amounts only to
10% of I2R loss, on the assumption of continuous full load carried.
• With load factors of 60 to 70%, the corona loss will be a slightly
higher percentage.
• Nonetheless, during rainy months, the generating station has to
supply the heavy corona loss and in some cases it has been the
experience that generating stations have been unable to supply full
rated load to the transmission line.
• Thus, corona loss is a very serious aspect to be considered in line
design.
• When a line is energized and no corona is present, the current is a
pure sine wave and capacitive.
• It leads the voltage by 90°, as shown in Figure.
• However, when corona is present, it calls for a loss component and a
typical waveform of the total current is as shown in Figure.
• When the two components are separated, the resulting in-phase
component has a waveform which is not purely sinusoidal, Figure.
• It is still a current at power frequency, but only the fundamental
component of this distorted current can result in power loss.
• CORONA-LOSS FORMULAE
• Corona-loss formulae were initiated by F.W. Peek Jr. in 1911 derived empirically
from most difficult and painstaking experimental work.
• Since then a horde of formulae have been derived by others, both from
experiments and theoretical analysis.
• They all yield the power loss as a function of
• (a) the corona-inception voltage, Vo;
• (b) the actual voltage of conductor, V;
• (c) the excess voltage (V — Vo) above Vo;
• (d) conductor surface voltage gradient, E;
• (e) corona-inception gradient, Eo;
• (f) frequency, f;
• (g) conductor size, d, and number of conductors in bundle, N, as
• well as line configuration;
• (h) atmospheric condition, chiefly rate of rainfall, r, and
• (i) conductor surface condition.
• In order to obtain corona-loss figures from e.h.v. conductor
configurations, outdoor experimental projects are established in
countries where such lines will be strung.
• The resulting measured values pertain to individual cases which
depend on local climatic conditions existing at the projects.
• It is therefore difficult to make a general statement concerning which
formula or loss figures fit coronal losses universally.
• Some formulas useful for evaluating 3-phase corona loss in kW/km,
which are particularly adopted for e.h.v. lines, and some which are
classic but cannot be used for e.h.v. lines since they apply only to
single conductors and not to bundles
CORONA AND CORONA LOSSES
• Corona is a luminous discharge in air surrounding a conductor/
accessories/ hardware/insulator due to ionization of air caused by
voltage gradient of +ve and –ve polarity at surface of conductor
exceeding certain critical value.
• Corona occurs mostly in new commissioned lines due to rough
surfaces of the conductor.
• Corona results in smoothening of conductor surface, therefore after
some time of operation corona discharge becomes less in Tx lines.
• Corona is accompanied by audible hissing sound, bluish visible glow
points and visible streamers, power loss, RI and TVI
• Corona problem increases at EHE and UHV levels and to limit it
bundled conductors and corona rings are employed.
• The corona levels are determined by the conductor surface electric
stress and electric strength of the air.
• Corona is dependent on weather, It is low in fair weather and high in
rainy and snow weather.
• Higher permissible corona loss reduces the cost of conductor but the
operating losses increases.
• The voltage at which corona begins is called Corona inception voltage.
Corresponding voltage stress is called inception voltage stress
(KVpeak/m)
• The electric field stress is maximum near conductor and rapidly
decreases nonuniformly with distance between conductor to ground.
• The maximum surface stress Ec causes ionization of surrounding air.
• Ec = actual voltage gradient in air at conductor surface, KV/m. This
depends upon the diameter of conductor and voltage of conductor.
• Ecr = Critical electrical stress, is the minimum value of voltage
gradient at conductor surface at which ionization of air begins
FACTORS AFFECTING CORONA
• The phenomenon of corona is affected by the physical state of the
atmosphere as well as by the conditions of the line. The following are the
factors upon which corona depends:
(I) ATMOSPHERE: As corona is formed due to ionization of air surrounding
the conductors, therefore, it is affected by the physical state of
atmosphere. In the stormy weather, the number of ions is more than
normal and as such corona occurs at much less voltage as compared with
fair weather.
(II) CONDUCTOR SIZE: The corona effect depends upon the shape and
conditions of the conductors.
The rough and irregular surface will give rise to more corona because
unevenness of the surface decreases the value of breakdown voltage. Thus
a stranded conductor has irregular surface and hence gives rise to more
corona that a solid conductor.
• (III) SPACING BETWEEN CONDUCTORS: If the spacing between the
conductors is made very large as compared to their diameters, there
may not be any corona effect. It is because larger distance between
conductors reduces the electro-static stresses at the conductor
surface, thus avoiding corona formation.

(IV) LINE VOLTAGE: The line voltage greatly affects corona. If it is low,
there is no change in the condition of air surrounding the conductors
and hence no corona is formed. However, if the line voltage has such
a value that electrostatic stresses developed at the conductor surface
make the air around the conductor conducting, then corona is
formed.
•Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
• Corona effects are observed at a working voltage
of 33 kV or above.
• Therefore, careful design should be made to
avoid corona on bus-bars rated for 33kV and
higher voltages.
• Otherwise, highly ionised air may cause flash-
over in the insulators or between the phases,
causing considerable damage to the equipment.
• The corona effects can be reduced by the following methods :
• By increasing conductor spacing : By increasing the spacing between
conductors, the voltage at which corona occurs is raised and hence
corona effects can be eliminated. However, spacing cannot be
increased too much otherwise, the cost of supporting structure may
increase to a considerable extent.
• By increasing conductor size: the voltage at which corona occurs is
raised and hence corona effects are considerably reduced.This is one
of the reasons that ACSR conductors which have a larger cross-
sectional area are used in transmission lines.
• Using Bundled conductors: use if bundled conductors produced a less
resistance and thats way losses are reduced.
• Advantages
• Corona effect reduces the effects of transients produced by surges.
• System performance is improved.
• The maximum electrostatic stress is reduced.
• Disadvantages
• power loss in increased.
• Corrosion on the conductor produced due to chemical action.
• Third harmonics are produced.