TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

EEE 471

Avijit Saha
Lecturer, Dept. of EEE, UIU

Corona Effect of Transmission Line

What is Corona?
 When voltage between two parallel
conductors increases beyond a certain limit,
the conductors are surrounded by a faint
purple glow accompanied by a hissing sound
and production of ozone; this phenomenon is
known as corona.
Theory of Corona Formation
 Under normal condition, air contains some ionized
particles. (e.g. free electrons & +ve ions) and neutral
molecules.
 When voltage is applied, a potential gradient is set
up in the air which increases the velocity of free
electrons.
 When excessive voltage beyond a limit (30 kV/cm) is
applied, the velocity acquired by the free electrons is
sufficient to strike a neutral molecule with enough
force to dislodge a free electron from it.
Theory of Corona Formation
 This produces another ion and one or more
free electrons which in turn are accelerated
until they collide with other neutral molecules
thus producing other ions.
 The process of ionization is cumulative and
consequently results in corona.
 Corona effect ionizes air, which wastes power,
generates unwanted audible noise and
interferes with communication systems.
Theory of Corona Formation
 The higher the voltage is raised, the larger and
the luminous envelope becomes, and greater are
the sound, power loss and radio noise.
 If the applied voltage increases beyond
breakdown value flash-over will occur between
the conductors due to insulation breakdown of air.
 For smooth and polished conductor, corona
formation will be uniform. Otherwise, rough points
will appear brighter.
 For DC lines, +ve wire will produce uniform glow
and –ve wire will produce spotty glow.
Factors Affecting Corona
 Atmosphere: At cloudy weather, due to the
presence of more ions in the air corona occurs
at a lower voltage compared to fair weather.
 Conductor: A stranded conductor has
irregular surface and hence produces more
corona than a solid conductor. Larger radius
results in less corona
 Spacing: Larger spacing decreases di-electric
stress and hence avoids corona formation.
 Line voltage: Corona increases with increase
in line voltage.
Critical Disruptive Voltage
 It the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which
corona occurs.
 If two conductors each of radius r cm are
spaced by d cm and applied phase-neutral
voltage is V volts, then the potential gradient at
the conductor surface is given by,
Critical Disruptive Voltage
 For corona to occur, the potential gradient
must be made equal to breakdown voltage of
air (30 kV/cm, 21.2 kV/cm rms) and denoted
by go.
Critical Disruptive Voltage
 Breakdown strength of air depends on air pressure and
temperature.

 Correction also must be made to include irregularity factor

mo.
Visual Critical Voltage
 It the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which
corona glow appears all along the line
conductors.
 The phase-neutral effective value of visual
critical voltage,

 mv = 1 for solid, mv = 0.72 to 0.82 for rough

conductors.
Power Loss
 Corona is accompanied by power loss in the
form of light, heat, sound, and chemical
reaction.
Pros & Cons of Corona
Ways of Reducing Corona
Numerical Problem
Assignment 3(ii)
 Example 8.16
 Tutorial 1 to 3