Corona Discharge (H3)

Dr. Ahmed Saber

Electrical Power Engineering Department

Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University

2020-2021
 Contents
1. Theory of Corona Formation
2. Positive and Negative Corona
3. Critical Disruptive Voltage
4. Visual Voltage
5. Spark (Breakdown) Voltage
6. Power Loss Due to Corona
7. Disadvantages of Corona
8. Corona Applications
9. Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
10. Experiment
 Theory of Corona Formation
• Corona discharge is a partial discharge occurred in air due to
highly concentrated electric field (non-uniform field), and is
accompanied by a hissing sound, production of ozone, power
loss, and radio interference.
 Theory of Corona Formation
The figure illustrate a pointed electrode carrying a high negative
voltage with respect to ground.

1) Neutral atom or molecule in strong electric field region is

ionized by a natural event (i.e., by an ultraviolet photon or
cosmic ray particle), to create a positive ion and a free electron.

2) Electric field accelerates these oppositely charged particles in

opposite directions preventing their recombination.

3) Electron has a much higher charge/mass ratio, and so is

accelerated to a higher velocity than positive ion.
 Theory of Corona Formation
 It gains enough energy from the field so that when it strikes
another atom, another electron will be liberated.

 These electrons are accelerated and collide with other atoms,

creating further free electrons (electron avalanche).

 Positive and negative coronas rely on electron avalanches.

 In a positive corona, all electrons are attracted towards

positive electrode, and ions are repelled away from it.

 In a negative corona, ions are attracted towards electrode,

and electrons are repelled away from it.
 Theory of Corona Formation
5) At a certain distance from electrode, electric field becomes
low enough that it no longer provides enough energy to
electrons to ionize atoms when they collide.

 This is the outer edge of the corona. Outside this, the ions
move through the air without creating new ions.

 The outward moving ions are attracted to the opposite

electrode and eventually reach it and combine with electrons
from the electrode to become neutral atoms again,
completing the circuit.
 Positive and Negative Corona
• +ve corona is manifested as a uniform plasma across
conductor length (blue/white glow).

• Plasma uniformity in +ve corona is caused by homogeneous

source of secondary avalanche electrons.

• Photons are emitted due to d-excitation processes occurring

within the plasma after electron collisions.

• Accordingly, Secondary electrons are generated mostly in the

fluid itself (outside plasma or avalanche region) by ionization
caused by emitted photons.
 Positive and Negative Corona
• Then these electrons are electrically attracted back towards
the electrode (attracted into the plasma), and further
avalanches are created inside the plasma.

• While -ve corona is manifested in a non-uniform corona.

• It often appears as tufts at sharp edges, the number of tufts

altering with the strength of the electric field.

• It appears a little larger than corresponding +ve corona, as

electrons are allowed to drift out of ionizing region, and so
plasma continues some distance beyond it.
 Positive and Negative Corona
• Total number of electrons and electron density in +ve corona
is lower than that in corresponding -ve corona.

• This is because, electrons from ionized neutral gas are not

useful in sustaining -ve corona process (generating secondary
electrons for further avalanches), as electrons move away
from -ve electrode.

• Instead, secondary electrons are mainly generated by

photoelectric effect (electrons are emitted from electrode
surface when electromagnetic radiation, such as light, hits it).
 Positive and Negative Corona
• Required energy to liberate electrons from electrode surface
is considerably lower than air ionization energy.

• In addition, collision of +ve ions with electrode can also cause

electron liberation.

• Electrons in +ve corona are concentrated close to electrode

surface (electrons have high energy).

• Electrons in -ve corona are in outer regions (lower energy).

• Therefore, +ve corona are used in applications, which requires

high activation energy.
 Positive and Negative Corona
• -ve corona is preferred for ozone production (required
relatively low energy).

• Difference between +ve and -ve corona is related to

generation of secondary electron avalanches.

• In +ve corona, they are generated by the gas surrounding the

plasma region, and new secondary electrons travelling
towards +ve electrode.

• In a -ve corona, they are generated by electrode itself, and

new secondary electrons travelling away from -ve electrode.
 Critical Disruptive Voltage
• It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which corona
occurs (noise).

• Consider two conductors of radius (r) cm and spaced (d) cm

apart.

• If V is the phase-neutral potential, then potential gradient at

the conductor surface is given by:
𝑽
𝑬= 𝒅 𝒌𝑽/𝒄𝒎
𝒓×𝐥𝐧
𝒓

• In order that corona is formed, the value of E must be equal to

the breakdown strength of air.
 Critical Disruptive Voltage
• Breakdown strength of air (𝐸0 ) at pressure of 76 cm-Hg and
temperature of 25⁰C is 30 kV/cm (max) or 21.2 kV/cm (rms).

• If 𝑉𝑐 is the required phase-neutral potential under these

conditions:
𝑽𝒄
 𝑬𝟎 = 𝒅 𝒌𝑽/𝒄𝒎
𝒓 𝒍𝒏
𝒓

• Thus, RMS Critical disruptive voltage:

𝒅
 𝑽𝒄 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟐𝒓 𝒍𝒏 𝒌𝑽
𝒓

• The above expression for disruptive voltage is under standard

conditions at 𝑃0 =76 cm-Hg and 𝑡0 = 25⁰C.
 Critical Disruptive Voltage
• If these conditions vary, air density also changes, thus,
altering the value of 𝐸0 .

• Thus, for a pressure (P) cm-Hg and temperature (t), the air
density factor (𝛿) will be:

𝑷 𝒕𝟎 :𝟐𝟕𝟑
𝜹= ×
𝑷𝟎 𝒕:𝟐𝟕𝟑

• For three phase lines, with equilateral spacing, it can be

shown that the stress is still given by the same expression
when V is the voltage to neutral and d is the equilateral
spacing.
 Critical Disruptive Voltage
• Correction must be made for surface condition of conductor.

• This is accounted for by multiplying the above expression by

irregularity factor (𝑚0 ), Accordingly:

𝒅
 𝑽𝒄 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟐𝒎𝟎 𝜹𝒓 𝒍𝒏 𝒌𝑽/𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆
𝒓

• 𝑚0 = 1 for polished conductors.

• 𝑚0 = 0.98 to 0.92 for dirty conductors.

• 𝑚0 = 0.87 to 0.8 for stranded conductors.

 Visual Voltage
• It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which corona glow
appears along the line conductors.

• This occurs at higher voltage (>𝑉𝑐 ), and it is given by the

following empirical formula:

𝟎.𝟑 𝒅
 𝑽𝒗 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟐𝒎𝒗 𝜹𝒓 𝟏 + 𝒍𝒏 𝒌𝑽/𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆
𝜹𝒓 𝒓

• where 𝑚𝑣 is another irregularity factor having a value of 1.0

for polished conductors and 0.72 to 0.82 for rough
conductors.
 Spark (Breakdown Voltage)
• It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which the spark or
breakdown occurs.

• This occurs at higher voltage (>𝑉𝑣 ), and it is given by the

following empirical formula:

𝟎.𝟏 𝒅 𝒅
 𝑽𝒔 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟐𝒎𝒔 𝜹𝒓 𝟏 + × 𝒍𝒏 𝒌𝑽/𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆
𝜹𝒓 𝒓 𝒓

• where 𝑚𝑠 is another irregularity factor.

 Power loss due to corona
• Formation of corona is always accompanied by energy loss,
which is dissipated in the form of light, heat, sound, and
chemical action.

• When disruptive voltage is exceeded, the power loss due to

corona is given by :
𝒇:𝟐𝟓 𝒓 𝟐
 𝑷 = 𝟐𝟒𝟐. 𝟐 𝑽 − 𝑽𝒄 × 𝟏𝟎;𝟓 𝒌𝑾/𝒌𝒎/𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆
𝜹 𝒅

• Where f is the supply frequency (Hz), V is phase-neutral

voltage (kVrms), and Vc is disruptive voltage (kVrms) per
phase.
 Disadvantages of Corona
1) Power loss.

2) Ozone is produced by corona, and may cause corrosion of the

conductor due to chemical action.

3) Radio interference with neighboring communication lines.

4) Mechanical vibration of lines.

5) Source of Noise.
 Corona Applications
1) Sanitization of pool water: Ozone neutralizes contaminants by
releasing oxygen atoms, which combine with foreign substances
such as bacteria to change or destroy them.

2) Electrostatic precipitator: It removes fine particles, like dust

and smoke, from a flowing gas using the force of an induced
electrostatic charge.

3) Ozone production.

4) Van De Graff generator.

 Corona Applications
5) Photocopying:

 The photoconductive surface (a poor conductor of electricity

in the dark but becomes a reasonably good conductor when
exposed to light) placed on the drum is given a positive
electrostatic charge in the dark.

 The charge is positive and distributed uniformly as the drum

rotates under the wire.

 The page to be copied is then projected onto the charged

surface.
 Corona Applications
 Photoconductive surface becomes conducting only in areas,
where the light strikes.

 As the light produces charge carriers on it, therefore,

neutralizing the positive charges surface.

 Since charges remain on those regions, which are not exposed

to light, a hidden image of the object is now in the form of a
positive surface charge distribution.

 This surface is then covered with a negatively charged a toner.

 The image is then transferred to the surface of paper sheet,

which is positively charged and then finally fixed by heat.
 Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
1) Increasing conductor spacing: it is restricted by mechanical
design considerations, tower cost, and right of way.

2) Using corona ring: Corona may appear around clamps and

metal fittings due to concentration of electric field.

 Corona ring can be used to prevent corona from developing,

which may lead to degradation of insulating materials.
 Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
3) Increasing conductor size (tower cost and conductor cost).

 It is clear that the corona has a significant impact on the size

of the overhead conductor.

 There is no specification for the permissible surface field

strength for outdoor installations.

 Generally, the value is 16…19 kV/cm, in individual cases up to

21 kV/cm is approved.

 The surface field strength E can be calculated with the

following formula:
 Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
𝑼 𝜷
𝑬= ×
𝟑 𝒂 𝟐𝒉
𝒓 ×𝐥𝐧 ×
𝒓𝒆 𝟒𝒉𝟐 +𝒂𝟐
𝟏: 𝒏;𝟏 𝒓/𝒓𝒕
𝜷=
𝒏

𝒏
 𝒓𝒆 = 𝒏 × 𝒓 × 𝒓𝒏;𝟏
𝒕
𝒂𝒕
 𝒓𝒕 =
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝝅/𝒏

• Where 𝐸 is the electrical surface field strength.

• 𝛽 is the multiple conductor factor

• U is the nominal voltage

• r is the conductor radius.

 Methods of Reducing Corona Effect
• 𝑟𝑡 is the radius of the bundle.

• 𝑟𝑒 is the equivalent radius of bundle conductor.

• 𝑎𝑡 is the centre-to-centre distance of sub-conductors.

• a is the centre-to-centre distance of main conductors.

• h is the conductor height above ground.

• n is the number of sub-conductors per bundle.

 Example 1
• Overhead conductor with Al/St 4 × 560/50 mm2 at a medium
height of 9.5 m above ground: U = 380 kV, r = 1.61 cm, 𝑎𝑡 = 10
cm, a = 500 cm.

Solution:
10
 𝑟𝑡 = = 7.07 𝑐𝑚
2 sin 𝜋/4
4
 𝑟𝑒 = 4 × 1.61 × 7.073 = 6.91 𝑐𝑚
1: 4;1 1.61/7.07
𝛽 = = 0.42
4
380 0.42
𝐸 = × = 13.5 kV/cm
3 500 2∗950
1.61∗ln ×
6.91 4∗9502 +5002

• The calculated value is within the permissible limits.

 Example 2
• A 3-phase, 220 kV, 50 Hz transmission line consists of 1.5 cm
radius conductor spaced 2 m apart in equilateral triangular
formation. If the temperature is 40⁰C and atmospheric
pressure is 76 cm-Hg, calculate the corona loss per km of the
line. Take 𝑚0 = 0.85.

Solution:
25:273 200
 𝑉𝑐 = 21.2 × 0.85 × × 1.5 × ln = 125.9 𝑘𝑉
40:273 1.5

50:25 1.5 2
 𝑃 = 242.2 220/ 3 − 125.9 × 10;5
298/(40:273) 200

 𝑃 = 0.0206 𝑘𝑊/𝑘𝑚/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒
 Experiment
 The setup is considered as a transmission line of two parallel
conductor separated by a distance (d).

 It is required to obtain the (Voltage-distance) values in the

case of Audible noise, visual corona, and Breakdown.
Distance Vc (Audible) Vv (Visual) Vs (Breakdown)
d1
d2
d3