Lecture Outcomes

By the end of this lecture, the students should be able to:

1) Identify the factors affecting Corona in transmission lines

2) Describe the methods of reducing Corona effect.

3) Solve complex engineering problem related to Corona Loss in

high voltage transmission and distribution systems.
 What is Corona?
Conductor spacing >> Conductor diameter
At low voltage, no apparent change in the condition
of atmospheric air surrounding the wires.

When,
Applied voltage > critical disruptive voltage,
the conductors are surrounded by a
faint violet glow called corona.

Corona is accompanied by

Hissing Radio
Sound Interference
Ozone Power
Production Loss
 Phenomena of Corona
Neutral molecule
No voltage
Voltage
applied to the
applied
conductor

Potential
Electron get Gradient
charged and hit a
molecule, hence
more ion will
produce Ionization
 Factors Affecting Corona

1) Atmosphere: Affected by physical state of atmosphere.

2) Conductor Size: Rough, irregular surface will give rise

to more Corona (uneven surface decreases breakdown
voltage)

3) Spacing between conductors: Larger spacing causes

reduction of electro-static stress at conductor surface,
thus reduce Corona effect.

4) Line Voltage: Very unlike to form Corona at lower

voltage.
 Important Terms
Critical Disruptive Voltage

It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which corona occurs.

Consider two conductors of radii r cm and spaced d

cm apart. If V is the phase-neutral potential, then
potential gradient at the conductor surface is given by:

After considering different factors, the critical disruptive voltage (phase-neutral)

becomes

mo = irregularity factor
go = air breakdown strength (at 76 cm of mercury and 25ºC)
= 30 kV/cm (max) or 21·2 kV/cm (r.m.s.)
δ = air density factor
 Important Terms
Visual Critical Voltage

It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which corona glow appears all

along the line conductors.

mv = irregularity factor
(value of 1·0 for polished conductors and 0·72 to 0·82 for rough conductors)

go = air breakdown strength (at 76 cm of mercury and 25ºC)

= 30 kV/cm (max) or 21·2 kV/cm (r.m.s.)

δ = air density factor

 Important Terms
Power Loss due to Corona

This corona loss is dissipated in the form of heat, light, sound and chemical
reaction.

Peek’s
formula

𝑽
Peek’s formula is used when > 𝟏. 𝟖
𝑽𝒄

In case of stormy weather the value of the critical disruptive voltage is taken as
80% of the actual critical disruptive voltage (0.8 𝑉𝑐 ) in the power calculation
formula as below:
 Important Terms…
Power Loss due to Corona

𝑽
However, when < 𝟏. 𝟖 Peterson’s formula is used
𝑽𝒄
Peterson’s for power loss calculation due to corona. Under fair weather,
formula

𝑽
Where, F is corona loss factor which varies with ratio as shown below
𝑽𝒄
 Advantages of Corona

1) Due to corona formation, electrostatic stresses between the conductors

become reduced.
2) Corona reduces the effects of transients produced by surges.

Disadvantages of Corona

1) Corona reduces the transmission efficiency

2) Ozone is produced by corona and may cause corrosion of the
conductor due to chemical action.
3) Corona may cause inductive interference with neighboring
communication lines (due to non sinusoidal current drawn by corona)
 Methods of Reducing Corona

 By increasing conductor size

 By increasing conductor spacing

 Using corona ring

 Tutorial
(Ref.: Principle of Power System, V.K. Mehta)
Example 8.13. A 3-phase line has conductors 2 cm in diameter spaced equilaterally
1 m apart. If the dielectric strength of air is 30 kV (max) per cm, find the disruptive
critical voltage for the line. Take air density factor δ = 0·952 and irregularity factor
mo = 0·9.
Example 8.14. A 132 kV line with 1·956 cm dia. conductors is built so that corona
takes place if the line voltage exceeds 210 kV (r.m.s.). If the value of potential
gradient at which ionization occurs can be taken as 30 kV per cm, find the spacing
between the conductors.

Assume smooth conductors (i.e., irregularity factor m = 1) and standard

o

pressure and temperature for which air density factor δ = 1. Let d cm be the
spacing between the conductors.
Example 8.15. A 3-phase, 220 kV, 50 Hz transmission line consists of 1·5 cm
radius conductor spaced 2 metres apart in equilateral triangular formation. If the
temperature is 40ºC and atmospheric pressure is 76 cm, calculate the corona loss
per km of the line. Take mo = 0·85.

Supply voltage per phase, V = 220/√3 = 127 kV

Substituting the above values, we have corona loss as:
Total corona loss per
km for 3-phases
= 3 × 0·01999 kW
= 0·05998 kW
Problem: A 3-phase, 50 Hz, 220 kV line consists of conductor with r=1cm, d=4m.
The lines have irregularity factor of mo = 0.96. Air pressure is 73 cm of Hg. and the
temperature is 20oC. Determine power loss due to corona.

The phase voltage

Therefore,

𝑉
Since < 1.8 so Peterson formula must be used for power loss calculation
𝑉𝑐
and the value to corona loss factor, F will be 0.05 (according to the chart)

Substituting all the values

in the following equation
 References:

1. Principle of Power System, V.K. Mehta

2. Elements of Power System Analysis, William D. Stevenson