Power

Systems 3rd year Lecture (6) 1

Corona Loss

6.1 Corona

The phenomenon of violet glow, hissing noise and production of ozone gas in an overhead
transmission line is known as corona.

When the potential gradient at the conductor service reached about 30kV/cm (max value) at
standard whether conditions (76cmHg and 25oC) , the insulation surrounding the conductor surface
(air) partially discharged (ionized) , this may result in either corona or a flash over takes place
between the conductors.

Corona produce power loss and radio interference as well as ozone gas production.

6.2 Mathematical Expressions

I. Critical Disruptive Voltage :

It represents the minimum phase voltage at which corona occur

𝑑
𝑉" = 𝑔% 𝑟 𝑙𝑛 𝑘𝑉/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 (1)
𝑟

Where go is the breakdown strength of air at standard whether conditions (30kV/cm max or
21.2kV/cm r.m.s as electrical field intensity).

Equation (1) is used for solid conductors at standard whether conditions.

Ø If the pressure or temperature of atmosphere is changed the air density will changed and
hence an air density correction factor d must be included in the above expression to estimate
the new breakdown voltage as in the following

𝑑
𝑉" = 𝑔% 𝛿 𝑟 𝑙𝑛 𝑘𝑉/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 (2)
𝑟
3.92𝑏
Where 𝛿 =
273+𝑡

Where b is the barometric pressure in cm of mercury

Equation (2) is used for solid conductors at non-standard whether conditions.

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 Power Systems 3rd year Lecture (6) 2

Ø If the service of the conductor is not polished, i.e the case of stranded or dirty conductors then
an irregularity factor mo must be used and hence equation (2) is revised into the following
final expression:

𝑑
𝑉" = 𝑚% 𝑔% 𝛿 𝑟 𝑙𝑛 𝑘𝑉/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 (3)
𝑟

1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

where 𝑚% = 0.92 − 0.98 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
0.8 − 0.87 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

Equation (3) is used for non-solid or dirty conductors at non-standard whether

conditions.

II. Visual Critical Voltage :

It represents the minimum phase voltage at which corona glow appear all along the line
conductor.
Practically the corona is not appear at Vc , It is shown in higher voltage level Vv called visual
critical voltage. The effective value of this voltage is given by the following expression:

0.3 𝑑
𝑉H = 𝑚H 𝑔% 𝛿 𝑟 1 + 𝑙𝑛 𝑘𝑉/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 (4)
𝛿 𝑟 𝑟

where mv is another irregularity factor of the values :

1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

𝑚H =
0.72 − 0.82 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

III. Power Loss due to corona :

When corona occur , energy is dissipated in the form of light , heat , sound and chemical
reaction , the electrical power loss is expressed as in the following :

𝑓 + 25 𝑟
𝑃 = 242.2 𝑉 − 𝑉" L ×10NO 𝑘𝑊/𝑘𝑚/𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 (5)
𝛿 𝑑

where

f = supply frequency in HZ ,

V= Phase voltage (r.m.s)

Vc = critical disruptive voltage (per phase r.m.s)

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 Power Systems 3rd year Lecture (6) 3

6.3 Factors Affecting Corona

A. Whether Conditions
In stormy whether the number of ions is more than normal and hence corona occurs at much
less critical disruptive voltage as compared with fair whether . Due to this fact , corona is
affected by the physical state of atmosphere.
B. Conductor Shape and Size
It is clear from eq (3) and eq(4) that if the conductor size is small it will give rise to more
corona . Similarly, the use of rough, unpolished or stranded conductors increase the
probability of occurrence of corona as compared with solid conductors.
C. Spacing Between Conductors
It is shown by eq(3) and eq(4) that the voltages are directly proportional to the conductor
spacing (d) and hence when using ( larger space between conductor / conductor radius ) will
reduce the corona occurrence.
D. Line Voltage
The corona is strongly affected by the line voltage, when using lower voltage levels in
overhead transmission lines (<33kV) there is no chance to form the corona since the voltage
stress (electrical field intensity kV/cm) is low , and via versa for higher voltage levels ( 132 kV
, 220 kV , 400kV and more) the corona occurred in higher ratio.

6.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of Corona

v Advantages:
1. When corona occur, the air surrounding the conductor becomes conducting and hence the
virtual diameter of the conductor is increased result in higher current flow. Unfortunately it
is an instant state and cannot be continued for all operation period.
Also when the diameter is increased the inductance decreased and hence X in decreased result
in an improvement in SSSL .
2. The coronal reduces the effect of surges
v Disadvantages:
1. Power Loss
2. Radio interference due to non-sinusoidal wave form produced
3. Conductor oxidization (corrosion) is achieved while producing ozone gas.

Al-Mamon College / Department of Electrical Power Techniques Engineering – Dr Azhar M. Al-Rawi 3

 Power Systems 3rd year Lecture (6) 4

6.5 How to Reduce Corona

corona can adversely affect the power transmission, and hence technical steps should be taken into
account to limit the probability of occurrence. The coronal adverse impacts can be reduced by
performing the following methods:

1. Increasing the conductor size.

As discussed in section 6.3 B , but it is not a practical solution since it is very difficult to
manufacture and install large diameter conductors.
2. Increasing the conductor spacing.
As discussed in section 6.3 C , and it is also not a practical nor economical solution.
3. By using bundled conductors.
Which represents the best solution to reduce the corona and hence its adverse impacts.

Example:

A 3-phase , 220 kV , 50 Hz , 300 km , transmission line consists of 1.5 cm radius stranded rough
conductor , the conductor spacing is 2m , if the ambient temperature is 40oC and the atmospheric
pressure is 760 turr , estimate the corona critical disruptive voltage and the total corona loss.

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