CORONA

When an alternating potential difference is applied across two conductors whose spacing is large as compared to their diameters, there is no apparent change in the condition of atmospheric air surrounding the wires if the applied voltage is low. However, when the applied voltage exceeds a certain value, called critical disruptive voltage, the conductors are surrounded by a faint violet glow called corona. The phenomenon of corona is accompanied by a hissing sound, production of ozone, power loss and radio interference. The higher the voltage is raised, the larger and higher the luminous envelope becomes, and greater are the sound, the power loss and the radio noise. If the applied voltage is increased to breakdown value, a flash-over will occur between the conductors due to the breakdown of air insulation If the conductors are polished and smooth, the corona glow will be uniform throughout the length of the conductor, otherwise the rough points will appear brighter. With d.c. voltage, there is difference in the appearance of the two wires. The positive wire has uniform glow about it, while the negative conductor has spotty glow.

Theory of corona formation

 Some ionisation is always present in air due to cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiations and radioactivity. Therefore, under normal conditions, the air around the conductors contains some ionised particles and neutral molecules. When p.d. is applied between the conductors, potential gradient is set up in the air which will have maximum value at the conductor surfaces. Under the influence of potential gradient, the existing free electrons acquire greater velocities. The greater the applied voltage, the greater the potential gradient and more is the velocity of free electrons. When the potential gradient at the conductor surface reaches about 30 kV per cm (max. value), the velocity acquired by the free electrons is sufficient to strike a neutral molecule with enough force to dislodge one or more electrons from it. This produces another ion and one or more free electrons, which is turn are accelerated until they collide with other neutral molecules, thus producing other ions. Thus, the process of ionisation is cummulative. The result of this ionisation is that either corona is formed or spark takes place between the conductors.

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 ionsiation 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.

Important Terms

The phenomenon of corona plays an important role in the design of an overhead transmission line. Therefore, it is profitable to consider the following terms much used in the analysis of corona effects:

(i)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:

In order that corona is formed, the value of g must be made equal to the breakdown strength of air. The breakdown strength of air at 76 cm pressure and temperature of 25ºC is 30 kV/cm (max) or 21·2 kV/cm (r.m.s.) and is denoted by go. If Vc is the phase-neutral potential required under these conditions, then,

The above expression for disruptive voltage is under standard conditions i.e., at 76 cm of Hg and 25ºC. However, if these conditions vary, the air density also changes, thus altering the value of go. The value of go is directly proportional to air density. Thus the breakdown strength of air at a barometric pressure of b cm of mercury and temperature of tºC becomes δ go where

Correction must also be made for the surface condition of the conductor. This is accounted for by multiplying the above expression by irregularity factor mo.

(ii) Visual critical voltage

It is the minimum phase-neutral voltage at which corona glow appears all along the line conductors. It has been seen that in case of parallel conductors, the corona glow does not begin at the disruptive voltage Vc but at a higher voltage Vv, called visual critical voltage. The phase-neutral effective value of visual critical voltage is given by the following empirical formula : where mV is another irregularity factor having a value of 1·0 for polished conductors and 0·72 to 0·82 for rough conductors.

(iii) 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:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Corona

Corona has many advantages and disadvantages. In the correct design of a high voltage overhead line, a balance should be struck between the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

(i)  Due to corona formation, the air surrounding the conductor becomes conducting and hence virtual diameter of the conductor is increased. The increased diameter reduces the electrostatic stresses between the conductors.

 (ii) Corona reduces the effects of transients produced by surges.

Disadvantages

(i)  Corona is accompanied by a loss of energy. This affects the transmission efficiency of the line.

(ii)   Ozone is produced by corona and may cause corrosion of the conductor due to chemical action.

(iii)   The current drawn by the line due to corona is non-sinusoidal and hence no sinusoidal voltage drop occurs in the line. This may cause inductive interference with neighboring communication lines.

Methods of Reducing Corona Effect

It has been seen that intense corona effects are observed at a working voltage of 33 kV or above. Therefore, careful design should be made to avoid corona on the sub-stations or bus-bars rated for 33 kV and higher voltages otherwise highly ionized 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

(i)By increasing conductor size.

 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.

(ii) 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 (e.g., bigger cross arms and supports) may increase to a considerable extent.