Laboratory Practice V (EE 3092)

CORONA CHARACTERISTICS

INSTRUCTED BY: Mr. M.K.C.D. Chinthaka

NAME INDEX NO FIELD GROUP DATE OF PER DATE OF SUB

: Arachchi T.M.L. : 090024H : EE : G1 : 05/07/2013 : 19/07/2013

Calculations
Calculation of theoretical values; Pressure :

Temperature : The correction factor =

Assuming, the conductor is smooth and polished (

* (

( )+

)+ (

( ) )

Phase Voltage (line to neutral) (kV) = E = 100kV Frequency of supply (Hz) = 50Hz ( ) ( )

0, rms

kW/Km/phase

PC = 88.85 kW/Km/phase

Calculations of practical values Corona characteristics of conductors: 1. The disruptive critical voltage:

2. Visual critical voltage :

3. Formation of visible corona throughout the conductor wire:

4. Final breakdown of the medium :

DISCUSSION
1. Explain the phenomenon of corona formation based on your observations. What is the impact of the phenomenon for high voltage overhead transmission lines? According to the observations, first could be able to hear a hissing noise which is increasing with the potential. When the voltage is increased furthermore, glowing visible violet tufts can be seen around the conductor. As the voltage is increased more, the visible violet glow is observed to be uniform on the conductor. The reasons for these observations are as follows, when the stress at the outer surface of the conductor is at a critical value and a high voltage is carried along the conductor the air surrounding the conductor gets ionized and this region would become conducting. At this voltage (disruptive critical voltage) hissing noise is heard. When the voltage is further increased, there are ionized molecules and molecules which have electrons of excited state. When the excited electrons discharge and give out excess energy in the form electromagnetic waves and light. When an alternating current is made to flow across two conductors of the transmission line whose spacing is large compared to their diameters, then air surrounding the conductors (composed of ions) is subjected to di-electric stress. At low values of supply end voltage, nothing really occurs as the stress is too less to ionize the air outside. But when the potential difference is made to increase beyond some threshold value of around 30 kV known as the critical disruptive voltage, then the field strength increases and then the air surrounding it experiences stress high enough to be dissociated into ions making the atmosphere conducting. This results in electric discharge around the conductors due to the flow of these ions, giving rise to a faint luminescent glow, along with the hissing sound accompanied by the liberation of ozone, which is readily identified due to its characteristic odor. If the voltage across the lines is still increased the glow becomes more and more intense along with hissing noise, inducing very high power loss into the system which must be accounted for.

2. What is the importance of the liquid resistor used in this experiment setup? At the breakdown of air, a very high current will flow through conductors. This high current will cause many damages to the equipments as well as human. So we must add high resistance to limit this current. The reason for using a liquid resistor for this cause is as it is cheap and the accuracy of the impedance value of the resistor is not significant as it is used to only to absorb energy during breakdown.

3. Comment on the theoretical values and practical values obtained during the experiment giving reasons. There are differences between the theoretical and the practical values obtained. The practical values observed in the practical are greater than the theoretical values obtained. There are many reasons causing the error. Measured diameter of the conductor, measured radius for the outer mesh may not be accurate. Human errors of reading the voltages at the instant of hearing the hissing noise, at the instance of seeing the visible corona can vary from person to person. Rounding errors during the calculations. Also the conductor is said to be smooth and polished, but it is roughened at some points. Changes of the temperature and pressure.