Corona

Corona is defined as a self-sustained electric

discharge in which the field intensified ionization
is localized only over a portion of distance
between the electrodes (lines).
In practice, a flashover may occur with no or
very little corona if ratio of conductor spacing to
the radius is less than 15. This ratio is always
greater than 15 for over head lines.
Factors affecting corona loss
Number of ions.
Size and charge per ion.
Mean free path.
Line voltage.
d/r ratio.
State of the conductor surface.
Shape and size of the surface.
The above listed factors can be further classified in
to three subgroups.
1. Atmospheric factors.
(i) Temperature, pressure, dust and dirt, rain
and snow
2. Electric factors.
(i) Frequency and supply voltage
3. Condition of line.
(i) Conductor configuration, diameter of
conductor, profile of conductor, surface
condition, number of conductor per phase,
heating of conductor by load current and
conductor spacing.
Critical voltages

d
r A
B
P x
Neutral Plane
q Charge density at conductor A in
coloumb/m
r Radius of each conductor

The electric field intensity at point P
situated at x meter from the centre of the
first conductor A is



x
q
E
o
tc 2
=
The electric field intensity at point P from
the centre of conductor B having charge
density q coulomb/m (return path of
current I) is


Since both fields are in the same distance,
the total electricity field intensity at point P
is
( ) x d
q
E

=
o
tc 2
( ) x d x
qd
E
x

=
o
tc 2
If V1 is the voltage of the conductor with respect
to neutral plane,



Substituting the value of q/2o in the above two
equations
|
.
|

\
|

= =
}
r
r d q
dx E V
r
d
x
ln
2
0
2
1
tc
( ) ) (
ln
'
x d x
d
r
r d
V
E
x

=
( )
) (
ln
'
x d x
d
r
d
V
E
x

=
From the above equation it is clear that the field intensity
increases (gradient) as x decreases. The gradient is
maximum at the surface of the conductor



The potential gradient at which ionization takes place
under normal temperature (25
0
C) and pressure (76 cm
of Hg) and without impurities is equal to 30 KV (peak)/cm
or 21.1 KV (rms)/cm and is denoted by g
0
. Thus the
voltage required to ionize the air,

( )
( )
r
d
r
V
r d r
d
r
r d
V
g E
ln
'
) (
ln
'
max max
=

= =
r
d
rg V ln '
0
=
The dielectric strength of air at any temperature t
0
C and
pressure b cm of Hg will be given by g
0
, where is the
air density correction factor and define as




then


t
b
t
b
+
=
+
+
=
273
92 . 3
273
25 273
76
o
r
d
rg V ln '
0
o =
Critical disruptive voltage
Due to the irregularity of surface, dust and dirt on its
surface there is a reduction in the breakdown voltage.
Allowing the surface irregularity factor m of the wire and
the air density correction factor, the critical disruptive
voltage will be (phase to neutral)


The factor m lies between 0.8 and 1.0. The above
equation is valid only for fair weather condition. In case
of bad weather condition the value of Vc is decreased
considerably.

r
d
m rg V
c
ln
0
o =
Visual critical disruptive voltage
When the voltage increases further at some point, the
corona is visible. This voltage is called critical disruptive
voltage (V
v
). The gradient for critical visual corona is
denoted by g
v
. The distance between g
0
and g
v
is called
the energy distance.


For two wires in parallel, the visual critical voltage is
given by



d and r are in cm. m
v
= 0.72 for local corona and 0.82 for
general corona.

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
o
o
r
g g
v
3 . 0
1
0

KV/cm
r
d
r
r m
r
d
m rg V
v v v c
ln
3 . 0
1 1 . 21 ln
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = =
o
o

Corona loss
The ionized charges near the conductor surface take
energy from the supply system and thus there is a loss
of some energy due to corona.
Peeks empirical formula for corona loss under the fair
weather condition is




V
p
is the phase to neutral operating voltage in KV
f is the supply frequency in Hz

( )
2
5
25
10 241
C p c
V V
d
r f
X X P
+
=

o

KW/phase/Km
For storm weather, the value of critical disruptive voltage
is taken as 0.8V
c
. Thus approximate real power loss due
to corona under storm weather condition is



The empirical formula given by Peek gives correct
results if
Corona loss is predominant.
Frequency lies between 25 and 120 Hz.
Ratio V
p
/V
c
>1.8
The radius of conductor is greater than 0.25 cm.

( )
2
5
8 . 0
25
10 241
C p c
V V
d
r f
X X P
+
=

o
KW/phase/Km
When the ratio V
p
/V
c
is less than 1.8, then loss formula is
given by






Where F is the factor which varies with the ratio V
p
/V
c
.
( ) | |
F
r
d
fV X
P
c
2
2 6
ln
10 11066 . 1

=

KW/phase/Km