Chapter Six

Corona and Radio Interference

1
Introduction
The literal meaning of Corona is “a bright circle seen
around the sun or the moon.”
This term is borrowed to describe partial discharge
that developed in the presence of high electric field.
When an alternating potential difference is applied
across two conductors whose spacing is large in
comparison with the diameter, then the air
surrounding the conductor is subjected to electro-
static stress.

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This stress is maximum at the surface of the conductor
and then decreases in inverse proportion to the
distance from the center of the conductor.
If this potential difference is gradually increased, a
point will be reached when a faint luminous glow of
violet color will make its appearance and at the same
time a hissing noise will be heard.
This phenomenon is called corona and is
accompanied by the formation of ozone, as is
indicated by the characteristic odor of this gas.

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If the potential difference is further increased, the
glow and the noise will increase in intensity until
eventually a spark-over will take place.
Corona is accompanied by power loss, which is in the
form of heat, light, sound and chemical action.
In case of AC systems, current flow due to corona is
non-sinusoidal and in practice this non-sinusoidal
current and non-sinusoidal voltage drop by corona
may be more important than the power loss.

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The effect of corona can be summarized as follows:
It is accompanied by power loss.
A luminous violet glow is observed around the
conductor.
This glow is much brighter over rough and dirty
surfaces of the conductor.
It produces a hissing noise.
It produces ozone gas which can be readily detected
by its characteristic odor.

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Potential Gradient for a Single Phase Line
 Radius of each conductor is r.

The potential gradient at a point P, x distance from

conductor 1 is given by:
𝐺=𝐺 1 −𝐺 2
 

Whereis voltage gradient at point P due to charge +q

on conductor 1 and is voltage gradient at point P due
to charge –q on conductor 2.
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We know that:
  𝑞
𝐺 1= volt / m
2 𝜋 𝜀0 𝑥
  −𝑞
𝐺 2= volt / m
2 𝜋 𝜀 0 ( 𝐷 − 𝑥)
Therefore,
  𝑞 𝑞
𝐺= + volt / m
2 𝜋 𝜀 0 𝑥 2 𝜋 𝜀 0 ( 𝐷 − 𝑥)

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 The voltage gradient is maximum at the surface of the
conductor, where x=r.
  volt/m

Since D is large compared with r, approximately:

  volt/m

Potential differencebetween the conductors of a single

phase line is:

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   𝑞 𝐷
𝑉 12=
𝜋 𝜀0 ( )
ln
𝑟
𝑉
  𝑞 𝐷
ln ( )
12
=
𝑟 𝜋𝜀 𝑟 0 𝑟
 𝑉 12 𝐷
𝑟
=2𝐺 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ln
𝑟 ( )
Therefore:
  𝑉 12
𝐺 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝐷
2 𝑟 ln ( )
𝑟
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Potential Gradient for a Three Phase Line
Let Ga, Gb and Gc denote the voltage gradients at the
surfaces of the conductors in phases a, b and c
respectively.   𝑞𝑎
=𝑟 . 𝐺 𝑎
2 𝜋 𝜀0

  𝑞𝑏
=𝑟 . 𝐺 𝑏
2 𝜋 𝜀0
  𝑞𝑐
=𝑟 . 𝐺 𝑐
2 𝜋 𝜀0
𝑞 𝑎 +𝑞 𝑏 +𝑞 𝑐 =0
 
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 The voltage is given by:
 

  (
Similarly:

  (

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 3 𝑉 𝑎𝑛=𝑉 𝑎𝑏+ 𝑉 𝑎𝑐
 

For a transposed line:

  (

  (
But:
𝑞 𝑎 +𝑞 𝑏 +𝑞 𝑐 =0
 

2 𝜋 𝜀 0 𝑟 𝐺𝑎 +2 𝜋 𝜀 0 𝑟 𝐺 𝑏+ 2 𝜋 𝜀 0 𝑟 𝐺𝑐 =0
 

𝐺 𝑎 +𝐺 𝑏 +𝐺 𝑐 =0
 

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   𝐷 𝑒𝑞
3 𝑉 𝑎𝑛 =3 𝑟 𝐺 𝑎 ln
Therefore:  
𝑟 ( )
𝑉 𝑎𝑛
𝐺𝑎 =
𝐷 𝑒𝑞

 
𝑟𝑙𝑛( )𝑟
𝑉 𝑏𝑛
𝐺𝑏 =
𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑟𝑙𝑛( )𝑟
  𝑉 𝑐𝑛
𝐺𝑐 =
𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑟𝑙𝑛( )
𝑟 13
 Disruptive Critical Voltage for a Single
Phase Transmission Line
The minimum voltage at which complete disruption of
air occurs and corona starts is called the disruptive
critical voltage.
The potential gradient corresponding to this value of
the voltage is called disruptive critical voltage gradient.
  𝑞 𝐷
𝑉 12=
𝜋 𝜀0
ln ( )
𝑟
  𝑞
𝐺 𝑟 =𝐺 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2 𝜋 𝜀 0𝑟
  𝐷
𝑉 12 =2 𝐺 𝑟 𝑟 ln( )
𝑟 14
 The breakdown strength of air at a pressure of and
temperature of is (peak).
Let:

Then:

  𝐷
𝑉 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =2 𝑟 𝐺
° ❑
❑𝑚𝑎𝑥 ( )
ln
𝑟
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But:
 𝐺 ° ❑ 6 𝑉
❑𝑚𝑎𝑥 =3 × 10
𝑚
Therefore:
  𝐷
𝑉 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =6 × 10 × 𝑟 ln
𝑟
6
( )
The R.M.S. value of the disruptive critical voltage for
single phase line is given by:
 
1 𝑉 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐷
𝑉 0= =
√2 √2
6
× 6 ×10 ×𝑟 ln
𝑟 ( )
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 Disruptive Critical Voltage for a Three
Phase Transmission Line
 Let:  𝑉 𝑛 =|𝑉 𝑎𝑛|=|𝑉 𝑏𝑛|=|𝑉 𝑐𝑛|
  𝐷 𝑒𝑞
( )
𝑉 𝑛 =𝑟 𝐺 𝑟 ln
𝑟
If , then .
  𝐷 𝑒𝑞 𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑉 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =𝑟 𝐺 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ln
𝑟 ( ) 6
=3 ×10 ×rln
𝑟 ( )
The R.M.S. value of the disruptive critical voltage for
three phase line is given by:
 
1 𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑉 0=
√2
6
×3 ×10 ×rln
𝑟 ( ) 17
 Formula for Disruptive Critical Voltage
Suggested by F.W.Peek
 Based on experimental data, Peek suggested that the
disruptive critical voltage is directly proportional to
the air density factor over a considerable range.
The air density factor at a pressure of and temperature
of can be given as:   0.392 𝑝
For single phase line: 𝛿=
(273+𝑡 )
  6 ×106 𝐷
𝑉 0=
√2 ( )
𝑟 𝛿 𝑚 0 ln
𝑟
For three phase line:
 
3 × 10
6
𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑉 0=
√2 ( )
𝑟 𝛿 𝑚 0 ln
𝑟 18
 When conductor surface is rough and dirty, disruptive
critical voltage is somewhat less.
To consider this effect a factor [called irregularity
factor or surface factor or roughness factor] must be
used.
The approximate value of given by F.W. Peek are as
follows:
𝑚0=1.0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑡h , 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑠h𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
 

𝑚0=0.80𝑡𝑜 0.87 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

 
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Visual Critical Voltage
 Visual luminous glow of corona generally occurs at a
voltage higher than the disruptive critical voltage.
Voltage gradient 30kV/cm will cause ionization when
this value is reached at a distance of from the
conductor axis, where r is in meters.
The expression of the visual critical voltages for single
phase and three phase lines can be given as when the
effects of irregularity of the surface of the conductor
and air density factor are considered

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
For
  a single phase line:
  6 ×106 0.0301 𝐷
𝑉 𝑣=
√2
𝑚 𝑣 𝑟 𝛿 1+
( √𝑟 𝛿
ln
𝑟 ) ( )
For a three phase line:
  3× 10
6
0.0301 𝐷 𝑒𝑞
𝑉 𝑣=
√2 (
𝑚 𝑣 𝑟 𝛿 1+
√𝑟 𝛿
ln
𝑟) ( )
Where is roughness or irregularity factor.
1.0 for smooth conductor.
0.70 to 0.75 for local corona when the effect is first visible at
some places along the line.
0.80 to 0.85 for general corona along the whole length of the
conductor.
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Corona Power Loss
 Estimation of accurate corona loss is very difficult
because of its extremely variable nature.
It has been found that corona loss under fair weather
conditions is very small as compared to the losses
found under foul weather conditions.
According to F.W. Peek, under fair weather conditions:
  kW/km/phase
Note that: (for single phase)

  (for three phase)

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Where:
𝑃𝐶 =𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
 

 𝑓 =𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 (𝐻𝑧)

𝛿=𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

 

 𝑉 𝑛 =𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑉

 𝑉 =𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑟𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝h𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑉
0
 𝑟=𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠)
 

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 Peek’s formula for corona loss is valid when corona
losses are predominant and the ratio is greater than
1.8.
When this ratio is less than 1.8, the following formula
known as Peterson’s formula, gives better results:
  kW/km/phase

The factor is called the corona loss function and it

varies with the ratio .

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Where:
𝑃𝐶 =𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
 

 𝑓 =𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 (𝐻𝑧)

 𝑉 =𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑉

𝑛

𝑟=𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠)

 

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Effect of Corona on Line Design
 Transmission lines are designed in such a way that the
corona loss is small enough in fair weather condition
because it reduces the efficiency of the lines.
If disruptive critical voltage of about 10% more than
the operating voltage, then it is acceptable even
though some corona loss will take place under foul
weather condition.
An increase in and increases the disruptive critical
voltage, thus reduces the corona loss but increases the
cost.

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Reading Assignment
Advantages and disadvantages of corona in
transmission lines
Factors affecting corona loss
Methods to reduce corona loss
Radio interference

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