Corona Effect,

Interference of Power
with
Communication Lines
Corona Effect
 Corona
“ When the alternating potential between
two parallel conductors increases beyond
a certain limit, a point is reached when a
pale violet glow appears on the conductor
surface, and accompanied by a hissing
sound. This phenomenon is known as
Corona.”
(Electrical Power System Design by M V
Deshpande)
 Corona
“ When the potential gradient in a
particular conductor attains a critical
value of 30KV/cm or more, the air in
the immediate vicinity of the
conductors becomes conducting and
a hising sound is heard along with
vibration of the conductor. This
phenomenon is termed as Corona.”
(Electrical Power Systems, Theory and
Practice by M.N Bandyopadhyay)
 Corona
“ If the spacing between two conductors
is less than their diameters, and if the
applied potential between them is
gradually increased, a violet glow occurs
round the conductors, along with a hissing
sound, at a certain value of potential. This
phenomenon is known as Corona”
(A Text Book of Power by M L Anand)
 What is Corona?
“ Corona phenomenon is defined
as a self-sustained electric discharge
in which the field intensified
ionization is localized only over a
portion of the distance between the
electrodes”
(Electrical Power systems by C L Wadhwa)
 Corona
Keep in Mind:
 Corona is partial discharge*.
 Ionization of air between conductors
occurs.
 The air between the conductor
becomes conducting
 The minimum voltage at which the
corona occurs is called Disruptive
Critical Voltage.

* Partial discharge is an electrical discharge that does not

bridge the entire space between the two electrodes.
 Corona
Keep in Mind:
 A faint glow appears around the
conductors which is visible in dark
 There is acoustical noise. (Frying
Egg like )
 There is a tendency in the
conductors to vibrate.
 Ozone and oxides of nitrogen are
produced.
 There is a loss of power.
 There is radio interference.
Principle of Corona Formation:
In Short:
When the potential gradient reaches at 30kV/cm,
the velocity acquired by the free electrons is
sufficient to strike the neutral molecule with
sufficient force to dislodge one or more electrons
from it. These dislodged electrons and the previous
free electrons strike other neutral molecules and as
a result, a cumulative action occurs and that finally
destroys the insulating property of the air. The air
becomes conducting.
Principle of Corona Formation:

In Detail:
 The electrons and ions are always
present to a small extent in the
atmospheric air due to ionizing sources
such as cosmic rays, ultra-violet radiations
from the sun, radioactivity of the soil,
etc.
 When the electric field of uniform
intensity is established between the
conductors, these ions and free electrons
experience forces upon them, which is
proportional to the product of the field
intensity and charge on them.
 Principle of Corona Formation:
(Cont…)
 Due to this force, the ions and free electrons
get accelerated and move in opposite
directions.
 The charge particle during their motion collide
with one another and also with the very slow
moving uncharged molecules.
 The velocity acquired by a charged particle
at collision depends on its mass, charge and
the mean free path. By the mean free path is
meant the average distance travelled by a
particle without any collision.
Principle of Corona Formation:
(Cont…)
 The mean free path depends upon
the
 no. of molecules contained in
a unit volume of the air.
 size of molecules.
 temperature of air.
 pressure of air.
Principle of Corona Formation:
(Cont…)
 The velocity attained by a charged ion or
electron is sufficiently high to tear off one or
more electrons from the uncharged
molecules with which it makes collision,
thereby leaving one or more free electrons
and a new positive ion behind. This process
is called ionization.
 These newly formed free electrons and
ions in turn are accelerated by a field and
collide with other air molecules to ionize them
further.
Principle of Corona Formation:
(Cont…)
 The number of charged particles
goes on increasing rapidly. As a
result saturation is reached. The air
become conducting and complete
break down occurs. At this stage,
a discharge or arc is established
between the conductors.
 Factors Affecting Corona
The corona is affected by the
factors given below:
1) Conductors
2) Atmosphere
3) Spacing between the conductors
4) Line Voltage
 Factors Affecting Corona
Conductor:
It has been observed that the corona very
much depends on the shape and condition
of conductors. A rough and irregular
surfaced conductors gives more corona, as
this type of surface decreases the
breakdown voltage of air. This is the reason
that a stranded conductor gives more
corona than a solid conductors.
Thus, corona depends upon size (diameter),
shape (smooth/solild/stranded) and surface
condition (dirty/clean) of the conductor. It
decreases with increase in the diameter of
the conductor. The average value of the
ratio when both stranding and dirt are taken
into account is 0.88 to unity.
 Factors Affecting Corona
Atmosphere:
Corona is caused by the ionization of air
surrounding the conductors. A stormy weather has
more ions and, therefore, gives rise to more corona
as compared to a fair weather.
Spacing between the conductors:
With increase in distance between the conductors,
the corona effect is reduced considerably. Corona
may be checked by spacing them very far from
each other as compared their diameters.
Line Voltage:
At low voltage, the corona effect is not observed.
At higher voltages, which can ionise air, this effect
appears
 Advantages of Corona
 When corona is formed, the envelope
of air surrounding the conductors
becomes conducting. This increases
the virtual diameter of conductors. This
reduces the potential gradient and also
the possibility of flashover. As a result,
system performance is improved.
 Corona reduces the effect of transients
produced by surges due to lightning,
etc. Thus, the expense of providing
lightning arresters may be saved.
 Disadvantages of Corona
 Corona causes power loss in the line and
reduces efficiency .
 Corona currents are non-sinusoidal,
which produces non-sinusoidal voltage
drop. This may produce radio interference in
nearby communication lines.
 Harmonics are produced in the line.
 During the formation of corona, Ozone(O3)
gas is produced. This gas reacts wit material
of the conductors and cause corrosion.
 Methods of Reducing
Corona
 The corona can be reduced by
increasing the diameters of the wires.
This is the reason that Aluminium
Conductors Steel Reinforced (ACSR)
of larg cross- section are used for
transmission lines.
 The spacing between the parallel
conductors can be increased, but this
has limit as it will increase cost of
support, cross arms etc.
Thank You