449 / 2022-03-15 22:42:11

A software application for estimating corona inception field of typical overhead line conductors under variable atmospheric conditions

ACSR conductors,,Air density,corona discharges,humidity,software application

Purpose/Aim

Assessment of the corona performance of overhead transmission lines requires knowledge of the corona inception field, defined as the electric field strength at the conductor surface at stable corona inception, since it strongly affects corona discharge development and the associated characteristics. This study presents a software application for the estimation of the corona inception field and voltage of ACSR transmission line conductors.

Experimental/Modeling methods

Empirical expressions are most commonly used for estimating the corona inception field of transmission line conductors. However, empirical approaches cannot consider efficiently the interactive effects of many influencing parameters. In a previous study [1] it was shown that the corona inception field, thus also voltage, of ACSR conductors typically utilized in overhead transmission lines can be accurately estimated by using computational models that consider the ionization processes involved in corona discharge. These models, based on computations of the formation characteristics of an equivalent avalanche, take into account the mode of corona at threshold inception, that is, glow or streamer discharge.

Results/discussion

A Python software application has been developed enabling the user to select an ACSR line conductor commonly utilized in overhead transmission lines, the stress voltage polarity and the  the atmospheric conditions (air pressure, temperature and humidity). The results of the software application on corona inception filed and voltage are in excellent agreement with those obtained by the application of the computational models presented in [1].

Conclusions

An easy-to-use, engineering tool for estimating the corona inception field and voltage of typical ACSR transmission line conductors under variable atmospheric conditions has been developed.

[1] E. I. Bousiou, P. N. Mikropoulos, and V. N. Zagkanas, “Corona inception field of typical overhead line conductors under variable atmospheric conditions,” Electric Power Syst. Res., vol. 178, Jan. 2020.