2003 Doble Regional Colloquium

Mumbai and Delhi

December 2003

Online diagnostic of surge arresters

MSc. Ole Gustav Aas

TransiNor AS
Power system overview – regarding surge arresters

Typical location of
surge arresters:

In substations
• At the end of
transmission lines
• At cable ends
• At transformers

Location depending on
voltage level,
equipment and local
conditions
 Development history of surge arresters
•Gap arresters:
- Spark gaps in series + blocks (discharge resistors) of SiC.
- Passive arresters introduced ca. 1930.
- Active arresters (current limiting) introduced ca. 1957.

•Metal oxide arresters (MOA):

- Blocks of sin sintered ceramic alloy, ca. 90% ZnO + additives.
- Highly un-linear I-U characteristic.
- Developed of Matsushita ca 1965.
- Manufactured by main suppliers from about 1980.
- Polymeric housing from ca 1985.
- Normally without series gaps.
Conventional MOA with porcelain housing (ABB)
Design of polymer-Metal Oxide Arrester (ABB)
Why use surge arresters?

To ensure correct overvoltage protection for the

power system (insulation coordination)

•To protect important equipment against dangerous

overvoltages

•To balance the cost of protection equipment with

the estimated cost of an equipment breakdown
 Surge arrester experiences

• Reliable components with low failure rate

•Failure rate depending on arrester quality,
dimensioning and local conditions

• Typical failures on arrester:

- Earth fault – indicated by earth fault relay,
can be difficulty to locate
- External damages – visual detection
- Other incorrect operating arresters – difficulty
to find without arrester check
Major causes for arrester failures

• Incorrect arrester ratings corresponding to actual

system voltage and overvoltage stress
• Overloading of the arresters
• External pollution or / and moisture ingress
• Ageing of ZnO-blocks in MOSA
 Reasons for failure of Metal Oxide Arresters

•Normal operating voltage. May cause ageing of ZnO

blocks.
•Overloading due to
•Temporary overvoltages (cracking, puncturing).
•Switching overvoltages (cracking, puncturing, flashover).
•Lightning overvoltages (change of characteristic/ageing,
flashover, puncturing).
•External pollution.
 Arrester surface voltage distribution due to pollution
Example of external pollution.
U
Ideal voltage
No external distribution
pollution
X

X
Dry area U Surface voltage
distribution
External
pollution Actual voltage

X distribution
Wet area

X
Consequences of arrester failures
• No overvoltage protection – increased risk of
equipment failure
(breakdown in transformer, bushings, switchgear etc)
• Possible break-down of porcelain housings:
- Risk of personal injury
- Risk of damage to other equipment
Note: The arrester is a “cheap component”
protecting very expensive equipment
Be sure it is operating correctly!
 Possibilities – condition control

Arresters with spark gaps;

• Carrying no leakage current during normal service.
• No in-service method available.
• Alternative: Current / breakdown tests off – line.

Metal oxide surge arresters without gaps;

• Continuous leakage current during normal service.
• Available methods discussed and compared in:
Amendment 1 to IEC 60099-5: ‘’Diagnostic indicators for
metal oxide surge arresters in service’’.
 Why condition control?

Condition control performed on regular basis will:

• Give early warning signals ⇒ utilize life time and take aged
arresters out of service before they fail.

• Prevent costly arrester failures and service interruptions.

• Prevent damages to other equipment, e.g. transformer

bushings.

• Increase the safety for the maintenance staff.

Requirement for measuring arrester leakage current

Seperate earth lead & insulated base.

Short circuit of
insulated base
Electromagnetic will lead to
field can circulating
introduce current currents in the
in this loop. fundament and
the earth lead.

CCT - 2
CCT - 2
 Metal Oxide Surge Arresters
Available diagnostic methods;

•Measurement of total leakage current.

Poor sensitivity. Insufficient.
•Direct measurement of resistive leakage current.
Attractive, but difficult.
•Harmonic analysis of the leakage current.
High sensitivity to harmonics in the voltage.
•3rd order harmonic analysis of the leakage current
with compensation.
Ranked by IEC 99-5 as most reliable.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Total Leakage Current:

• Example of measurement of total leakage current.

The total leakage current

increases with only 4%
when the resistive part is
Ic = 100 Ic = 100
triple.

It = 100,5 It = 104,5
This small change in It is
difficult to read on the
Ir = 10 Ir = 30
mA – Metre.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
IEC 99-5: ”Diagnostic indicators of metal oxide
surge arresters in service”
Typical leakage current in laboratory conditions:

• The capacitive current

component predominates
the resistive part.
• du/dt=0: The resistive
current component equals
the leakage current.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
IEC 99-5:
Effect of harmonics in the system voltage:

Harmonics in the system

voltage generate harmonics
in the leakage current.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
IEC 99-5:
Error range when disregarding compensation:

• Includes the effect of

different voltage-current
characteristics and
capacitances, as well as
the phase angle of the
3rd harmonic.
• 1% third harmonic in
voltage may give
±100% measurement
error.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Harmonics from the system voltage?

Capacitive harmonics are generated only by the system
voltage.
No capacitive harmonics from the surge arrester itself
since the capacitor is almost linear.
I3r=I3t-I3c
If there are no harmonics in the system voltage, then I3c =
0 and I3r=I3t
The phase to I3c depends on the amount of harmonics in
the system voltage and the load in the net work.
1 % harmonics in system voltage = 3 % harmonics in I3c
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

3rd harmonic in the system

voltage?

• Very important for the accuracy if it is not compensated for (ref.

IEC 99-5).
• Depends on the load situation.
• If compensation is not used, it is not possible to say if a change in
the leakage current is due to ageing or a change in the load.
• Measurements in the Norwegian transmission network: Harmonic
content in the range of 0.1-0.9%, i.e. harmonics are influential.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
IEC 99-5:
Properties of on-site leakage current measurement methods:

The method that the

LCM is based on is
ranked to be the best
method for evaluation
of ageing and
deterioration of
MOSAs.
 Live condition test results: Measurements on 420 kV
Id Supplier Measured Date for Measured Corrected Air Line-
No. leakage measurement value value temp voltage
current from LCM [µA] o
[ C] [kV]
[%] [µA]
=======================================================================================
2 Statjon A Type B 375 1998-08-10 2375 2624 17 410
7 Statjon B Type A 90 1998-08-11 135 151 25 415
11 Statjon B Type A 70 1998-08-11 102 118 24 415
6 Statjon A Type B 64 1998-08-10 425 435 20 410
3 Statjon A Type B 62 1998-08-10 395 396 17 410
10 Statjon B Type A 59 1998-08-11 84 96 23 415
23 Statjon C Type C 54 1998-08-10 76 90 28 415
22 Statjon C Type C 53 1998-08-10 74 87 27 415
17 Statjon C Type A 51 1998-08-11 65 72 17 415
16 Statjon C Type A 47 1998-08-11 60 66 17 415
5 Statjon A Type B 43 1998-08-10 287 294 20 410
4 Statjon A Type B 37 1998-08-10 244 250 20 410

12 other arresters gave lower measured values.

Live condition test results - trend analysis
545% at 9 years
• 30%-level :
Taken out immediately
Starting value – based on experience.
5
• 100%-level :
3 Taken out

Recommended max-value
1 Will be taken out

(given by arrester supplier).

• Curves:
2 Damaged
1: 500 kV, was taken out.
4 2: 300 kV, failed after 11 year.
3: 300 kV, was taken out.
4,5: 300 kV, phase R was ok, (4)
phase T was taken out (5)
phase S had failed earlier
 LCM II
Leakage Current Monitor

In-Service Condition Monitoring of

Metal Oxide Surge Arresters
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
LCM – main principles;

Clip – on current; It (t)

Measurement of total
leakage curent.

Field probe; Ip (t)

Measurement of capacitive
current from field probe for
compensation.

LCM;
Harmonic analysis,
calculation of resistive
leakage current.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

FEATURES
• Portable, weatherproof ⇒ transitory inspections, continuous monitoring.

• Power supply flexibility: AC, DC and battery (rechargeable) operation.

• Arrester ID – unique identification.

• Data management system ⇒ surge arrester history.

• Provides measurement of ambient temperature and operating voltage.

• Recalculation of leakage current data to standard reference conditions.

 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

EXTENSIVE FIELD EXPERIENCE

• Used since 1989 for both short-term as well long-term monitoring.

• TN provides services worldwide.

• Mainly used from 66 kV to 765 kV.

• Sold in more than 350 units to about 55 countries.

• Developed together with ABB Switchgear, Surge Arrester Division.

 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

BENEFITS

• Complete, portable system that covers all MOSA monitoring needs.

• No outage/disturbance of normal system operation during use.

• Gives confident knowledge of when to replace a surge arrester.

• Cost effective.

Ranked As The Most Reliable Method/System Available ( IEC 99-5)

 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
Electrical representation of ZnO
varistors
•Ir: Resistive current
•Ic: Capacitive current
•U: Voltage
•k: Material dependent
constant
• a : Temperature and voltage
dependent.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
IEC 99-5:
Typical voltage-current characteristics:

The resistive current component

• is typically 5-20% of the total
leakage current under normal
operating conditions.
• is a sensitive indicator of
changes in the voltage-current
characteristic.
• depends on the voltage and
temperature.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
LCM – main principles
•Harmonics in the voltage generate 3rd harmonics in
the leakage current.
•These 3rd harmonics are eliminated to calculate the
3rd harmonic current component generated by the
arrester itself (due to nonlinear current-voltage
characteristic).
•Aim: Obtain a relation between the 3rd harmonic
resistive current component and the total resistive
current.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Main principles:
•I3r = I3t - I3c

• Direct determination of I3t:

Amplitude and phase angle calculated by Fourier
transformation of the measured total leakage current It.
• Indirect determination of I3c through Ip:
Measurement of the induced current Ip in a field probe
placed in the electric field at the foot of the arrester.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

LCM – main principles:

• Indirect determination of I3c through Ip:

I3c has the same phase angel as I3p
⇒ if the relation between |I3p| and |I3c| (peak values) can be
determined, then I3r can be determined.
I3r = I3t - I3c
⇒ peak value scaling procedure is needed.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

LCM – main principles:

I3r ≈I3t – 0.75 •(|I1t| / |I1p|) •I3p (three-phase appl.)

Ir ≈4I3r
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Recommanded max resistive current

Different value depending on manufacturer,

arrester type and arrester data.
Data given in different ways:
• Normally in range of ca 100 – 350 µA
• 3-4 times “new arrester value”
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Recommendations:

•The arrester should be measured short time after

installation.
•Measurements should be carried out regularly.
•Measurements should be carried out after special
fault situations.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

PC software - TNData:

• Windows based
• Arrester ID is uploaded from PC to LCM II prior to field measurements.
• Automatic synchronization between Software (PC) and LCM II when
downloading.
• Trend analysis – graphical and tabular form, comparision
between arresters.
• Correction of leakage current data to standard reference
conditions.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

•A portable instrument for measuring the leakage

current and monitoring of metal oxide surge arresters.
•Use of the LCM on regular basis makes it possible to:
- take “bad” arresters out of service before a
breakdown.
- prevent service interruptions and possible
damage to other equipment.
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

BENEFITS:
• Gives confident knowledge of when to replace a surge arrester.
• Capability to prevent costly arrester failures.
• Increased safety for the maintenance staff.
• No disturbance of normal system operation.
• Ranked as the most reliable method/system available ( IEC 99-5).
• User friendly.
• Portable – easy to move around.
• Comprehensive database for storage and administration of
measurements.

More than 350 units are sold in 50 countries.

 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor

Reference list;
Albania DPE
Argentina A B B, EDENOR S.A., Yacelec S.A, Sade I.C.S.A, Transener S.A., Quantum S.R.L.
Australia Queensland [Link], SECV Victoria, Snowy Mount.
Bahamas SADE/SACCIFIM
Belgium LABORELEC
Brazil ABB, CHESF Comp Hidroelectrica, Coelba, Escelsa, Eletropaulo, Inepar Hubbel, Itaipu
Bulgaria Natsionalna Elektricheska, Komp
Canada Manitoba Hydro
Chile Chilelctra Metro.
China China Intl. Water Pow, China Nat. Water Res. & El, China Nat. Im. Co, COTCO,
Foshan, Guadong [Link].J. Ven, Hubei Electric Power Ind. Bure, Shenzhen,
Pinguo S/S, Yunnan, Shun Dee Pjt, Gansu Provincial Electric- Power Research Institute
Colombia I S A, Empr. Publ. Cali, Emp. Publ. Medellin , URRA S.A
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
Croatia ASEA Brown Boveri Ltd, Electroprijenos, Elob, H.P.P. Senj
Cyprus E. A. C.
Czech Republic CEZ Praha, East Czech Power Board, North Czech Pow. Board,VCE, Z C E Pilzen
Denmark I/S Midkraft, Nesa
Egypt UMR-Emeco
El Salvador Hidroelectrica Del Rio Lempa
Finland IVO

France EdF
Germany ABB Calor Emag Schaltanl, RWE Energie, Siemens
Great Britain CEGB, Scottish Power, National Grid Company
Greece PPC
Hungary MAV, Paks Nuclear Power Station, Transelektro
Iceland Landsvirkjun
India Ctr. Pow. Research, Gujarat Electricity Board, OBLUM, Powergrid, LAMCO,
UBB Engineering
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
Indonesia P L N
Iran Tavanir, Tehran Electric Region
Israel IEC
Italy Cartiera Ascoli Marsoni, ILVA de Taranto, Nuov. Magrini Galile
Japan Mitsubishi
Lithuania TENA
Luxenburg CEGEDEL SA
Malaysia Kedah Steel Mills, T N B, Tenaga
Mexico C F E, L y F del Centro
Norway BKK, STATKRAFT SF, STATNETT SF, HEAS, Oslo Energi
Pakistan ICI-PTA Plant Project Karachi, WAPDA, Water & Power Development
Poland D. C. Wroclaw
Portugal LABELEC
Romania RENEL, Romelectro
 LCM II Leakage Current Monitor
Russia ABB UETM Ltd.
Saudi Arabia SCECO
Slovakia SEP Bratislava, VSE Kosice
Slovenia Elektro Ljubljana
Spain FECSA, GESA Mallorca, IBERDROLA, Sevillana, R E E, Union FENOSA
Sweden ABB Switchgear, Swedish State Power Board
Switzerland ABB
Thailand EGAT, MAE MOH Power Plant
Turkey DISAS
UAE Dubai Electricity Company
Uruguay U.T.E., Administraction de Las Orbas
USA Hubbel/The Ohio Brass Co.
Taiwan TPC/PRI
Venezuela CADAFE, C.A. La Electricidad de Caracas, SACA
Vietnam Power Co. No.1,2 &3