Salinity effect on the corona onset for a 765 kV AC substation connector

Abstract

Outdoor substations placed in coastal areas are affected by saline environments. In the technical literature it is found extensive information regarding insulations problems in presence of saline environments [1]. The accumulation of salts and other contaminants promotes the onset of partial discharges on the devices subjected to very high voltages. Insulators are also affected by this phenomenon. While rainfall has a cleaning effect on the insulator surface, humidity enhances the corrosion effect and degrades the performance of insulation [2], favouring onset conditions for partial discharge. Corrosion due to saline environments or dirt increases the roughness of the insulator surface, thus facilitating the appearance of partial discharges [3]. It is well known that the air pollution has a great impact on metals corrosion. Chloride ions are common in coastal environments, because seawater acts as a source of air mineralization. Deposition of chloride ions on metal surfaces intensifies metallic corrosion, thus degrading the conductor surface [4]. In this work the behaviour of a 765 kVRMS AC (line-to-line voltage) outdoor substation connector is analyzed when operating under both dry conditions and under wet saline environments by means of three-dimensional finite elements simulations (3D-FEM). FEM simulations show that the electric field strength in the connector surroundings does not exceed the electric breakdown strength for air under clean and dry atmospheric conditions when energized at its rated voltage, 765 kVRMS AC (line-to-line). These results are corroborated by means of experimental measurements carried out in a high-voltage laboratory. Both, the laboratory tests and the 3D-FEM simulations performed in this study concluded that the corona onset voltage is approximately 980 kVRMS AC (line-to-line voltage). Additionally, 3D-FEM simulations allow detecting the connector weakest points regarding to electrical stress. Hence, this software allows redesigning the connector geometry to optimize its performance, thus minimizing the corona occurrence risk and their associated unwanted effects. Additionally, FEM simulations performed under a saline atmosphere were carried out by including a thin conductive saline moisture layer acting as a wetting film on the connector surface. Results revealed that saline environments worsen the connector behaviour, thus favouring corona onset conditions and their related effects.Outdoor substations placed in coastal areas are affected by saline environments. In the technical literature it is found extensive information regarding insulations problems in presence of saline environments [1]. The accumulation of salts and other contaminants promotes the onset of partial discharges on the devices subjected to very high voltages. Insulators are also affected by this phenomenon. While rainfall has a cleaning effect on the insulator surface, humidity enhances the corrosion effect and degrades the performance of insulation [2], favouring onset conditions for partial discharge. Corrosion due to saline environments or dirt increases the roughness of the insulator surface, thus facilitating the appearance of partial discharges [3]. It is well known that the air pollution has a great impact on metals corrosion. Chloride ions are common in coastal environments, because seawater acts as a source of air mineralization. Deposition of chloride ions on metal surfaces intensifies metallic corrosion, thus degrading the conductor surface [4]. In this work the behaviour of a 765 kVRMS AC (line-to-line voltage) outdoor substation connector is analyzed when operating under both dry conditions and under wet saline environments by means of three-dimensional finite elements simulations (3D-FEM). FEM simulations show that the electric field strength in the connector surroundings does not exceed the electric breakdown strength for air under clean and dry atmospheric conditions when energized at its rated voltage, 765 kVRMS AC (line-to-line). These results are corroborated by means of experimental measurements carried out in a high-voltage laboratory. Both, the laboratory tests and the 3D-FEM simulations performed in this study concluded that the corona onset voltage is approximately 980 kVRMS AC (line-to-line voltage). Additionally, 3D-FEM simulations allow detecting the connector weakest points regarding to electrical stress. Hence, this software allows redesigning the connector geometry to optimize its performance, thus minimizing the corona occurrence risk and their associated unwanted effects. Additionally, FEM simulations performed under a saline atmosphere were carried out by including a thin conductive saline moisture layer acting as a wetting film on the connector surface. Results revealed that saline environments worsen the connector behaviour, thus favouring corona onset conditions and their related effects.