Analysis of degradation of distribution lightning arresters as degradation degree

열화정도에 따른 배전용 피뢰기의 열화특성 분석

The primary function of ZnO lightning arrester is to protect transmission and distribution equipment from overvoltages and to absorb electrical energy resulting from lightning or switching surges and form temporary overvoltage. However, ZnO lightning arrester are known to exhibit an increases in resistive current with time, the rate of increase being exacerbated with increasing applied voltage and ambient temperature. So, it is important to the leakage current measurement of ZnO lightning arrester. In addition, since the resistive leakage current caused by deterioration of ZnO lightning arrester mainly caused an increase of the third harmonic component, thereby it is possible the arrester degradation diagnosis by measuring the third harmonic component in the total leakage current. The leakage current and third harmonic component are measured and used to investigate the degradation diagnosis of ZnO element of arrester. Also the SEM photography is used to investigate the change of crystal structure of ZnO element with degradation.