• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.63-66
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• 2005

Several ways for monitoring the soundness of ZnO lightning arresters have been suggested, and all of which are based on the measurement of leakage current since it is well known that the resistive leakage current is a main indicator of arrester deterioration. In this paper, we proposed an algorithm to measure the resistive leakage current, which is quite different from the conventional method that eliminates capacitive current from the total leakage current. The proposed algorithm is based on that the magnitudes of the resistive leakage current are equal at the same applied voltage levels. To confirm the reliability of the algorithm, we fabricated a leakage current detector and designed an analysis program. Experimental results showed that the method does not need a complex circuitry and is useful to analyze the resistive leakage current.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.1422-1424
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• 2004

Various deterioration diagnostic techniques and devices are suggested, and most of which measure leakage current components as an indicator of arrester ageing. However, the techniques based on the magnitude of leakage current measure simply RMS or peak value of leakage current components and do not provide detailed information needed in the diagnosis. In this study, we found that the phase vs. wave height of total leakage current is changed or a new wave height is produced with arrester ageing. To complete the new technique, we designed an arrester diagnostic device which is composed of a current detection circuit, an optical transmission circuit, and an analysis program. After measurement of the total leakage current, magnitudes, phase vs. wave height, and harmonics of the leakage current components are analyzed by the microprocessor based device. From the experimental results, we confirmed that the device can measure most parameters needed for the arrester diagnostics and analyze an initial deterioration state.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.307-311
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• 2004

Arresters are the best protective device on electrical power systems against transient overvoltages generated by lightning and/or switching operation. Nonetheless, arresters are deteriorated by absorption of moisture in the environments of its use, repetition in the protective operation to overvoltages, and some defects at manufacturing. It is therefore important to estimate the electrical characteristic changes of ZnO blocks. In this paper, an accelerated ageing test by a standard lightning impulse current was carried out to extract parameters needed for arrester diagnosis, and leakage current components were measured. Total energy applied to the ZnO blocks at each time is about 1,050[J] in 8/20[${\mu}\textrm{s}$] impulse current. From the experimental results, we proposed electrical parameters and leakage current level to diagnose arrester soundness.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2007

This paper dealt with the design and implementation of an expert system to monitor and diagnose the lightning arresters in GIS substations. The expert system consists of a data acquisition module(DAM) based on microprocessor and diagnostic algorithms. The DAM measures and analyzes several parameters necessary for the arrester diagnosis such as system voltages, leakage current components, and temperatures. Also, it includes an intelligent surge counter which can record the date and tin, the polarity, and the amplitude of surge currents. All the data acquired is transmitted to a remote computer by a low rate wireless network specified in IEEE 802.15.4 to avoid electromagnetic intereference under high voltage and large current environments. The decision-making for the arrester diagnosis completes with a Java Expert System Shell(JESS) which is composed of a knowledge base, an inference engine and a graphic user interface(GUI).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.9 no.4 s.35
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• pp.357-361
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• 2006

This paper dealt with the performance evaluation and the diagnostic techniques of lightning arresters for DC electric traction vehicle. Field Measurements on the protective operation of lightning arresters against surge currents were carried out on running vehicles to acquire the data necessary for the diagnosis. The frequency and the magnitude of surge events were analyzed. Surge currents of $1\sim3$ times were recorded in one running service route and their magnitudes were ranges of $150A\sim2kA$. Also, an acceleration experiment on a lightning arrester by the standard lightning impulse current of 8/20 us and 5 kA was performed to know the aging characteristics. After the surge current application of 3,000 times, the reference voltage decreased by 4.5 %, and the leakage current was below 10 uA at the continuous operating voltage and about 50 uA at the rated voltage. From the experimental results, we propose a decision level of leakage current for the arrester used in this paper and designed an arrester tester which analyzes arrester condition by the magnitude of leakage current.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.469-475
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• 2003

Resistive leakage current flowing ZnO blocks increases with its ages, which is an important indicator of arrester deterioration. However, a complicated circuitry is essential to measure the resistive leakage current included in the total leakage current, and the difficult handling of the measurement makes few applications to the fields. In this paper, we propose a resistive leakage current measurement device which is composed of a current detection circuit and an analysis program operated on a microprocessor. The device samples the input leakage current waveform digitally, and discriminate the zero-cross and the peak point of the waveform to analyze the current amplitude vs. phase. The capacitive leakage current is then eliminated from the total leakage current by using an algorithm to extract the resistive leakage current only. Also, the device can be operated automatically and manually to analyze the resistive leakage current even when the leakage current waveform is distorted due to various types of arrester deterioration. To estimate the performance of the device, we carried out a test on ZnO blocks and lightning arresters. From the results, it is confirmed that the device could analyze most parameters needed for the arrester diagnostics such as total leakage current. resistive leakage current, and the $3^rd$ harmonic leakage current.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.562-567
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• 2003

Lightning arresters are deteriorated by repetition of protective operation against overvoltages or impulse currents in environments of its use. If a deteriorated arrester is left in power lines, it can lead to an accident such as a line to ground fault even in a normal system. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the deteriorated arrester in advance by checking the soundness of arresters on a regular basis, and to ensure the reliability of power systems by preventing accidents. Various deterioration diagnostic techniques and devices are suggested, and most of which measure leakage current components as an indicator of arrester ageing. However, the techniques based on the magnitude of leakage current measure simply RMS or peak value of leakage current components and do not provide detailed information needed in the diagnosis. In this study, we found that the wave height distributions of the total leakage currents are remarkably changed or a new wave height are produced with the progress of arrester deterioration. To propose a new technique for the diagnosis, we designed a leakage current detection unit and an analysis program which can measure leakage current magnitudes and analyze wave height distributions. From the experimental results, we confirmed that the proposed technique by analyzing the wave height distribution can simply diagnose the mode of defects such as a partial damage and an existence of punctures in arresters as well as deterioration of arresters.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1998.07e
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• pp.1740-1742
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• 1998

This paper describes the technique of deterioration diagnosis for ZnO element. Due to the non-linear resistance of ZnO block, the total leakage current contains harmonics when arrester deteriorated. The most significant harmonics is the 3rd order component. So, it can be used as an indicator of the arrester condition. An iron core, which has a very high relative permeability, is used for increasing detection sensitivity and the 3th order harmonics of leakage current was detected by band-pass circuit. And we have verified the reliability and performance of the sensing device through several laboratory tests.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.152-157
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• 2002

This paper describes an effect of a single- and a quadruple-lightning impulse currents on electrical characteristics of ZnO blocks, and an expert system to diagnose arrestor deterioration. To deduce the parameters needed for diagnosing arrester deterioration, an accelerate deterioration teat is carried out. In the experiment, leakage current components are measured. Also, wave height distribution of the leakage current according to the progress of arrester deterioration is analyzed. From the experimental results, the wave height distribution of the leakage current showed conspicuous difference even in an immaterial leakage current increase. Therefore, the use of wave height distribution of the leakage current in deterioration diagnostic technique makes more accurate diagnosis than the conventional method by using only a leakage currant value. Finally, the expert system based on the experimental results is developed and the system can diagnose arrestor deterioration by measuring the leakage current and its wade height distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2001

This paper resents a developed measuring device of resistive leakage current and a fundamental discussion of deterioration diagnosis for Zinc Oxide(ZnO) arrester blocks. We have developed the leakage current detection device for ageing test and durability evaluation for ZnO arrester blocks. The resistive leakage current can be used as an indicator to discriminate whether the ZnO arrester blocks is in good state or in bad. The resistive leakage current measuring system with the compensation circuit was designed and fabricated. The sauce tests for ZnO arrester blocks were investigated by observing the resistive leakage current together with fast Fourier transform analysis. The proposed monitoring systems for the resistive leakage current can effectively be used to investigate the electrophysical properties of ZnO arrester blocks in laboratory and to develop the techniques of forecasting the deterioration of ZnO arresters in electric power systems.