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4/2/2020 Assessing Condition of Substation Arresters


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Arresters
 February 9, 2019  Varistor Blocks  15 min read

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The metal oxide surge arrester (MOSA) is a comparatively inexpensive


component within a modern power system. Typically, it is speci ed, purchased
and installed – but then overlooked when planning condition monitoring of
assets at a substation.
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However, an arrester is actually one of the key components for protection of


very expensive equipment such as power transformers and HV cables.
Moreover, explosive failures involving porcelain-housed arresters present an
increasingly unacceptable risk factor – not only for maintenance sta at the
station but also for nearby other apparatus. In addition, ageing arresters mean
reduced overvoltage protection, especially for older equipment, and this
results in accelerated degradation of their insulation systems. Indeed,
experience has shown that it is far more cost e ective to replace the arrester 
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4/2/2020 Assessing Condition of Substation Arresters

before it fails than to deal with an unplanned resulting outage. For example,
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failure statistics compiled by utility industry insurers show a notable increase in
signi cant transformer events over the past 15 years, with about 45% of
failures due to electrical disturbances. Some 16% of these are due to lightning.
This raises the concern whether critical substation apparatus have su ceint
protection levels.

The following article from 2011, contributed by Hans-Ove Kristiansen and Kjetil
Liebech-Lien of Doble in Norway, discussed the important topic of surge
arrester assessment with the goal of diagnosing and preventing incipient
failures so that remedial action can be taken.

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In-Service Degradation of an Arrester(MOSA)


Surge arresters at substations are exposed to a variety of stress factors
originating both from the network and from their service environment. These
stressors can then cause premature ageing or even damage to their varistor
blocks. The main types of such degradation can be classi ed as either:

• Degradation of insulation properties


• Degradation of protective characteristics

There are several mechanisms that can cause degradation or, in the worst
case, failure of MOSAs:
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• Sealing defects leading to moisture ingress;
• Surface discharges due to contamination;
• Overloading due to temporary or transient overvoltages;
• Long-term ageing at normal service voltages, e.g. when the speci cation is
inapproprtiate for actual system voltage and overvoltage stress;
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• Internal partial discharges.

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Overloading typically occurs after fault situations, with high temporary


overvoltages in the network. If the rated voltage of the arrester has been
selected too low, this will increase the risk that it could become overloaded –
even at a temporary overvoltage it should have been dimensioned to
withstand.

One consequence of degradation of the arrester’s protective characteristic is


an increase over time of the resistive component of the continuous leakage
current owing through it. This, in turn, will cause an increase in power losses 
and hence raise the temperature of the metal oxide (ZnO) blocks.
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At some point, the resistive leakage current can then exceed a critical limit
where the energy accumulated in the blocks exceeds the arrester’s capability
(i.e. the energy that it can dissipate to the surroundings). The arrester will then
become thermally unstable (often referred to as ‘thermal runaway’) and fail.

Failure Modes
1. An arrester equipped with a porcelain housing can, in the worst case,
explode and cause severe consequential damage. Of course, if the arrester has Advertisement

a polymeric housing, the risk of heavy, sharp objects being scattered is far
lower.

2. The arrester could trigger an earth fault (e.g. due to internal ashover). Such
an arrester can at times be di cult to identify.

3. Aged or overloaded arresters o er reduced protection against overvoltages,


(e.g. during severe transient overvoltages due to multiple lightning strokes or
high energy temporary overvoltages).The arrester can fail before it has
suppressed the overvoltage, meaning that the apparatus being protected will
be damaged

Methods to Monitor Degradation Subscribe

Several methods and indicators are currently used for in-service monitoring,
diagnosis and assessment of MOSAs. These vary both in handling complexity
and level of information provided.

The two main approaches are online and o -line measurements. O -line Your Email
measurements provide a testing environment with full control over
parameters that a ect reliable and repeatable measurements. This approach PLEASE SIGN ME UP

requires de-energizing the arrester and using a portable voltage source or,
alternatively, taking the arrester to a laboratory.

By contrast, on-line measurements are done on a temporary or continuous


basis and use portable instruments as well as permanently installed devices.
Such methods have the advantage of providing condition assessment data
without need to remove the arrester from service. A combined approach
involving additional o -line tests could then be used to verify conclusions from
on-line measurements should there be any doubt.

Catastrophic failure of porcelain-housed MOSA.



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Among the most common in-service methods are:

1. Visual inspection

This is a common and even valuable approach to locate any external


abnormalities. For example, experienced service crews can visually detect
deterioration of seals at the end ttings, damage to the external housing or
evidence of high levels of surface contamination. Still, this gives little or no
information about the arrester’s internal condition and ideally should be
combined with other methods so as to obtain a reliable and complete
assessment of condition.
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2. Surge counters (with or without mA meters)

These provide measurements of total leakage current but, while frequently


installed on MOSAs, are of little practical value as a diagnostic tool to assess
the arrester’s real condition.
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3. Temperature measurements
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Infrared thermo-vision inspection of arresters is a frequently used
multipurpose substation maintenance technique, including for arresters.
Indeed, experience shows that thermal imaging can be e ectively used to track
surge arrester degradation. However, such measurements are indicative only
to the extent that they are sensitive enough to identify increased block
temperature by detecting its impact on the surface of the arrester housing.  

4. Measuring leakage current

This is the most commonly used diagnostic method for arrester condition
assessment and a variety of on-line and o -line methods are available. In the
eld, this parameter is normally measured only at the earthed end and the
arrester must therefore be equipped with insulated base and leads separated
from earth potential.

The method with indirect determination of the resistive leakage current


component by means of third harmonic analysis with compensation for
voltage harmonics (THRC) is one of the best available for on-site, in-service
information and also diagnostic e ciency. 
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Electrical Properties
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Current-Voltage Characteristics

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Under normal service conditions, the arrester carrys a small but continuous
leakage current, typically in the range of 0.2 to 3 mA. This current is dominated
by its capacitive component, while the resistive component might be in the
range of only 5 to 20% of this amount. Moreover, the resistive component is
temperature and voltage dependent, as seen from a typical current-voltage
characteristic curve shown in Figure 1.

Therefore, the ZnO elements of the MOSA can be represented by the


equivalent electric circuit shown in Figure 2, where equivalent resistance is
non-linear. The typical operating voltage, U (phase-to-ground), for a MOSA is in Subscribe

the range of 50 to 80% of its rated voltage, Ur. (De nitions might vary
depending on whether ANSI/IEEE C62.11 or IEC 99-4 is used).

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Fig. 1: Typical current voltage characteristic of MOSA.  


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Leakage Current

The current-voltage
characteristic shown in Figure 1
is representative for a MOSA
when stressed by a pure,
sinusoidal voltage (fundamental
frequency component only).

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Total leakage current owing



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through the ZnO blocks can then
be divided into its:

Fig. 2: Equivalent electric circuit for a


MOSA.
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• fundamental capacitive component;


• fundamental resistive component;
• the 3rd harmonic resistive current component (due to the non-linear
resistance of the ZnO elements and said to be generated by the arrester itself). Your Email

The resistive components (i.e. the 1st and 3rd) at any speci c voltage and PLEASE SIGN ME UP
temperature will re ect the current-voltage operating point characteristic of an
arrester and change during ageing. Both these components can therefore be
used as a measure of the arrester’s operating condition. However, for eld
measurements in three-phase con gurations, the best practical solution is to
determine the 3rd harmonic component of the resistive current.

The leakage current for any particular arrester can vary across a wide range
due to: 1. harmonic content of the system voltage; 2. actual temperature of the
ZnO elements caused by both ambient conditions and any discharges; and 3.
operating voltage.

E ects of Harmonic Content

The presence of harmonics in the operating voltage can generate a 3rd


harmonic capacitive component in addition to the 3rd harmonic resistive
component. These two components cannot be separated if only measuring the
total 3rd harmonic leakage current.

This 3rd harmonic capacitive leakage current component could be of the same
rd
size or higher than the 3 harmonic resistive component generated by the

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arrester. The evaluation error in this case could be large. For example, if the
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third harmonic content in the voltage is 0.5% or even 1%, the evaluation errors
in the third harmonic component will be in the ranges of ± 50% and ±100%
respectively.

Furthermore, since the harmonic content varies with load and thereby with
time, it will not be possible to tell if an apparent increase in resistive leakage
current is the result of real ageing (increase in the resistive leakage current) or
due simply to varying harmonic content in the operating voltage (which is of no
concern). Measurements on transmission grids (300 kV to 420 kV) have shown
that the 3rd harmonic content is typically in the range of 0.2 to 1%. A method
for compensating the e ect of harmonics in the operating voltage (THRC) has
been widely used now for many years.
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E ects of Temperature & Operating Voltage

The in uence of block temperature and operating voltage can be quite


signi cant. For this reason, measuring both is recommended.

Ambient temperature measurements can be used to estimate block Your Email


temperature by keeping in mind that the time constant for temperature
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changes of blocks is a few hours. Doing so allows recalculating measured
values of the resistive leakage current – referred to as so-called standard
reference conditions, i.e. to an ambient temperature of 20° C and an operating
voltage 0.7 times the rated voltage. This way, measurements performed at
di erent temperatures and/or operating voltages can be directly compared.

Table 1 illustrates variations of the leakage current with temperature and


operating voltage for the same condition of a speci c MOSA in the case of a
420 kV system. For instance, if two measurements have been performed at
ambient temperatures of 0° C and 40° C and the same voltage respectively, the
actual measured values might deviate by more than 100% relative to one
another. This would be the case even though the normalized values at 20° C
should be the same as long as the arrester’s condition is unchanged.


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Risk
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In the case of MOSAs, the best practice of risk assessment is based on the
trend and level of the resistive leakage current under standard reference
conditions. If the resistive leakage current exceeds a certain threshold value,
the following steps should be taken in nal evaluation/judgement:

1. If the resistive leakage current is unrealistically high (i.e. in the mA range and
many times higher than for MOSAs of the same type), check that the arrester
base and earth lead are properly insulated from the pedestal. If the arrester
base is non-insulated, circulating currents will be induced in the earth system
and cause incorrect measurements of leakage current.
2. Consider re-testing the MOSA in one or two days to con rm the high
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reading. If con rmed, proceed to steps 3 or 4. The reason for re-testing is that
the MOSA could have been subjected to a transient overvoltage causing a
higher current for several hours due to the energy absorbed.
3. Monitor the MOSA continually to follow the development of resistive leakage
current. If this increases from its already high level, proceed to step 4
4. Contact the manufacturer and consider replacing the arrester.

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The threshold value for resistive leakage current will vary from arrester to
arrester, depending on type, and can be established in di erent ways.

Some manufacturers provide so-called ‘maximum recommended levels’ for the


resistive leakage current for each type of arrester. When such values are given, Your Email
the corrected values for resistive leakage current can be compared directly to
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maximum recommended levels (which could be in the range of 100-500 μA,
depending on type).

If maximum recommended resistive leakage current values are not available


from the manufacturer, risk assessment or threshold values for that particular
type of arrester can be established based on experience, as follows:

• Measure the resistive leakage current just after commissioning and use this
as the arrester’s baseline reading. If the leakage current eventually increases by
a factor larger than 3 to 4 times this baseline value, this is indicative of severe
ageing.
• Make an individual comparison of all three arresters of the same type in a
three-phase con guration. If one shows consistently and signi cantly higher
levels than the other two, this might indicate ageing.
• Compare the resistive leakage currents in all arresters of the same type in the
grid: Firstly, if one or a few arresters show signi cantly higher levels than the
others of the same type, this may indicate ageing and requires closer follow-
up. Secondly, if a number of arresters show low values at the same level, these
may be used as good/acceptable levels for this type of arrester. Thirdly, if one 
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or more arresters have been in service for only a couple of years, the
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measured values are expected to be close to baseline readings.

In general, MOSAs should ideally be tested subsequent to any unusual fault


situations as well as after periods with especially di cult climatic or pollution
conditions a ecting the grid. In this regard, the following strategy is
recommended (but can be modi ed based on local experience):

1. Classify and identify all arresters (name of substation, bay/line and phase,
nameplate data, manufacturer, type designation, year/date of commissioning
etc., historical data/failure rates, importance etc.);
2. Establish threshold levels/maximum recommended levels for the resistive
leakage current for each type;
3. De ne action limits (e.g. good condition, re-test/monitor continuously, Advertisement

replace);
4.De ne measurement frequency (e.g. normal, often, continuous monitoring,
or only after special fault situations);
5. De ne veri cation actions after replacement (laboratory test,
dissection/inspection);
6. Evaluate measurements, action limits, regularity of measurements and
veri cation tests to optimize test strategy.

Case Studies
Testing 420 kV MOSAs at Transmission

Utility Single measurements were performed at a transmission utility on 24 Subscribe

MOSAs having three di erent brands, with results shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

As seen in Fig. 3, seven of the arresters recorded low resistive leakage currents,
i.e. around 20% of the maximum recommended level, suggesting that their
condition was good. However, one arrester showed approximately 90%, i.e.
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several times the values of the two neighboring phases as well as the main
arrester population. This unit would therefore have to be monitored closely, PLEASE SIGN ME UP
with frequent measurements or by continuous monitoring to check for any
further increase of current. The four remaining arresters showed values of
45%, 50%, 60% and 70%. The unit showing 70% should ideally be tested more
frequently, for instance every six months.

Four out of the six units presented in Fig. 4 showed readings around 20%, i.e.
good condition. The last two arresters showed readings around 50 to 55%, i.e.
their condition is satisfactory. New measurements should probably be
performed in 1 to 2 years, depending on the arresters’ age.

As is evident from Fig. 5, one arrester showed a resistive leakage current


signi cantly higher than the others. While no maximum recommended level
was available for this type of arrester, it seems reasonable to assume that the
resistive leakage current should not exceed the limit of 700 μA, based on the
other units. Assuming the insulated base and the insulation of the arrester
earth wire are checked and found satisfactory and that there is no indication of
temporary heating due to transients, the arrester should be replaced as soon
as possible. The other ve arresters are clearly in good to satisfactory
condition.

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Testing of 145 kV MOSAs at Chemical Factory



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This factory had six MOSAs installed at a 145 kV switching station. All were of
the same make and type and were rst commissioned in 1984, i.e. probably as
rst generation designs. Since the factory is located in a coastal area, the
arresters could be exposed to higher than normal pollution, which might cause
accelerated ageing of their ZnO blocks. There was little to no information about
their condition, except that the surge counters had not operated since 1989
and showed just a few counts. Still, the factory owner had concerns since any
failure and resulting outage would cause high production losses.

Measurements of resistive leakage current were performed and showed the


following results (stated as percent of maximum recommended leakage
current): Advertisement

• 2 units were at around 130%

• 3 units were around 90 to 95%

• 1 unit was at 70%

Since the resistive leakage currents were in each case either signi cantly above
or close to the recommended maximum, the factory owner decided to replace
the arresters and avoid any risk of failure. The six replacement units (of the
same make but of di erent type) were then tested after two years in service
and all showed resistive leakage currents in the range of 35 to 40% of the
maximum recommended level, i.e. evidence of good operating condition.
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Testing Remaining 300 kV MOSAs After Failure

A transmission utility experienced a catastrophic failure and explosion of a 300


kV MOSA after about 9 years of service. Two remaining arresters were then
tested with the following results:
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• One unit showed 545%
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• The second showed 60%.

One of the remaining arresters was clearly severely aged and therefore
immediately taken out of service to avoid a second failure. The arrester was
then sent for laboratory veri cation, which revealed that the reason for the
ageing appeared to be poor coating of the blocks that caused internal partial
discharges and a partly conductive surface.

Testing 110 kV MOSAs

Measurements were performed on 18 MOSAs of the same type at a 110 kV


substation. Two arresters had signi cantly higher readings (230% and 400%
respectively) than the rest. The utility contacted the manufacturer and both
units were removed from service and sent for laboratory testing. This showed
that moisture ingress had caused internal heating and increase of resistive
leakage current.

Conclusion

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Leakage current measurements based on THRC have proven a reliable and


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e cient methodology to assess the service condition of gapless metal oxide
surge arresters, in accordance with IEC recommendations. Implementing a
testing strategy for substation arresters in the grid will not only optimize their
lifetime utilization but also ensure that bad or aged arresters are replaced
before they fail. This will contribute to increased reliability and safety while also
eliminating the substantial costs associated with failure and unplanned
outages.

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