Comparison of The Breakdown Voltage of Two Insulating Columns Using The Simple Stress Method

ROMÁN, F; BECERRA, M; BEJARANO, L; ROMERO, A.; LÓPEZ, H.; VILLALOBOS, A.

Santos, Brazil

Congreso; VI International Symposium on Lightning Protection VI SIPDA; 2001

University of Sao Paulo e IEEE

The breakdown voltage of two similar glass columns geometrically similar was compared. Lightning and switching impulse voltages of both polarities were applied. The construction difference between the two glass columns of the same longitude and diameter, was that one of them was conformed by two columns of the same longitude, joint by a metallic flange. The experiments were performed at the Extra High Voltage Laboratory “LAPEM” in Mexico. The aim of the experiments was to detemine the influence of the metallic flange on the breakdown voltage humidity correction factor. Additionally, the 50% probability breakdown voltages obtained with the conventional methods: Up and Down and multiple level test methods, were compared with the same voltages obtained with an alternative method, under analysis, called Single Stress Method – SSM-. It was concluded that the flange’s length should not be considered in the calculation of the humidity correction factor. It was also concluded that the 50% probability breakdown voltage obtained with the SSM is dependent on the voltage waveform. For this reason, the SSM can not be used to obtain the 50% breakdown probability instead of the conventional methods UDM and MLM. However, the SSM gives important information on certain aspects of the breakdown mechanism involved in the discharge process.