Insulation Coordination of Arcing Horns on HVDC Electrode Lines: Protection Performance Evaluation, Influence Factors and Improvement Method

Abstract

Abstract:Arcing horns are widely used in high voltage overhead lines to protect insulator strings from being destroyed by the free burning arcs caused by lightening faults. In this paper, we focus on the insulation coordination of arcing horns on the electrode lines of a 5000 MW, ±800 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) system. The protection performance of arcing horns are determined by the characteristics of not only the external system but also the fault arc. Therefore, the behaviors and characteristics of long free burning arcs are investigated by the experiments at first. In order to evaluate the protection performance of arcing horns, the static stability criterion U-I characteristic method is introduced. The influence factors on the protection performance of arcing horns are analyzed theoretically. Finally, the improvement methods for the protection performance of arcing horns are proposed, and the diversified configuration strategy of arcing horns is recommended for cost saving.

Research on the arcing horn with active arc extinguishing function for HVDC grounding electrode line

“…The length of the air gap formed by the electrodes is slightly smaller than the length of the insulator string, so that the lightning impulse flashover voltage is smaller than that of the insulator string. Therefore, the arcing horn will break down before the insulator string when an overvoltage fault occurs, and the arc will be transferred to the end of the electrode to burn, so as to release the lightning energy and avoid erosion of the insulators [2].…”