The 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, Pilsen, Czech Republic, August, 23 – 28, 2015

ONLINE MONITORING SYSTEM OF ZNO SURGE ARRESTERS BASED ON THE

MEASURED LEAKAGE CURRENT

Wellington A. B. Silva1, Suleson C. B. Lopes1, Guilherme B. Leal1, George R. S. Lira1*,

Edson G. Costa1 , and Marcelo J. A. Maia2
1 Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande-PB, Brazil
2 Companhia Hidroelétrica do São Francisco, Recife-PE, Brazil

*Email: < george@dee.ufcg.edu.br >

Abstract: Zinc oxide arresters devices are essential in power system protection, contributing to increase
reliability and to preserve the continuity of service and electric supply. These devices are installed between
phase and ground transmission lines, with a small leakage current at Maximum Continuous Operating
Voltage (low current region), and reaching high amplitude currents once a discharge takes place at high
current region. At low current region, the leakage current consists of a capacitive and resistive component.
Most leakage current monitoring systems of ZnO surge arrester are based on the measurement of the
resistive component, because it can inform the degree of degradation of the surge arresters. However, it
represents only about 5% to 20% of the total current. The study is focused on provide a monitoring system
able to monitor the total leakage current, due the fact it behaves differently for various types of surge
arresters defects. Thus, it is possible to use the total leakage current to find defects in surge arresters, as
well as to know its defect characteristics. In this paper a system capable of obtain the leakage current
through a toroid, used as Voltage Transformer, will be presented. This transformer is connected to a
conditioning circuit, which will be processed and sent wirelessly to a software at an operation center. This
software, which was developed as part of this work, is able to receive and store the data automatically;
creating a database that will serve for analysis and diagnostics of the arresters under study.

Keywords: resistive component, leakage current, surge arrester.

1 INTRODUCTION influence of the parasite capacitances on the

Due to the high non-linearity between the voltage
and current, lightning arresters can act in three
regions: low current region, high nonlinearity
region, and high current region. During regular
system conditions, the leakage current of the surge
arresters is in the low current region. In this region,
the current is composed of a capacitive component
and a resistive - capacitive being the predominant
component. On surge arresters in good conditions,
the resistive component of the leakage current is
about 5% to 20% of the capacitive component [1].
The surge arresters operate in this region most of
its life (estimated at 30 years). Being a good
indicator of ZnO surge arresters degradation,
almost all equipment used to monitor leakage
current aim to monitor the behavior of its resistive
component. In case these devices were showing
more than 10% of the total leakage current,
probably that arrester is damaged [2-5].
The main problem of the methods based on
current decomposition is the necessity of measure
the applied voltage on the surge arrester or
estimate angle phase difference between the
leakage current and the applied voltage. To
measure the applied voltage on site is hard task,
since often there are: some difficult to access and
to connect data acquisition systems to
measurement devices (such as potential
transformers); the influence of the neighbours
transmission lines on the measurement; and the
voltage phase angle along the arrester housing [6].
These troubles can to make impossible the MOSA
diagnosis. Some methods that claim to overcome
the difficulties mentioned, yet make use of a series
of simplifications and approximations compromise
the accuracy of the results provided.
The total leakage current behaves differently for
many types of surge arresters. Thus, it is possible
to use this current to find defects in surge
arresters, as well as to know its defect
characteristics [6].
For this reason, it is necessary to develop a total
leakage current monitoring system, which allows
sending a signal in the waveform of the leakage
current of the surge arresters, from a wireless
communication network to the control room
substation. Then, it must allow the leakage current
waveforms storage, from the surge arrester
installed at workstations, during a long period. With
these data, it will be possible to build a database
with the leakage current’s behavior of the surge
arresters along the time, besides apply more
efficient monitoring and diagnosis techniques.
This paper presents the features of the surge
arresters, the connection between the leakage
current and the degradation level of surge
arresters, and the reason why is necessary to
create a current monitoring system. The circuit and
the monitoring system operation will be showed, as
well as the results reached, proving its reliability.
2 MONITORING SYSTEM
2.1 Electrical Characteristics of ZnO surge
arresters
The main feature of ZnO arrester is its voltage-
current characteristics highly nonlinear (Figure 1).
This feature represents an improvement on the
silicon carbide (SiC) surge arresters, because
unlike what happens with SiC, this feature allows a
direct connection to the electrical system. It
generated only a leakage current in micro amps
range under normal operating conditions, i.e.,
when in Maximum Continuous operating Voltage
(MCOV) [2--11].
Figure 1: Curve typical of ZnO and SiC surge
arresters
Due to its V-I characteristic highly nonlinear, the
ZnO arrester, during the passage of an electrical
current discharge, has a leakage current of micro-
amps amplitude, reaching kilo-amps. Once ceased
the discharge, the surge arresters returns to its
normal operating condition.
The terminologies rated voltage (Ur) and MCOV
may cause misunderstanding because they have
different concepts for other devices.
Rated Voltage (Ur): higher RMS voltage value,
at the allowed power frequency, between the
terminals of the surge arresters. The lightning
arrester is designed to work at this voltage point in
a surge situation.
Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage
(MCOV): maximum RMS voltage value at industrial
standards frequency, which can be applied
continuously between the terminals of the surge
arresters [7].
The level of atmospheric and switching operation
protection is the value of the peak voltage resulted
of a pulse application. Its waveform is a standard,
1.2 / 50 µs and 250/2500 µs.
The V-I characteristic curve of ZnO arrester is
divided into three regions [3].
 Low Current Region: In this region, the
current is broken down into a capacitive
component and a resistive. In Figure 2, is
observed a typical wave leakage current
plot. It was measured at the laboratory, in
a distribution surge arresters. The rated
voltage was 12KVrms when energized at
MCOV voltage 10.2 kVrms.
 Operating Region: Region nonlinear, with
intermediate voltage, measured by current
pulses, representing atmospheric and
switching operation outbreaks.
 High-Current Region: Known as Upturn,
measured by current type 8/20 µs or
4/10 µs.
Figure 2: Voltage and current waveform in the
surge arresters operating in the low current region
2.2 Wireless Monitoring System of the
leakage current in ZnO surge arresters.
The monitoring system consists of many electronic
circuits, which perform specific functions. Figure 3
presents graphically the proposed system.
Figure 3: Diagram of the monitoring system blocks
the total leakage current
2.2.1 Input Unit
Signal acquisition of Leakage Current - The
leakage current acquisition circuit consists of a
current transformer (CT) called N3E3 [9], [10].
Connected to the CT, we used an instrumentation
differential amplifier (INA 114), specific to the
amplification of small signal amplitudes, allowing
noise rejection.
It is acknowledged that the small total leakage
current, IT,, flowing through the surge arresters,
induces, on the toroidal core, a voltage
proportional to the magnetic flux linkage. This
induced voltage is proportional to the IT current’s
derivative. For this reason it is necessary to use an
integrator circuit, thus, the integrator output will be
a voltage directly proportional to the leakage
current flowing in the surge arresters. After the
integrator circuit was used an amplifier to provide a
gain in the signal, thereby improving the resolution.
Figure 4 shows the wiring diagram used in the
acquisition circuit’s implementation.
Figure 4: Schematic diagram of the current sensor
The current sensor components are adjusted to
have the desired ratio of voltage, which is
proportional to the current. Thus, we used 1 mA
per 1 Vrms at circuit’s output, using the resistor
that adjusts the gain of the signal obtained by the
INA 114. The output of the circuit appears as a DC
level due to environment and operational
amplifiers. In an attempt to eliminate it, we used a
better filter that will be explained in the conditioning
section.
Temperature acquisition - it was used DHT11
sensor that offers digital outputs calibrated
according with temperature and humidity. The
sensor is connected to the processing system,
because temperature and humidity are important
variables in the diagnosis of the surge arresters.
2.2.2 Conditioning Unit
Such as we can see below, microcontrollers work
in a 0-5 V voltage range. The signal acquired in the
input unit output is composed by a negative part.
Besides it, the signal passes many times on the
zero. It makes difficult to recover the data using the
possibility of signal rectification. Therefore, to solve
this problem was created a conditioning circuit. It
receives the input drive signal, explained in the
previous section, then, passes through a high-pass
filter, in an attempt to eliminate noise and DC level.
Finally, is added the required value to condition the
voltage level signal to the microcontroller support.
In figure 5, it is possible to see the circuit of the
conditioning unit. The circuit has a high-pass filter
and a voltage follower, which isolates the signal.
Also, there are a CI7805 and a voltage divisor,
providing the appropriate voltage level for the
signal stays on the voltage range acceptable in the
microcontroller. At last, a circuit summing the
filtered signal with the DC level desired.
Figure 5: Circuit used in the conditioning unit
2.2.3 Processing unit
The processing unit is where the data are read,
stored and sent. Through the microcontroller
analog/digital converter, the leakage current is
stored in internal memory. Then, after a command,
this data is sent by a wireless system that will be
explained in the transmission system, in the
following section.
In this unit also is read the temperature and
humidity from the input unit, announces the date
and time through a RTC and process information
displayed on a LCD.
The microprocessor basically executes logical,
arithmetic and control operations. Other external
circuits, called accessory circuits, execute
operations other than those. Those circuits are
used, for example, to read information of data input
devices, and reporting information to data output
devices. However, many accessories circuits that
were implemented external to the microprocessor,
now are incorporated into a single integrated
circuit. It originated another family of
microcontrollers, called components. Those require
CPU (Central Processing Unit) memory, clock
system, input and output signals (Input / Output).
Also, we can add peripherals, such as timing
modules and A / D converters, among others, all of
them integrated in the same chip. The
microprocessor used in this project was the PIC
18F452, which contains the necessary
requirements.
Another device that was added to the processing
system was the RTC (Real Time Clock) Real time
clock. The device used was the DS1302 is a
clock/calendar serial low cost controlled by an
external crystal 32,768 kHz. Since the goal of the
project is to create a database from the monitoring
surge arresters, the date and time that the
readings are holding are highly important. The
communication with the DS1302 is via I2C serial
interface.
It was incorporated into the system a LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) 16x2, so the user can have access
to information such as date, time, temperature,
humidity, reading indicators and data printing being
performed in real time. For this reason, it was
required that the operator use buttons in the device
to access these information.
2.2.4 Transmission unit
A wireless communication system was chose for
the data transmission. The wireless communication
modules XBee-Pro, based on ZigBee technology,
allows relatively fast implementation and low power
consumption of a wireless sensor network.
Next, we present some wireless communication
standard details: ZigBee IEEE 802.15.4 developed
by ZigBee Alliance and the IEEE (Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The sensor
network developed not only allow the real-time
monitoring of leakage current, but give the
waveform of the leakage current to the operator of
the substation control room, as well as some
numerical values.
We used the XBee-Pro modules s2 because of its
range and ease of implementation and low power
consumption, making it suitable for portable
applications. It can be seen from the Figure 6, the
existence of two transmission and processing
modules. One of these modules is configured as a
transmitter and the other as a receiver. Figure 6.
Figure 6: Communication module XBee ZigBee-
based technology
2.2.6 Software developed
In this project also was developed a software,
using the programming language C#. This software
makes all the interaction between the user, which
will be in the control room, and the prototype
developed in the project, that will be installed on
the surge arresters. In figure 7, we can see the
software developed.
This software can choose the available serial ports,
which are automatically detected. Besides, it is
possible to choose the transmission speed, the
type of parity, the number of data bits and stop bit
or parity bit. Another option available is the
transmitting and receiving serial port data, the
received data can also be saved to a file of type
"txt".
Figure 7: Software developed in C #
2.2.5 Validation System
In order to validate the developed system, which
monitors the leakage current in ZnO arresters with
rated voltage of 72 kV and 42 kV MCOV, was
measured its current using, firstly, a resistor shunt.
Then it was used the proposed monitoring system,
with the objective of compare the results. The test
required for measurement of voltage and leakage
current of the surge arresters was carried out using
as reference the schematic diagram of the
experimental arrangement shown in Figure 8.
The total leakage current is measured indirectly,
through the shunt resistor voltage drop, and the
induction provided by the current passing through
the toroidal core. In Figure 9 is showed pictures of
the high voltage kit and control table used for
conducting the test, besides the equipment used in
the validation of the acquired data. The equipment
use was: transformer, resistor, capacitor, surge
arresters, as well as the decade, used as shunt
resistor, and the cable through which the leakage
current passing through inside the toroid that is
part of the prototype.
In order to reduce undesired effects such as noise,
interference, and bad contacts DC level due to the
circuit is mounted on a breadboard (breadboard)
was fashioned a printed circuit board. It is shown in
Figure. This printed circuit board eliminates the
effects mentioned above and the disadvantages
encountered in the aforementioned literature.

Figure 8: Experimental setup used for measuring
voltage and leakage current of the surge arresters
of ZnO
Figure 9: Photos of the experimental setup used
for measuring voltage and leakage current in surge
arresters ZnO
Figure 10: Printed circuit board prototype
developed
3 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
3.1 Response results in current sensor rate
Because of nonlinear characteristic of ZnO arrester
their leakage current is composed of significant
harmonic components. Therefore, the current
sensor must answer satisfactorily the main
harmonic components that may arise in the
leakage current of the surge arresters, 3rd, 5th, 7th
and 9th order.
In order to choose a gain instrumentation amplifier
that provides good response to amplitude and
frequency characteristics of the current leakage of
the surge arresters of ZnO, an experiment was
conducted. In this experiment, the amplitude and
the frequency of a sinusoidal signal were varied.
For each amplitude adjustment it was changed the
frequency of the sinusoidal signal. For this, we use
a signal generator and an oscilloscope to the
waveform display. It is worthy mentioning that the
response obtained is from the whole circuit and not
just from the toroidal core. In Figure 11 is showed
the amplitude and frequency response of the
current sensor. It was set the adjust of the INA 114
gain.
Figure 11: Response amplitude and frequency of
the current sensor
3.1 Results from the monitoring system of
the leakage current of the ZnO surge
After some necessary adjustments, in order to get
an output voltage proportional to the current with
transformation ratio 1 V / 1 mA and satisfactory
amplitude and frequency response, the next step
was to validate the monitoring system by
measuring the current trail arrester with rated
voltage 72 kV and 42 kV MCOV. In order to do it,
the surge arresters were submitted to MCOV, and
the leakage current was measured using the shunt
resistor and the monitoring system developed
simultaneously. Then the results were compared.
4 CONCLUSION
In this research project was developed a current
monitoring system to ZnO surge arresters. Then
the system was employed for measuring the
leakage current of the ZnO surge arresters whose
voltage is 42 kV MCOV. The leakage current was
measured using the monitoring system and by a
shunt resistor, then the results were compared. It
was noted that the results presented by the
monitoring system had high similarity with the
leakage current using the shunt resistor.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Paraíba Technological Park Foundation for the
management of CHESF-GSE project.
The Laboratory of High Voltage (LAT), for having
given the physical space and staff available to
assist in the experiments.
All those who directly or indirectly contributed to
carry out this work.
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