Corona – the Invisible Light

The corona phenomenon is associated with energized high voltage installations and can hardly be
avoided, especially under wet and contaminated conditions. The corona phenomenon is involved
with multiple effects such as: discharge of ultraviolet radiation, audio noise, radio interferences,
the liberation of Ozone and formation of acids none of which are visible to bare eyes.
Corona can be present due to inadequate hardware design, damaged hardware, deficient
interfaces due to improper design and/or manufacturing etc.
Corona discharge can be a significant threat to the integrity of electrical grid components, in
particular to those made of organic polymers. Corona can lead to direct and indirect energy losses
and unexpected outages, and therefore there is a necessity to periodically inspect and search
for corona discharges.

CORONA INSPECTION METHODS

From left to right: The 2 channels of a corona camera: UV and Visible, and the merged outcome

The main purpose of inspection is to be able to verify the integrity of the systems ,and
detect faults in their early stages when repair is possible and costs are relatively low .
Corona indicates faults in their early stages and therefore spotting corona is advantageous .

• Acoustic – measuring audio noise levels

• Radio Interference( RIV – )voltage measurements

• Thermography – measuring hot spots

• E-Field measurement
 • UV radiation detection

Acoustic and RIV measurement methods are sensitive to background noise and cannot be
used to determine the precise location of the discharge.
IR thermography seeks significant modifications in the surface temperature and can
hardly, if at all, detect the very small changes in temperature caused by corona.
E-field measurement is totally inconvenient and time consuming.
UV radiation detection provides information on the exact location of corona, and the only
provision is that there is a need for a line of sight, just as any other camera including IR.
In most cases it is recommended to use a combination of inspection methods taking into
account that the only way to validate emission and pinpoint the sources is by using a UV
camera.

Pinpointed corona

THE ADVANTAGES OF USING DayCor® CORONA CAMERAS

• Using DayCor® sensitive coronas camera is clearly an advantageous practice,
because it is
 • Nondestructive
• Allows inspecting remote objects
• Provides data on the fly in real time
• Portrays corona in its natural occurrences
• Enables visualizing both the discharges and the faults
• Provides an assessment to the severity of discharges
• A convenient mode of operation intuitive to use

DayCor® CAMERAS ESSENTIALS

• Blocking sun radiation

• Transmitting ultraviolet signals
• Amplifying UV signals
• Adding the visible view of the scene

The solar radiation is being blocked by the Ozone layer in the UVc range “solar blind” region of 240-280nm.
A fraction of the UV radiation emitted by corona is in this range. Daytime corona cameras take advantage
of this fact and use special filters to filter in signals generated by corona in the UVc while filtering out all
other. The camera uses 2 spectral channels: one for corona UV signals and one for the visible light from the
same scene. The UV channel undergoes amplification processes to enable seeing the corona. Finally, the
camera collects the light from both channels and presenting a perfectly merged view of the source of
discharge and the discharge itself.

“…Since corona discharge precedes catastrophic electrical faults on high-voltage

structures, detection and geolocation of ultraviolet emissions is needed… While
most coronas are benign, some are indicative of a severe degradation that
requires immediate attention; location, diagnosis, and disposition of coronas are
necessary components of transmission line inspection. Corona cameras have
exquisite sensitivity to the weak UV photon flux density produced by coronas.
 They are so sensitive that a user with limited training can spot a corona from the
ground at a distance of 300 feet or more…”

"Autonomous Inspection of Electrical Transmission Structures with Airborne UV Sensors NASA Report on
Dominion Virginia Power Flights of November 2016", Andrew J. Moore, Matthew Schubert, Nicholas
Rymer, NASA/TM-2017-219611

Reduce Operation & Maintenance Cost

Facilities' maintenance strategies have changed from, rum-to-fail or time-based
management to predictive & condition-based or reliability-centered management thereby
reducing operation and maintenance costs. Corona cameras collect data that assists
predicting failures patterns and prioritizing preventive proactive activities. Facilities
dedicate resources to these proactive maintenances and minimize thereby high repair cost
and unexpected shutdown. Reliability management involves using reliable instruments that
indicate and pinpoint faults and potential faults on time, precisely, and easily.

Ofil's corona cameras lead maintenance engineers to the origins of electrical failures, and
cut inspection durations and reduce redundant activities such as insulators washing. To
operate a corona camera there is no need for training, nor any level of certification. Every
available maintenance team member can use a corona camera to achieve instant data. Data
is visually simple and natural and it consists of the actual scene overlaid with spots of
corona discharge. During commissioning corona cameras immediately detect design issues.
Corona cameras assist to avoid shutdowns, their use does not involve over loading, nor
destruction of the tested elements. Using corona cameras has, according to our customers,
helped them extend elements' lifetime and slowed down aging processes.

Is Your System Corona Free?

Corona discharge is associated with local high electrical field that exceeds the air ability to withstand
and remain a dielectric gap. Corona can hit any medium/high voltage apparatus: transformers,
bushings, capacitors, insulators, switchgear, conductors, cables, motors, spacers, switch cabinets,
and more.
Corona is triggered by sharp edges, physical defects, contamination, bad design, wrong installation,
improper material etc. Corona acts as a signal of existing faults, and at the same time corona itself
radiates UV, creates Ozone (O3) and acids, dissipates audio noise and interferes with radio signals.

“Innocent” corona becomes critical under specific environmental conditions” (STRI). Rather than
wait for an imminent catastrophe use a DayCor and guarantee safety.

H. Barzilay
Ofil Ltd.