Factors Affecting Corona Loss:

The following are the factors that affect corona loss on overhead transmission lines:
(i) Electrical factors,
(ii) Atmospheric factors, and
(iii) Factors connected with the conductors.
Electrical Factors:
a) Frequency and waveform of supply: Referring to the expression for corona loss it is
seen that corona loss is a function of frequency. Thus, higher the frequency of supply
the higher are corona losses. This shows that d.c. corona loss is less as compared with
a.c. corona.
b) Field Around the Conductor: The field around the conductor in addition to being a
function of the voltage, depends upon the configuration of the conductors, i.e., whether
they are placed in vertical configuration, delta formation etc. Say if the formation is
horizontal the field near the middle conductor is large as compared to the outer
conductors i.e., the critical disruptive voltage is lower for the middle conductors and
hence the corona loss on the middle conductor is more as compared with the two outer
conductors. The height of the conductors from the ground has its effect on corona loss.
The smaller the height, the greater the corona loss.
Atmospheric Factors:
a) Pressure and temperature effect: From the expression for loss, it is clear that it is a
function of air density correction factor δ which appears directly in the denominator of
the expression and indirectly in the expression of critical disruptive voltage. The lower
the value of δ the higher the loss; because loss is directly proportional to (V – V0)2, the
lower the value of δ, the lower the value of V0 and hence higher the value of (V – V0)2,
where V is the operating voltage in kV. This shows that the effect of δ on corona loss
is very serious. For lower values the pressure should be low and temperature higher. It
is for this reason that the corona loss is more on hilly areas than on plain areas.
b) Dust, Rain, Snow and Hail Effect: The particles of dust clog to the conductor; thereby
the critical voltage for local corona reduces which increases corona loss. Similarly, the
bad atmospheric conditions such as rains, snow and hailstorm reduce the critical
disruptive voltage and hence increase the corona loss.
Factors Connected with the Conductor:
a) Diameter of the Conductor: From the expression for corona loss, it can be seen that
the conductor size appears at two places and if other things are assumed constant,

It appears from the first relation that loss is proportional to the square root of the size
of the conductor, i.e., larger the dia of the conductor larger will be the loss. But from
 the second expression as V0 is approximately directly proportional to the size of the
conductor, hence larger the size of the conductor larger will be the critical disruptive
voltage and hence smaller will be the factor (V – V0)2. It is found in practice that the
effect of the second proportionality is much more than the first on the corona losses,
and hence larger the size of the conductor lower is the corona loss.
b) Number of Conductors/Phases: For operating voltage 380 kV and above it is found
that one conductor per phase gives large corona loss and hence large radio interference
(RI) level which interferes with the communication lines which normally run parallel
to the power lines. This problem of large corona loss is solved by using two or more
than two conductors per phase which is known as bundling of conductors. By bundling
the conductors, the self GMD of the conductors is increased thereby; the critical
disruptive voltage is increased and hence corona loss is reduced.
c) Profile of the Conductor: By this is meant the shape of the conductor whether
cylindrical, flat, oval etc. Because of field uniformity in case of cylindrical conductor
the corona loss is less in this as compared to any other shape.
d) Surface Conditions of the Conductors: The conductors are exposed to atmospheric
conditions. The surface would have dirt etc. deposited on it which will lower the
disruptive voltage and increase corona loss.
e) Heating of the Conductor by Load Current: The heating of the conductor by the load
current has an indirect reducing effect on the corona loss. Without such heating the
conductor would tend to have a slightly lower temperature than the surrounding air. In
the absence of heating, dew in the form of tiny water drops would form on the conductor
in foggy weather or at times of high humidity, which induces additional corona. The
heating effect of the load current is, however, large enough to prevent such
condensation. During rains, the heating of the conductor has no influence on the corona
loss but, after the rain it accelerates the drying of the conductor surface. The time during
which the water drops remain on the surface is reduced and the loss is also reduced.
Methods of Reducing Corona Loss:
It has been observed that the intense corona effects are observed at a working voltage
of 33 kV or above. On the sub-stations or bus-bars rated for 33 kV and higher voltages, highly
ionized air may cause flash-over in the insulators or between the phases, causing considerable
damage to the equipment, if careful designing is not made to reduce the corona effect. The
corona effect can be reduced by the following methods:
• By Increasing Conductor Size: The voltage at which corona occurs can be raised by
increasing conductor size. Hence, the corona effect may be reduced. This is one of the
reasons that ACSR conductors which have a larger cross-sectional area are used in
transmission lines.
• By Increasing Conductor Spacing: The corona effect can be eliminated by increasing
the spacing between conductors, which raises the voltage at which corona occurs.
However, increase in conductor spacing is limited due to the cost of supporting
structure as bigger cross arms and supports to accompany the increase in conductor
spacing, increases the cost of transmission system.
• By using bundled conductors: This increases the number of conductors per phase and
hence reduces the corona loss.
 • By using hollow conductors: The idea of using the hollow conductors is again the same
i.e., to have a large diameter without materially adding to its weight.
• By Using Corona Ring: The intensity of electric field is high at the point where the
conductor curvature is sharp. Therefore, corona discharge occurs first at the sharp
points, edges, and corners. In order to, mitigate electric field, corona rings are employed
at the terminals of very high voltage equipment.
Corona rings are metallic rings of toroidal shaped, which are fixed at the end of bushings and
insulator strings. This metallic ring distributes the charge across a wider area due to its smooth
round shape which significantly reduces the potential gradient at the surface of the conductor
below the critical disruptive value and thus preventing corona discharge.

Fig.: Use of Corona Ring

Advantages and Disadvantages of Corona:
Corona has many advantages and disadvantages. In the correct design of a high voltage
overhead line, a balance should be struck between the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
(i) Due to corona formation, the air surrounding the conductor becomes conducting and
hence virtual diameter of the conductor is increased. The increased diameter reduces the
electrostatic stresses between the conductors.
(ii) Corona reduces the effects of transients produced by surges.
Disadvantages:
(i) Corona is accompanied by a loss of energy. This affects the transmission efficiency of
the line.
(ii) Ozone is produced by corona and may cause corrosion of the conductor due to chemical
action.
(iii) The current drawn by the line due to corona is non-sinusoidal and hence non-sinusoidal
voltage drop occurs in the line. This may cause inductive interference with neighbouring
communication lines.