The breakdown of a tower — line clearance under impulse voltages pre — stressed by a negative D.C. voltage

In order to investigate the breakdown mechanism of a conductor — tower gap under transient overvoltages in the laboratory, the simulation of overvoltages is done by the use of standard lightning or switching impulses. If these impulses are superimposed or preceded by a steady direct pre — stressing voltage it has been shown1,5 that this affects the dielectric strength of the configuration used. Previous study1 showed that the influence of the superimposition of positive impulses on a negative DC pre — stressing conductor-rod gap with a spacing of 50 cm is significant in that under certain conditions the overall sparkover voltage tends to increase. Several parameters affect this behaviour, i.e. the value of the pre — stressing DC voltage, the diameter of the energised conductor, the position of the rod with regard to the conductor, the waveshape of the applied impulse and humidity. All this was explained in terms of the various DC and impulse coronas that occur at the conductor and the rod which tend to create a more «uniform» field distribution in the gap. In order to have a better simulation of a tower — line clearance, a construction similar to a tower and a line has been constructed. Since a conductor — rod gap shows a gap factor of about l.610, rods were inserted in the gap and the influence of their length on the breakdown mechanism has been evaluated.