Evaluation of MOSA condition using leakage current method

This paper covers the evaluation of metal-oxide surge arrester (MOSA) condition using the method based on the analysis of leakage current at the operating voltage of the network. A comparison is made between the following variants of this method: (1) the method based on harmonic analysis of the total leakage current; (2) the method based on the third order harmonic of the resistive leakage current; (3) the method of power loss; (4) the capacitive current compensation method; and (5) the method based on direct measurement of the amplitude of the resistive leakage current. For these methods the appropriate indicators are introduced for evaluating the MOSA condition. The application of these methods is analyzed depending on fluctuation and the presence of higher harmonics of the MOSA operating voltage. Calculations were conducted using the program MATLAB on a simplified equivalent circuit of a MOSA with a non-linear element modeled using the degree function. Based on the calculation results, a gradation was made for the applicability of individual indicators for evaluating the MOSA condition which indicates a special advantage for using the fundamental harmonic of the resistive component of leakage current and the fundamental harmonic of power loss. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.