Response of 10-kV Metal-Oxide Surge Arresters Excited by Nanosecond-Level Transient Electromagnetic Disturbances

Nanosecond-level transient electromagnetic disturbance (TED), including very fast transient overvoltage caused by operation of disconnectors, high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, and many other fast transients may interfere or even damage the electrical equipment. As one of the main overvoltage protective equipment, the protective performance of metal-oxide surge arresters (MOAs) under nanosecond-level TED should be investigated and then compared with that under microsecond-level TED, especially the lightning impulse. Based on a testing platform containing a 400-kV pulse generator with adjustable rise time from 5 to 100 ns, the behaviors of nonlinearity, fast impulse response, and converting impedances of three types of 10-kV MOAs under TED with different rise time were explored experimentally in this article. The peak residual voltages of 10-kV MOAs under TED with the rise time of 5 ns at 5 kA are 50.2-60.7% higher than those under the lightning impulse. The rise time of TED has significant influence on the peak voltage and impedance converting behaviors of MOAs. A circuit model of 10-kV MOAs under nanosecond-level TED is built and validated by experimental results, which can be applied in insulation coordination and design of protective devices against TED.

Automated summary

The study investigated the performance of three types of 10 kV MOAs under TED with different rise times, demonstrating that the rise time of TED has a significant impact on the peak voltage and impedance converting behaviors of MOAs. The findings suggest that a circuit model of 10 kV MOAs under nanosecond-level TED can be applied in insulation coordination and design of protective devices against TED.