Protection Against Overvoltages

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Overvoltages i.e. voltages greater than the normal value.

These overvoltages on the power system may be caused due to many reasons
such as

lightning,

the opening of a circuit breaker,

the grounding of a conductor etc.

Most of the overvoltages are not of large magnitude but may still be
important because of their effect on the performance of circuit
interrupting equipment and protective devices.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
Voltage Surge

A sudden rise in voltage for a very short duration on the power system
is known as a voltage surge or transient voltage.

The steeper the wave front, the more rapid is

the build-up of voltage at any point in the
network, this build-up is rapid, being of the order
of 1–10 µs.

Voltage surges are generally specified in terms

of *rise time t1 and the time t2 to decay to half
of the peak value.

For example,

a 1/50 µs surge is one which reaches its maximum

value in 1µs and decays to half of its peak value is
50 µs.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
Causes of Overvoltages

The overvoltages on a power system may be broadly divided into two main
categories viz.

1. Internal causes

(i) Switching surges

(ii) Insulation failure
(iii) Arcing ground
(iv) Resonance

2. External causes i.e. lightning

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (i) Switching surges

The overvoltages produced on the power system due to switching

operations are known as switching surges.

(1) Case of an open line.

When the unloaded line is

connected to the voltage
source, a voltage wave is set up
which travels along the line. On
reaching the terminal point A,
it is reflected back to the
supply end without change of
sign.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (2) Case of a loaded line.

Overvoltages will produce during the switching operations of a loaded line.

Suppose a loaded line is suddenly interrupted. This will set up a voltage of

2*Zn*I across the break (i.e. switch) where I is the instantaneous value of
current at the time of opening of line and Zn is the natural impedance of the
line.

For example, suppose the line having Zn = 1000 Ω, carries a current of 100 A
(r.m.s.) and the break occurs at the moment when current is maximum.

The voltage across the breaker (i.e. switch) = 2 √2 × 100 × 1000/1000 = 282·8
kV. If Vm is the peak value of voltage in kV, the maximum voltage to which the
line may be subjected is = (Vm + 282·8) kV.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (3) Current chopping.

While interrupting highly inductive current,

like no-load current of transformer, the
rapid deionization of contact space and
blast effect may cause current interruption
before its natural zero.

Such an interruption of current before its

natural zero is termed as “current
chopping”.

This phenomenon is more pronounced in case

of air-blast circuit breakers which exerts
the same deionizing force for all currents
within its short-circuit capacity.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (ii) Insulation failure

The failure of insulation between the line

and earth is very frequent. When there
is a breakdown of insulation to earth, the
potential at fault suddenly falls from
maximum to zero and, therefore, a
negative voltage wave of very steep
front in the form of surge travels from
the fault in both directions. PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (iii) Arcing ground

Arcing ground is the surge, which is

produced if the neutral is not connected
to the earth.

The phenomenon of arcing ground occurs

in the ungrounded three-phase systems
because of the flow of the capacitance
current.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 (iv) Resonance

Resonance in an electrical circuit implies that the impedance of the circuit is

purely resistive and the power factor is unity. Thus at resonance the
inductive reactances and capacitive reactances cancel out.

In usual transmission lines the capacitance is usually so small that resonance

cannot occur at the fundamental supply frequency, but if the generator emf
wave is distorted, trouble may be experienced due to resonance at one at
the higher harmonics.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
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PRKREDDY.GNITS
 Mechanism of Lightning Discharge

An electric discharge between cloud and earth(CG), between clouds(CC) or

between the charge centres of the same cloud(IC) is known as lightning.

According to most accepted theory is that during the uprush of warm moist air
from earth, the friction between the air and the tiny particles of water causes
the building up of charges.

When drops of water are formed, the larger drops become positively charged
and the smaller drops become negatively charged.

When the drops of water accumulate, they form clouds, and hence cloud may
possess either a positive or a negative charge, depending upon the charge of
drops of water they contain.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
A negatively charged cloud inducing a positive charge on the earth.

When the potential gradient is sufficient (5 kV*/cm to 10 kV/cm) to break down

the surrounding air, the lightning stroke starts.

The leader streamer being unable to

reach the earth due to current in the
leader streamer is low (<100 A) and its
velocity of propagation is about 0·15m/µs
that of velocity of light. Moreover, the
luminosity of leader is also very low.

The first discharge moves to earth in steps of about 50 meters in length

each and is accomplished in about 1µs, therefore, termed the stepped leader.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
When the pilot steamer reaches near the
earth, the electric field intensity
increases and due to this, the charges of
an opposite polarity in the form of a
short steam rises from the earth to
meet the tip of downward leader, this is
called short upward leader

When a contact is made between the

pilot leader and the short upward
steamer, a return streamer travel from
the earth to cloud along the ionised
channel formed by the pilot leader.

The return steamer moves very fast and produces the well known,
intensely luminous lightning flash, the current varies from 1kA to
200kA and speed is 10% of light.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
There may be other cell of
charges near the neutralized
charged cell will try to
neutralize through this ionized
path, this streamer is called
dart leader, the velocity of
dart leader is 3% of the light.
The effect of dart leader is
much severe than return
stroke.

The discharge current in the return steamer is relatively large, but lasts for a
few microseconds the energy contained in it is small. This streamer is called
cold lightning stroke, while the dart leader stroke is called Hot lightning stoke.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
 Facts about Lightning

A. A lightning discharge which usually appears to the eye as a single flash is

in reality made up of a number of separate strokes that travel down the
same path. The interval between them varies from 0·0005 to 0·5 second.
Each separate stroke starts as a downward leader from the cloud.

B. It has been found that 87% of all lightning strokes result from negatively
charged clouds and only 13% originate from positively charged clouds.

C. It has been estimated that throughout the world, there occur about 100
lightning strokes per second.

D. Lightning discharge may have currents in the range of 10 kA to 90 kA.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 Over-Voltages due to Lightning

If an overhead line is struck by lightning (direct stroke), the

voltage rise at the point is Vd = Id z0
where Z0 is the surge impedance, and ld is the discharge current.

But since travelling wave travel in both directions, the current is

halved and overvoltage is given by Vd = [1/2 (IdZ0)]

For example if Id is taken 30 k A and Z0 = 500 Ω, then – Vd =

(1/2) x 30 x 1,000 x 500 = 7.5 x 106 V.

Due to direct stroke on a line, the nearby lines are also subjected
to over-voltages, but of less magnitude, through electromagnetic The ∝ and β are the
coupling. Experiences have shown that voltage rises induced by constants which
side strokes may attain a value of 2 million volts but that about determine the shapes.
90% of such voltages are below 500 kV. These voltages may also
The waves are defined by
spark over on the insulators.
times t1 and t2 in
milliseconds.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
A direct stroke on the tower or earth conductor causes the rise of
the voltage to a value given by Vd = Id RE + [L(di/dt)]

where Id is the discharge current, RE is the tower footing resistance,

L is the inductances of the tower and di/dt is the slope of current
wave.

For EHT towers of normal height, L is taken equal to 10 µH. Taking

RE = 5 Ω, ld = 30 kA and di/dt = 10 kA/µs, we have –

Vd = [30 x 103 x 5 + 10 x 10-6 x (10 x 1000)/(1 x 10-6)] = 250 kV

If Vd exceeds the spark over voltage of the insulators a backward

flashover from tower to conductors will give rise to travelling waves
on the conductors in both directions which on reaching the terminal
equipment may subject the same to dangerous voltage rises. For all
purposes only travelling waves through the lines are considered for
protection. PRKREDDY.GNITS
Types of Lightning Stroke

The lightning stroke affects the lines in two ways

1. Direct stroke

2. Electrostatic induction.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 1. Direct Stroke

In the direct lightning strokes, the cloud

attains a large amount of charge and
induces an opposite charge on taller
objects such as temple, churches or
mosques.

When the intensity of electrostatic field

becomes sufficiently great to ionize the
neighboring air, the air break down and
discharge takes place between the cloud
and the object.

Such types of discharge take a long time

to produce, and it strikes the highest
and the most sharply pointed building in
the neighborhood. PRKREDDY.GNITS
Consider the three clouds, clouds 1 and 3
are positively charged, and cloud 2 is
negatively charged as shown in the figure

The potential of cloud 3 is reduced due

to the presence of the charged cloud 2.
On the flash over from Cloud 1 to Cloud
2, both these clouds are discharged
rapidly, and cloud 3 assumes a much
potential and flashes to earth very
rapidly.

It is the most dangerous strokes because

it ignores taller building and reaches
directly to the ground. This stroke is
called the ‘B’ strokes.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY.GNITS
 2. Electrostatic Induction Stroke
A cloud electrostatically charged, and lying
above a transmission line, will induce in the
adjacent section of the line a corresponding
charge of opposite sign known as a bound
charge.

This charge has the maximum value below the

cloud and then gradually tails away. This
charge will not flow since it is a bound
charge. The positive charge on the far ends
of the line will however leak to earth slowly
through insulators, metallic parts etc., thus
leaving only the negative charge on the line.
The charge will flow from a higher to a lower potential and the result is travelling
waves in both directions. The two waves will be equal and thus each wave will have
half the potential of the charge at the time of discharge of the cloud; they will also
have the space-voltage distribution of PRKREDDY.GNITS
the original charge, as illustrated in Fig. 9.8.
The above travelling waves will be of quite large amplitude (10 to 15 kV) and
shall have very steep wave fronts which can damage the unprotected
equipment connected to the line and hence these must be passed to the
earth.

The charge induced on the conductor is given as Q = CV

where C is the capacitance between conductor and ground –

and V = E h

where E is the field gradient and h is the height of the line from ground.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Basic design requirements for protection against direct lightning strokes:

1. The ground wire used should be mechanically strong and should be so

located that they provide sufficient shielding.

2. There should be sufficient clearance between the power conductors and

the tower structure.

3. There should be an adequate clearance between the line conductors and

the ground wires, particularly at the mid-span, so as to avoid flashover to
the power conductor upto the protective voltage level used for the line
design.

4. The tower footing resistance should be as low as permissible.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
 3.Adequate clearance
between conductor and 1. Mechanically strong wires
ground wire

2. Proper clearance
between conductor
and structure

4. Low tower footing

resistance

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Power System against Lightning

All the electrical equipment must be protected from severe damage due to the
lightning strokes.

1. Protection of power stations and substations from direct lightning strokes

2. Protection of overhead transmission lines from direct lightning strokes

3. Protection of electrical equipment from travelling waves.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Power Stations and Substations from Direct Lightning Strokes:

Power stations are usually indoor while substations may be indoor or outdoor. For
protection of a structure from direct strokes there are three requirements
which are to be fulfilled.

These requirements are interception, conduction and dissipation.

These requirements involve:

(i) An object in good electrical connection with the earth so that the leader
stroke may get attracted,

(ii) A low impedance path joining this object to earth so that the discharge
follows it in preference to any other path,

(iii) A low resistance connection withPRKREDDY.GNITS

the earth body.
For 1, the upper portion of a metal structure may be employed. Alternatively a
separate metallic system, often called the shield, either mounted on the
structure or near to and above it may be provided.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
For 2, the requirements are:

(i) Low resistance (i.e., adequate conductivity and cross- section, properly
bounded joints, free from possible corrosion),

(ii) Low reactance (i.e., absence of sharp bends, or loops and short conductors),

(iii) And sufficient clearance from any other conducting objects that might
provide separate uncontrolled path to ground.

Outdoor substations have much of equipment carried on metal gantries and the
interconnection of the upper portion of these will screen the apparatus.
Usually, there is suitable grounding provided.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Shielding of the station and the incoming lines
(about 0.8 km out from the station) to restrict the
severity of the waves that can enter the station
through the lines is a desirable supplement,
particularly in the case of hv lines (66 kV and
above) to the lightning arrester located in the
station [Fig. 9.10(b)].
Where overhead ground wires cannot be provided
on the incoming lines due to existing
structure/construction, additional protection of
the station equipment against direct lightning
strokes can be provided by equipping each line with
protector tubes at the entrance to the structure
of the station and at each tower for a distance of
about 0.8 km out from the station, as illustrated in
Fig. 9.10(c). However, shielding of the power
station/substation is the only way of eliminating
direct strokes to the station itself.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Overhead Transmission Lines from Direct Lightning Strokes:

The two methods of protecting overhead transmission lines against lightning

strokes are:

(i) Overhead ground wires and

(ii) Expulsion protector tubes.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Overhead Transmission Lines from Direct Lightning Strokes by
Ground Wires:

A ground wire is a form of lightning protection

employing a conductor or conductors, well-
grounded at regular intervals, preferably at each
support (pole or tower), and attached from
support to support above the transmission line
conductors.

Running of ground wire above the line is

considered better as it provides more effective
shield.
For reliable protection the protective angle α is taken equal to 20-30 degrees.
This is the angle between the vertical line through the ground wire axis and the
line passing from the ground wire axis to the outermost line or phase conductor.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Overhead Transmission Lines from Direct Lightning Strokes by
Protector Tube:
Even after reduction in the induced voltage by using a ground wire, there still exist over-
voltages in the system which must be removed by using additional protective devices such as
lightning arrester that bypasses the surges to the ground. Another device that is quite
common in use is the protector tube.
Expulsion protector tube consists of a backlisted fibre tube containing two built-in
electrodes between which an internal gap is provided. An outer electrode or arcing horn,
made from steel wire 5 or 6 mm in dia is attached to the bolt at the upper end of the
protector tube (Fig 9 15) to provide an external spark gap between it and a line conductor.
The internal gap can be adjusted by turning the tube about the bolt which secures the tube
to the bracket. The external gap is adjusted to templates made from wire 3 or 4 mm in
diameter.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
When a surge of sufficient voltage travels along the phase conductor and reaches the point
where the expulsion tube is mounted, both of the series air gaps (internal air gap G1 and
external air gap G2) breakdown and drain the surge current to ground through the tube and its
earthing conductor; thereby reducing the crest value of surge voltage.
On breakdown of the tube gaps on two or three phases, or on one phase of solidly-grounded
neutral circuits, the operating voltage simultaneously initiates a flow of short circuit or power
current. This current must flow through the tubes and set up arcs between their spark gaps.
The high temperature of the arc across the gap in the tubes then produces a large amount of
gases due to decomposition of some of the tube material. These gases flash out of the tube
under pressures reaching from 100 to 500 atm and intensely deionize the arc. The latter is
thus extinguished and the circuit insulation returned to its normal value with respect to earth.
Arc extinction duration will be only one or two half-periods. This interval is too short for the
protective relays of the line to come into action, the circuit breaker remains closed and the
line remains in operation. Immediately after the gases have been expelled and the arc
suppressed, every tube is ready for a new operation.
The purpose of external air gap G2 is to isolate the expulsion tube from the line conductor.
Failure to provide the external gap would otherwise place the tube at the operating potential
of the conductor and cause flow of leakage currents over the tube surface and to eventual
carbonizing of the tube material and final destruction of the tube.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
Protection of Electrical Equipment from Travelling Waves:
The ground wire or earthling screen used for the protection of overhead lines
and power stations and substations not only provides an adequate protection
against lightning but also reduces the over-voltages induced electrostatically
or electromagnetically, but such shielding is inadequate in providing protection
against travelling waves which may reach the terminal equipment and cause
damage to it.
The damages that may be caused by travelling waves are:
i. The high peak or crest voltage of the surge may cause flashover in the
internal winding thereby spoil the winding insulation.
ii. The steep wave front of the surge may cause internal flashover between
inter-turns of the transformer.
iii. The high peak voltage of the surge may cause external flashover, between
the terminals of the electrical equipment which may result in damage to
insulators.
iv. The steep wave front resulting into resonance and high voltages may cause
internal or external flashover of an un-predicable nature causing building up
of the oscillation in the electricalPRKREDDY.GNITS
apparatus.
Thus it is absolutely necessary to provide some protective device at the
power stations or substations to prevent transformers and other equipment
from being subjected to travelling surges reaching there.

The most common devices used for protection of equipment at the

substations against travelling waves are lightning arresters or surge
diverters.

A surge diverter is a device that is connected between line and earth, i.e., in
parallel with the equipment to be protected at the substation.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
When a travelling wave reaches the diverter, it
sparks-over at a certain prefixed voltage as
illustrated by point A in the figure, and provides a
conducting path of relatively low impedance between
the line and ground.

The surge impedance of the line restricts the

amplitude of current flowing to ground. This is
necessary in order to protect the insulation of the
equipment. Fig. 9.17 shows the shape of voltage and
of current at the diverter terminals.

It should, however, be noted that the surge diverter

should provide a path of low impedance only when the
travelling surge reaches the surge diverter, neither
before it nor after it.
PRKREDDY.GNITS
An ideal surge diverter should have the following characteristics:

 It should not draw any current during normal operating conditions, i.e., its
spark over voltage must be above the normal or abnormal power frequency
that may occur in the system.

 Any abnormal transient voltage above the breakdown value must cause it to
breakdown as quickly as possible so that it may provide a conducting path to
ground.

 When the breakdown have taken place, it should be capable of carrying the
resulting discharge current without getting damaged itself and without the
voltage across it exceeding the breakdown value.

 The power frequency current following the breakdown must be interrupted as

soon as the transient voltage has fallen below the breakdown value.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
There are many types of surge diverters are used to protect the power system.

The choice of lightning arrester depends upon the following factors:

(i) Voltage of the line.

(ii) Frequency of the lightning.

(iii) Cost.

(iv) Weather conditions.

(v) Reliability.

PRKREDDY.GNITS
PRKREDDY, GNITS
The lightning arrestor is mainly classified into twelve types.

1.Road Gap Arrester 7.Expulsion Type Lightning Arrester

2.Sphere Gap Arrester 8.Valve Type Lightning Arresters
3.Horn Gap Arrester 9.Thyrite Lightning Arrester
4.Multiple-Gap Arrester 10.Auto valve Arrester
5.Impulse Protective Gap 11.Oxide Film Arrester
6.Electrolytic Arrester 12.Metal Oxide Lightning Arresters

PRKREDDY, GNITS
 1. Rod Gap Arrester
It is one of the simplest forms of the arrester.

The gap setting of the arrester should be such that it should

break before the damage.

When the high voltage occurs on the line, the gap sparks and
the fault current passes to the earth.
The difficulty is that once the spark taken place it may
continue for some time even at low voltages.

To avoid it a current limiting reactor in series with the rod is

used.

The resistance limits the current to such an extent that it is

sufficient to maintain the arc.

Another difficulty with the road gap is that the rod gap is
liable to be damaged due to the high temperature of the arc
which may cause the rod to melt. PRKREDDY, GNITS
 2. Sphere Gap Arrester
The air gap is provided between two different spheres.

The spacing between the two spheres is very small.

A choking coil is inserted between the phase winding of

the transformer and spheres is connected to the line.

The air gap between the arrester is set in such a way

so that the discharge must not take place at normal
operating condition.

The arc will travel up the sphere as the heated air near
the arc tend to rise upward and lengthening till it is
interrupted automatically.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
 3. Horn Gap Arrester
It consists of two horns shaded piece of metal
separated by a small air gap and connected in
shunt between each conductor and earth.

The distance between the two electrodes is such

that the normal voltage between the line and
earth is insufficient to jump the gap.

But the abnormal high voltage will break the gap

and so find a path to earth.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
4.Multiple-Gap Arrester

The multiple gap arrester consists a

series of small metal cylinder
insulated from one another and
separated by an air gap.

The first and the last of the series is

connected to ground. The number of
gaps required depends on the line
voltage.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
5.Impulse Protective Gap
The protective impulse gap is designed to have a low voltage
impulse ratio, even less than one and to extinguish the arc.
The auxiliary needle is placed between the mid of two sphere
S1 and S2.

At normal frequency, the impedance of the capacitance C1 is

quite large as compared to the impedance of resistor R.

If C1 and C2 are equal the potential of the auxiliary electrode

will be midway between those of the S1and S2 and the
electrode has no effect on the flash over between them.

When the transient occurs the impedance of capacitor C1 and

C2 decrease and the impedance of the resistor now become
effective.

Due to this, the whole of the voltage is concentrated across

the gap between E and S1.
The gap at once breakdown, the rest of the PRKREDDY,
lengthGNITS
between E and S2immediately follow.
6. Electrolytic Arrester

In such type of arrester have high a large

discharge capacity. It operates on the fact that
the thin film of aluminum hydroxide deposits on
the aluminum plates immersed in the electrolyte.
The plate acts as a high resistance to a low value
but a low resistance to a voltage above a critical
value.

Voltage more than 400 volts causes a puncture

and a free flow of current to earth. When the
voltage remains its normal value of 440 volts, the
arrester again offers a high resistance in the
path and leakage stops.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
 7. Expulsion Type Lightning Arrester

Expulsion type arrester is an improvement over the

rod gap in that it seals the flow of power frequency
follows the current. This arrester consists of a tube
made up of fibre which is very effective, isolating
spark gap and an interrupting spark gap inside the
fibre tube.

During operation, the arc due to the impulse spark

over inside the fibrous tube causes some fibrous
material of the tube to volatile in the form of the gas,
which is expelled through a vent from the bottom of
the tube. Thus, extinguishing the arc just like in
circuit breakers.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
 8. Valve Type Lightning Arresters

Such type of resistor is called nonlinear diverter. It

essentially consists a divided spark gap in series with a
resistance element having the nonlinear characteristic.

The divided spark gap consists of some identical

elements coupled in series. Each of them consists two
electrodes with the pre-ionization device. Between each
element, a grading resistor of high ohmic value is
connected in parallel.
During the slow voltage variations, there is no sparks-
over across the gap. But when the rapid change in
voltage occurs, the potential is no longer evenly graded
across the series gap. The influence of unbalancing
capacitance between the sparks gaps and the ground
prevails over the grounded resistance. The impulse
voltage is mainly concentrated on the upper spark gap
which in spark over cause the complete arrester to spark
over to. PRKREDDY, GNITS
 9. Thyrite Lightning Arrester
Such type of arrester is most commonly used for
the protection against dangerous high voltage. It
consists the thyrite which is an inorganic
compound of ceramic material. The resistance of
such material decreases rapidly from high value
to low value and for current from a low value to
high value.

It consists a disc whose both the side is sprayed

so as to give the electric contact between the
consecutive disc. The disc is assembled inside
the glazed porcelain container. It is used in
conjunction with the container.

When the lightning takes place, the voltage is

raised, and breakdowns of the gaps occur, the
resistance falls to a very low value, and the wave
is discharged to earth. After the surge has
passed the thyrite again come back to its original
position. PRKREDDY, GNITS
10. Auto valve Arrester

Such type of arrester consists some flat discs of

a porous material stacked one above the other
and separated by the thin mica rings. The disc
material is not homogenous and conducting
material also have been added. Therefore the
glow discharge occurs in the capillaries of the
material and voltage drop to about 350 volts per
unit. The discs are arranged in such a way that
normal voltage may not cause a discharge to
occur.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
11. Oxide Film Arrester

It consists of pellets of lead peroxide with a

thin, porous coating of litharge arranged in a
column and enclosed in a tube of diameter. Out of
the two lead, the upper is connected to the line,
while the lower is connected to the earth. The
tube contains a series spark gap.

When an overvoltage occurs an arc passes

through the series spark gap and an additional
voltage is applied to the pellet column and a
discharge takes place. After the discharge, the
resistance of the pellet gun increases till only
very small current flow through it. This small
current is finally interrupted by the series spark
gaps.

PRKREDDY, GNITS
12. Metal Oxide Lightning Arresters
Such Types of diverter are also known as gapless surge
diverters, or Zinc oxide diverter. The base material
used for manufacturing metal oxide resistor is zinc
oxide. It is a semiconducting N-type material. The
material is doped by adding some fine power of
insulating oxides. The powder is treated with some
processes and then it is compressed into a disc-shaped.
The disc is then enclosed in a porcelain housing filled
with nitrogen gas or SF6.

This arrester consists a potential barrier at the

boundaries of each disc of ZNO. This potential barrier
controls the flow of current. At normal operating
condition, the potential barrier does not allow the
current to flow. When an overvoltage occurs, the
barrier collapse and sharp transition from insulating to
conducting take place. The current start flowing and the
surge is diverted to ground. PRKREDDY, GNITS