FIELD OF INVENTION

The proposed invention can be related to the field of high-voltage techniques, more precisely for electric power transmission lines with protection devices against overvoltages during a thunderstorm, including those in a form of impulse lightning arresters

PRIOR ART

The known high-voltage power transmission lines comprise, as a rule, a power conductor fastened on structures by means of insulators, and lightning protection facilities, i e devices for limitation of overvoltages, occurring when lightning strikes the line The line can include several power conductors, if, for example, it is a multiphase one As a rule, structures are earthen down, but there could be also some unearthed designs Usually a power conductor is connected with a supply cable via a cable termination

The most commonly used electric power transmission lines include arc horn arresters as devices limiting overvoltages, that are performed in the form of two metal rods located directly close to insulators, or strings of insulators, or other protected line elements The said metal rods are placed at some distance one from another, that is called a spark gap, and when an overvoltage occurs as a result of lightning striking an electric power transmission line, the said discharge is going through the said spark gap of the arrester, thus protecting the insulator from destruction

There is another well-known type of electric power transmission line with a facility for overvoltage limitation, made as a rectifying arrester, consisting of one or several (depending on a voltage class) standard elements, connected sequentially Each of the said elements comprises discs of nonlinear resistors with spark gaps between them, wherein each of the spark gap and nonlinear resistors sets are placed within a porcelain hermetically sealed cover (cf High voltage techniques Ed. D V Razevig, M , Energiya, 1976, p 300) Lines with such arresters are reliable, but the rectifying arresters included therein are complicated and expensive, that needs much costs for their usage and construction of the whole line

Another known electric power transmission line with a facility for overvoltage limitation, made as a tube arrester, consisting of vyniplastic tube, blind with a metal cover that is one of the end electrodes On the said cover an inner rod electrode is fixed The free

electrode and the end one, fixed at the free end of the tube, i e the said electrodes are the main ones In such a line the arrester tube is separated from the power conductor by an external spark gap (cf High voltage techniques Ed D V Razevig, Energiya, 1976, p 289) This known line has a drawback of reliability shortage in protection, for its arrester operation is accompanied with the release of highly ionized allied gas, and this can initiate flashover of air insulation in case of adjacent phases conductors and earthen constructions ingress into a zone of arrester exhaust. The known design arrester has a limited range of interrupted currents and is short-lived because the vyniplastic tubes burn out when they are coursed through by discharge current

There is a high-voltage support insulator type which consists of an insulation body (in particular, fabricated of ceramics) having sheds as well as metal flanges at the ends thereof serving for fixation of the insulator to the structure construction (cf High voltage techniques Ed D V Razevig, M , Energiya, 1976, p 78) There is another support ceramic insulator which comprises an insulation ceramic body with spiral sheds and metal flanges, placed at the ends of it (cf High voltage technics Ed D V Razevig, M , Energiya, 1976, p 85).

The known insulators in lightning overvoltage circumstances have an air gap between the metal flanges flashovered, and then the said gap under effect of the operational frequency voltage applied to the power conductor turns into a power arc of the line, which requires the emergency cut-off of a high-voltage line containing the mentioned insulator

There is fitting known for insulator fastening to a structure having a form of straight glass-plastic bar having one of its ends fixed on a structure, and at the other end the high- voltage insulator is placed (cf High voltage techniques Ed D V Razevig, M , Energiya 1976, p 88) The said fitting will increase the flashover voltage of the main insulation of an electric power transmission line, that contributes to its more reliable operation Nevertheless, it requires additional devices installed for protecting the high-voltage elements against lightning overvoltages Apart from that, the cost of such fitting is considerably high

Another fitting is made in a form of a dielectric concrete beam, on which a high- voltage insulator is placed. It is also possible to fix the conductor of an electric power transmission line on the insulation beam without an insulator (cf High voltage techniques Ed D V Razevig, M , Energiya, 1976, p 87) In the first case the high reliability of line operation is achieved, but this method is too expensive In the second case less expenses are combined with a significant decrease of the line operation reliability under pollution and humidification

The closest to the applied herein fitting type is the one in a form of straight or curved metal rod, one end of which is fixed on a structure, and at the other end a high-voltage insulator is mounted (cf Sinyavskiy V N Calculating and constructing of electroceramic constructions M , Energiya, 1977, p 58) The fitting is rather simple, reliable and cheap, but due to lightning overvoltages there happens an impulse flashover of the insulator, and the discharge channel is terminated on the said fitting Moreover the path length of insulator impulse lightning flashover is not significant and, as a result, the impulse lightning flashover turns into a power arc of an operational frequency, that leads to the necessity of an emergency line cut-off

INSCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to create a reliable and inexpensive in construction and operation electric power transmission line by virtue of increasing the reliability and simplifying protective means against lightning overvoltages

The next goal of the invention is to increase reliability and simplify the impulse lightning arrester's construction for electric power transmission lines, which would be capable of being easily installed on the line, ensuring high reliability of its elements protection from discharge flashovers turning into a power arc, and to reduce a number of lightning blackouts to a minimum

Another aim of the present invention is the creation of fittings performing a simple, reliable and inexpensive fastening of insulators, conductors and other high-voltage elements of power transmission to a line structure, as well as providing trouble-free operation of the line under lightning overvoltage One more aim is the creation of an insulator which would have high reliability under overvoltages caused by lightning striking an electric power transmission line and, like an arrester, protecting from development of discharge flashovers turning into a power arc, and reducing a number of lightning blackouts

The put task can be solved, if in an electric power transmission line, including at least one earthen structure, at least one power conductor fixed on the said structure, at least one insulation element of the said power conductor from the said structure or from the other line elements subjected to an electric potential that differs from the power conductor potential, and protective means of the said element, insulating from a lightning overvoltage, that are made in a form of at least one impulse spark arrester with two main electrodes, according to the claims, the said impulse spark arrester is proposed in a form of a surface discharge

arrester, such that flashover length between two main electrodes of the arrester is bigger than the length of a flashover of the protected insulation element, and the said arrester flashover voltage is lower than the flashover voltage of the protected insulation element

For instance, an air gap, ceramic insulator string of insulators etc can serve as the protected insulation element

The most reliability of the line will be gained if the said arrester is made with a flashover distance between the main electrodes, that can be defined by the following expression

L > 0 06 U ° ⁷⁵ where

L ~ flashover path length, m U = rated line voltage, kV

The invention aim can be solved also by undertaking that in an electric power transmission line, including at least one earthen structure, at least one non-insulated conductor, at least one insulation element of the said power conductor from the other line elements subjected to an electric potential different from the said power conductor potential, for example, from the said structure, and also protective means of the said element against lightning overvoltages, according to the claims, the said means of protection are made in a form of a dielectric cover located on the said power conductor in way of the protected insulation element location, such that a puncture voltage of the mentioned dielectric cover is higher than the flashover voltage at its surface, and the length of the said dielectric cover is defined by the following expression

0 75 0 75

2 ^χ (Q.Q6 U Jύ < D < 2*(Q.5 U M where

D = dielectric cover length, m, h = flashover length of the protected line insulation element, m, n - number of conductors between which the protected insulation element is located and where the said dielectric covers are placed, U = rated line voltage, kV

In the mentioned version an air gap, for instance, can serve as a protected insulation element, wherein the said dielectric cover can be mounted either on one or several power conductors, or on a lightning shield wire

In another modified version the insulation element is made in a form of an insulator fastened to the said structure, wherein the said dielectric cover is located on the power conductor in way of the said power conductor fixation to the protected insulator, such that a fastening element for connecting the said power conductor to the protected insulator is located on the external surface of the said dielectric cover and the distance between the fastening element and the end of the said dielectric cover is defined by the following expression

0 06 U ^{0 75} - h < l < 0 5 U ^{0 75} - h where / = distance between the fastening element and the end of the dielectric cover, m, h - protected insulator flashover path length, m, U = rated line voltage, kV

In that version the protected insulator can be, for instance, a conventional ceramic insulator, a string of insulators, etc

The invention goal can also be achieved by undertaking that in an electric power transmission line, including at least one structure, at least one non-insulated power conductor, fixed on the said structure, at least one insulation element of the said power conductor from the other line elements, subjected to an electric potential different from the said power conductor potential, for example, from the said structure, at least one cable input with termination, and also protective means of the said element against lightning overvoltages, according to the claims, the said means of protection are made in a form of a termination being longer than the flashover path length of the protected insulation element and the insulation of the termination is made in such a way, that the flashover voltage of the termination is lower than that of the protected insulation element In so doing the termination length is defined by the following relationship

006 υ ^07b < ι < o.5 υ ⁰⁷⁵

1 = termination length, m, U = rated line voltage, kV

In case of an electric power transmission line being constructed with an insulated power conductor, the invention task is solved by ensuring that the electric power transmission line comprises at least one structure, at least one insulated power conductor fixed on the said structure by means of a fastening element, at least one insulator of the said

power conductor from the said structure, and also protective means of the said insulator against lightning overvoltages, such that, according to the claims, the said means of protection are made in a form of at least one orifice in the insulation of the power conductor and that the said orifice is located from the fastening element at a distance defined by the following relationship

0.06 U ^{0 75} - h < / < 0 5 U ^{o n} - h where

/ = distance from the said orifice to the said fastening element, m, h = protected insulator flashover path length, m, U = rated line voltage, kV.

An impulse spark lightning arrester that solves the task of the present invention, comprises an elongated body made of a solid dielectric material, at the ends of which end electrodes for connecting the arrester to electric transmission elements are placed wherein within the said elongated body of the arrester a rod electrode is fitted such that according to the claims, the said rod electrode is occupying the whole length of the mentioned arrester body and connected with both of the end electrodes, forming a unified mam electrode, and over the external surface of the said arrester body in its middle part the second main electrode is located To provide an effective protection of the electric transmission element by means of such an arrester, the path of a flashover, spreading over the surface of the elongated dielectric body between two main arresters^ electrodes, is to be longer than the flashover spark path of the protected electπc transmission element, for example, an insulator That is the reason why the distance between the second main electrode and each of the end electrodes is defined by the following relationship 0 06 U ° ⁷⁵ < L < 0.5 Lt ^{0 75} where

L = distance between the second main electrode and each of the end ones, m, U = rated voltage of the arrester, kV

Another version of an impulse lightning arrester that solves the task of the present invention, represents by itself an elongated body made of a solid dielectric material at the ends of which two end electrodes for connecting the arrester to electric transmission elements are placed and, according to the claims inside and/or over the surface of the said dielectric body metal, semi-conducting or segneto-electnc particles are dispersed to provide

a flashover voltage of the said body lower than the flashover voltage of the protected electric transmission element or an element belonging to an electrical installation and that the distance between two main electrodes is more than the flashover path of a protected electric transmission element or element of an electrical installation The distance between the main electrodes of the arrester is defined by the following relationship

0.06 U ^{0 75} < L < 0.5 U ^{0 7b} where

L = distance between the main electrodes of the arrester, m,

U = rated voltage of the arrester, kV

The mentioned metal, semi-conducting and segneto-electnc particles are to have their size from 10 mem up to 5 mm and to be contained in the said dielectric body at a volumetric density from 5 % to 30 % The volumetric density of particles is a ratio of the total volume of particles to the overall volume, in which the said particles are contained The high-voltage insulator solving the task of the present invention and designed for mounting the power conductor on an electric power transmission line structure, comprises an insulating body having spiral sheds, with one end of the said body providing the power conductor fastening, and the second one - providing insulator fastening on the structure, such that according to the claims inside the insulating body there is a guiding electrode whose length is bigger than a half of the said insulating body, and the said electrode is mounted inside the insulating body in such a way that the puncture voltage of the mentioned insulating body is higher than the flashover voltage of the insulator

The task of the invention is solved also by a fitting for fastening an electrotechnical high-voltage element to an electric power transmission line structure, made in a form of a straight or curved metal rod with one end intended for the said high-voltage element installation, and another one for fastening to the said electric power transmission line structure, and, according to the claims the said rod is covered by a dielectric cover on its side surface and the end surface provided for the high-voltage element of electric power transmission to be installed on Moreover, the puncture voltage of the dielectric cover is higher than the flashover voltage of the cover, and the length of the insulating cover is defined by the following relationship where

U = rated line voltage, kV.

Electric power transmission line structures, walls, housing details and other structure elements can be used as an electric power transmission structure for fastening the fittings on

The other specific construction versions of an electric power transmission line, arrester, insulator and fittings, giving some additional effect, can be depicted below in the relevant description sections

The lightning overvoltage protection is based on one and the same principle in all the given construction versions of an electπc power transmission line, as well as for using the described arrester, insulator and/or fitting When lightning strikes an electric power transmission line, the impulse flashover of the nearest insulator or insulation gap will happen. After the impulse flashover of an insulation, either further development of an electric discharge with turning into the power arc of an operational voltage, thus meaning short-circuit of the line possible, or restoration of electric insulation steadiness after lightning current passing through a discharge channel and a structure to earth, meaning normal line operation with no outage

The probability of a power arc follow depends mostly on the rated line voltage U _nom and flashover path length L When the rated voltage is set, the probability of power arc follow P _a is approximately inversely proportional to the flashover length L

Pa ≡1/L Due to L increase (for example, twofold) it is possible to reduce equally the probability of the power arc follow and, accordingly, to reduce the number of outages of the line (for the given example by two times as well)

The invention authors have managed to find a technical possibility to create a rather long flashover path length at the cost of surface discharge effect over the dielectric surface This technical method of flashover path length increase can be used in an electπc power transmission line with an impulse spark lightning arrester For this the arrester should be made in a form of an arrester with a surface discharge and have relevant parameter proportions The technical solutions as set forth in pp 1 - 14 and 23 - 29 of the claims are based on the said principle The invention authors have also managed to find out, that the impulse flashover in case of lightning striking an electric power transmission line can develop rapidly over a power conductor dielectric insulation up to a distance longer than that of a standard insulator Consequently, should the said discharge impulse have a possibility of developing over the surface of the power conductor insulation, it may be possible to gain a considerably longer flashover path and, consequently, to decrease the possibility of the power arc follow

The technical solutions as set forth in pp. 15- 22 of the claims are based on the said principle

The fitting design to fasten an electrotechnical high voltage element to an electric power transmission structure, as set forth on pp 30. 31 of the claims, will ensure the achievement of the same goal - to increase the flashover path length as a result of discharge development over the dielectric insulation surface of the fitting.

A high-voltage insulator design, as set forth in pp. 32 - 34 of the claims, will also ensure to reach the same goal - to increase the flashover path length because of the discharge development over the dielectric insulation body surface along the spiral-like trajectory between the spiral sheds

The flashover path length of the impulse spark lightning arrester surface, or on the surface of a cable termination insulation should be bigger than the length of the flashover path of the protected element of the line. In the versions set forth in pp. 15 - 20 of the claims the sum of the flashover path length over the insulation surface of a power conductor, and the length of the protected element is more than the length of the flashover path of a protected element. Similarly, for the fitting referred to on pp. 30, 31 the flashover path length of the fitting rod plus the length of the protected element is more than the flashover path length of the protected element.

The minimum flashover path length L _mm , providing a sufficient increase of the protection reliability, can be defined by the following expression:

L™, = 0.06 /J ^{0 75} , m where'

U = rated line voltage, kV.

Table 1 gives some data on published maximum insulation length values / , _ns , used nowadays

Table 1

L/πom, kV l ins, m l- m, m Lmm 1 1 ins

6 0.15 0.2 1 5

35 0.50 0.9 1 .7

1 10 1.40 2.4 1.7

220 2.40 3.5 1 .5

500 4.60 6.3 1 4

750 7.00 9.0 1.3

1 150 10.5 12.2 1 .2

As shown in Table 1 , the length of a flashover path, defined under the above mentioned expression, at least goes up by 20 - 70%, than the maximum standard insulation length

The obtaining of the required result in increasing protection reliability against short circuits in electric power transmission can be explained with the following

In the impulse spark lightning arrester, according to the given invention, a rod electrode, located along the whole length of an elongated dielectric body, initiates discharge passing over the whole length of the arrester insulation body surface, and the impulse electric strength of this spark gap will prove to be lesser, than that of the protected element of an electric power transmission line, precisely, of the insulator or the insulation gap Moreover due to a considerably long surface flashover path of the said arrester, one can prevent a power arc follow after an impulse lightning current passed The greater the distance of the said arrester flashover path is, the less is the probability of the power arc follow and number of line outages In another version of the impulse spark lightning arrester, when overvoltage takes place as a result of lightning striking, metal, semi-conducting or segneto-electπcal particles dispersed inside and/or over the body surface will trigger discharge passing over the whole length of the arrester surface, and its electrical strength will prove to be lower, than that of the protected insulation element of electπc power transmission line, precisely of the insulator or insulation gap, and moreover due to the considerably long flashover path of the said arrester, one can prevent a power arc follow after an impulse lightning current passed The greater the distance of the said arrester flashover path, the less is the probability of a power arc follow and the number of line outages

In a fitting, designed fixing an electrotechnical high-voltage element to an electric power transmission structure, as recited in the claims, a discharge channel begins to develop from a power conductor, bypasses the insulator and reaches insulation, coated on the fitting's rod Then the discharge channel is forced to slide over the insulation up to the stage, when it reaches the non insulated end of the metal rod The lightning overvoltage current will pass from the power conductor through the discharge channel into a structure and further into earth In doing so, due to a considerably long flashover path one can prevent the power arc follow

In a high-voltage insulator, as recited in the claims, under overvoltage the guiding electrode inside the insulation body will provide forming of a surface discharge over the insulator surface within an inter-shed gap by spiral trajectory, the length of which is much more than that of the insulator itself Consequently, after a lightning overvoltage impulse

current passing, a power arc of operational frequency voltage will not occur, and an electric power transmission line comprising the said insulator can go on with trouble-free operation

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The applied claims are illustrated with drawings that show

FIG 1 - Diagram of one-phase electric power transmission line with an impulse lightning arrester, as recited in the claims, FIG 2 - Modified diagram of electric power transmission line with an arrester, as recited in the claims, FIG 3 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with an arrester, as recited in the claims, that is fastened by one of its ends on a structure, FIG 4 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with an arrester, as recited in the claims, that is connected to the lightning shield wire, FIG 5 - Diagram of two-circuit electric power transmission line with an arrester, as recited in the claims,

FIG 6 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a loop-like arrester, as recited in the claims, FIG 7 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a doubled arrester, as recited in the claims, FIG 8 - Diagram of electπc power transmission line with an arrester, as recited in the claims, that is placed in way of the power conductor disconnection, FIG 9 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with means of protection against overvoltages, made in the form of dielectric cover placed over the power conductor, FIG 10 - Modified diagram of electric power transmission line shown in FIG 9,

FIG 1 1 - Another version of electric power transmission line with means of protection against overvoltages, made in the form of dielectric cover, FIG 12 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with means of protection against overvoltages, made in the form of the cable input termination, as recited in the invention claims;

FIG 13 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a high-voltage substation bushing, FIG 14 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with an insulated power conductor, FIG 15 - Schematic drawing of arrester according to the claims, with particles dispersed,

FIG 16 - Another modification of the arrester shown in FIG 15,

FIG 17 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a fitting, as recited in the invention claims, where an insulator is fastened, FIG 18 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a fitting, as recited in the claims, provided with an additional insulation shed,

FIG 19 - Diagram of electric power transmission line with a direct fastening of the conductor to the insulated fitting, according to the claims, FIG 20 - Schematic di awing of high-voltage insulator, according to the claims, a cross section, FIG 21 - 23 - Modifications of high-voltage insulator, according to the claims, a cross section,

PRFFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In FIG 1 there is a drawing of an electric power transmission line with the impulse spark lightning arrester 1 , connected to the power conductor 2 electrically in parallel with an insulation protected element, in the given case with the insulator 3 Moreover the end electrodes of the arrester 4' and 4 ² are connected to the power conductor 2 of the line, i e have with it a direct electric contact, wherein the second electrode 5 is connected to the grounded electrode 1 1 , disposed on the said line, through the air spark discharge gap, i e electrical contact between the electrodes 5 and 1 1 arises only in the case of breakdown of the gap between the said electrodes

The impulse lightning arrester 1 comprises the elongated body 1 , made of a solid dielectric material, at the extremities of which end electrodes are located, denoted as 4 ¹ and 4 ² Inside the said body 1 ¹ from one end to another the rod electrode 6 is placed connected electrically with the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² , and forming together with them the first main electrode In the middle part of the elongated body 1 ¹ on its surface the second main electrode 5 is placed

It is also possible to establish an electric power transmission line as per the version, when an arrester 1 is connected by its end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² with the power conductor 2, wherein its second main electrode 5 has a contact with the grounded structure 7 of an electric power transmission line

In an electric power transmission line, having a construction shown in the FIG 1 , under lightning overvoltage striking in the conductor between the grounded electrode 1 1 and the second main electrode 5 of the arrester, which has at that moment at potential of the conductor 2, there occurs a breakdown of the spark air gap by the channel 8 of discharge, after which that channel continues to spread over the arrester surface between the electrode

5 and the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² , that is provided by a rod electrode 6 availability inside of the arrester insulation body, forming a surface discharge on its surface Simultaneously an overvoltage limitation between the conductor 2 and the structure 7 takes place, and along the discharge channel 8 goes the impulse current, attributed to lightning overvoltage, after which the electric power transmission line restores its normal working mode

The length of arrester flashover path, i e distance / between each of the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² and the second main electrode 5, exceeds the length of the protected insulator 3 flashover path h Moreover the operation voltage of the arrester 1 is lower, than that of the insulator 3 Precisely, for example, for an electric power transmission line with a rated voltage 35 kV the arrester 1 length equals to 4 , and the length of the flashover path is approximately equal to a half of the arrester length, i e 2 m Flashover voltage of the arrester is 200 kV The insulators used in such electric power transmission lines have a length of 0 4 m and a flashover voltage of 300 kV With such interrelation among the parameters a flashover under lightning striking into an electric power transmission line will not strike over the insulator 3, but over the arrester surface 1 between the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² and the second main electrode 5, connected electπcally with earth Due to the fact that the flashover length of the arrester 1 surface is sufficiently big, the discnarge will not turning into a power arc, and a short-circuit of the line will not occur Above the physical bases of the process were descπbed in more details The given embodiment is rational in regions with low average wind speeds, considerably changing a distance between the second main electrode 5 of the arrester 1 and the grounded electrode 1 1

In an electric power transmission line shown in the FIG 2, then arrester 1 is connected with the grounded structure 7 through a spark air gap In this modification a rod insulator 9 is fastened to the protected insulators string 3, wherein the free end of the said insulator is located at such a distance from the structure 7 , that provides under an overvoltage the spark connection of it to the arrester 1 , which is connected with its second main electrode 5 with a conducting lead 10 with the mentioned free end of the rod insulator 9 In this version conductor rocking by wind will not lead to a change of a spark air gap between the insulator 9 end and the structure 7, and the arrester 1 will operate stable independently on the conductor rocking

In FIG 3 there is a drawing of an electric power transmission line with an arrester 1 , fastened by one of its end electrodes to the grounded reinforced concrete structure 7

The arrester consists of the rod electrode 6, coated with the solid insulation 1 ' , the end electrodes 4 ¹ , 4 ² , one of which 4 ¹ is connected co the structure 7, the metal tube 5, placed on the top of the insulation 1 ¹ and playing the role of the second main electrode

The arrester is placed in such a way that its second main electrode 5 is connected to the power conductor 2. through a spark air gap

The metal rod 6 of the arrester 1 has a potential of the structure 7 Due to a large capacitance between the rod electrode 6 and the second main electrode 5, it actually has the same potential as the said rod has, i e the potential of the structure 7 So the overvoltage between the conductor 2 and the structure 7 is also applied between the said conductor 2 and the tube 5. If the said overvoltage is big enough, the spark air gap is striking, and the overvoltage is applied between the main electrode 5 and the rod electrode 6, under action of which from the electrode 5 over the insulation 1 ¹ surface a flashover develops to one or two sides of the said arrester up to the stage, when the said flashover is short on the end electrode 4 ¹ and 4 ² .

Similarly an electπc power transmission line functions with an impulse lightning arrester, described in the following examples

In FIG 4 there is a drawing of an electric power transmission line, where by contrast to the previous example, the power conductor 2 is connected to the second main electrode 5 of the arrester 1 through a spark air gap The arrester 1 in the given example is connected by its end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² with a lightning shield conductor 12 of the electric power transmission line, and the second main electrode 5 is connected with the said rod insulator 9, placed at the insulators string 3 Thus, the second main electrode 5 is connected through the spark air gap to the power conductor 2 In this case, when the impulse overvoltage occurs between the said power conductor 2 and the structure 7, at first the discharge channel 8 is formed in the air gap between the conductor 2 and the electrode 5, and then a surface discharge develops up to the both of the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² of the said arrester The invention can be used also for a two-circuit electπc power transmission line as illustrated in FIG 5.

In this case it is expedient to use for both line circuits protection one and the same arrester, such that the second main electrode 5 of the arrester 1 is connected with the lightning shield wire 12 of the line, as it is shown in the FIG 5, or with its grounded structure 7, wherein the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² are linked with power conductors 2 of the same phases of different line circuits through the spark air gaps, as is clear from the examples given above

In some cases, to provide an easier arresters' , installation it is expedient to use a modification, shown in FIG 6 In this example the elongated body 1 ' of the arrester is made in a form of a loop, and the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² are connected electrically by a jumper 13 Moreover the

arrester 1 is connected with the jumper 13 to one of the line elements, particularly, to the grounded structure 7, and with the second mam electrode 5 - to an element with an opposite potential, particularly, to the power conductor 2

In FIG 7 there is a partial diagram of an electric power transmission line, where the arrester 1 described in the previous example, is connected to the analogous arrester 1 forming a doubled arrester, such that the end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² are connected with each other and linked by the common jumper 13

In this case the total flashover length of the arrester L will correspond to the distance between the electrodes 5 connected to the conductor 2 and the structure 7 Similar doubled arresters can be connected into a string, in which arresters are connected to each other by the second main electrodes 5

These modifications can be used in electric power transmission lines with highest voltage rates Moreover the increase of the number of spark gaps connected step-by-step eases operational conditions of an arrester insulation internal body According to the present invention, in an electric power transmission line an arrester can also be connected in series with a protected element

In FIG 8 an electric power line with the arrester 1 is shown, which is connected electrically in series with the protected insulator 3 at the breakage point of the power conductor 2 In this case an arrester with its end electrodes 4 ¹ and 4 ² is connected with the power conductor 2 at its breakage point, wherein the second mam electrode 5 is connected with the protected insulator 3 In this version, as in the following connected with it ones, an impulse flashover distance between the line elements, subjected to different potentials, particularly, in the construction shown in the FIG 8 between the conductor 2 and the structure 7, is defined by the sum of flashover lengths of the arrester / and of the insulator π That is why in the versions of a line with connection of the arrester 1 in series with a protected element, an impulse flashover path length will always be more than that of the protected element itself, particularly, in accordance with FIG 8 - insulator 3 Thus the arrester protection is provided to prevent an impulse flashover turning into a power arc

The next construction version of an electπc power transmission line is shown in FIG 9 In this version an electric power transmission line comprises the structure 7 the power conductor 2 and the insulator 3 of the said power conductor 2 from the structure 7 On the power conductor 2 in way of its fixation to the protected insulator 3 a dielectric cover 14 is placed, for example in a form of a sleeve or a tube cut or a ribbon, reeled up to the power conductor, etc Over the external surface of the said dielectric cover 14 a fastening element 15 is installed to fix the power conductor 2 to the insulator 3 In this version an impulse

flashover distance is defined by the sum of flashover lengths of the cover / and of the insulator h. The fastening element 15 may be performed, for instance, in a form of a yoke or a ring, embracing the dielectric cover 14.

For example, for an electric power transmission line with a nominal voltage of 10 kV the distance / from the said fastening element 15 up to the dielectric cover end 14 can be, for example, equal to 0.6 m. Insulators usually used in such lines, have flashover length 0.2 m. If lightning strikes this kind of line, the arising overvoltage between conductor 2 and structure 7 will lead to a formation of the spark discharge channel 8, including the section of insulator 3 flashover with a length h, and the section of flashover over the surface of the dielectric cover with a length /. Thus, a total flashover path length will equal to 0.8 , that will exclude power arc follow and short-circuit of the line.

In the version shown in FIG. 10, fastening element 15 is fixed through a set of alternately insulating 14 and conducting 16 layers. It will allow to equalize electric field gradient in flashover dielectric cover 14 and thus to increase the reliability of dielectric insulation performance.

In FIG. 1 1 another electric power transmission line version is shown as a particular case of a multiphase line with use of a dielectric cover on one of the conductors. In this version on one of the conductors the dielectric cover 14 is mounted. The protected insulation element, in the shown case is a phase to phase polymer separator 17. It is fixed by means of the fastening element 15 with one of its ends to the said dielectric cover 14, and by another end - to the adjacent conductor, subjected to other potential. Under an overvoltage between the conductors there will occur flashover of the separator 17, and then the discharge channel 8 will develop from the fastening element 15 over the dielectric cover 14 surface up to the non-insulated part of the conductor. Particularly, for electric power transmission lines with a rated voltage of 35 kV the separator length usually makes up 1 m, wherein the total length of the dielectric cover 14 is 3 m. So, the flashover length of the insulation cover 14 is 1.5 m, and the total flashover path length including the separator 17 one makes up 2.5 m. With such a long total flashover length there is no power arc follow

In that example, as shown in FIG. 1 1 , the dielectric cover 14 is made with varying section, increasing from the cover end to the fastening element 15. This allows to increase an impulse electric strength between the dielectric cover surface 14 and the power conductor 2, depending on variation of the electπc field with sectional parameters, and thus provides more reliable operation of such construction.

A construction version of the electric power transmission lines particularly two- phased, is possible, when the dielectric covers 1 are placed in opposite conductors of both phases

In FIG 12 another construction version of an electric power transmission line is shown, where besides the structure 7, the non-insulated power conductor 2, fastened on the said structure 7, the insulator 3 of the said power conductor 2 from the said structure 7, the said line comprises a cable input 18 with a termination 19 The said termination 19 is made so, that its length / is more than that of the protected insulator flashover length h, wherein a flashover voltage of the termination is lower, than the flashover voltage of the protected insulator Particularly, for an electric power transmission line With a nominal voltage 6 kV termination length is, according to the invention, 0 6 to 0 8 m, wherein the flashover voltage equals to 60 to 90 kV Insulators used in such electric power transmission lines have a length of 0 2 m and a flashover voltage of 100 to 110 kV When a lightning overvoltage occurs at the power conductor 2, it is applied to the protected insulator 3 and the cable termination insulation 19 Moreover a maximum electπc field gradient takes place over the termination insulation surface near the end of a cable braid, where a surface discharge strikes The said discharge will develop over the said termination towards the power conductor direction, forming a conducting spark channel in result Then a lightning current flows from the said power conductor 2 towards the grounded cable braid After this the line will continue its normal operation without outage, since at the mentioned length of the termination an impulse flashover does non turn into a power arc

FIG 13 shows a version of an electric power transmission line with a substation grounded tank 20, which is provided with a bushing 21 and containing an insulation 22 and a high-voltage equipment 23 On the power conductor 2 in way of the said bushing location the dielectric cover 14 is placed, the length of which is defined by the above mentioned expression In the present case the dielectric cover 14 provides a protection of the said bushing 21 impulse flashover against turning into a power arc, for a summary path length of discharge channel 8 at a lightning overvoltage will include a flashover length h of the said bushing and a flashover length / over the said dielectric cover 14 In case of an electπc power transmission line construction with an insulated power conductor (FIG 14) the electric power transmission line will comprise the structure 7 the said insulated power conductor 24, fastened on the said structure by a fastening element 25 , and the insulator 3 of the said power conductor 24 from the said structure 7 In insulation 26 of the power conductor 24 there is an orifice 27, which is placed at some previously set distance from the said fastening element 25

For example, for an electric power transmission line with a nominal voltage of 10 kV the distance / from the said fastening element 25 up to the said orifice 27 equals to 0 6 m Insulators used in such lines have a flashover length of 0 2 m When a lightning overvoltage occurs in such power lines, the protected insulator 3 flashovers and then the discharge slides down the said insulation 26 of the power conductor 24 until it comes to the said orifice 27 Thus, the total flashover length will make up 0.2 + 0 6 = 0 8 m, and with such a flashover path length there is no power arc follow and there will not be a short-circuit of the line

An impulse spark lightning arrester can be performed in another construction version, as shown in FIG 15 In this version the arrester 1 comprises the elongated body 1 ' made of a solid dielectric, at the ends of which are placed two main end electrodes 32 and 33 for connection of the said arrester by means of clamps 28 to electric power transmission line elements or to a high-voltage unit Metal particles 29 are distributed uniformly in the whole body 1 ¹ volume

For instance, the electric power transmission line with a nominal voltage 1 10 kV for protecting the insulators string, having 1 2 m in length and a flashover voltage 690 kV, an arrester was made in the form of a light-stabilized polyethylene ribbon with a width of 10 mm, thickness of 2 mm and a length of 5 m Metal particles of aluminum foil with a thickness of 0 05 mm in the form of square cuts with 2 mm side were dispersely distributed in the said polyethylene over the ribbon thickness and surface The volumetric density of the aluminum particles equalled to 15 % Tests by lightning impulse overvoltage have shown, that due to the availability of the said metal particles 29 in the body 1 ¹ , that initiate discharge passing over the body 1 ¹ surface, the flashover voltage of the arrester is only 530 kV, i e 23 % less than the flashover voltage of the protected insulators string, while the arrester length being more than 4 times bigger than the insulators string length FIG 16 shows the same construction version of the arrester 1 , wherein the said body

1 ' made of dielectric is covered by a protection insulating or semi-conducting layer 30 Such a layer will provide reliable functioning of an arrester under tough operation conditions On the surface of the said protection layer 30 intermediate electrodes 31 are placed The discharge channel 8 develops between the electrodes 32 and 33, passing through the intermediate electrodes 31

FIG 17 shows a version of an electric power transmission line with a fitting which is made, according to the invention, in a form of cylindrical metal rod 40 There is a dielectric cover (insulation) 41 on the side rod 40 surface and on one of the end surfaces The upper fitting end 42, coated with the insulation 41 , works for fastening a high-voltage element of the electric power transmission line, for example, an insulator 43 or a conductor 44,

wherein a lower non insulated end 45 provides fastening of the fitting to a structure 46 of the said power transmission line

The fitting can be provided with an additional insulation shed 47 ( FIG 18), which increases the flashover voltage and extends flashover path as well In FIG 19 a fitting modification is shown, where on the insulated end 42 a metal flange 48 is placed such that it is connected directly (without insulator 43) to the power conductor 44 The said modification is expedient for rather low voltage rates, for instance, 3 to 6 kV, and under easy pollution conditions, because all the operation voltage is applied to the insulation 41 The electric power transmission with insulated fittings, descπbed in the example shown, is functioning as follows (cf FIG 17) Under overvoltage of sufficient magnitude the insulator 43 flashovers, i e a discharge channel 49 begins developing from the power conductor 44, bypasses the insulator 43 and reaches the dielectric cover 41 , placed on the rod 40 Then channel the 49 of the said discharge is forced to slide down the insulation cover until it reaches the non insulated end of the metal rod 40 After this the lightning overvoltage current proceeds from the conductor 44 through the discharge channel 49 onto the structure 46 and further to earth Due to a rather big length / of the fitting insulation providing a long flashover path, an impulse lightning flashover does not turn into a power arc and an electric power transmission line continue its operation without outage Fitting according to the invention can be used as a lightning arrester For this the rod

40, coated with the dielectric cover 41 is fastened by its non insulated end 45 to the structure 46, wherein the insulated end 42 is placed opposite to the power conductor 44 forming with the last a spark air gap At overvoltage the said gap is broken down the discharge channel is reaching the insulated end 42 of the fitting and slides down the dielectric cover 41 until reaches the non insulated end 45 of the said fitting The operation method in this case will be the same as described above

In accordance with the version shown in FIG 17, the pilot sample of the fitting was made and tested A metal rod with a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 65 cm was provided with an insulated cover of a polymer material of 6 mm thickness The said insulated cover length equalled / = 52 cm In the insulated end of the fitting a 6 kV glass insulator was installed Both the insulator placed on the standard, i e non insulated fitting, and the insulator, placed on the insulated fitting, were tested by overvoltage lightning impulses 1 2/50 μsec The test results are shown in Table 2

Table 2

Fitting type Flashover Flashover Average gradient of Probability of a path, cm voltage, kV operation voltage in power arc follow flashover channel, kV/m non- 16 126 21 7 0 29 insulated insulated 62 180 5 6 0.00

As one can see from Table 2, for an insulated fitting the flashover length is several times more and flashover voltage is higher, than that for a standard non insulated fitting And, above all, the probability of power arc follow for the insulated fittings is factually equal to zero

FIG 20 shows a high-voltage insulator, according to the invention It comprises an insulation body 60 with a spiral-like sheds 61 and a guiding electrode 62 which provides conditions for a surface discharge development over the insulator surface When a lightning impulse is applied to the insulator a discharge channel starts from a power conductor 63 The guiding electrode 62, which has ground potential, enhances the electric field strength at the tip of a flashover channel and ensures more favorable conditions for the flashover to develop along the surface of the insulator rather than through the shortest way in air Due to the spiral sheds the flashover goes by the long spiral path along the surface of the insulator Therefore the electric field mean gradient at nominal voltage along the channel is low and there is no power arc follow

For standard insulators (with parallel or spiral sheds) flashover develops through the shortest way in air

As the performed researches have shown, in order to make a discharge to develop over the said insulator surface by a spiral-like trajectory and not by the shortest way in air, the guiding electrode length gi has to be at least equal to a half of the insulation body length

An insulator, described in FIG 20, may be used at rather low nominal voltage 6 to 10 kV, since all the working voltage in the normal mode is applied to the solid insulation layer between the conductor 63 and the guiding electrode 62 This layer should sustain reliably the operation voltage in long-term mode during the whole insulator life time

For a higher nominal voltage the guiding electrode 62 can be insulated both from power conductor 63 and from a structure 64 (FIG. 21 ) In this insulator construction version an operation voltage of a power frequency is already distributed between two solid insulation

layers, i e between the conductor 63 and the guiding electrode 62, as well as between the guiding electrode 62 and the structure 64

At overvoltage applied to the power conductor 63 in the insulated metal guiding electrode 62 a division (polarization) of electric charges takes place the opposite charges in the conductor 63 are removed to the upper part of the guiding electrode 62, wherein the single-charged ones in the conductor 63 are removed downstairs of the guiding electrode

62 The upper placed charges of the guiding electrode 62 strengthen the electπc field gradient on the insulator surface near the conductor 63 and simplify by this the formation of a surface discharge over the insulator surface For further increasing of the inner insulation the guiding electrode 62 can made as an electrodes' set 62 ¹ , which are divided by insulation layers 60 ¹ (FIG 22)

To facilitate the said discharge development over the insulator surface at overvoltage the guiding electrode 62 can be made with a ledge 65, extending to the insulation body surface 60 (FIG 23) In this case the said discharge development along the spiral-like trajectory over the insulator surface is made easier, since it takes place in two stages first there is a flashover between the conductor 63 and the iedge 65, second - the said discharge move up to the grounded structure 64.

To provide more reliable discharge development along tne spiral-like trajectory the guiding electrode can be made also in a spiral form To avoid pollution effects on the insulator discharge characteristics, as well as to provide more reliable discharge development along the spiral-like trajectory the insulator surface in the inter-shed spaces can be coated with some semi-conductive layer

To increase the nominal voltage of the said insulation construction, the depicted insulators types can be connected step-by-step, i e they can form insulators strings or support columns

The given in the present description invention versions and modifications of electric power transmission lines, impulse spark lightning arrester, high-voltage insulator and fitting to fasten a high-voltage element are shown only to explain their construction and operation principles It should be clear to experts in this field, that any variations of the above mentioned examples are possible, and they are also covered by the application for an invention

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention can be used for lightning protection of overhead transmission and distribution power lines and substations