Guidelines For The Effectiveness And Prevention Of Surge Arrester Resistor Failure

As the guardian of the power system, the health of the internal resistors of the high voltage lightning arrester device is directly related to the safe operation of the equipment. Long-term exposure to operating voltage and lightning strikes inevitably leads to performance degradation of the resistors. This degradation process is highly insidious; once it develops into a fault, it can trigger a serious power accident.

Physical Mechanisms of Resistor Performance Degradation

During long-term operation, the microstructure of the resistor changes. The grain boundary layer gradually deteriorates under the combined effects of electric field and heat, resulting in a weakening of nonlinear characteristics. This change usually begins with an increase in conductive current, followed by increased power loss.

Identifying Signs of Surge Arrester Resistor Degradation

Monitoring the condition of the resistors requires sophisticated data analysis. The following are some key dimensions for identifying degradation:

• Leakage current fluctuations: Imbalance in the proportion of resistive components in the total current.

• Abnormal heating: Uneven temperature distribution of the casing observed through infrared thermal imaging.

• Deterioration in insulation performance: Test data deviates from the initial installation values.

The Impact of Moisture Intrusion on Resistor Performance

Sealing failure is the most common external factor inducing resistor aging. Moisture penetrates the 33kv lightning arrester module, adhering to the surface of the resistor element or at grain boundaries, significantly reducing the module's insulation strength. Moisture-induced chemical reactions accelerate the peeling of metal oxide particles, causing partial discharge in the resistor element at rated voltage. This vicious cycle shortens the device's lifespan and can even lead to thermal breakdown in sunny conditions.

Maintenance strategies to improve component reliability

For the daily management of 10 kv lightning arrester, a complete history file should be established. Regular live-line testing should be conducted, comparing historical operating curves. For products exceeding their service life, the frequency of random inspections should be increased.