3. Zinc oxide arresters
In the 1960s, varistors made of zinc oxide ceramics came onto the market to protect electronic circuits.
As early as 1970, manufacturers began developing surge arresters using these ceramics. For electrical engineers, these components offer two essential advantages:
on the one hand, they have such a high non-linearity coefficient that they can be used as surge arresters without spark gaps, where the active part remains permanently energized;
secondly, their high energy absorption capacity means they can be used on all networks, from electronics to very high voltage (225 or 400 kV) power transmission, both to protect equipment against atmospheric overvoltages (lightning), and against slow overvoltages, known as maneuvering overvoltages, if the application so requires.
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Zinc oxide arresters
Surge arrester diagnostics
Documentation sources
References
Standards
France
French Standards Association (AFNOR) http://www.boutique.afnor.org
- Surge arresters. 1re part: variable-resistance surge arresters with spark gaps for AC networks (classification index: C 65-100). - NF EN 60099-1 - 08-94
- Parafoudres. Partie 4 : parafoudres à oxyde métallique sans éclateur pour réseaux à courant...
Manufacturers. Suppliers
These lists do not take into account market volumes and are not exhaustive.
HTA ZnO arresters with synthetic enclosure
ABB SA http://www.abb.com
DERVASIL SA http://www.sicame.com
MacLean Power Systems...
Events
CIGRE, International Council on Large Electric Systems, groups B2 (overhead lines) and B3 (substations), general session every 2 years in Paris + specialized symposia organized by the working groups
ISH, International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, an academic conference held every 2 years, alternating with the CIGRE general session.
SEE, Société des Électriciens et Électroniciens,...
Tools
Software
EMTP-RV, software for modeling the transient behavior of power systems http://www.emtp.com
FLUX2D, 2D finite element code for electrostatic, dielectric and thermal modeling http://www.cedrat-groupe.com
COULOMB: 3D finite-element...
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