Special Requirements on Gas-Insulated, Metal-Oxide Surge Arresters

Equipment in high voltage power systems can be protected effectively by metal oxide surge arresters. Basically two different types of surge arresters are used: surge arresters with air insulation using porcelain or polymeric housings (AIS surge arresters) and surge arresters with SF₆-insulation using a metallic housing (GIS surge arresters). The probability of a failure of a GIS surge arrester shall be considerably less than for an air insulated surge arrester. Failures of GIS equipment always will result in major outages and costly corrective maintenance. Potential sources of surge arrester failures are the metal oxide (MO) resistor, insulating parts as fiber reinforced (FRP) rods and partitions and the metal enclosure. MO resistors are not allowed to show any aging and must have a high energy discharge capability. The FRP-rods must be free of partial discharges and must withstand high electrical strength. The metal enclosure must be made of high quality material as well as the manufacturing process shall be of high standard including sufficient testing and final certification. Required routine testing on the completely assembled surge arrester does not suffice rather all parts used must be routine tested in a proper way to avoid failing within the life time of more than 30 years. In case of a failure caused by overloading the destruction must be limited to the surge arrester.