Testing of metal oxide surge arrester monitoring (MOSAM)

Abstract

Surge arrester is a device used to protect the transmission lines and substations. It protects the power systems from lightning impulses and very fast transient over voltage. The degradation of a metal oxide surge arrester can be accomplished by using the measurement of its leakage current in particular, the third harmonic resistive component. A significant change in the third harmonic level may indicate a severe ageing of the arrester. Metal Oxide Surge Arrester Monitoring (MOSAM) is a new smartphone based device capable of assessing the current status of gapless MO arresters. This project aims to test and verify the MOSAM previously developed in Institute of High Voltage and High Current (IVAT). Low voltage and high voltage calibration were carried out. It is shown that the obtained calibration results using the low voltage are consistent with those using the high voltage. Three types of clamp meters were used. MOSAM is proven to work as designed for at least one type of clamp meter.