Study on the Unipolar Impulse Aging Characteristics of ZnO Varistors and Their Condition Monitoring Methods
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Resistive Leakage Current Extraction Method Based on Levenberg–Marquardt Optimization Algorithm
3. Experimental Methods
4. Experimental Results and Analysis
4.1. DC Parameter Experimental Results
4.2. Variation Trend of AC Current Waveform
5. Conclusions and Future Work
- Under a negative-polarity impulse current, the aging of ZnO varistors exhibits a significant polarity effect. The forward reference voltage shows an initial gradual decrease, followed by a rapid drop with increasing impulse count, while the reverse reference voltage first decreases, then exhibits a slight recovery, and ultimately undergoes a significant drop. Both forward and reverse leakage currents exhibit increasing trends, with the forward leakage current showing a greater increase than the reverse current. Both forward and reverse nonlinear coefficients demonstrate attenuation trends, with the forward nonlinear coefficient degrading more severely. This phenomenon is attributed to asymmetric aging of the double Schottky barriers in the ZnO varistor during impulse aging, which can be explained by ion migration theory.
- A high-precision separation of the resistive component from the full current of ZnO varistors under harmonic-containing 50 Hz voltage excitation at a voltage ratio of 0.6 was achieved using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization algorithm. Signal analysis in MATLAB R2024b enabled spectral analysis of both the full current and its resistive component. The spectral results indicate that the DC component amplitude of the resistive current exhibits the highest sensitivity to aging. Compared to the fundamental and third harmonic components of the resistive current, the DC component amplitude can detect degradation signals earlier during the initial stage of impulse aging, making it an effective criterion for evaluating the aging state of ZnO surge arresters.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
ZnO | Zinc oxide |
MOSA | Metal-oxide surge arrester |
LM | Levenberg–Marquardt |
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Harmonic Order | Frequency (Hz) | Amplitude (V) |
---|---|---|
Basic harmonic | 50 | 182.6 |
Second harmonic | 100 | 35.2 |
Third harmonic | 150 | 24.7 |
Fifth harmonic | 250 | 18.9 |
Seventh harmonic | 350 | 12.1 |
Eleventh harmonic | 550 | 8.4 |
Harmonic Order | Full Current NSF | Resistive Current NSF |
---|---|---|
Basic harmonic | 0.0089% | 0.025% |
Second harmonic | 0.021% | 0.048% |
Third harmonic | 0.025% | 0.056% |
Fifth harmonic | 0.011% | 0.031% |
Seventh harmonic | 0.015% | 0.022% |
DC component | 0.072% | 0.64% |
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Fan, Y.; Meng, W.; Tian, X.; Yue, Y.; Li, Z.; Xu, M.; Xiao, X.; Yang, L. Study on the Unipolar Impulse Aging Characteristics of ZnO Varistors and Their Condition Monitoring Methods. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 9484. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179484
Fan Y, Meng W, Tian X, Yue Y, Li Z, Xu M, Xiao X, Yang L. Study on the Unipolar Impulse Aging Characteristics of ZnO Varistors and Their Condition Monitoring Methods. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(17):9484. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179484
Chicago/Turabian StyleFan, Yongqiang, Wenkai Meng, Xiaoyun Tian, Yonggang Yue, Zhihui Li, Minxin Xu, Xinyan Xiao, and Lanjun Yang. 2025. "Study on the Unipolar Impulse Aging Characteristics of ZnO Varistors and Their Condition Monitoring Methods" Applied Sciences 15, no. 17: 9484. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179484
APA StyleFan, Y., Meng, W., Tian, X., Yue, Y., Li, Z., Xu, M., Xiao, X., & Yang, L. (2025). Study on the Unipolar Impulse Aging Characteristics of ZnO Varistors and Their Condition Monitoring Methods. Applied Sciences, 15(17), 9484. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179484