Industry Focus Surge Arrester

Surge Arresters accounting for a tiny portion of the total cost of the sub-station, performs the vital activity of protecting the sub-station or transmission lines and associated equipments from dangerous high voltage surges generated externally or within the system. Due awareness is being created by Surge Arrester Division of IEEMA by conducting seminars on the subject of insulation - coordination and other related aspects of Surge Arresters. A national level symposium was conducted on Surge Arresters in 2006 covering a cross section of areas such as technology, design, performance and application oriented aspects of both Porcelain Clad and Polymer Housed Arresters. In India importance given to Surge Arresters leaves much to be desired. Many electric utilities and Discoms do not employ Surge Arresters in their systems particularly in distribution net work there by endangering vital equipments such as distribution transformers, breakers etc. This is in sharp contrast to western and other developed countries where surge protection is sacrosanct not only for high voltage systems but also household and industrial equipments. The numbe rof the manufacturers of the product has increased significantly. Most of the recent entrants are in the manufacture of Surge Arresters only while the erstwhile manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of both Zinc Oxide Blocks and Arresters.