The emergence of arresters

The emergence of arresters: The first arresters.

Lightning arresters are electrical devices that can release lightning or release overvoltage energy from power system operation, protect electrical equipment from instantaneous overvoltage hazards, and cut off the continuous current to prevent the system from grounding short circuit. Lightning arresters are usually connected between the live wire and the ground, and are connected in parallel with the protected equipment. When the overvoltage value reaches the specified action voltage, the lightning arrester immediately acts, charges flow through, limit the overvoltage amplitude, and protect the insulation of the equipment; after the voltage value returns to normal, the lightning arrester quickly returns to its original state to ensure normal power supply to the system.

The most primitive arrester is a ram-horn gap, which appeared in the late 19th century and was used for overhead transmission lines to prevent lightning strikes from damaging equipment insulation and causing power outages, so it was called a "lightning arrester". In the 1920s, aluminum Air Shield arresters, oxide film Air Shield arresters and pill-type Air Shield arresters appeared. In the 1930s, tubular Air Shield arresters appeared. In the 1950s, silicon carbide Air Shield arresters appeared. In the 1970s, metal oxide Air Shield arresters appeared. Modern high-voltage Air Shield arresters are not only used to limit overvoltages caused by lightning in power systems, but also to limit overvoltages caused by system operations.