Officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation who have been trying to find an explanation for the massive power cut that affected several areas of Chennai on Saturday seem to have finally found the answer: ‘Corona effect’.
A senior official of Tangedco explained that ‘corona discharge’ is a kind of chemical reaction that occurs due to industrial pollution.
The discharge could have a devastating effect on electrical components such as transformers, capacitors and insulators.
In this particular instance, the discharge affected the insulators of the 230 kilo volt (KV) high-tension power lines that were conveying electricity between the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) and the Tondiarpet distribution station.
Similarly, the effect on the high-tension electric line between Sriperumbudur and Taramani plunged several areas of South Chennai into darkness. Extreme heat could lead to frequent ‘corona discharge,’ the official said.
