2014 International Symposium on Computer, Consumer and Control
Lightning Protection and Calculation Methods of
Transmission Line
Zhouxing Fu#, Lingling Huang#, Lei Sun#, Ruoya Zhang#, Nan Wang#
#
Department of Geology and Environment Engineering, Xian University of Science and Technology
Xian 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
1
elisay@sina.com
2
fuzx@xust.edu.cn

Abstract It is necessary to select appropriate methods of
calculation and lightning protection for transmission line has
characteristics such as wide distribution, long span and high
lightning trip-out rate. This paper initially introduces and
compares several calculation methods, then analyzes principles of
some common lightning protection measures of transmission line
in detail. Large quantity fact proved that lightning protection and
calculation methods have great value to guidance engineering
practice.
Keywords Lightning; Transmission line; Calculation Method;
Lightning Protection Technology; Measures
I. INTRODUCTION
In nature, lightning is an extremely powerful disaster which
will bring tremendous damage to the natural resources and
building facilities that human beings rely on. Therefore, the
phenomenon of lightning and lightning protection measures
has always been the focus of many researches. As we all know,
transmission line is a important part of the power system.
When transmission line exposed to air, it is very vulnerable to
external influence and damage and one of the most important
aspects is lightning struck. However, transmission line is more
easily to suffer lightning because transmission line always
located in the wilderness, hills or mountains. In view of
lightning has brought great harm to transmission line, it is
imperative to strengthen the study on transmission line and
perfect the performance of transmission line protection. The
key to ensuring power grid safe and reliable operation is to
find some effective lightning protection measures. In this
paper, transmission line lightning protection calculation model
and measure will be expounded.
II. SEVERAL CALCULATION METHODS OF LIGHTNING LINE
Transmission line tripping caused by lightning mainly
contains counterattack trip and shielding failure trip. An
accurate calculation counterattack trip rate and shielding
failure occurred on transmission line is an important basis for
evaluating protection performance and determining protection
strategies of lightning transmission line.
At present, calculation method of lightning trip rate is
varied, mainly includes Travelling Wave method, The EMTP
simulation method, Monte Carlo method, The Standard
method, Electrical Geometry Model (EGM), Leader
Progression Model (LPM), etc.
978-1-4799-5277-9/14 $31.00 2014 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/IS3C.2014.50
A. The Standard Method
According to the formula of DL/T620-1997 Over-voltage
AC electrical installations and insulation coordination, the
Standard method can calculate trip rate. This method is
incompetence on the analysis of specific problem, such as high
voltage grade problems, because it is derived from operating
experience on low voltage grade line.
Plain area: (1)
Mountain area: (2)
is the edge of wires for wire protection angle (); H is the
tower height (m); is line lightning rate.
From (1) and (2) we know, shielding failure rate of
mountain area is about 3 times of plain area or equivalent eight
times of protection angle.
If we set n as shielding failure trip-out rate, it can be
calculated by next formula:
 () (3)
Among them, N is the number of lightning
strike of per 100 km circuit, annually on 40 thunderbolt days
(); is the probability that lightning current amplitude over
detour lightning resisting level; is rate of arc establishing
rate.
B. The Monte Carlo Method
In Monte Carlo method, some statistics (such as lighting
current amplitude and wave front generated by computer) can
be used to simulate all kinds of random factors in the lightning.
This way is regarded as a considered comprehensively method.
Due to the statistical principle used in the simulating
calculation cannot give reasonable calculating analytic
expression and computer cannot absolutely random at the
same time, it requires a substantial increase in calculated
amount in order to improve the calculation precision of Monte
Carlo method. However, this solution is adverse to calculation
analysis in practice which has a large number of circuit.
When using this method, the computer will simulate the
situation that transmission line being struck by lightning
frequently and track the lightning status. Supposing random
variables ( I, A, U, B ......) are independent of each other ,
using random sampling algorithm, the computer can achieve a
lightning current amplitude probability distribution f(i). Via
this distribution, sampling random variables I correspond a
random number . Generally, we treat the random number as
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the first lightning strike lightning current amplitude. Then Fig. 1 Transmission line lightning stroke around the EGM
distribute f(a) random sampling get a random number of
random variables A from the probability of lightning current
wave steepness, and treat it as the first head of lightning Setting the intensity of lightning current I of the lightning
current wave steepness. Lightning frequency voltage value leader position for curve CABD and segment arcs of CA and
(the first time lighting happened) can be obtained from their AD respectively, the grounding wire G and wire C-section
respective probability distributions and location that first location as the centre and the radius of the arc S, both of which
lightning occurred can be determined by taking a sample. intersect at point A. BE is parallel to the ground, KS is the
height from the ground, which is segmental arc AD intersect at
After the appropriate operation: =f
point B. Called transmission line arc AB the exposed
.From the result, it can be judged whether insulation arc ,thunderbolt located in the AB will hit the wires, in diagram
caused the first lightning flashover. When insulation caused 1,  is the exposed conductor distance. With lightning
the first lightning flashover take , or else take . current increases, exposed arc is getting smaller, when
Repeat the above steps and track the status of secondary increases to a certain degree, exposure arc AB is zero, the
lightning from the beginning. response of the lightning current is the maximum lightning
From the second track of the results ( ), current that makes the shielding failure taken place, while the
after being calculated:  =f , it can wire is completely shielded, shielding failure will not occur.
determine whether a second lightning stoke will lead to In accordance with the above concept, shielding failure rate
insulation flashover, then determine the value of . After (shielding failure rate) is:
repeating above steps N times under lightning conditions, we
SFR= ( ) (6)

can get a observations of N samples . Shielding failure flashover rate (shielding failure flashover
Using this sample, the line caused by lightning insulation rate) for:
flashover can be calculated:

SFR= ( ) (7)

(4)
Among them, is the ground lightning density
Thus it is not difficult to get further estimates of the ( ); means minimum lightning current that
lightning trip-out rate: can occur shielding (kA);  means maximum lightning
(5) current that can occur shielding (kA); is wire exposed
In that formula, C is the number of lines per 100km average distance (m); is the minimum critical current flashover of
annual suffered from lightning,  is built arc rate. insulator string (kA); P(I) is the lightning current amplitude
C. The Electrical Geometry Model probability distribution function.
Electrical Geometric Model is a geometric analysis and D. Leader Progression Model (LPM)
calculation modelwhich integrate discharge characteristics of Leader Progression Model (LPM) is based on long-gap
the lightning with contact line structure. The basic principle is: discharge observations and lightning research. It is a analytical
before the head of pilot discharge channel from the model by simulating the development of the physical
thundercloud to ground arrive the striking distance distance processes of lightning. With clear physical process, it can be
of the object hit critical breakdownthe shot point is used to study the line structure, topography and other factors
uncertain. When the head of pilot comes first within striking which affect the distribution line shielding properties. Not
distanceit will discharge to the object. The size of the striking considering discharge dispersion and upward leader
distance positively correlated with the lighting current. competition, the accuracy of the LPM model, to a great extent,
Fig.1 shows a transmission line shielding EGM for the requires long-rationality of lightning and long-gap discharge
calculation of the geometric drawing method as in [3]. observation data.
 E. Travelling Wave Method
Travelling Wave Method recognizes the tower of the cross
arm as a set of short transmission line, from the line of
Bergerac Long mathematical model, using the lumped
parameter circuit of the node analysis method to analysis, it is
a real reflection of the tower structure on the wave propagation
process, each point on the tower obtained in this way can meet
the actual potential of the tower better when lightning striking
the transmission line. Fig. 2 is the prototype of a transmission
line. It is converted into an equivalent lumped parameter
model using Bergerac dragon as in [1][11],[12], in which
is the line impedance.
 

151
 m t - i km
i mkt i t design of the case for the protection angle is too large to take
i kmt i mkt ut
m
ut
k ut
m Zc
k t -
i
Fig. 2 The equivalent circuit of a prototype line (time domain)

k and m are both ends of the wire, which are separated when
calculating the equivalent circuits;
Each node contains an equivalent current source
 or , the value is determined by voltage
and current on the other side of the line which is early than
current time point. (which is past record) the recursive
formula of these equivalent current (t-) and is
(8) anti-Ray level. Meanwhile, the erection of ground coupling
F. The EMTP Simulation Method
Electromagnetic transient process calculation program
EMTP analysis is the use of characteristic line after being
stuck by lightning wave process, the specified calculation
process is According to the individual characteristics of
circuit components write the corresponding algebraic
equations and differential equations. Based on trapezoidal
integration method the inductancepower and capacitance
element processed in the networkare looked on as resistive
network. According to the characteristic line method, the
distribution parameters such as line segments, are also
resistive network, as algebraic differential equations,
formation of nodal admittance matrix. After optimizing the
node number, according to the sparse matrix, get the solution
of each branch current, voltage and power loss as in [1][11]
[12]. Reference [4],[10] shows that EMTP is a powerful tool
for power system simulation, it not only can be used to study
the electromagnetic transient process of power system, but
also can be used to solve the general electrical circuit.
III. LIGHTNING PROTECTION MEASURES
Transmission line lightning protection is designed to
improve the line lightning performance and reduce line
lightning trip rate. The system operation, the line voltage
levels and the degree of importance, the line through the
strength of lightning activity areas, topography features, soil
resistivity and other natural conditions should be considered
when determining the way of lightning protection. After
technical and economic comparison, reasonable protective
measures should be taken.
1Reduce the protective grounding wire or with a negative
angle corner protection. Using the effective shielding angle
formula to calibrate tower effective protection angle as the
mountain running lines are vulnerable to strike around, so the
appropriate measures to reduce the probability lightning
shielding failure.
Z c ut
m 2Reinforced insulation and insulation using unbalanced
way. In intense lightning activity area, such as the big leap
tall tower and into the line, should increase the number of
insulators as in [2].
3The processing of grounding device. The lightning
protection level of High Voltage Transmission Line decreases
while the tower grounding resistance increases. To reduce
tower grounding resistance, we also need to ensure that
overhead ground wire, ground deflectors, and a good
connection of network with each other as in [2].
4Set up ground coupling. Set up coupled ground when
unable to reduce the grounding resistance is a kind of method.
Erecting a ground wire in the bottom, it can enhance the
coupling effect between the conductor and ground wire,
played the role of triage, thereby enhancing transmission line
can also reduce the height of the tower, reducing around rate.
5Ground wire should be set up all of the transmission
lines. To set up ground wire can prevent thunder from hitting
wire. Erection of lightning conductor can play streaming
effectively, reducing the lightning current flowing through the
tower. Grounding wire makes an important role to the wire
shielding effect and it also can reduce the induced voltage on
the wire as in [5],[7]~[9]. By using the ground wire, it can
reduce the coupling voltage line insulators. In general,
lightning conductor is not needed in below 35KV transmission
lines. It is necessary to set up through the whole lightning line
above the 220KV transmission lines.
6Installation surge arresters. To install the surge
arresters can discharge the lightening arrester into the earth,
thus limiting overvoltage protection of transmission lines and
guarantee the equipments safety as in [6].
7The Installation of automatic reclosing device. Because
of the self-recovery performance in line insulation, most
accidents caused by lightning flashover can self eliminated
after tripping the circuit. Therefore, the installation of
automatic reclosing device has good effect for reducing the
accident rate by lightning lines.
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND PROSPECT
Lightning activity is a complicated phenomenon in nature,
there is no lightning protection measures in an absolute way,
As a result, lightning protection measures should be treated on
different local conditions, and taking targeted and feasibility
lightning protection programs; Meanwhile, Strictly abide by
the principle of equal potential, Comprehensive consideration
of the lightning protection and grounding, and inspection,
testing and maintenance to the lightning protection facilities
should be taken by stages. Even the lightning protection
measures are mature, it can relatively reduce the probability of
lightning protection and the times of lightning trip. To reduce
152
or eliminate the lightning accident significantly, it needs to lightning protection measures.
accumulate experience and improve transmission line
[5]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
My deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to my
Professor Zhouxing Fu, for his constant encouragement and [6]
guidance. He has walked me through all the stages of the
writing of this thesis. Without his instruction, this thesis [7]
could not have reached its present form. I also owe my
sincere gratitude to my friends and my fellow classmates
who gave me their help and time in listening to me and [8]
helping me work out my problems during the difficult course
of the thesis.
[9]
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