LIGHTNING ARRESTER

BY,
JACHIN JOSES
 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
DIFFERENT CLASSES OF LA
WORKING PRINCIPLE
LA POWER CIRCUIT & VI CHARACTERISTICS
MECHANISM OF LA
TYPES OF LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
PRACTICAL ISSUES
CONCLUSION
 In 1746, Winkler, a professor of physics in Leipzig,
published his view that thunderstorms were caused by
electrical discharges from clouds to earth in the form of
lightning.
The lightning rod was invented by Ben Franklin in 1750.
Dalibard was the first to demonstrated the electrical
nature of thunderstorms experimentally in 1752.
Richmann a professor of physics tried to repeat
Dalibard's experiment, he was killed by a flash of
lightning which struck the iron rod in1753.
It was not until 1760 that Franklin built the first lightning
arrester in America, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
 A lightning arrester is a device used on
electrical power systems and
telecommunications systems to protect the
insulation and conductors of the system from
the damaging effects of lightning.
 POWER SYSTEM WITH AND
WITHOUT LIGHTNING
ARRESTERS

11/20/2014
 DIFFERENT CLASSES OF LA
SPECIFICATIONS SECTION INTERMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION SECONDARY
CLASS CLASS CLASS CLASS

Designed for Electrical Medium voltage Transformers: Homes and

power stations equipment both dry-type businesses
or substations areas, such as and liquid-filled
and other high electrical utility
voltage stations,
substations,
transformers
and other
equipment's
Range Above 20 1 to 20 MegaVA 1000 kilo VA or Less than
Mega VA less 1000kilo VA
Nominal 10,000 A 5,000 A 5,000 A 1,500 A
discharge current
 Working Principle of
LA
A lightning arrester is a protective device, which conducts
the high voltage surges on the power system to the
ground.
One end of the LA is connected to the terminal of the
equipment to be protected and the other end is grounded.
It consists of a spark gap in series with a non-linear
resistor.
The length of the gap is so set that normal voltage is not
enough to cause an arc but a dangerously high voltage
will break down the air insulation and form an arc.
LA POWER CIRCUIT & VI
CHARACTERISTICS

10
 MECHANISM OF LA
Under normal operation, the lightning arrester is off
the line i.e. it conducts no current to earth or the gap
is non-conducting
On the occurrence of over voltage, the air insulation
across the gap breaks down and an arc is formed
providing a low resistance path for the surge to the
ground. In this way, the excess charge on the line due
to the surge is harmlessly conducted through the
arrester to the ground.
 Types of LA
There are several types of lightning arresters in general
use. They differ only in constructional details but
operate on the same principle, providing low resistance
path for the surges to the round.
1. Rod gap arrester
2. Horn gap arrester
3. Multi gap arrester
4. Expulsion type lightning arrester
5. Valve type lightning arrester
 IDENTIFICATION
Rated voltage, Rated current, Rated
frequency(50 OR 60 HZ).
Serial number, Model number.
Nominal discharge current(specifying for
10,000A arrester or series A or B 5,000A
arrester).
Manufacturer Name, Trademark, Type.
Year Of Manufacture.
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LIGHTNING STRIKES ON BURJ KHALIFA
 CONCLUSION

Thus the Lightning Arresters are used as a protective

device against the damage of the equipment by lightning
and its effects in a power system.