Effect of lightning overvoltages on low-voltage power distribution lines due to direct lightning hits to overhead ground wire

Overhead ground wires and surge arresters have been installed to protect high-voltage power distribution lines and apparatus from overvoltages induced by nearby lightning strokes. The effects of surge arresters for protection of high-voltage distribution lines against direct lightning strokes have already been investigated using the digital simulation program EMTP (Electromagnetic Transients Program). With regard to the protection of low-voltage distribution lines from overvoltages induced by lightning strokes, experimental analyses using a scale model line have been reported. This paper reports on the comparison between the experimental analyses and EMTP simulation of power distribution lines, including low-voltage lines, and the validity of EMTP simulation. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the overvoltages on low-voltage power distribution lines against direct lightning strokes to overhead ground wire using the digital simulation.     

Suppression of lightning-induced overvoltages by distribution line surge arresters

The primary aim of surge arresters in power distribution lines is to protect lines and equipment from the voltage induced by nearby lightning strokes. To further improve power systems, methods to protect distribution lines against direct lightning strokes are still needed. An effective measure against direct lightning strokes is to increase the number of arresters. However, if the surge current is too large, some surge arresters absorb energy in excess of their capability and may break; this leads to a line fault. To evaluate the protective effect of the surge arresters against direct lightning strokes to overhead ground wire, the authors measured both the voltage across the surge arresters and the energy absorbed by them using a full-scale model line and a 12 MV impulse generator. The results were compared with simulation results by EMTP. There have been no previous studies making a comparison of this kind.     

Suppressing the effect of lightning-induced overvoltages by the combined use of surge arresters and overhead ground wires

Lightning voltage induced by nearby strokes is one of the causes of major overvoltages which threaten the insulation of power distribution lines. Surge arresters as well as an overhead ground wire usually are employed for the protection of equipment and line insulation on overhead power distribution lines. The fundamental mechanism of suppressing effects of overvoltages induced by nearby strokes has been demonstrated independently by one of the present authors for surge arresters and for an overhead ground wire. In this paper, the protective effect of the combination of surge arresters and overhead ground wire is analyzed. As a result, it is found that the effect of surge arresters used together with an overhead ground wire is almost the same as that of surge arresters alone.     

Observation of lightning effect on power distribution lines by still cameras

In order to clarify the cause of lightning outages of a distribution line, simultaneous observation of lightning discharge channels and types of damage on distribution lines were carried out with still cameras from July 1993 through July 1995. High-voltage lines located in the observation area did not suffer from induced voltages due to indirect lightning strikes, even if such lightning strikes were nearby. One instance of a direct lightning strike on a distribution line was observed. The striking point was the span center of the overhead ground wire, and only a transformer fuse was blown on the high-voltage line. Damage to surge arresters was observed in the case of a lightning strike on a building located near a distribution line. The cause is thought to have been lightning current which flowed into the nearby distribution line through the damaged arresters. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn 119(1): 17–23, 1997     

Transmission line arrester energy, cost, and risk of failureanalysis for partially shielded transmission lines

Application of metal oxide surge arresters in power systems has been traditionally linked to electrical equipment protection. The industry has noted a very significant increase in the application of metal oxide arresters on transmission lines in an effort to reduce lightning initiated flashovers. This paper describes a cost-effective installation of surge arresters on a partially shielded transmission line. It compares several options with respect to cost and gains in terms of lightning performance improvement. This paper also presents a new approach to calculate risk of failure of transmission line surge arresters (TLSAs) due to lightning strokes to towers, shield/phase conductors, and illustrates the method with an example for a partially shielded line. Results show that the risk of failure is very small. The installation of TLSAs completed in 1997 demonstrated that it is possible to afford adequate lightning protection levels by selectively applying surge arresters only to the towers most sensitive to backflashover and shielding failures     

Distribution arrester outages caused by lightning backflow current flowing from customer's facility into power distribution lines

Direct lightning strokes are considered to be a main cause of damage to surge arresters on power distribution lines. Recently, lightning performance of distribution lines has been observed using still cameras, and lightning‐caused distribution outages on hilltop areas on the coast of the Sea of Japan have been investigated. This research has shown a possibility that lightning backflow current flowing from customer facilities into distribution lines causes damage to surge arresters on the distribution lines. We have investigated the lightning backflow current flowing from customer facilities into distribution lines as a cause of damage to surge arresters. The main results are as follows: (1) The electric charge of the backflow current flowing into distribution lines is more than 60% of that of the lightning stroke current. (2) If the grounding resistance of the customer's facility is not low, the failure rates of a surge arrester caused by backflow current due to winter lightning is more than 90% of that caused by direct lightning strokes. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 126(3): 9–20, 1999     

Experimental analysis of lightning overvoltages induced on low-voltage distribution lines

Problems have often been caused in low-voltage distribution lines such as single-phase 100/200 V and three-phase 200-V systems. For instance, the burning of low-voltage devices and the unnecessary operation of ground fault interrupters have occurred, which are caused possibly by lightning overvoltages. Experimental analysis was performed on the generation modes of lightning overvoltages on low-voltage distribution lines. A scale model line, one-fourth the size of an actual power distribution line of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), was installed for experimental analysis on the lightning protection of an overhead ground wire, an overhead common grounding wire (system neutral conductor), surge arresters and pole transformers against the overvoltages induced on low-voltage distribution lines due to a nearby lightning stroke. A balloon was flown at a location 30 km away from the scale model line in a normal direction to it. A 200-m long wire is suspended from the balloon to simulate a lightning path. Pulse current is applied to the simulated path using a pulse generator and the voltages induced on the line conductors are measured. This paper analyzes those overvoltages by means of the experimental and the theoretical methods.     

Effect of overhead ground wires on reduction of failure rates of surge arresters on power distribution lines

Surge arresters are sometimes damaged by lightning strokes with high energy, in spite of installation of conventional protection methods. In order to reduce the number of failures of surge arresters, we should consider another protection method, such as an increase in the withstand capability of surge arresters and installation of additional overhead ground wires. However, quantitative comparison of these methods for preventing damage to surge arresters against lightning strokes with high energy has never been performed. This paper describes the effects of additional overhead ground wires for preventing damage to surge arresters. The main results are: (1) The failure rate of surge arresters on a distribution line with two overhead ground wires is about one third of that with an overhead ground wire. (2) Installation of a second overhead ground wire six to eight spans from the end of a line reduces the failure rate of a surge arrester at the end as effectively as increasing the withstand capability by a factor of two. © 1998 Scripta Technica. Electr Eng Jpn, 122(2): 12–20, 1998     

Application studies of line arresters in partially shielded 138-kV transmission lines

The application of arresters on transmission lines has been one of the most effective alternatives for the reduction of lightning flashover rates. This paper reviews previous methods for evaluating lightning performance of lines with arresters. Improved calculations of line outage rates are developed to include power frequency voltage and arrester failure-rate evaluations, based on field experience. The transmission lines are modeled in detail in the electromagnetic transients program (EMTP)/(ATP) and the outage rates are calculated with the Monte Carlo method. Probability energy stresses on arresters are evaluated for strokes on conductors and shield wires as a function of tower footing resistance (TFR).     

Observation of lightning phenomena on distribution lines using composite techniques

For the rationalization of lightning protection design of distribution lines, it is important to clarify the behavior of distribution lines when direct or nearby lightning occurs. Because of the lower insulation level than for transmission lines, in studies on lightning protection design of distribution lines, not only direct lightning strokes but also induced voltages caused by nearby strokes must be taken into account. Thus, it is necessary to grasp the frequency of occurrence on lightning phenomena around distribution lines. For this aim, lightning phenomena on TEPCO's distribution lines in use had been continuously observed for 6 years (1996 to 2001). The observation was carried out in a composite way, using still cameras and sensor for acquisition of lightning surge waveform data. Through the observation, new phenomena about lightning performance on distribution lines in the field became apparent. In some cases, in spite of a direct strike to the line, flashover did not occur. This fact means that the distribution line has a certain level of lightning resistance. Moreover, it was confirmed that AC following current generated between both ends of insulator disappeared naturally. These results are interesting discoveries that can be useful in estimating the fault ratio precisely. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(1): 10–19, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( http://www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20164     

Performance of MOV arresters during very close, direct lightningstrikes to a power distribution system

In 1996, at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida, the responses of MOV arresters in an unenergized test distribution system, composed of an overhead line, underground cable, and padmount transformer with a resistive load, were measured during very close, direct lightning strikes to the overhead line. Arresters were installed on the overhead line at two locations 50 m apart (on either side of the strike point) and at the primary of the padmount transformer which was connected to the line via the underground cable. We obtained arrester data for this test configuration from two lightning flashes (containing a total of five strokes) which were artificially initiated from a natural thunderstorm, using the rocket-and-wire technique. We present the simultaneously-recorded arrester discharge current and voltage waveforms from one lightning stroke for one of the two arresters on the line and for the arrester at the transformer primary. Additionally, we estimate the energy absorbed by the arrester on the line as a function of time for the first 4 ms of the lightning event. The records presented are representative of those for all five strokes     

基于ATP-EMTP对配电网雷击过电压的仿真研究

阐述了雷电流模型、配电网各元件计算模型、绝缘子串闪络机理,采用电磁暂态仿真软件ATP-EMTP 建立仿真计算模型,比较分析杆塔冲击接地电阻对线路耐雷水平的影响,以及线路避雷器不同安装方案对线路耐雷水平的改善效果。仿真计算结果表明：雷击过电压容易导致绝缘子闪络,通过安装线路避雷器、降低杆塔接地电阻有效地提高了10 kV配电线路耐雷水平,改善了线路耐受过电压的能力。     

高压输电线路防雷保护的若干问题

概述了线路雷电性能计算用参数和方法。讨论了各种改善线路雷电性能的措施。指出线路金属氧化物避雷器(MOA)在实践中的良好效果并对其应用提出了建议。     

Statistical analysis of lightning performance of distribution lines based on observation in fields

Because of the lower insulation level than for transmission lines, in this study on lightning protection design of distribution lines, not only direct lightning strokes but also induced voltages caused by nearby strokes must be taken into account. Thus, it is necessary to grasp the frequency of occurrence of lightning phenomena around distribution lines. For this aim, lightning phenomena on TEPCO's distribution lines in use were continuously observed for 6 years (1996 to 2001). Through this observation, new interesting statistical data that can be a useful basis for rationalization of lightning protection design of distribution lines were obtained. Two hundred and four lightning strokes were observed through the six‐year period. Probability of occurrence of a direct stroke was 22% (45 direct strokes were obtained). The fact that in 47% of direct strokes the electric outage did not occur is very interesting. Moreover, the value of surge discharge current of the arrester in the case of nearby stroke is the basis for conventional theory of grounding system. Therefore, statistical analysis of ZnO discharging current in the case of nearby strokes was carried out. As a result, in the case of nearby strokes, 5% value of cumulative frequency of discharging current is 0.5 kA. This value is half the conventional data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(2): 8–16, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20180     

延安地区配电网架空输电线路防雷方案研究

研究了延安供电公司配电网易受雷击架空输电线路防雷改造方案。通过加装线路避雷器前后耐雷水平计算和EMTP仿真研究,论证了延安地区配电网架空输电线路隔1塔装1组避雷器方案的防雷效果,证明该方案在10kv线路上的应用效果良好,而在35kV线路上的应用效果不佳。     

输电线路避雷器断串分析与防范

目前采用的线路型避雷器多为绝缘子间隙避雷器。运行单位在安装线路避雷器时主要考虑的是避雷器的电气性能,很少对避雷器的安装形式和运行状态下的受力情况进行分析,以至运行中出现掉串现象。例举了一起线路型避雷器断串缺陷,通过计算分析得出断串的原因,并提出了避雷器安装的防范措施。     

树木对10kV配电线路防雷性能的影响

10kV配电线路所处的复杂地理环境、线路高度,树木等会对雷击位置、雷击过电压产生影响.运用产生雷击距里这个概念建立了雷击位置判断模型及过电压计算模型,仿真分析树木对线路防雷性能的影响.仿真结果表明：对于10 kV配电线路,位于特定位置并具有一定高度的树木能降低线路遭受直击和反击的次数.但会增加感应过电压给线路带来的威胁;树木对于10 kV配电线路防雷性能的综合影响随着树木位置及高度的改变而不同,合理管理树木才能达到保护线路的目的.     

线路型避雷器的应用

输电线路跳闸原因约有60％是因为雷击输电线路引起的,所以,采用线路型避雷器降低线路的雷击跳闸率是很有必要的。为此,对线路型避雷器分类作了介绍,并对各类线路型避雷器原理及应用作了详尽的介绍分析。从已安装了线路型避雷器的输电线路运行情况来看,线路型避雷器在输电线路防雷及变电站防止雷电侵入波方面发挥了重要的作用。     

采用避雷器防止10kV架空绝缘导线雷击断线

在绝缘导线应用于配电线路的建设中,10 kV架空线路雷击断线事故是影响安全供电的大问题.通过分析架空绝缘导线雷击断线的机理,介绍安装线路型金属氧化物避雷器可有效限制雷电过电压对配电线路的危害,减少绝缘导线配电线路的雷击断线事故,保证配电线路的安全运行,指出安装线路型避雷器这一防雷技术存在的问题,并分析了线路型避雷器的安装密度和保护效果.     

Energy stress on transmission line arresters considering the totallightning charge distribution

Transmission line arresters may be subjected to high energy stresses caused by lightning. Calculations of energy stresses were carried out for a typical line arrester installation. Three line configurations with different degrees of shielding efficiency were used for the study. The primary statistical parameter was the charge of the flash, including multiple strokes. The effect of stroke current magnitude was also investigated. The calculated results were compared with energy stresses in standardized tests on surge arresters