EEE 579

POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

SPRING 2011

Dr. GEORGE. G. KARADY

HOMEWORK 5

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

SHIELDING PROTECTION

BACK FLASHOVER


Praveen Ramiah Subramanian

ASU ID: 1202919089



1. Introduction:

Lightning is a natural phenomenon occurring due to discharge from the atmosphere and is a major
cause of damage to transmission line system. This is because of the fact that most transmission lines
traverse through barren uninhabited expanses of land and are totally conducting. Hence due to the
extreme heights of the transmission lines and the fact that lightning strikes the highest conducting point
closest to it, there exists a high probability of the lightning strokes to strike transmission lines.

When a lightning strikes a transmission line, it induces currents in the range of 150 to 400 kA, voltages
of the order 10
6
kV and temperatures close to 50,000 F. Lightning striking transmission lines cannot be
prevented. The transmission lines are hence designed with shield conductors. The most important
application of these shield conductors is to ground the lightning induced currents and prevent the
transmission tower structure, phase conductors and insulators from damage.

The focus of this project is on designing a robust lightning protection system. It is to be noted that
lightning striking a transmission line cannot be completely avoided. However, with a systematic
analysis, the probability of successful performance of the lightning protection scheme can be gauged.
For this analysis, the following parameters need to be calculated:
- Shielding performance
- Back flashover rate
- Expected outage per 100 miles

Based on the study, the effectiveness of the shielding and lightning protection scheme can be observed
and steps can be taken if possible to solve potential problems.


2. Transmission Line Overview:

Project name : High Plains Express Project
Point of origin : Gladstone, NM
Point of termination : Boone, CO
Line length : 182 miles
Voltage class : 500 kV AC


3. Conductor and Tower Data:

3.1. Phase Conductor Data:

Conductor Code = ACSR Kiwi Conductor
Number of conductors per bundle (p) = 2
Distance between bundles (d
bun
) = 18 inches
Cross Section = 2167 kcmil
Conductor Diameter = 1.735 inches
Core Diameter = 0.347 inches
Resistance at 60 Hz at 50C (R
50
) = 0.0511 /mile
Geometric Mean Radius (GMR
c
) = 0.0570 ft
Maximum Current Carrying Capacity = 1000 A
Conductor Span = 1000 ft


3.2. Ground Conductor Data:

Shield Conductor Code = Aluminum Clad Alumoweld 7
Number of Shield Conductors = 2
Distance between Shield Conductors = 47.536 ft
Diameter of Shield Conductor (Dshl) = 0.545 inches
Resistance at 75C (R
shl75
) = 1.669 /mile
Geometric Mean Radius (GMR
shl
) = 0.00296 ft
Ground Resistance (R
ground
) = 0.095 /mile

3.3. Transmission Line Data:



Figure 1: Transmission Tower Dimensions
3.4. Conductor Coordinates:

















Figure 2: Conductor Coordinates

Conductor Horizontal Coordinate Vertical Coordinate
Phase A x
0
= -D
c
= -40 y
o
= H
0
= 109
Phase B x
1
= 0 ft y
1
= H
0
= 109
Phase C x
2
= D
c
= 40 y
2
= H
0
= 109
Ground 1 X
3
= -D
g
/ 2 = -23.75 y
3
= H
g
= 150
Ground 2 X
4
= D
g
/ 2 = 23.75 y
4
= H
g
= 150

Table 1: Conductor Coordinates


SECTION I : SHIELDING
4. Ground Flashover Density:

The ground flashover equations are used to calculate the number of lightning strokes per square
kilometer per year (N
g
) and can be found using either of the following:

- Number of thunderstorm days (T
D
)

N
g
= 0.04 x T
D
1.25


- Number of thunderstorm hours(T
H
)

N
g
= 0.054 x T
H
1.1


h
H
c H
g
D
c
D
g
X
Y
x
0
y
0
x
4
y
4
x
1
y
1
x
2
y
2
x
3
y
3
The T
D
and T
H
are obtained from the Isokeraunic map showing the mean annual days and hours of
thunderstorm activity. The transmission line under study is to be installed from New Mexico to
Colorado. The TD and TH values for these areas are as follows:

T
D
= 70
N
g
= 0.04 x (70)
1.25

= 8.1

T
H
= 100
N
g
= 0.054 x (100)
1.1

= 8.6

5. Electric Shadow:
Average height of conductor is given by:
h
cond
= h
at_tower
- (2/3)sag

Average height of phase conductors
y
c1
= y
c
- (2/3)sag
c

= 109 (2/3)41.26
= 81.493 ft = 24.839 m

Average height of ground conductors
y
g1
= h
at_g
- (2/3)sag
g

= 150 (2/3)21.36
= 115.76 ft = 35.284 m

The shadow is given by:
W = b + (h
cond
)
1.09

Where,
b is the breadth of the transmission line at its base in meters.
b = 40 ft = 12.192 m
W = 12.192 + (33.22)
1.09

= 57.73 m

6. Shielding Angle:
Shielding angle is given by:
= tan
-1
[ ( x
g
- x
c
) / ( y
g1
- y
c1
) ]
Where,
x
g
is the horizontal distance between the shield conductors and vertical axis
y
g
is the vertical distance between the shield conductors and ground
x
c
is the horizontal distance between the phase conductors and vertical axis
y
g
is the vertical distance between the phase conductors and ground

All the above values can be obtained from table 1.
= tan
-1
[ ( 23.75

- 40

) / ( 115.76

- 81.493

) ]
= -25.369

7. Flashover Voltage of Lightning Impulse::
Minimum distance to the tower from the vertex of the V string insulator:
d
min
= 32.084 ft = 9.779 m

Length of insulator chain (L
ins
) = 14.37 ft = 4.380 m

Flashover time is assumed.
= 6 s

The flashover voltage is computed by:

V
ins
= 0.4l
ins
+ [ ( 0.71 d
min
) /
0.75
]

Both l
ins
and d
min
are to be used in meters. The value of is
= 0.6 s

V
ins
= ( 0.4 x 4.380 ) + [ ( 0.71 x 9.779 ) / 6
0.75
]
= 3.563 MV
8. Surge Impedance Calculation:

Radius of the bundle is:

= = 3.951 inches
= 0.329 ft



Surge impedance of phase conductor without corona is given by:



= 413.856

The value of E
max
and the initial value of r
corona
are assumed. The E
max
is then incorporated into the V
ins
equation and is solved using the MATHCAD equation solver to obtain the true value of the corona
radius r
corona
. The assumed values are the following:

E
max
= 15 kV/cm
Initial iteration value: r
corona
= 0.2m






The r
corona
value obtained from the equation solver is:


r
Corona
root V
ins
E
max
r
corona
ln
y
c1
r
corona
|

\
|
|
.
r
corona
,
|

\
|
|
.
:=

r
corona
= 0.653m


r
bund
d
bun
r
con
:=
Z
surge_no
60 ln 4.
y
c
r
bund
|

\
|
|
.
:=
Bundle radius with corona is given by:
R
bundle_corona
= r
bund
+
rcorona

= 0.753 m

Surge impedance of phase conductor with corona is given by:


= 348.184

9. Minimum Stroke Current:

The minimum stroke current that would be created by a lightning is given by:


I
L_min
= 20.467 kA

10. Strike Distance vs. Current Functions:
The strike distance for both the phase conductors and shield conductors is given by the following
equation:


The strike distance for the phase conductors to ground is:

S
ph_g
= 71.151 m

The distance for the shield conductors to ground is:

S
shld_g
= 233.436 ft


Similarly, the strike distance to the ground is calculated by:



S
g
(I
L
_min) = 60.68.3 m = 199.092 ft

11. Shielding Effectiveness:
The shielding effectiveness is determined by plotting the strike circles for the phase conductors and the
shield conductors.
Z
surge_corona
60 ln 4
y
c
r
bundl_corona

\
|
|
.
ln 4
y
c
r
bund

\
|
|
.
O :=
I
L_min
2 V
ins

Z
surge_corona
:=
S
c_g
I
L
( )
10
I
L
kA
|

\
|
|
.
0.65
m :=
S
g
I
L
( )
if y
c
40m < 3.6 1.7ln 43
y
c
m

\
|
|
.
+
|

\
|
|
.
I
L
kA
|

\
|
|
.
0.65
, 5.5
I
L
kA
|

\
|
|
.
0.65
,

(
(
(

m :=
11.1. Phase Conductor Strike Circle:
The phase conductor strike circle equation is:

Phase conductor stri ke ci rcl e equati on
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
c

( )
2
y y
c1

( )
2
+ :=


Lower part of the circle is represented by the equation:



Upper part of the circle is represented by the equation:


11.2. Shield Conductor Strike Circle:

The phase conductor strike circle equation is also similar to the phase conductor equation. The lower
part of the shield conductor strike circle is given by:



Upper part of the circle is represented by the equation:



Lower part of the circle is represented by the equation:


y
shield_l
x I
L
,
( )
y
g1
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
g

( )
2
:=



11.3. Ground Strike Circle Equation:

The ground strike circle equation is represented by the following equation:



The circles are plotted for the value of I
L_min
obtained from section 9 previously. These plots would
help obtain the unprotected area of the transmission line conductors. The parameters given as inputs to
obtain the plots are:

Distance along the x axis, in steps of 1 ft. Range [0 to 350].
Strike circles y coordinates in ft, for phase conductors, shield conductors and ground conductors as a
function of distance x. Range [0 to 120].


y
cond_l
x I
L
,
( )
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
c

( )
2
:=
y
cond_u
x I
L
,
( )
y
c
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
c

( )
2
+ :=
y
shield_l
x I
L
,
( )
y
g
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
g

( )
2
:=
y
shield_u
x I
L
,
( )
y
g
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
x x
g

( )
2
+ :=
y
ground
x I
L
,
( )
S
g
I
L
( )
:=

Figure 3: Strike Circles

12. Calculation of Unprotected Area vs. Lightning Current:

From the previously obtained strike circle curves, the y axis coordinates of the point of intersection of
the shield strike circle and the ground strike circle is obtained an incorporated into the circle equation.
This is eventually solved for the roots.
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
y
c1
S
g
I
L
( )

( )
2
x
c
x
int

( )
2
=


S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
y
c
S
g
I
L
( )

( )
2
x
c
x
int

( )
=


The two roots of the equation are positive and negative, are determined by:
x
int_ground_n
I
L
( )
x
c
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
y
c
S
g
I
L
( )

( )
2
:=


x
int_ground_p
I
L
( )
x
c
S
c_g
I
L
( )
2
y
c
S
g
I
L
( )

( )
2
+ :=


The coordinates at minimum current are:

x
int_ground_n
(I
L
) = -53.447 m

x
int_ground_P
(I
L
) = 77.831 m

The initial assumed value for the negative root is x
int_cg
= 30 m. This value is utilized to obtain the true
value of the negative value using the equation solver in MATHCAD.


Negative root:

x
int_cg_n
(I
L_min
) = -54.371 m

Similarly, the positive root is also solved for in the similar method.

x
int_cg_p
(I
L_min
) = 73.808 m

Unprotected area is calculated using the following formula:

X
not_prot_p
I
L
( )
x
int_ground_p
I
L
( )
x
int_cg_p
I
L
( )
:= X
not_prot_p
I
L
( )
=

x
not_prot_p
(I
L
) = 4.023 m

I
L_min
= 20.467 kA

The maximum lightning current when the unprotected area becomes zero is obtained by solving for the
roots of x
not_prot_p
(I
L
).


I
L_max
root X
not_prot_p
I
L
( )
I
L
,
( )
:=


I
L_max
= 29.542 kA

This variation of the lightning current can be plotted as follows:



Figure 4: Variation of lightning current



13. Probability of Line Flashover:

I
base
I
L
( )
if I
L
20kA < 61.1kA , 33.3kA ,
( )
:=


o I
L
( )
if I
L
20kA < 1.33 , 0.605 ,
( )
:=


f I
L
( )
1
2 t o I
L
( )

I
L
kA

e
ln
I
L
I
base
I
L
( )
|

\
|
|
.

2 o I
L
( )
2

:=


F(I
L_min
) = 6.264%

P I
L
( )
1
1
I
L
I
first
|

\
|
|
.
2.6
+
:=

I
first
25kA :=
P(I
L_min
) = 62.719%

Number of lightning strokes hitting the ground per year per 100 km
2


N
g_day
= 8.099


Number of flashovers per 100 km per year is:

X
not_prot_p
(I
L_min
) = 4.023 m

SECTION II : BACK FLASHOVER

14. Flashover Voltage across the gap and insulator:
14.1 Flashover Voltage at 2 s:

= 2 s

Flashover voltage across the gap is given by:

V
gap_2s
0.4
L
ins
m

0.71
d
min
m

t
2s
s
|

\
|
|
.
0.75
+

(
(
(
(
(

M V :=


= 5.88 MV

Flashover voltage across the insulator is given by:

V
ins_2s
0.4
L
ins
m

0.71
L
ins
m

t
2s
s
|

\
|
|
.
0.75
+

(
(
(
(
(

M V :=

= 3.601 MV
14.2 Flashover Voltage at 6 s:

= 6 s

Flashover voltage across the gap is given by:

V
gap_6s
0.4
L
ins
m

0.71
d
min
m

t
6s
s
|

\
|
|
.
0.75
+

(
(
(
(
(

M V :=


= 3.563 MV

Flashover voltage across the insulator is given by:

V
ins_6s
0.4
L
ins
m

0.71
L
ins
m

t
6s
s
|

\
|
|
.
0.75
+

(
(
(
(
(

M V :=


= 2.563 MV


15. Surge Impedance Calculation:
V
top_2
E
max
r
corona
ln
y
c1
r
corona
|

\
|
|
.
:=


Initial value of E
max
is assumed
E
max2
15
kV
cm
:=

The r
corona2
value is found by solving for the roots of the above equation.
r
corona2
= 1.172 m

The self impedance of the phase conductors with corona:

Z
shild_self
60 ln
2.y
g
r
Corona2
|

\
|
|
.
ln
2 y
g

r
shild
|

\
|
|
.
O :=
= 376.52

Average distances:
d
s1_s2
= 2 x
g
= 14.489 m = 47.536 ft

d
s1_S2
x
g
2
2 y
g

( )
2
+ :=
= 79.578 m

Mutual surge impedance:

Z
shild_mutual
60 ln
d
s1_S2
d
S1_S2
|

\
|
|
.
O :=

= 102.201

Surge impedance of shield conductors:
Z
shild
Z
shild_self
Z
shild_mutual
+
2
:=

= 239.361

16. Coupling Factor to each Phase:

Z
phase_self
60 ln
2 y
c

r
bund
|

\
|
|
.
O :=
= 389.717
d
a_1
x
c
x
g

( )
2
y
c
y
g

( )
2
+ :=
= 8.09 m
d
a_2
x
c
x
g
+
( )
2
y
c
y
g

( )
2
+ :=
= 20.463 m
D
a_1
x
c
x
g

( )
2
y
c
y
g
+
( )
2
+ :=
= 73.015 m
D
a_2
x
c
x
g
+
( )
2
y
c
y
g
+
( )
2
+ :=
= 75.396 m
Z
a_1
60ln
D
a_1
d
a_1
|

\
|
|
.
O :=
= 132.022
Z
a_2
60ln
D
a_2
d
a_2
|

\
|
|
.
O :=
= 78.247
K
a_12
Z
a_1
Z
a_2
+
Z
shild_self
Z
shild_mutual
+
:=
= 43.919 %

17. Tower Surge Impedance:

r
tower
= 15 ft h
tower
= 150 ft


Z
tower
60 ln 2 2.
h
tower
r
tower
|

\
|
|
.
1
|

\
|
|
.
O :=
= 131.952


Travel time is computed by:
t
T
h
tower
0.85 300
m
s

:=
= 0.155 s
t
top_crossarm
17.6
ft
0.85 300
m
s
:=
= 0.021 s
t
span
span
300
m
s

:=
= 1.016 s


Tower ground resistance:
R
foot _min
30O :=

R
foot _max
50O :=

R
ground
R
foot_max
23O
R
foot_max
:=
= 23

Intrinsin Circuit Impedance:
Z
top
Z
tower
Z
shild
2

Z
tower
Z
shild
2
+
:=
= 62.759


19. Shield Conductor Damping Factor:

|
r
R
ground
Z
tower

Z
tower
R
ground
+
( )
:=
= -0.703

|
s
Z
shild
2
Z
tower

Z
tower
Z
shild
2
+
|

\
|
|
.
:=
= -0.049

|
st
Z
tower
Z
shild
2

Z
tower
Z
shild
2
+
|

\
|
|
.
:=
= 0.049

|
ts
Z
shild
2
Z
tower

Z
tower
Z
shild
2
+
|

\
|
|
.
:=
= -0.049


o
s
2
Z
shild
2

Z
shild
2
Z
tower
+
:=
= 0.951

20. Current Wave Plot:

T
front
2s :=

T
half
50s :=


a 1
kA
T
front
:=
= 500 A/s
b
1kA 0.5kA
50s
:=
= 10 A/s


The current wave is represented as:
I
Li
t ( ) if t T
front
< a t , a T
front
b t ,
( )
:=



At 50 s, the current is found to be:
I
Li
(50 s) = 500 A

Figure 5: Current Wave

21. Tower Top Voltage:







































t 2s :=
V
top_0
t ( ) I
Li
t ( ) Z
top
:=
V
top_0
t ( ) 61.503 kV =
1 |
r
+ 0.297 =
t
T
0.155 s =
|
r
|
s
|
r
2
|
s
+ 0.01 =
3t
T
0.466 s =
|
r
2
|
s
2
|
r
3
|
s
2
+ 3.491 10
4
= 5t
T
0.777 s =
k 1 3 .. :=
|
r
k 1
|
s
k 1
|
r
k
|
s
k 1
+
0.257
0.025
-3
2.49410
=
1 |
r
+
( )
V
top_0
t 1 t
T

( )
16.039 kV =
V
ground
t k , ( ) if t k t
T
< 0kV , V
top_0
t k t
T

( )
|
r
k 1
|
s
k 1
|
r
k
|
s
k 1
+
|
\
|
.
,

:=
V
ground
t k , ( )
16.039
1.448
0.13
kV
=
V
ground_T
t ( )
k
V
ground
t k , ( )

:=
V
ground_T
(t) = 17.617 kV

The voltage equations obtained are plotted for the required time period.

Figure 6: Voltage Plots









V
top_k
t
2
k ,
( )
V
top_0
t
2
2 k t
T

( )
|
r
k
|
s
k 1
|
r
k
|
s
k
+
|
\
|
.
:=


V
top_k
(t2,k) = -36.913 kV
-2.97
-0.227



at the time of

at the time of


at the time of




|
r
|
r
|
s
+ 0.645 = 2t
T
0.311 s =
4t
T
0.622 s =
|
r
2
|
s
|
r
2
|
s
2
+ 0.064 =
6t
T
0.932 s =
|
r
3
|
s
2
|
r
3
|
s
3
+ 6.269 10
3
=
k 1 3 .. :=
|
r
k
|
s
k 1
|
r
k
|
s
k
+
-0.645
-0.064
-3
-6.26910
=









t
3
0s 0.01s , 10s .. :=


Figure 7: Voltage at top of tower


22. Reflected Voltage in Adjacent Towers:






























V
Top_k
t
2
k ,
( )
if t
2
2 k t
T
< 0kV , V
top_k
t
2
k ,
( )
,
( )
:=
V
Top_k
t
2
k ,
( )
-36.913
-2.97
-0.227
kV
=
V
Top
t ( ) V
top_0
t ( )
k
V
Top_k
t k , ( )

+ :=
V
Top
t ( ) 26.312 kV =
t 6s :=
2 t
span
2.032 s =
V
ref_1
t
( )
if t 2 t
span
< 0kV , V
top_0
t 2 t
span

( )
|
st
|
ts

( )
,

:=
V
ref_1
t
( )
1.145 kV =
V
Ref_6 s
t
( )
V
Top
t
( )
V
ref_1
t
( )
+ :=
V
Ref_6s
6s ( ) 16.867 kV =
t
.
0s 0.1s , 5s .. :=
V
top_0
t
.
( )
kV
V
ref_1
t
.
( )
kV
V
Ref_6s
t
.
( )
kV
t
.
s


Figure 8: Reflected voltage from adjacent towers


23. Cross-arm Voltage:











24. Insulator Voltage at Unit Current:

Insulator voltage at 2 s:

V
insulator_2s
V
crossarm
2s ( ) K
a_12
V
Top
2s ( ) :=

= 13.579 kV

Top Voltage at 6s:

V
ref_6s
= 16.687 kV




t
4
2s :=
V
crossarm
t
4
( )
V
ground_T
t
4
( )
t
T
t
top_crossarm

t
T
V
Top
t
4
( )
V
ground_T
t
4
( )

( )
+ :=
V
Top
t
4
( )
V
ground_T
t
4
( )
8.695 kV =
V
crossarm
t
4
( )
25.135 kV =
Insulator voltage at 6 s:

V
insulator_6s
V
Ref_6s
6s ( )
( )
1 K
a_12

( )
:=
= 9.459 kV

25. Critical Stroke Current:

Flashover causing stroke current at 2 s:
I
st rok_2s
V
gap_2s
V
insulator_2s
kA :=
= 433.064 A

Flashover causing stroke current at 6 s:
I
st rok_6s
V
gap_6s
V
insulator_6s
kA :=
= 376.88 A

60 Hz stroke current component at 2 s:
Effect of 60Hz vol tage
I
st rok_2s_60Hz
I
st rok_2s
V
gap_2s
2 500 kV
3
sin 90 deg ( )
V
gap_2s
|

\
|
|
|
|
.
:=


= 463.129 kA

60 Hz stroke current component at 6 s:
I
strok_6 s_60Hz
I
strok_6 s
V
gap_6s
2 500 kV
3
sin 90 deg ( )
V
gap_6s
|

\
|
|
|
|
.
:=

= 419.838 kA


26. Probability of Line Flashover:

Probability Function:
I
first.
32kA :=
P I
L
( )
1
1
I
L
I
first
|

\
|
|
.
2.6
+
:=


Probability of flashover after 2 s:
P(I
strok_2s_60Hz
) = 0.051 %


Probability of flashover after 6 s:
P(I
strok_6s_60Hz
) = 0.065 %
27. Number of Lightning Strokes:

Average tower height y
g1
= 35.284 m = 115.76 ft

Estimated tower width b = 12.192 m = 40 ft

Length = 100 km

Widt h
b
m
y
g1
m
|

\
|
|
.
1.09
+ :=
= 60.186

N
line_d
N
g_day
Width :=
= 492.554


28. Number of Flashoers:

Number of flashovers caused by shielding failure:

N
shield
= 4

N
line
= N
line_d
- N
shield
= 488.554


29. Number of Back Flashovers per 100 km per year:

N
back_2 s
N
line
P I
strok_2 s_60Hz
( )
:=
= 0.247

N
back_6 s
N
line
P I
strok_6 s_60Hz
( )
:=
= 0.319

Total number of flashovers per year per 100 km:

N
total_line
N
shild
N
back_2 s
+ N
back_6 s
+ :=
= 4.566


30. Conclusion:

The lightning protection of the proposed transmission line was designed in this module. The shielding
performance was analyzed and is found to be a robust design. The shield conductors provide
substantial protection to the transmission lines. The back flashover rate was also calculated and is
found to be well within the limits. The expected outage rate is also computed and turns out to an
acceptable value.