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CN Tower Modeling Using EMTP and Taking into Account Frequency

Dependent Grounding

Conference Paper · April 2017

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 CN Tower Modeling Using EMTP and Taking
into Account Frequency Dependent Grounding
* Gevork B. Gharehpetian
Mehrdad Mokhtari
Postdoctoral Researcher Professor
Electrical Engineering Department Electrical Engineering Department
Amirkabir University of Technology Amirkabir University of University
Tehran, Iran, 1591634311 Tehran, Iran, 1591634311
Email: mokhtari1358@aut.ac.ir Email: grptian@aut.ac.ir

Abstract— This paper proposes an investigative research on

the Canadian National Tower (CN Tower) grounding system
voltage response and current parameters passing through it.
The CN Tower grounding system is modelled considering (i)
a DC resistance, (ii) a frequency dependent models. The CN
Tower and the incident lightning strike were modeled using
Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP). The Current
Distribution, Electromagnetic Fields, Grounding, and S oil
S tructure Analysis software (CDEGS ) was utilized to model
the grounding system of the CN Tower. The research signifies
that the accurate results are obtained using a frequency
dependent model of the grounding system. It is envisaged that
the research can be very expedient in the grounding voltage
response analysis of the tall structures.

Keywords- frequency dependent grounding system; CN

Tower; electromagnetic; voltage response

I. INT RODUCT ION

Current waveforms measured on tall objects may be
affected by transient process in the object that involves
wave reflect ions fro m object extremit ies and fro m
impedance discontinuities within the object [1]. It is shown
that the reflection at the tower base and the attenuation rate
of the upward-propagating pulses are both dependent on
the tower base radius-to-height ratio [2]. In addition, it is
declared that the current reflect ions from the tower base sat
on a cone-shaped ground (roughly representing a
mountain) depend on the cone angle and height, as well as
the tower height [3]. However, to the best of the author’s
knowledge, the effect of grounding system on the current
reflection and its effect on the voltage response of the
grounding system was not investigated in the literature. In
those studies, simplified models were used for the
simu lation of both tall structures and grounding systems.
We present a model that takes into account both the
nonuniform structure of the tower and the frequ ency
dependent grounding system, which is the contribution of
this study.
Figure 1. CN T ower struck by lightning.
The voltage response and current parameters passing
through the tower is investigated. The grounding system is
modelled considering a DC resistance and a frequency
dependent model. The Canadian National Tower (CN
tower) is modelled using Electromagnetic Transient
Program (EMTP). The grounding system of the tower is
also modelled using Current Distribution, Electro magnetic
Fields, Grounding, and Soil Structure Analysis software
(CDEGS).
II. M ODELING OF T HE CN TOWER UNDER LIGHT NING
CONDIT IONS
First, the CN tower is modeled in EMTP. The model is
then validated by comparing the current derivatives
obtained from the model and the measurement. Next , the

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19, 20 April, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

grounding system of the tower is modeled in CDEGS. Then

a CIGRE current is injected to the tower, including the
grounding system with DC and frequency dependent Figure 2. CN tower modeled with three sections of CPL.
models. The current, current derivative, and voltage
response of the CN Tower at grounding system is then
obtained. Finally, the results obtained using DC and
frequency dependent models of the grounding system are
compared.

A. Computational Model of the CN Tower

The CN tower is a 553.33 m-high concrete
communications and observation tower in downtown
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Figure 1 shows a front view of Figure 3. Simplified strike lightning current model discharged in an object
the CN tower, including the grounding system and without considering channel-front reflections.
locations of instruments. The Constant Parameter Line
(CPL) in EMTP is used to model the CN tower. The CPL is
classified as a frequency independent transmission line
model. The CN tower is modeled with three sections of
CPL represented by S1 , S2 , and S3 as seen in Fig. 2 [4]. S 1 ,
S 2 , and S 3 represent the lengths of the CN tower fro m the
top of the Skypod to the tower’s tip (188 m), between the
top and bottom of the Skypod (30 m), and between the Figure 4. CN T ower grounding system configuration.
bottom of the Skypod and ground (335 m), respectively.
The characteristic impedances of the sections S 1 , S 2 , and S3
are represented by Zc1 , Zc2 , and Zc3 , respectively.

B. Lightning Current Model

CIGRE current time functions are used to model
lightning current in EMTP. The characteristics of the
CIGRE current can be found in [5]. The presence of any
upward-connecting leader is neglected in the model. The
channel that extends fro m the tower’s tip to the return
stroke channel front is modeled as a transmission line
(TL). TL model is used to describe the spatial and
temporal distribution of the lightning return stroke current
along the channel as shown in Fig. 3. In this figure, Zch and
Lch represent the characteristic impedance and the length of
the channel and ZL represents the equivalent impedance of
the leader channel at the return stroke wave front. The
injected current to the tower Iinj is a part of incident current
injected at the attachment point. Iinj propagates in object
with characteristic impedance Zobj , which in this study is
the CN Tower.
C. CN Tower Grounding System
The lightning current impulse on the CN Tower is
conducted down fro m the tip of the tower to the ground
through a series of long copper strips. The grounding
system of the CN To wer includes 42-grounding rods buried
in soil. Each copper rod has a length of 6 m with a diameter
of 56 cm [7]. The grounding system is assumed to have a
round configuration underneath of the tower as shown in
Fig. 4. The grounding system was designed in CDEGS to
determine the circuit elements of the lu mped grounding
model. It should be noted that a full-wave electro magnetic
method is used in CDEGS to determine the grounding
system impedance. A detailed information about the
methodology used in CDEGS software can be found in [8].
Equivalent grounding system impedance is obtained as a
ratio of the sinusoidal current with a specified frequency
injected into the grounding system and the voltage response
Figure 5. Current injection point into the grounding system to determine
the equivalent impedance of the CN T ower grounding system.
of the grounding system at injection point of the current
(Z=V/I) as shown in Fig. 5.It should be noted that the
connections between the injection point and the rods are
insulated. These connections were used to distribute an
injected current homogeneously into the rods.
In this study, the grounding system resistance R and
impedance Z are obtained when the frequency of the
applied current is zero and 1 MHz, respectively.
Grounding system resistance R and impedance Z values
versus soil resistivity are shown in Fig. 6. As seen in this
figure, by increasing the soil resistivity both resistance R
and impedance Z values increase. While the variation of
the grounding resistance versus soil resistivity is linear, the
variation of the grounding impedance versus soil resistivity
shows a nonlinear relation. Th is is because of the
capacitive effect of the grounding system. Ho wever, the
grounding impedance Z has a constant value of 45.2 Ω for
ρ ≥ 4500 Ω.m. This is because the grounding impedance Z
is mainly dependent to the capacitive reactance of the
grounding system, which is parallel with the grounding
system resistance at a specified frequency.
The equivalent resistance of the grounding system is
dependent on the soil resistivity and it can be determined in
any soil resistivity based on Fig. 6. The equivalent lumped
inductance L and capacitance C values of the grounding
system of the CN To wer are determined respectively as
0.58 µH, and 3.88 nF. In should be noted that L and C
values are constant values and they are only dependent on

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 The 5th Iranian Conference on Engineering Electromagnetics (ICEEM 2017)

the configuration of the grounding system. The equivalent

frequency dependent lumped circuit model [9] as shown in
Fig. 7 is used to represent the grounding system of the CN
Tower in EMTP.

III. VALIDAT ION OF T HE M ODEL

The CN Tower model with grounding system struck by
lightning current was designed in EMTP. Figure 8 shows
the CN Tower model. The R, L, and C values of the
tower’s grounding system were set in 3.02 Ω
(ρ = 400 Ω.m), 3.88 n F, and 0.58 µH, respectively. The
incident current had 16.43 kA amplitude and 81 kA/µs
maximu m slope. The injected current had 11 kA amplitude
and 54 kA/µs. The characteristic impedance of the channel Figure 6. Equivalent resistance and impedance of the CN Tower grounding
Zch and the length of the channel and the equivalent system obtained at f = 0 and f = 1 MHz, respectively.
impedance of the leader channel at the return stroke wave
front ZL, respectively, are set to 217.6 Ω , 8 km, and
366.4 Ω [6]. The characteristic impedances of the CN
Tower and corresponding propagation speeds were set
such that the current derivat ives obtained fro m the model
and measurement data fro m [4] to be in excellent
agreement. Hence, Zc1 , Zc2 , and Zc3 were set to 106 Ω, 45
Ω, and 75 Ω, respectively, and ν1 , ν2 , and ν3 were set to
2.52×108 m/s, 1.10×108 m/s, and 0.92×108 m/s,
respectively.
Figure 7. Frequency dependent model of grounding system.
The simulated current derivative obtained fro m the
EMTP model and measurement data fro m [4] are shown in
Fig. 9. Co mparison between the current derivatives
obtained fro m the simu lation and measurement verifies the
accuracy of the CN Tower model in EMTP.

IV. A NALYSES OF T HE RESPONSE OF T HE GROUNDING

SYST EM Figure 8. EMT P model of CN T ower struck by lightning.
In this section, the grounding system voltage of the CN
Tower modelled in EMTP is analy zed. The grounding
system was modeled either with a DC resistance
(R=3.02 Ω), or with a frequency dependent model (RLC).
The CIGRE current functions were used to generate the
first and subsequent return strokes; Because the parameters
of the current as amplitude, maximu m steepness, and front
time can independently be set. Hence, the injected current
can be determined accurately for the lightning current
parameters proposed in [10, 11]. The considered first
negative lightning return stroke current had 30-kA
amp litude and 12 kA/µs maximu m steepness. Furthermore,
the subsequent negative lightning return stroke current had
12-kA amp litude and 40 kA/µs maximu m steepness. The Figure 9. Measured (gray line) [4] and simulated (dash line) current
first and subsequent negative currents with the above derivatives.
parameters have a 50% of exceeding the considered values
[11]. Because of the differences between characteristic
impedances along the tower, the cu rrent waveform and
The first and subsequent negative lightning return currents derivatives were affected. The first and
stroke current waveforms and their corresponding subsequent negative lightning current waveforms passing
derivatives, current waveforms and their corresponding through the grounding system modeled with DC resistance
derivatives passing through the grounding system with DC and with the frequency dependent model were shown in
resistance and frequency dependent model, and the Figs. 10(b) and 11(b).
grounding system voltage responses are shown in Figs. 10
and 11. The first and subsequent negative lightning As seen in Figs. 10(b) and 11(b), have same
currents were injected into the CN Tower considering the amp litudes. However, the current passing through the
frequency dependence of the grounding system and the frequency dependent grounding system has a lagging time
corresponding derivatives were shown in Figs. 10(a) and compared to that one passing through the grounding
11(a). system with DC resistance.

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19, 20 April, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
(a) First negative lightning current waveform and its derivative injected
into the CN T ower
(b) Current passing through the grounding system
(c) Current derivative of injected current passing through grounding
system
(d) Voltage response of the grounding system
Figure 10. Current, current derivative, and voltage response of the
CN Tower grounding system modelled with DC resistance and frequency
dependent circuit (RLC) under CIGRE first negative return stroke
current.
This is because of the difference between the
grounding system input impedances with frequency
dependent model and DC resistance. It should be noted
that the grounding system input impedance with frequency
dependent model Zc-gf is larger than the DC resistance Zc-gR .
Whereas, the reflect ion coefficient β has a reverse
relation with input impedance, then β-gR is higher than βgf .
The effect of the input characteristic impedance on current
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(a) Subsequent negative lightning current waveform and its derivative
injected into the CN T ower
(b) Current passing through the grounding system
(c) Current derivative of injected current passing through grounding
system
(d) Voltage response of the grounding system
Figure 11. Current, current derivative, and voltage response of the
CN T ower grounding system modelled with DC resistance and frequency
dependent circuit (RLC) under CIGRE subsequent negative return stroke
current.
derivative at g round level is significant as shown in Figs.
10(c) and 11(c). The grounding system voltage responses
are shown in Figs. 10(d) and 11(d). As shown in these
figures, the voltage responses of the grounding system
with frequency dependent model and with DC resistance
have errors in peak values. The peak voltage of the
grounding system with frequency dependent model is
higher than that value obtained from the grounding system
with DC resistance; Because the peak values of the
 The 5th Iranian Conference on Engineering Electromagnetics (ICEEM 2017)
voltages obtained from the grounding system with
frequency dependent model mainly have an inductive
component.
V. CONCLUSION
In this research, the CN Tower grounding system
equivalent electrical co mponent values, namely, the
grounding system resistance, capacitance, and inductance
were obtained using electromagnetic software (CDEGS).
The grounding system of the CN Tower was modeled
(i) using its DC resistance, and (ii) taking into account its
frequency dependence. The model simu lation results
obtained using EMTP were validated using available
experimental data in the literature. The following
conclusions are pro minent to be stated based on the
simu lation of the CN To wer with DC resistance and
frequency dependent grounding system models.
1. A frequency dependent lu mped grounding system
accurately represented the complex grounding system
in transient conditions.
2. The application o f a DC resistance grounding system
in transient studies of the CN To wer was valid only
for determining the current wavefo rms. To determine
the accurate current derivatives at ground level, the
frequency dependence of the grounding system should
be considered.
3. The simulation results show that an accurate
determination of the voltage response of the
grounding system requires to take into account the
frequency dependence of the grounding system.
A CKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported in part by the Amirkabir
University of Technology and Iran's National Elites
Foundation. Thanks are also due to Vladimir A. Rakov and
Farhad Rachidi for their comments and suggestions.
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