A

PRESENTATION

ON

DIRECT STROKE LIGHTNING PROTECTION

(DSLP)
FOR
SUBSTATIONS

S.LOKANATHAM
Sr.Engr,NESCL.
 PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Lightning Stroke Fundamentals

Effect of lightning

Design Methods

Conclusions
 LIGHTNING STROKE FUNDAMENTALS

Stroke Development:
(Two-Step Process)

Ionization (Corona breakdown) of the air surrounding

the charge center and the development of Stepped
Leaders.

Development of a lightning stroke called Return

Stroke.The total discharge of current from a
thunder cloud is called a Lightning Flash
 TYPES OF LIGHTNING STROKES:

Strokes within clouds

Strokes between adjacent clouds

Strokes to tall structures

Strokes terminating on the ground

 Effects of Lightning
A typical lightning can discharge thousands of kilo volts and tens of
kilo amps in a fraction of a second. This enormous energy heats the
air through which it passes to a temperature of 50,000 degrees (five
times as hot as the surface of the sun!). Naturally, this kind of power
does nasty things to whatever it hits.
 Effects of lightning on substations

Possible insulation flashover

Damage to major substation equipment
Substation outage
Cost
The voltage developed in a transmission line conductor for a 10kA stroke
e = IZ/2
Where z is surge impedance of the conductor
A typical surge impedance of 400ohms
e = 2000kV
So, a travelling wave current of 5kA generates 2000kV on the transmissin
line.
Consider a lightning conductor grounded through 5ohm resistance,
Then the voltage is limited to
e = 10kA X 5 ohms =50kV
Lightning Protection for the substations

By two different types of lightning conductors:

Lightning Masts
Ground Wires
 Design Methods

EMPERICAL MODELS:
Fixed angle method
Empirical curves method

ELECTROGEOMETRIC MODELS (EGM):

Rolling sphere method
White heads EGM
Revised EGM
Optimum value for the angle alpha is 45 degree and beta is 30 & 45degrees
 ROLLING SPHERE METHOD

Experimental Determination of the Protective Zone

Leader
Canal

Vd1

H
Vd2

Vd1, Vd2 Break down Voltages.

H Height of Orientation of lightning
 Experimental Determination of the Protective Zone
(Contd.)
Impulse Spark Discharge Model:

I 2
V
G

Experiment conducted by A.A.Akopyan

1 -- Electrode initiating the end of leader canal at the height of orientation
2 -- Model of the lightning conductor
Experimental Determination of the Protective Zone
(Contd.)
B1
R1

B = 2*h
R = 3.5*h

H
H

h
h
hx rx
b = 1.2*h
r = 1.6*h

Protective zone for Mast Protective zone for ground wire

Where
r, b Radius of protective zone at ground level
R,B Radius of zone of 100% strokes to the lightning conductor
 Experimental Determination of the Protective Zone
(Contd.)
Protective zone for the lightning Mast:

Protective radius(rx) = 1.6 (h-hx)

1+hx/h

Where h
h - height of the lightning conductor
r
rx Radius of protective zone at hx
hx height of the object to be protected
h-hx - Active height of the conductor
 Protective zone for the lightning Mast
(Cond.)
Radius of protection at hx<2h/3 a

rx = 0.8h-hx 0.2h
c
1.5h 0.8h
b
h
rx = 1.5h(1-hx/0.8h)
2h/3

rx
bx
Radius of protection at hx>2h/3 a
c
rx = h-hx
0.75h
0.75h h
1.5h

rx = 0.75h(1-hx/h)

rx
 Protective zone between two lightning Masts

The radius of 100% strokes to the lightning mast is R

R=3.5h
If two masts are situated at a distance of a = 7h,
h
the point of ground surface which lies between the
two masts will not be struck by lightning. h0

If its necessary to protect a point situated midway

between the two masts at a height ho, the distance a
between masts must be a<=7(h-ho)
If height of lightning masts and the distance
between the masts are known, height of a point rx
rox
which lies midway between the lightning masts is
ho = h a/7
 Protective Zone of Ground Wires

0.2h
Radius of protection at hx<2h/3 c
bx = 0.8h-hx
b
1.2h 0.8h h

bx = 1.2h(1-hx/0.8h) 2h/3
bx
bx
Radius of protection at hx>2h/3 a
bx = h-hx 0.6h
0.75h h 1.2h

bx = 0.6h(1-hx/h)

2bx
 Protective Zone of two Ground Wires

The radius of 100% strokes to the ground wire

is R

B=2h
If two masts are situated at a distance of s =
h
4h, the point of ground surface which lies
h0
between the two ground wires will not be struck
by lightning.
s
If its necessary to protect a point situated
midway between the two ground wires at a
height ho, the distance between ground wires
must be s<=4(h-ho)

If height of lightning masts and the distance

between the masts are known, height of a point
which lies midway between the lightning masts
is
ho = h s/4
 CONCLUSIONS

Any design of direct lightning stroke protection depends on the

probabilistic nature of lightning phenomena
There is no method available to provide 100% protection against
direct lightning stroke
Proper earthing is also an integral part of the total solution
Surge arresters are added in strategic locations in the substations to
provide coordinated protection for all major equipments
 Main Reference

IEEE std 998 1996 : guide for direct lightning stroke

shielding for substations
DESIGN OF DSLP PROTECTION FOR A
SUBSTATION
Is safe