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MODULE 10
Earthing and Lightning/Surge
Protection
Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4
Lighting Protection Of Structures Lighting Protection Of Structures Lighting Protection Of Structures Lighting Protection Of Structures
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Key Learning Objectives
Basics of Lightning protection
Protection system design approach
Evaluation of protection zone
Main components of protection system
Relation between type of construction and protection
Side flash-Prevention by lsolation or Bonding
Non Conventional protection systems
Protection of electrical installations
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Protection Basics
Attract a downward leader away from
vulnerable parts
Conduct discharge current safely into the
ground
Provide multiple paths for lower impedance
Ensure good grounding
Ensure bonding to avoid differential potential
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Entry And Exit Points
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Protection Levels-lEC 61024-1
Protection efficiency is the product of
lnterception efficiency (how well lightning can be
attracted by the lightning protection system) and
Sizing efficiency (Adequacy of lightning conductors
to carry the lightning discharge current)
Protection level l represents the highest
efficiency and level lV the lowest
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PROTECTlON LEVELS Vs
EFFlENCY
Level l 98%
Level ll 95%
Level lll 90%
Level lV 80%
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Peak Current Distribution
Source BS:6651
1% of strokes exceed 200 kA
10% of strokes exceed 80 kA
50% of strokes exceed 28 kA
90% of strokes exceed 8 kA
99% of strokes exceed 3 kA
Useful in assessing protection effectiveness
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Quiz
A structure is provided with protection Level
lll. lt is not likely to attract a lightning stroke
with peak current
a) 100 kA
b) 60 kA
c) 10 kA
d) 3 kA
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Protection Design
Risk assessment to verify need for protection
Evaluate the zone of protection
Decide placement of air terminations accordingly
Select/place down conductors or alternatively use of
conducting vertical structures
Provide earth electrodes
Review services to/from building
Provide bonding to avoid differential potential
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Zone Of Protection
The portion of space within which an object or
structure is considered to be protected by a
lightning protection system
Helps in deciding which parts of a building are
protected by other parts
Unprotected parts will need air terminations
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Evaluation Methods
Cone of protection (Geometric protection)
lmproved cone of protection
RSM (Electro Geometric Approach)
Collection volume (lmproved Electro
Geometric approach)
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Protection Methods
Franklin Rod
Mesh/Faraday Cage
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Franklin Rod uses
Cone of Protection
principle
Cone Of Protection
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Drawbacks
Lacks scientific basis
Unreliable
Cannot be easily applied to large buildings
Efficacy for tall structures doubtful
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lmproved Cone Of Protection
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Mesh Type Protection
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Mesh Type Protection
Principle:
A building enclosed within a conducting cage
is not affected.
Lightning discharge goes around the building.
Examples:
Aircraft, Automobiles, Metal buildings
Also Called Faraday Cage protection
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A Practical Mesh
Air terminations on the top
Downconductors to conduct discharge
currents to ground
Ground electrodes connected to each
downconductor
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A Practical Mesh
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Protection
Level
Mesh Spacing
I 5m x 5m
II 10m x 10m
III 15m x 15m
IV 20m x 20m
Mesh Spacing For Flat Surface
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Rolling Sphere Method (RSM)
Used in combination with Mesh type protection
Basis of all current Standards of Lightning Protection
of Buildings
Uses the principle of rolling an imaginary sphere over
a building to ascertain the need for protection
Surfaces which the sphere can touch need to be
protected.
Smaller the radius of the sphere, more effective is the
protection
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RSM Example
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Sphere Radii And Protection Levels
Protection Level Radius of Sphere
m
Interception
current kA peak
I 20 2.9
II 30 5.4
III 45 10.1
IV 60 15.7
Note: Protection Level III is called the Standard level
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RSM-lnadequacies
Effects of field intensification created by the
structure not considered
Results in conservative design
At the same time some parts remain
vulnerable
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Vulnerable Features
Pointed apex roofs, spires and protrusions
Gable roof ridge ends
Outer roof corners
Exposed edges of horizontal roofs, and the
slanting and horizontal edge of gable roofs
Lower horizontal edges and vertical edges on
outer-sides just below corners
Flat surfaces near points and corners
lntruding surfaces
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RSM-lmprovements
Paper by Hartono and Robiah
Studies conducted in Singapore and Malaysia
RSM does not consider the issue of relative
risk of different points in a building.
The paper documents actual strikes on
unprotected features.
Top corners, Horizontal edges and Vertical
Edges are the most vulnerable (in that order)
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Flat Roof Protection
Method adopted in AS:1768 (Australian Lightning
Protection standard)
Recommends use of larger sphere radius (Next slide)
Use of vertical air terminations in addition to
horizontal conductors
Permits increased spacing of horizontal conductors
Alternatively, horizontal conductors placed at an
elevation
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Protection Of Large Flat Surfaces
Protection Level Radius of Sphere m (Dual
values)
I 20 (60)
II 30 (60)
III 45 (90)
IV 60 (120)
Note:
Larger radius values are applicable for large
flat surfaces
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Large Flat Side-protection
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Protection System Components
Air Terminals
Down conductors
Grounding system
Note:
Actual design of these components will be as per
applicable local codes
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Air Terminals
Combination of horizontal and vertical
conductors
Examples:
Spire: single vertical rod
Sloped roof: single horizontal termination on the
ridge
Large flat roof: Combination of horizontal and
vertical conductors
Explosive store: lndependently supported
horizontally strung wires
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Minimum Sizes-air Terminals
Strip conductors 25mm x 3mm
Rods 10mm dia.
Stranded conductors 35 sq.mm
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Methods of connecting Air termination with down conductors
Air Terminals
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Down Conductors
A means of carrying the lightning discharge current
to ground.
Air terminations also protect the vertical side
surfaces.
To be provided along the periphery at interval 30m or
less.
Re-bars of RCC Columns and Structural columns
may act as downconductors
Avoid re-entrant loops.
Down conductors at all building corners.
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Downconductors-minimum Sizes
Strip conductors 25mm x 3mm
Rods 10mm dia.
Stranded conductors 35 Sq.mm
Galvanised materials 35 Sq.mm
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Earthing
Low impedance electrode for limiting the touch
and step potential
Difficulty in measuring impedance, specially at
high frequency.
Electrodes of 10 Ohm resistance are
considered adequate, as a rule of thumb.
lnterconnection with other electrodes will
further reduce the impedance.
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LPS Materials -Requirements
Conductivity
Mechanical Strength
Durability
Corrosion resistance
Should not result in corrosion of other building
services
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LPS Materials
Preferred: Copper, Galvanised Steel and Aluminium
Caution: Copper may cause corrosion of steel materials
when used as ground electrodes. To consider cathodic
protection.
Conducting coatings on LPS components-Non
inflammable and durable.
Air Terminations for chimneys to be coated with tin or
lead for corrosion avoidance.
Materials in the form of strips preferred to circular
sections due to skin effect.
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Structure Plays A Role-1
Completely metallic building does not need air
terminations or down conductors
Grounding of structural support columns is
adequate.
Bonding between roof members and vertical
supports must be ensured
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Structure Plays A Role-2
Building with Non conducting roof and steel
columns needs air terminations but no down
conductors.
Air terminations to be bonded to support
columns.
Support columns to be connected to ground
electrodes.
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Structure Plays A Role-3
An RCC frame building needs air terminations,
down conductors and ground electrodes.
Rebars can serve as down conductors by
proper bonding.
Column RCC footings can be used as ground
electrodes if resistance values are adequate.
(To be measured for typical cases during
construction)
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Side Flash
Occurs due to High Potential rise between
LPS components and adjacent metallic
surfaces.
The resulting potential gradient may cause
break down of the air gap and cause a flash
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Side Flash
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Side Flash-inhibition
By lsolation
By Bonding
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Side Flash-isolation
By maintaining appropriate air clearances
Caution: can be compromised by later
modifications/additional services
By applying proper external insulation on LPS
conductors
Caution: High impulse insulation required for preventing
breakdown may be difficult to achieve
Caution: Other service piping may also assume high
transferred potentials
Useful only for very small structures
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Side Flash-bonding
Connecting of all metal surfaces with lightning
protection conductors (at different levels, including
below ground)
Bonding to include:
All structural Steel members
All exposed metal parts on the building exterior
(Ex: Window frames)
All metallic piping (with due care to Cathodic protection)
All cable sheathing, Armoring etc. of power,
communication and Data cables
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Non Conventional Systems
Designs based mainly on laboratory
experiments.
Aimed at cost effective design by reduction of
number of terminations.
Two basic types:
Early Streamer Emission
Charge Transfer System
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Early Streamer Emission
Deploys some form of active vertical
termination.
lntense electrical field created when a
downward leader is sensed.
A very fast upward streamer propagated
1m/Micro Sec.
Active Terminations may use for this purpose:
Radio active sources
Passive electronics
Powered by external source
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Charge Transfer System
Also called dissipation Array
OR
Lightning Elimination system
Deploys an elevated array of sharp points.
Emits Corona currents when a charged cloud
is overhead to neutralize cloud charge.
Prevents downward leaders.
Suppresses a lightning strike
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Non Conventional Systems
Drawbacks/Problems
No scientific proof
Work in Laboratory but failures have been
reported in actual use
Conflicting claims
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Effect Of Lightning On Electrical
lnstallations
Direct strikes on overhead lines and outdoor
substations
Surges in lines causing failures of insulators
Overvoltage at terminal equipment
lndirect strike (near overhead lines)
Overvoltage at terminal equipment
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Effects On Overhead Lines
A direct strike on a conductor of a power line causes
extremely high voltage pulses at the strike point,
The pulses form traveling waves in either direction
from the point of strike.
The crest of the pulse can be calculated as:
V = 0.5 x l x Z
&
where
V is the crest voltage
l is the peak lightning current (dividing into two parts) and
Z
&
is the surge impedance (or Characteristic impedance)
seen by the pulse along the direction of travel
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Effects On Overhead Lines
lmpedance Z is approximately 150 Ohms.
For a peak current of 40 kA the voltage of the
pulse will be 3000 kV, far higher than what any
line can withstand.
Conclusion
A direct strike will cause a flash-over except in
lines of very high BlL (400 kV systems or
higher)
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Lightning Current Along A Line
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Lightning Strike On Shield Wire
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Lightning Protection Of Lines
The surge current will flow into the ground through
the first tower on either side
ln the process a voltage is generated due to the
impedance of the grounding path (previous slide)
The voltage can cause a breakdown of the air space
between line conductors and shield wire
Shield wire is not useful for lines of less than 90 kV
where the clearance is insufficient to prevent
breakdown
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Substation Protection
lndoor substations are immune from direct
strikes
Outdoor substations need to be protected by
Lightning masts which can be:
Free standing
lntegrated with other structures
Shield wires strung over the equipment
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Protection Analysis
Cone of protection method
Rolling sphere method (Recommended for
large substations)
Examples shown in next slides
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Substation Yard With Multiple Masts
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OUTDOOR SWlTCHYARD
PROTECTlON
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RSM-Protection By Mast
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RSM Applied To Outdoor Switchyard
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Lightning Arrestors ln Substations
Direct lightning strike on a line causes a breakdown
but there will be a residual surge
lndirect strike (on shield wire or any point on the
ground near the line) will cause a current pulse in
phase conductors and result in a voltage surge
This energy needs to be diverted away from terminal
equipment such as circuit breakers, transformers,
measuring devices etc.
This is done by lightning arrestors
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End of Session
Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4 Topic 10.4
Lighting Protection Of Structures
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