DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

Part II: Over-voltages and Insulation

Coordination in Power Systems
Chapter 4: Traveling waves
Chapter 5: Lightning over-voltage protection
Chapter 6: Switching over-voltage protection
Chapter 7: Insulation coordination in power systems
Instructor: Dr. Jian Li

Lecture 10-0

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

Chapter 5: Lightning over-voltage protection

z

Main contents
Electrical parameters of lightning
Lightning protection devices
Lightning protection of power transmission lines
Lightning protection of power plants and substations
Lightning protection of transformers
Lightning protection of generators

Lecture 10-1

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

z

Lightning phenomenon

Inter-cloud lightning
Cloud-to-ground stroke

Lecture 10-2

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

1. Basic characteristics of lightning

Lightning discharges are sparks in extra long air gaps.

An average bolt of negative lightning carries an electric current
of 30 kA, and transfers a charge of five coulombs and 500 MJ.
Large bolts of lightning can carry up to 120 kA and 350
coulombs.
The voltage is proportional to the length of the bolt.
Lightning rapidly heats the air in its immediate vicinity to
around 20,000 C.

Lecture 10-3

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

2. Formation of lightning discharges

Because of the temperature difference, humid air is lifted to higher

altitudes and raindrops are formed.
Raindrops with size of a few millimeters are polarized by the electrical
field between the lower part of ionosphere and the earth surface.
The majority of thunderclouds is negatively charged.

Lecture 10-4

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

2. Formation of lightning discharges

Negative ions are accumulated in thunder clouds.

The strong field initiates discharges inside clouds.
Negative stream of electrons emerges as a dim spark called a
stepped leader that jumps in steps of approximately 30 meters and
reaches the earth in about 10 millimeters.
The stepped leader reaches close to the earths surface, reaching an
upward positive leader, and forms the main channel.

Lecture 10-5

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

3. Terms and definitions
z

Annual number of thunderstorm days Td

z
z

The annual number of days where thunder can be heard.

Annual number of thunderstorm hours Th

Keraunic level

To describe the lightning and thunder activity in a given area, defined as the
annual number of thunderstorm days.
Keraunic level
Td

Medium
>15 and 40

High
>40 and 90

Very high
>90

Ground flash density

Low
15

The average number of lightning strokes to ground per unit area (1 km2)
per unit time (1 thunderstorm day) at a particular location.

Flash collection rate of transmission lines N

Annual number of lightning strokes to a transmission line per 100 km.

10h
N =
100 Td
1000
Lecture 10-6

(flashes / 100km/yr)

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

z

Wave impedance Z0 of lightning channels

Recommended by national standards: Z0= 300 ohms
Polarity of lightning flashes
75 - 90% of lightning flashes are negative.
Magnitude of stroke current I
Stroke current is defined as the current flowing through an object
with grounding resistance smaller than 30 ohms, when lighting
strikes the object.

I 2I 0

where I0 is the magnitude of incident stroke current.

The probability of stroke current, p, is calculated as:

lg p =

I
88

Lecture 10-7

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

z

Front duration, front increasing rate, and width of stroke current

Front duration: 1-4 s; average value 2.6 s.
Width: 20-100 s; most values 40 s.
Front increasing rate: I/2.6 kA/s
Wave shapes of stroke currents
Double exponential wave:

i I 0 (e t e t )

Oblique Wave :

Oblique-front and flat-top Wave :

i at
at
i
aT1

t T1
t > T1
Lecture 10-8

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.1 Electrical parameters of lightning

z

Equivalent circuit for calculating stroke current

iZ = v L

a) Leader

b) main discharge c) calculation model

u0 = i0 Z 0

i z = 2i 0
Lecture 10-9

Z0
Z0 + Z

Z0
Z0 + Z j

d) equivalent circuit

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2 Lightning protection devices

z

Lightning protection
approaches

Lightning rods
Ground wires
Protection gaps
Arresters
Reactors
Capacitor banks
Arc suppression coils
Auto reclose

Lecture 10-10

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.1 Lightning rods and earth wires

z

Single rod

h 0.5 h
( h hx ) p
rx =
(1.5h 2hx ) p otherwise
h30 m: p1;
30 m <h 120 m: p = 5.5 h
h height of rod; hx protection height; rx protection radius;
p correcting coefficient of height.
Lecture 10-11

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.1 Lightning rods and ground wires

z

Single ground wire

0.47( h hx ) p h 0.5h
rx =
( h 1.53hx ) p otherwise

Lecture 10-12

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.1 Lightning rods and ground wires

z

ground wires

Lecture 10-13

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
1. Main parameters of arresters
Residual voltage Ur

Power frequency follow current

The current from the connected power source that flows

through an arrester during and following the passage of
discharge current.

Current capability

The voltage that appears between the terminals of an arrester

during the passage of the discharge current.

The ability of an arrester to withstand current flowing through

itself.

Rated voltage

Lecture 10-14

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
2. Basic requirements for arresters
z

Proper voltage-time characteristics of discharge voltages and

protection margins.
Well reinsulated property to shut off power frequency follow current.

Lecture 10-15

SCI protective level (PL):

the rise time of discharge
voltage equal to 1 s.
LIPL: the rise time of
discharge voltage is 8-10 s.
SIPL: the rise time of
discharge voltage is 45-60 s.
The insulation curve should
be more than 115% of the
arrester discharge voltage
curve at a minimum.

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
2. Basic requirements for arresters

Lecture 10-16

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
3. Spark gaps and tube type arresters
Demerits:
z
Voltage-time characteristics are
steep and scattered.
z
Chopped voltages are generated
after discharges, which is harmful
to power equipment with windings.

Lecture 10-17

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
4. Valve type arresters

1- series-connected spark gaps;

2- valve plates; 3- copper electrode;
4- mica gasket; 5 single spark gap;
6- copper cover; 7- by-pass resistors
8- porcelain sleeve
Lecture 10-18

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
z

Merits of multiple spark gaps

Small arcs in multiple gaps are more easily to be extinct than a arc in
one gap with equal length as the total length of multi-gaps, because
the cooling effect in multi-gaps can generate stronger deionization by
recombination than in one gap.
Reignition of small arcs are more difficult than that of long arcs.

Non-linear resistance of valve plates

Low resistance at the discharge period.

High resistance after arcs in spark gaps are extinct.
Power frequency follow current, chopped voltage, and oscillation of
impulse over-voltages, are limited by the non-linear resistor.

u = ci

- non-linearity coefficient
Lecture 10-19

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
z

Parameters of valve type arrestors

Impulse wave discharge voltage

Extinction voltage
Protection ratio: the ratio of residual voltage to extinction voltage.
DC conductive current

Lecture 10-20

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
5. Metal oxide surge arrestors (MOA)

=0.02-0.05

V-I characteristic of MOA

Comparison of V-I characteristics of
MOA, SiC arrestor, et al.

Lecture 10-21

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.2 Arrestors
z

Merits of MOA in comparison to SiC arresters

Simple structure without multiple sparking gaps.
Flat V-t characteristics for protection.
Low leakage current under operation voltage.
No power frequency follow current.
Low impulse overvoltages.
Large current capability.
Suitable for overvoltage protection in DC systems in particular.
Parameters of MOA
Initial discharge voltage (U1mA)
Residual voltage ratio: the ratio of the residual voltage to U1mA.
Applied voltage ratio: the ratio of peak value of the maximum
operational voltage (Um) to U1mA.
Protection ratio k:
Ur
Residual voltage ratio
=
k=
Applied voltage ratio
2U m
Lecture 10-22

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.3 Ground devices for lightning protection

z

In electricity supply systems, ground or earth is a direct physical

connection to the Earth.
Classification of earth in power systems
Operational earthing: earthing resistance is 0.5-10 ohms.
Protective earthing: earthing resistance is 1-10 ohms.
Lightning protection earthing: earthing resistance is 1-30 ohms.
Earthing resistance Re
Equal to the ratio of the voltage Ue between a grounded conductor
and a neutral surface underground to the current Ie flowing through
the grounded conductor.

Re = U e I e

Impulse coefficient
The ratio of earthing resistance Re under power frequency
current to the earthing resistance Ri under impulse current.

= Ri Re
Lecture 10-23

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.3 Ground devices for lightning protection

z
z
z

In the majority, impulse coefficient < 1.

The spark effect and the inductance effect
Contact voltage and pace voltage

Contact voltage is the voltage between the

grounded equipment and the standing point.
(height 1.8 m; horizontal distance 0.8 m)
Pace voltage is the voltage between the two
standing points.

Dangerous threshold of current flowing

through human being is 10 mA.

Lecture 10-24

DEPT OF HIGH VOLTAGE AND INSULATION ENG CHONGQING UNIVERSITY

FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING

5.2.3 Ground devices for lightning protection

1. Ground conductors
z Vertical ground conductors
Re
R =
n
= 0 .65 0 .8

8l

Re =
(ln
1)
2 l
d
z

Horizontal ground conductors

l2

Re =
(ln
+ A)
2 l
hd
Ground grids
B
1
+
Re = (
)
S

Lecture 10-25

L + nl