Testing of lightning arresters and improved lighting protection, preliminary results. Interim report
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
In 1995 and 1996 at the International Center for Lighting Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida, MOV arresters were installed on an unenergized test power distribution system for twelve artificially-initiated lightning flashes striking the system`s overhead line directly. Ten of these cases were strikes to the phase conductor of the line, and two, in 1996, were strikes to the neutral. Additionally, in 1996, natural lightning hit the phase conductor of the line, and in 1995, nearby natural lightning forced current into the system`s neutrals from earth, both occurring while the system was instrumented with arresters. Simultaneous arrester discharge current and voltage waveshapes were obtained for nine of the triggered lightning flashes, including the two strikes to the neutral in 1996, but for neither of the two natural lightning. Arrester voltages, on the other hand, are available for eleven triggered flashes and one natural lightning. The arrester voltage waveforms often exhibit characteristics that are not observed in the corresponding current waveforms and continue long after the arrester current is no longer detectable. The energy absorption by an arrester as a function of time can be calculated, when the simultaneous currents and voltages are available, as the time integral of the current-voltage product. When the duration of the voltage waveform exceeds that of the detectable current, the energy absorption can be roughly estimated by using a fraction of the total lightning current (available on a longer time scale) in place of the arrester current.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Univ. of Florida, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gainesville, FL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 354811
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR--109670
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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