Lightning induced voltages on power lines: Theory

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · IEEE Trans. Power Appar. Syst.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TPAS.1984.318405· OSTI ID:6063445

Master, M J; Uman, M A

Theory is presented which shows that nearby lightning return strokes can induce voltage surges of either positive or negative polarity on an overhead line depending on the location of the lightning relative to the line. The Telegraphers' Equations are solved with the return stroke vertical and horizontal electric fields as forcing functions. The horizontal electric fields are calculated from measured or assumed vertical fields and assumed earth conductivities. For a typical return stroke, voltage waveforms are presented for a line of 500 m length and one of 5 km length for the following conditions: earth conductivities between 10/sup -2/ mho s/m and 10/sup -5/ mho s/m, earth permittivities between EPSILON = 15 and GAMMA = 3, and lightning ground strike points between 0.2 km and 5.0 km of the line at a variety of positions around the line. Measured voltages on a 460 m test line described in a companion paper are compared with calculated voltage waveforms derived from measured vertical electric fields, in accordance with the developed theory. Calculated waveshapes are found to be in moderately good agreement with the measurements, but calculated magnitudes are about a factor of 4 lower than measured. Possible errors in both theory and measurement are discussed. Voltage measurements reported by other investigators are, in general, consistent with the present theory.

• Research Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
• OSTI ID: 6063445
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Power Appar. Syst.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Power Appar. Syst.; (United States) Vol. PAS-103:S; ISSN IEPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200300* -- Electric Power Engineering-- Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATION METHODS
COORDINATES
DISTANCE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
INDUCTION
LIGHTNING
OVERVOLTAGE
PERMITTIVITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
SOILS
WAVE FORMS