Variation of Tower Footing Resistance on the Lightning Surge Propagation through Overhead Power Distribution Lines

Abstract

This paper deals with the analysis of the effects of electromagnetic transients generated by lightning on power distribution lines, considering the influence of tower footing resistance variation. Both types of lightning stroke, direct and induced, are considered. The model of a 20 kV three-phase overhead power distribution line is performed considering a simple line circuit with triangle canopy and 50/8 mm2 Ol-Al conductors. The model of the power distribution line is done considering a Multistory tower model. New concepts regarding lightning assessment through Electromagnetic Transients program and Finite Element Method are implemented. The simulations are performed based on a time domain analysis, considering the lightning stroke as an electromagnetic perturbation within frequency range of 10-100 kHz. A contribution to value creation is the design of the Multistory tower model, used for electromagnetic transients analysis for medium voltage power distribution lines. Excepting previous research, current study was done by considering the variation of tower footing resistance of the tower, between 4-35 ohms. The novelty of the study is the analysis of the dependency determined by the variation of tower footing resistance on the lightning surge propagation through power distribution networks and subsequent consumers.

Keywords

• electromagnetic transients
• finite element methods
• power distribution lines
• surges
• time domain analysis