Alternative to Monte Carlo method for the estimation of lightning incidence to overhead lines

Abstract

The electrical shadow method is generally used to calculate the number of direct lightning strokes to an overhead line. However, the electrogeometric model has been suggested in the past for such computations, applying the Monte Carlo technique. A new analytical method, an alternative to the Monte Carlo technique, using the electrogeometric model is proposed which requires significantly shorter computation time than the Monte Carlo technique. The method is illustrated by a simple example of a single-conductor overhead line, and compared with the results obtained from the Monte Carlo technique.