Analytical Study of Lightning Protection Performance by Excluding the Current-Limiting Arcing Horns of a Phase

Abstract

We evaluated the lightning protection performance of a medium-voltage distribution line by excluding the arcing horn of the middle phase. The analysis model of the power distribution equipment and the lightning protection equipment of Chubu Electric Power Company were used to evaluate (a) the influence of the span length of the distribution poles, (b) the steepness of the lightning current, and (c) the grounding resistance of the lightning protection equipment. The lightning protection performance was evaluated as the minimum injection current when the interphase short circuit occurred. The minimum injection current tended to increase as the wave front steepness increased., and the span length decreased. The minimum injection current was decreased by not using a horn in the middle phase, and this current became much smaller when the phase conductors were twisted. The minimum current value increased as the ground resistance increased in the current state., and we excluded the arcing horn of one phase. However, the minimum current value was not affected by twisting the phase conductors.