Lightning Performance of 70 kV Overhead-Line Sub-Transmission in Bandung

Abstract

Lightning has been famed globally since the beginning of electricity to trigger system faults in the electric power grid. In a tropical region such as West Java, lightning strikes cause the most system faults on transmission and distribution lines. Therefore, a detailed assessment of lightning performance over the overhead-line (OHL) transmission is required to ensure grid reliability. Furthermore, this study evaluates the lightning performance of 70 kV Cikalong - Cigereleng sub-transmission in Bandung, which suffered the most lightning-related faults in the area over the last six years at twenty occurrences. Annual records of lightning events from 2017 to 2022 and an electro geometric model (EGM) according to IEEE and CIGRE were employed to analyse the fault incidences, flash density, shielding failure, and back flashover incidents onto the OHL. The results suggest that most fault incidents at 70 kV Cikalong - Cigereleng OHL were due to back flashover instead of shielding failure. The geographical condition alongside the OHL, tower specification and the design of the insulator set might have affected the back flashover events. Consequently, mitigative actions could be planned and taken accordingly.