Electrical discharge modeling with vertical rod protection: Randomness discharge effect

In this paper, a numerical modeling of electrical discharge in a vertical rod protected environment is elaborated. The system consists of a point electrode simulating the head of the leader, situated at a distance `d´ from a plane electrode, of length l, representing the ground. The studied model is based on the knowledge of electrical field distribution along the environment (leader head-earth) and on the randomness discharge development. The elaborated model allows determining the discharge impact point depending on the position of the rod and the discharge probability on this last one using a statistical method. The obtained results show that the model reproduces the correct lightning rod performances. Protection areas are similar to those given by the electrogeometrical and experimental model.