An Experimental Validation of Lightning Performance in Distribution Lines

The Tokyo Electric Power Company had conducted field research of voltages and currents in actual distribution lines due to lightning strokes between 1997 and 2001. These results confirm that the distribution line faults are mainly caused by direct lightning strokes to the line. Thus, it is important to simulate lightning performance for direct strokes to establish a lightning protection design of distribution lines. In this paper, statistical data of the observed voltages and currents are analyzed, and the validation of the observation results for the direct lightning strokes using a lightning surge analysis model is conducted. The observation results and the simulation model are useful in clarifying lightning performance in distribution lines.