Software development for the evaluation of the lightning performance of overhead distribution lines on the basis of the statistical method

A useful application software for the evaluation of the lightning performance of overhead distribution lines is introduced. The SM-LPDL software has been developed in Matlab, runs as a Microsoft Windows application and features a user-friendly graphics interface. It incorporates a statistical method for the estimation of the flashover rate of overhead distribution lines, implementing a recently introduced statistical lightning attachment model and the simplified coupling model suggested by the IEEE Std. 1410:2011. The SM-LPDL yields a range for the expected flashover rate of a distribution line associated with the lightning interception probability distribution of the line conductors. It allows for the easy quantification of the effects of line parameters, soil resistivity, surge arresters, shielding of nearby objects and lightning crest current distribution on lightning performance of distribution lines. SM-LPDL results are discussed and compared with those obtained by the recently released IEEE Std. 1410:2011.