Title :
Voltage Distribution Along Earth Grounding Grids Subjected to Lightning Currents
Author :
Alipio, Rafael ; Aurelio O. Schroeder, Marco ; Afonso, Marcio M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Fed. Center of Technol. Educ. of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Abstract :
This paper applies a rigorous electromagnetic model to determine the transient distribution of potentials along a substation earth grounding grid subjected to lightning currents. The obtained results show that, in the initial period of the transient, equipment pieces that are earth grounded at distinct points of the grid and are electrically linked (for example, by aerial communication cables) experience impulsive loop currents. Such loop currents can cause equipment malfunctions, failures, and damage. A remarkable conclusion of this paper is that such loop currents can reach substantial values even in the case of soils of low resistivity. Some practical aspects are highlighted in order to reduce the risks due to the nonuniform distribution of potentials along earth grounding.
Keywords :
earthing; lightning protection; substation protection; aerial communication cables; equipment damage; equipment failures; equipment malfunctions; impulsive loop currents; lightning currents; rigorous electromagnetic model; substation earth grounding grid; transient distribution; voltage distribution; Conductivity; Electric potential; Electrical engineering; Grounding; Lightning; Soil; Transient analysis; Computational methods; Lightning response of grounding; computational methods; lightning response of grounding; transient analysis of grounding; transient potentials distribution;
Journal_Title :
Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TIA.2015.2412518