Model for temperature estimation of electric couplings suffering heavy lightning currents

In installations of lightning protection systems various types of electric couplings are used. Such couplings must have the ability to conduct heavy lightning currents. In the paper, a mathematical model and approximate equations are proposed, concerning the temperature rise estimation at these components, during lightning discharges. The results of experiments carried out to validate the mathematical model, satisfactorily comply with the theoretical models and it can be reliably concluded that the final temperature rise primarily depends on the initial crossing resistance, the coupling´s mass and the peak-current-pulse value. The proposed model could be useful in the design of these couplings so that they meet satisfactorily and adequately the requirements of reliability established by the international standards.