30th International Conference on Lightning Protection - ICLP 2010

(Cagliari, Italy - September 13th -17th, 2010)

NEW APPROACH IN TIME DOMAIN FOR EVALUATION OF ELECTRIC

AND MAGNETIC FIELDS NEAR THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL
Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir and Mahdi Izadi

Centre of Excellence on Lightning Protection (CELP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.
email: [email protected] and [email protected]

ABSTRACT 2 RETURN STROKE CURRENT

The electric and magnetic fields due to lightning channel
The return stroke current at channel base is evaluated
can be estimated by many methods such as Finite Difference
Time Domain (FDTD) and dipole methods. Estimation of
using improved Heidler model by Diendorfer and Uman.
electric fields in time domain by dipole method for a This model is expressed by equation (1) [4-5].
realistic return stroke current along the lightning channel is
very complex. On the other hand, the FDTD is an i 0, t
appropriate method for a close distance problem but it
Г Г
consumes high memory for the computer to process the exp exp (1)
η Г η Г
result. This paper presents the combination of the FDTD Г Г
and dipole methods for evaluation the magnetic fields at any
observation points with less difficulty and less memory
consumption. In addition, the use of the FDTD method
where
provides the ability to evaluate the fields for the case of non-
perfect ground conductivity. Hence, by applying the dipole i , i are the amplitude of the channel base current,
and FDTD methods with the Caligaris et.al’s algorithm, Г , Г are the front time constant,
extended from Cooray-Rubinstein formula, the approach
and formulation of electric and magnetic fields in time
Г , Г are the decay- time constant,
domain is proposed, with the consideration of the non- n , n are exponent (2~10),
perfect ground conductivity effect. Results obtained from η , η are the amplitude correction factor.
this new approach are compared with the measurements
data published in literatures.
Figure 1 shows the return stroke current wave shape at
1 INTRODUCTION channel base for the typical values based on Table I [6-9].
Lightning can affect on the power lines in two ways: Table I. Typical values for Diendorfer and Uman channel
direct and indirect [1] strikes. In the case of indirect base current [6-7, 9].
strike, it produces electric and magnetic fields via
electromagnetic coupling and causes the induced
i i Г Г
overvoltage on the phase conductors. Evaluation of Г (µs)
Case (kA) (kA) (µs) (µs)
electric and magnetic fields by realistic return stroke
current wave shapes in the time domain will be A 19.5 12 1 2 8
considered in this paper. Using dipole and FDTD methods B 17 8 0.4 4 4
with the Caligaris et al’s algorithm, extended from Г
Case n n
Cooray-Rubinstein formula, a new approach and (µs) V(m/s) λ(km)
formulation of electric and magnetic fields evaluation in A 30 2 2 1 10 1.5
time domain is proposed, with the consideration of the B 50 2 2 1 10 1.5
non-perfect ground conductivity effect. Apart from its
high accuracy, this method requires less memory and
time for processing, as compared to FDTD method [2-3].
Apart from its accuracy in giving results for the close
distance case, this method is also valid for far distance
cases from lightning channel.

1013-1
 4
x 10
2
case A
1.8 case B

1.6

1.4
re tu rn s tro k e c u rre n t(A )

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
t(s) -5
x 10

Figure 1. Return stroke current at channel base. Figure 2. Geometry of problem

On the other hand, lightning current wave shape along

lightning channel is expressed by using MTLE (Modified Hφ r, z, t
Transmission Line Exponential decay model) model. H R
′, R

This model by ignoring form corona effect is presented H

i z ′, t dz′ (4)
π R R
by equations (2) and (3) [4, 10].

i(z',t) = i(0,t-z'/v)exp(-z'/ ) z'≤vt (2) β=v/c (5)

i(z',t) = 0 z'>vt (3)

where χ (6)
β
v is the lightning return stroke wave-front velocity,
z' is the vertical space variable,
is the decay constant which allows the current to reduce A1 βct z (7)
χ
its amplitude with height.

A2 βct z (8)
χ
3 EVALUATION OF ELECTRIC AND
MAGNETIC FIELDS
z′ H βχ βz ct A1 (9)
In this study, dipole method is used for evaluation of z" H βχ βz ct A2 (10)
magnetic fields. This method is presented by equations
(4) to (10) [4, 10-12] while geometry of the problem is On the other hand, according to Maxwell’s equations the
exhibited in Fig. 2. Note that, estimation of electric fields relation between electric field and magnetic field is
by realistic wave shape of current as in equation (1) is presented by equations (11) to (13) [2-3, 7].
very complex and therefore often the Fourier transfer is
used for evaluation of electric fields. E
H σE ε (11)
E Hφ
σE ε (12)
E Hφ
σE ε (13)

So by solving equations (12) and (13) based on FDTD

method, the horizontal and vertical electric fields can be
expressed by equations (14) and (15), respectively.

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E i ,j lim
µ
∞f s
ε
(21)
ε σ∆ ∆
E i ,j Hφ i ,j µ
ε σ∆ ε σ∆ ∆ f s g s (22)
ε
Hφn 12i 12,j−12 (14) µ µ
g s (23)
ε
σ ε

E i, j
So by converting into time domain, equation (19) can be
ε σ∆ ∆
E i, j r Hφ i ,j
ε σ∆ ε σ∆ ∆
written as per equation (24) [14].
12−ri−12Hφn 12i−12,j 12
E F r, y, t Hφ r, 0, τ S t τ dτ E P r, y, t
(15)
µ
Also, by replacing ε and σ to ε and 0, respectively in Hφ r, 0, t (24)
ε
equations (14) and (15) for perfect ground conductivity
case they can be expressed by equations (16) and (17)
[2]. S

∆ µ σ
σ σ σ
E i ,j E i ,j Hφ i ,j e ε I t I t dt (25)
ε ∆ ε ε ε ε

12−Hφn 12i 12,j−12 (16) While on the other hand

∆ Hφ r, 0, τ S t τ dτ ∑ h S (26)
E i, j E i, j r Hφ i
ε ∆

So
12,j 12−ri−12Hφn 12i−12,j 12 E F r, z, k∆t ∑ h S E P r, z, k∆t
µ
(17) Hφ r, 0, k∆t (27)
ε

On the other hand, the Cooray-Rubinstein formula is where:

presented by equation (18) for evaluating the ground
conductivity effect on electric fields [4, 13]. The ground S is S( k∆t),
conductivity effect is more significant on the horizontal h Hφ r, 0, ii∆t ,
electric fields compared to other fields [4,13]. Therefore
E F is the horizontal electric field at finite ground
in this case, the horizontal electric field effect due to conductivity,
ground conductivity parameters will be estimated.
I , I are modified Bessel functions,
ε is the relative ground permittivity(ε ε ε ,
E F r, z, jω E r, z, jω
E P is the horizontal electric field at perfectly ground
conductivity,
µ
Hφ r, z 0, jω . (18) Hφ is the magnetic field,
ε σ / ω
σ is the ground conductivity.

For evaluation of horizontal electric fields in time domain By replacing equation (27) into equation (16), the
it is necessary that the equation (18) is converted to horizontal electric field equation for ground conductivity
Laplace domain which is presented by equation (19) to case is proposed by equation (28).
(23) [14].
E i ,j ∑ Hφ i ,0 S
E F r, z, s Hφ r, z 0, s . f s E r, z, s (19)
µ
ii 1k′ nHφii i 12,0 Sk′ 1−ii Erni 12,j
f s (20)
ε σ/

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 ∆
Hφ i ,j Hφ i ,j
ε ∆

µ µ
Hφ i ,0 Hφ i ,0 (28)
ε ε

The equations (16) and (17) are applied for evaluation of

electric fields in time domain for perfect ground
conductivity case. Whilst, the equations (28) and (17) are
used for estimation of electric fields for non-perfect
ground conductivity case. Fig. 3 shows the magnetic flux
density obtained based on cases A and B, as tabulated in
Table 1. Two observation points i.e. both at 10m in
height with 9km and 4.6km distances from lightning
channel, respectively were evaluated. Fig. 4 shows the
experimental results obtained with the same assumptions
and parameters.

-7
x 10
3
case A
case B
2.5

2
m a g n e tic flu x d e n s ity

1.5

Figure 4.The magnetic flux density for two observation

1 points based on experimental results as in ref [7-9]

0.5 The correspondence vertical electric field of the two

cases is shown in Fig. 5 with the experimental values
depicted in Fig. 6.
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t(s) x 10
-5

90
Figure 3.The magnetic flux density for two observation case A
case B
points 80

70
v e rtic a l e le c tric fie ld (v /m )

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t(s) x 10
-5

Figure 5.The vertical electric fields for two observation

points.

1013-4
 height and 100m in distance from lightning channel
(ε 10, σ 0.001

5000

4000

h o r iz o n ta l e le c t r ic fie ld ( v / m )
3000

2000

1000

0
Perfect ground counductivity
non-perfect ground counductivity
-1000
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
t(s) x 10
-6

Figure 8. Comparison betweenof horizontal electric fields

for perfect and non-perfect ground conductivities based
on case A as per Table1. The observation point is at 10m
in height and 100m in distance from lightning channel
(ε 10, σ 0.001

Results obtained showed very good agreement between

the calculated (proposed method) and experimental
values (based on ref [7-9]). This improved method would
be helpful in giving the accurate evaluation of the
induced voltage and would be very useful especially in
Figure 6. The vertical electric fields for two observation
determination of the lightning performance of
points based on experimental results as in ref [7-9]
distribution overhead lines.
In case of the horizontal electric fields, the effect of
perfect and non-perfect ground conductivities was taken
into account. The same observation points for both cases 4 CONCLUSIONS
i.e. at 10m in height and 100m distance from lightning
channel were considered and the results are shown in A new approach and formulation of electric and
Figs. 7 and 8, respectively. magnetic fields evaluation in time domain is proposed,
with the consideration of the non-perfect ground
conductivity effect. Combination of dipole and FDTD
3500
methods with the Caligaris et.al’s algorithm, extended
3000 from Cooray-Rubinstein formula, can be considered for
evaluation at all distances from lightning channel.
h o riz o n ta l e le c tric fie ld (v /m )

2500
Furthermore, with the capability to provide the direct
2000 solution in time domain, the processing time and memory
1500 consumption will greatly reduce.
1000

500 5 REFERENCES
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-500
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t(s) x 10
-6
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1013-5
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