FDTD Analysis of Nearby Lightning Surges Flowing Into a Distribution Line via Groundings

This paper investigates lightning surges on a distribution line reported using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. FDTD simulation results show a satisfactory agreement with measured lightning currents when lightning strikes ground nearby a distribution line. The current and voltage characteristics along the line, which were not measured in the test, are calculated by the FDTD simulation. Parametric analysis shows that lightning currents and voltages are dependent on the lightning position, distance from the lightning to the nearest pole, and pole grounding resistance. A large portion of phase-wire voltage is induced by the lightning channel current, and correspondingly, a large portion of phase-wire current is produced by the induced voltage. When the lightning channel is inclined, the peak current and voltage vary by +10% to -10% depending on the inclined angle. The effect of neutral wire position in the line is also investigated, and the induced voltage at the nearest pole to the lightning can be effectively suppressed by installing two neutral wires above and under the phase wires. EMTP simulation results agree qualitatively well with the measurement and FDTD results.