Role of an overhead ground wire in the generation of lightning-induced voltage over lossy ground

The role of an overhead ground wire on the generation for lightning-induced voltage on a multiconductor line associated with a vertical return-stroke channel is studied based on numerical calculation. The induced voltage is calculated by a method in which the tangential component of the electric field to the wire is looked upon as an inducing source. The analyzed multiconductor line consists of three phase wires and an overhead ground wire having one or two earthing points. The influence of the overhead ground wire on the induced voltage is dependent on the direction of a return stroke, as well as the ground conductivity. When a return stroke is on the side of a power distribution line, the induced voltage decreases with a decrease in the earthing resistance of the overhead ground wire, irrespective of the ground conductivity. When a return stroke is close to an end of a distribution line, the influence of the overhead ground wire is dependent on the ground conductivity. In this case, the voltage induced on overhead wires over lossy ground sometimes increases with the presence of an overhead ground wire having only one earthing point. This effect can be avoided by adding earthing points to the overhead ground wire. (C) 1998 Scripta Technica.