A Comprehensive Approach in Calculating the Impact of the Ground on Radiated Electromagnetic Fields Due to Lightning

Authors: Lahcene Boukelkoul

Abstract:

The influence of finite ground conductivity is of great importance in calculating the induced voltages from the radiated electromagnetic fields due to lightning. In this paper, we try to give a comprehensive approach to calculate the impact of the ground on the radiated electromagnetic fields to lightning. The vertical component of lightning electric field is calculated with a reasonable approximation assuming a perfectly conducting ground in case the observation point does not exceed a few kilometers from the lightning channel. However, for distant observation points the radiated vertical component of lightning electric field is attenuated due finitely conducting ground. The attenuation is calculated using the expression elaborated for both low and high frequencies. The horizontal component of the electric field, however, is more affected by a finite conductivity of a ground. Besides, the contribution of the horizontal component of the electric field, to induced voltages on an overhead transmission line, is greater than that of the vertical component. Therefore, the calculation of the horizontal electric field is great concern for the simulation of lightning-induced voltages. For field to transmission lines coupling the ground impedance is calculated for early time behavior and for low frequency range.

Keywords: Ground impedance, horizontal electric field, lightning, transient propagation, vertical electric field.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1091744

References:

[1] T.A. Papadopoulos, "Influence of Earth Permittivity on Overhead Transmission Line Earth-Return Impedances”, Proceedings of ΙΕΕΕ PowerTech07 Conference, Lausanne
[2] A. Ramirez, F. Uribe, "A Broad Range Algorithm for the Evaluation of Carson's Integral”, IEEE Transaction on Power Delivery, Vol. 22 NO 2 April 2007, pp. 1188-1193
[3] S.L. Loyka, "On Calculation of the Ground Transient Resistance of Overhead Lines”, IEEE Transaction.on EMC, vol. 41, No. 3, Aug. 1999, pp. 193-195.
[4] S.L. Loyka, A. Kouki, "Early-Time Behavior of the Ground Transient Resistance of Overhead Lines”, Proceeding of Electromagnetic Compatibility, IEEE International Symposium on EMC, Volume: 1, 2001, pp. 222-226
[5] G. Diendorfer, "Induced Voltage on an Overhead Line Due to Nearby Lightning", IEEE Transaction on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 32. NO 4, Nov. 1990, pp. 292-299.
[6] P.D. Kannu, M.J. Thomas, "Lightning Induced Voltages on Overhead Conductors at Different Heights”, Proceeding of IEEE PowerTech03 Conference, Bologna, Italy, June 23-26, 2003.
[7] M.K. Farsani, R. Moini, S.H.H. Sadeghi, "Evaluation of the Cooray-Rubinstein Formula for Distances Farther than a Few Kilometers Using the Parallel FDTD Method”, General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, 2011 XXXth URSI, Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 13-20, 2011, pp. 1-4.
[8] V. Cooray, G. Diendorfer, F. Rachidi, M. Becera, M. Rubinstein, "On the Effect of the Finite Ground Conductivity on Electromagnetic Field Radiated by Lightning to Tall Towers”, Proceeding of the 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection, Kanazawa, Japan, September 18-22, 2006, pp. 267-272.