Abstract The insulation Coordination performance of

distribution lines may be associated to two events: the direct

lightning strokes and the lightning induced overvoltages both of
them are attached to the local flash density to ground. Of course
there are particular aspects that must be considered, as for
instance, the line route, the shielding degree offered by tall
structures, trees and many other ones. This paper deals with the
possibility of considering a flat and perfect conductively soil,
associated to the use of the Monte Carlo Technique. However,
some simplifications were considered. The first simplification is to
consider one-conductor lines. The insulation withstanding was
obtained from the original field three-phase system. The
insulating system CFO Voltage and its attached standard
deviation were obtained from a complete up and down testing
procedure, which must take into account the impulse voltage rate
of rise. The statistical insulation withstanding of the system
considered a Symmetric Weibull Distribution.
I. INTRODUCTION
HE application of a Standard Monte Carlo Technique, and
also the consideration of a high number of operating years,
the present case considered an operating time of 100 years and
a 1 flash per year per km
2
, [1]-[2] claims for a high number of
induced voltage simulations. This paper approach considers a
low level of induced voltages computations and based on the
results of them, on the definition of a function associating the
lightning discharge current peak with the peak of the line
induced overvoltage. This can be considered as a kind of huge
simplification. However, if one considers the shape of the
voltage traveling on the line, the presence of corona that was
observed, in the field, by a local inspection team during a
thunderstorm or even the use of a perfect conducting soil, this
cannot be the worst simplification.
II. LIGHTNING PERFORMANCE OF DISTRIBUTION LINES A
GENERAL VIEW
In general, a case of a direct stroke to a distribution line is
considered as resulting in a line insulating failure and for this
paper, this means a mean rate of failure of roughly 8 line

A.D.Figueira, A.Violin, C.de Salles, M.L.B.Martinez, Federal University
of Itajub, Electrical Engineering Institute, Power System Department, High
Voltage Laboratory. Po. Box 50, Itajub, Minas Gerais, Brazil 37.500-000.
email: (credson@iee.efei.br; martinez @iee.efei.br).
H.P.Oliveira and R.Oling, AES-SUL, Distribuidora Gacha de Energia
S.A., Departamento de Planejamento, Rua Presidente Roosevelt, 68, So
Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 93010-000. email:
(Hermes.oliveira@aes.com; renato.oling@aes.com)
insulation flashovers per 100 km per year and for a flash to
ground density equal to 1. In this particular case, for direct
strokes, the highest number of line insulation flashovers per
100 km per year is 12, with 10% of possibility of being
exceeded and the lowest is 4, with the same 10% of probability
of being not exceeded.
These results, which are shown in Fig. 1, considered a
statistical model according to a Symmetric Weibull
Distribution. The red curve is related to the probability of line
flashover associated to a direct stroke to the line; the blue one
is related to the probability of a flashover associated to the
induced overvoltages, considering the full line insulation
withstanding, i.e., assuming the withstanding of all parallel
gaps. The back curve is related to the probability of a line
flashover for both events, i.e., The Total Number of Line
Flashovers. All events considered a line with a length of 100
km.
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Number of Line Failures
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
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Flashovers
Induced
Direct
Total
Fig. 1. Direct, Induced & Total Line Failures for a Ground Density of 1
stroke per km
2
per year 100 km 137 kV CFO
Some possibilities related to the line withstanding,
basically: the consideration of the traveling induced voltages,
the voltage peak reduction and shape distortion, and the
number of parallel gaps, are still being object of discussion
Insulation Coordination for a 23 kV Medium
Voltage Distribution
A.D.Figueira, A.Violin, C.de Salles, H.P.Oliveira, M.L.B.Martinez, and R.Oling
T
0-7803-7967-5/03/$17.00 2003 IEEE
Paper accepted for presentation at 2003 IEEE Bologna Power Tech Conference, June 23th-26th, Bologna, Italy
and therefore will not be stressed in this paper. Therefore, the
first proposal adopted in this paper, is do not take into account
any attenuation, which appears to be a kind of pessimistic
approach, at least regarding the full line withstanding.
Considering these figures and the present insulating system
withstanding data of 137 kV CFO, that is only attached to the
pin insulators, without the effect of the existence of wood parts
grounded pins, it is possible to obtain that, for induced
overvoltages, the highest number of line insulation flashovers
per 100 km per year is 14, with 10% of possibility of being
exceeded, the lowest is 5.2, with the same 10% of probability
of being not exceeded and the medium value is 9.4 insulation
flashovers per 100 km per year, as also shown by Fig. 1.
Finally, it is supposed, for this kind of line, a mean rate of
failure, due to both events associated to lightning, of roughly
18 flashovers per 100 km. This appears to fit some issued
figures.
The observation of the previous figure can indicated that
the mean lightning performance of this kind of distribution line
is basically attached to the number of direct strokes to the
conductors or poles and to the number of induced voltages
higher than the line insulation withstanding. The first event
results in a fixed number of flashovers and the second an event
that depends on the line CFO. This in some way could be,
partially, verified by the high number of damaged timber
poles, observed in one of the specific studied region.
In the present, a careful work is being carried out in the
determination of the lightning impulse withstanding of a real
1:1 pole cross arms and insulators. This is necessary because,
as a first approach, the induced lightning withstanding limit
was determined considering this value computed according to
the formula CFO*(1.2 - 4), where CFO is the Critical
Flashover Voltage of the insulating system and the Standard
Deviation of the CFO, usually 3% for lightning. Depending on
the way of determining the CFO, as for instance the choice of
the lightning wave shape applied to the line insulating system,
this formula can loose completely its meaning, as verified
during recent testing applying non-standard lightning impulses,
which however are closer to the wave shape of the usually
observed induced overvoltages. Resuming, it is necessary a
better knowledge of the insulating system withstanding before
to conclude about the induced lightning performance only on
CFO issued values.
Another possibility that needs a better analysis is the
impact of considering lossy soils. This will claim for a new
version of the LIOV Code [3]. The computer program that is
being used by the moment considers only ideal soils. The key
point during the use of any better simulation-tooling version is
how to consider the statistical soil dependence in a line length
of 100 km. There are some discussions one this matter but, up
to the moment, no reasonable agreement on the subject was
reached. An underestimation of the distribution of the soil
conductivity, or losses, mainly related to high resistivity soils,
could result in figures that will never match any field data
regarding lightning performance [4].
There were also observed, during the simulations, some
influence on these figures with respect to the line attraction
distance, a subject that deserves a better field knowledge.
Regarding distribution lines behavior under lightning
phenomena, as suggested by the previous addressed
discussion, the number of direct flashes to the phases basically,
controls the line lightning performance. However, in the
presented case, almost 55% of the line insulation flashovers
are related to the induced overvoltages. This percentage, as it
will be discussed, can be controlled by the CFO performance
of the line. Therefore, as commented the presented figures can
be modified, once the line CFO is still under consideration,
due to the fact that at the present moment the full insulation
system is under testing in the H.V. Laboratory.
Considering the previous stated comments, this paper has
as objective to address a discussion on the lightning
withstanding performance of a standard medium voltage
distribution line 25 kV Insulating Class, regarding direct
strokes and induced lightning over voltages. A new approach
to the traditional way of obtaining the maximum voltage
induced in the line will be presented and discussed.
Finally, even considering the level simplification on the
lightning overvoltages computation and line withstanding,
some trends on the distribution line performance can be
commented.
III. COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH
The computational approach used in this paper deals with a
Monte Carlo random process. In a first step, for the definition
of a relation between the voltage induced and lightning
discharge peaks a full random process is considered. In this
case, the present proposed approach takes into account 330
fully random lightning flashes. The generated data set is
submitted to the LIOV Code and based in the results of the
simulation of induced voltage it is obtained a set of results -
Maximum Induced Overvoltages versus Distance to Line. This
set of results is used to get (1) that considers the ratio of the
induced overvoltage by the discharge peak amplitude - kV/kA
versus line distance - D
LT
. Therefore, considering a simple
equation that deals with the lightning flash amplitude and its
position related to the distribution line it is possible in very
easy and fast way to compute the amplitude of the induced
overvoltage.
Equation 1 shows the basic approach used to compute the
lightning induced overvoltage amplitude.
( )
) 1 (
1
2 1 LT LT
D Ln D k k
kA
kV
+
=
where k
1
a k
2
are the fitting coefficients.
The developed approach permits to consider 100 years of
random processes; roughly 100.000 flashes induced
overvoltages in less than 2 hours of computational time.
Fig. 2 shows the results of direct, induced and total line
insulating flashovers - failures versus Insulating System CFO.
120 140 160 180 200 220 240
Critical Flashover Voltage Amplitude - CFO [kV]
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
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Direct Flashes Failures
Induced Overvoltage Failures
Total Failures
Fig. 2 Mean Lightning - Line Failures for a Ground Density of 1 stroke per
km2 per year 100 km
As shown in Fig 2 the distribution line performance
regarding direct flashes does not depend on the line CFO.
However the induced lightning insulation failures are directly
attached to the CFO and as high is the insulating system CFO
lower is the number of insulation failures. For a 250 kV
distribution line CFO there is roughly 2 failures due to induced
overvoltages per year 100 km. Beyond this value it is
possible to experience some surge arrester operation troubles
or even failures.
The insulating of a distribution line can be achieved by the
insulators, by the insulators and wooden cross arms or by the
insulators the wooden cross arms and pole. As large is the
wooden path higher is the CFO and in some cases, it is
possible to get arrangements with roughly 600 kV CFO, or
even higher, for a 36.2 kV distribution class line a standard
rural distribution voltage class used in Brazil. The key problem
in these cases is the duty applied to the lightning arresters.
High impulse current amplitudes can overstress
conventional gapped silicon carbide surge arresters. However
this is not the critical problem. As high is the line CFO higher
is the number of conventional arrester that will operate and
this results in a following current amplitude that is sufficient to
fuse the standard fuse links protecting most of the distribution
line branches.
It is necessary to consider that a standard gapped silicon
carbide surge arrester has at about 100 A as a standard
following current amplitude. Therefore, this kind of system
performance, i.e., fuses blowing due to excess of following
current, can not be considered a standard line failure.
However, the maintenance crews must attend to it to replace
the blown fuse. This means an increase in the operational
costs. Normally events like those are very difficult to be
identified by the field teams that usually addressed them as
associated to unidentified reasons.
200 400 600 800 1000
Critical Flashover Voltage - CFO [kV]
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
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sSurge Arrester
Protective Level
High Level
Low Level
Fig. 3 Number of Conventional Surge Arresters Stressed by Induced
Overvoltages Distribution Line CFO
Fig. 3, computed considering prospective CFO values,
based on some high voltage testing results, shows, for a
conventional silicon carbide gapped arresters, the number of
arrester discharging an impulse current, due to induced
overvoltages; in relation to the distribution line CFO.
According to Fig 3, it is possible to have from 2 to 4 surge
arresters stressed by induced lightning overvoltages. The
number of surge arresters that discharge a surge current is
associated with the arrester technology degree. The use of
surge arresters with a higher protective level, basically
presenting high lightning impulse flashover voltages, results in
a high number of discharging arresters along the line. For
conditions where 3 or more surge arresters discharge a surge
current probably the sum of the following current will enough
to fuse a standard fuse link.
Metal oxide gapless surge arresters will also experience
high discharge peak amplitude. However, they do not present
following currents. Therefore, the simultaneous operations of
gapless metal oxide surge arresters do not result in the same
problem that occurs with conventional gapped silicon carbide
surge arresters.
This means that the number of conducting metal oxide
gapless surge arresters, due to induced overvoltages, has no
influence on a distribution line lightning performance.
However, it is necessary to consider that the impulse current
discharged by these arresters depends on CFO line. As high is
the distribution line CFO higher is the surge arrester stress.
According to some simplified calculations, the gapless metal
oxide surge arresters will experience a high discharge current
stress, in amplitude and shape, which can result in an arrester
failure. The increase on the surge arrester stress is basically
associated to the discharging current time.
IV. LIGHTNING IMPULSE TESTING RESULTS
Table 1 shows a resume of the results of the lightning
impulse tests fast rising surges carried out in one of the
possibilities of insulating a distribution line: to ground every
metallic part. As discussed this approach results in lowest
insulating level. Other possibilities considering the wood
insulating properties results in an increase of the lightning
insulating level and these possibilities are commonly used by
some local utilities in Brazil.
TABLE I
CFO - CRITICAL FLASHOVER VOLTAGE RESULTS - ALL METAL PARTS
GROUNDED BRACKETS & PINS
PIN INSULATOR
Positive I mpulses Negative I mpulses Time to
front
[ s]
CFO [kV]
CFO
[kV]
CFO [kV]
CFO
[kV]
0,30 148,6 3,3 184,2 5,9
0,55 142,3 2,5 171,1 4,1
1,08 137,1 1,3 165,1 2,9
In full-grounded systems, as the tested system, the
insulating performance is associated basically to the insulator
performance. Therefore, the tests can be carried out only in the
insulator. Other insulating conditions testing must be carried
out in the complete set up. Table 2 shows some results of
lightning impulse test fast rising surges in an intermediate
way of isolating a distribution line: to ground only the
brackets. In this case the closest phase to the metallic
hardware, the phase B presents CFO values lower than phases
A and C. Phases A and C, in spite of having the same distance
to the ground, presented different values of critical flashover
voltage - CFO. This difference can be justified by a strong
presence of tracking in the cross arm resulted an excess of
flashovers during the whole period of testing. This is a
hypothesis that can be confirmed by further testing in new
system hardware.
TABLE II
CFO - CRITICAL FLASHOVER VOLTAGE RESULTS SOME METAL PARTS
GROUNDED BRACKETS & SOME WOOD PARTS
PIN INSULATOR + WOOD PATHS
Positive I mpulses Negative I mpulses
Phase /Time to
front [ s]
CFO
[kV]
CFO
[kV]
CFO
[kV]
CFO
[kV]
0,55 301,1 10,0 364,8 9,9
A
1,08 291,8 9,4 362,3 11,8
0,55 142,1 3,402 176,9 7,8
B
1,0 147,4 5,37 180,9 3,9
0,55 247,9 9,3 293,7 6,4
C
1,08 245,5 11,9 319,1 10,6
The key point verified during the testing sequence is that
the CFO increase is far bellow the traditional suggested factor
1.5. Basically this factor [3] can be associated to the testing
wave shapes applied to the line insulating system. According
to [3] the testing results, used to define the 1.5 increase factor,
are based on the application of: standard lightning impulses
with 1.2 x 50 s and on the fast front chopped waves
impulses with less than 1 s duration. The presented results
considered a wave shape with a fast rise time with a time to the
mean amplitude of 50 s. This approach was applied in order
to have the same CFO concept for both impulses shapes, i.e.,
the insulation collapse occur on the wave tail, 2 or 3 s after
the voltage peak.
The obtained results shown that this can be a good
indication that the proposed approach of considering CFO (1.2
- 4) is, at least a first sight, a quite good possibility. A
complete system evaluation must consider all the insulating
possibilities and this is still under consideration.
Finally, Table III shows the first set of results obtained
using a non-standard lightning impulse closer to induced
overvoltage wave shape 0.82 x 22.2 s.
TABLE III
CFO - CRITICAL FLASHOVER VOLTAGE RESULTS ALL METAL PARTS
GROUNDED BRACKETS & PINS COMPARISON OF CFO RESULTS
PIN INSULATOR
POSI TI VE I MPULSES NEGATI VE I MPULSES
1.2 x
50 s
0.82 x
22.2 s
Ratio
1.2 x 50
s
0.82 x
22.2 s
Ratio
137.14 145.65 1.06208 161.54 165.42 1.02397
136.38 144.40 1.05879 160.35 165.42 1.03160
137.66 141.80 1.03009 165.38 164.96 0.99743
137.98 143.73 1.04167 165.73 163.86 0.98870
135.34 143.01 1.05669 168.69 161.62 0.95810
137.22 144.80 1.05522 168.51 162.58 0.96483
136.37 144.91 1.06260 165.51 161.94 0.97843
137.48 143.59 1.04440 166.51 163.04 0.97914
137.10 159.19 1.16116 168.48 166.47 0.98809
137.98 151.18 1.09565 167.78 164.92 0.98291
Medium Values
137.06 146.22 1.066833 165.85 164.02 0.98898
Based on these first testing results the correct formula to
compute the full line induced overvoltage withstanding limit,
considering all parallel gaps presents a smaller multiplication
factor, i.e., CFO*(1.07 4). This can result in a higher
number of flashovers due to induced overvoltages.
To clarify all associated doubts an extensive testing
program, considering other medium voltage distribution
apparatus, are being currently carried out at LAT UNIFEI.
This testing program will consider the standard lightning
impulse wave shape, the reduction of the wave tail to values
around 10 s and bellow and the increase on the time to crest
to values as high as 3 s.
There is also necessary to take into account the wood
insulation and in this direction we do not carry out, up to the
moment, any testing. The key problem is related to the content
of humidity in the wood. For sure this will claim, at least, for
some extra considerations.
V. FINAL COMMENTS
The complete insulating system performance is computed
by a computer program developed, in a standard MATLAB
code, at LAT-EFEI, permits to deal with more 500.000
simulations in less than 10 hours of full computation. This is
representative of at least 100 years under a 5 discharges per
year per km
2
that is a very high level.
The present approach seems to fulfill the needs attached to
computing time and system performance once it considers the
full problem Design and Testing. The testing part is usually
based on results, which some times were obtained during the
late 50s. Therefore, a lot of care must be put on these
predefined rules. The present knowledge in this field has
shown that the 1.5 factor is very conservative.
The full decision regarding the insulating problem is
associated to a system necessity, i.e., the number of
interruptions of supply. A standard construction has attached
to itself that the line performance is fully controlled by the
direct flashes. To improve this it is necessary to better choose
the insulator or to use the insulating properties of the wood or
even the use of Spacer Systems. However, the system
grounding plays also an active role on the complete figure. The
final option must consider the system hazard, the penalties due
to voltage shortage, customer complains and construction
costs. This is still under study for further consideration.
VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the kindness of
Prof. Carlo Alberto Nucci by given us the indication and also
the suggestion of using the simplified LIOV CODE, a fact that
was of extreme importance during the development of the
present work.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] A. Borghetti, C.A. Nucci, M. Paolone, Statistical Evaluation of
Lightning Performances of Distribution Lines, presented at IPST2001
International Conference on Power Systems Transients Rio de
Janeiro, Brasil - June24-28, 2000
[2] C.A. Nucci, F. Rachidid, M. Lanoz, C. Mazzetti, Lightning-induced
voltages on overheads lines, IEEE Trans. on Electromagnetic
Compatibility, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp 75-86, February 1993.
[3] IEEE Working Group on the lightning performance of distribution
lines, Guide for Improving the lightning performance of electric
power overhead distribution lines, IEEE STD 1410, 1997.
[4] M. Paione, C.A. Nucci, F. Rachidi, Mitigation of Lightning-induced
overvoltages by means of periodical grounding of shielding wires and
of surge arresters, presented at Proc 4th European Symposium on
Electro Magnetic Compatibility, Brugge, Belgium, 11-15 Sept.2000
VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Airton Violin was born 1956 in Dracena, So Paulo State, Brazil. He
received his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Federal University of
Itajub (UNIFEI) in 1982.
Antnio Duarte Figueira was born in 1970 in So Caetano, So Paulo State,
Brazil. He will graduate in electrical engineering at Federal University of
Itajub (UNIFEI) in December 2002.
Credson de Salles was born in 1975 in Bueno Brando, Minas Gerais State,
Brazil. He received his B.Sc. in electrical engineering in august 2002 from
Federal University of Itajub UNIFEI.
Hermes R. P. M. de Oliveira was born in 1960 in So Loureno, Minas
Gerais State, Brazil. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical
engineering from EFEI (UNIFEI). He has worked in AES Sul Company since
1998.
Manuel L.B. Martinez was born in 1959 in Santos, So Paulo State, Brazil.
He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc degrees in electrical engineering from Federal
University of Itajub (UNIFEI) and Ph.D. degree from PEA-USP. He is
responsible for the High Voltage Laboratory of UNIFEI since 1995.
B.Sc. Renato Oling was born in 1977 in Iju, Rio Grande do Sul State,
Brazil. He received his B.Sc. degree in electric engineering from University of
Iju (UNIJU) in 1998. He has worked in AES Sul Company since 1999.