Chapter 70
The Calculation Method of Lightning
Protection Design of Overhead Line
in Urban Rail Transit
Litian Wang
Abstract According to the lightning research results, which is based on the
overhead line on viaduct in Tianjin Jinbin Light Rail Project, this paper summarizes
the calculation method of lightning protection design which could be used for
engineering design of ground and viaduct overhead line. Mathematics mode
lightning striking on overhead line of viaduct and ground and calculation method
sequence is proposed. In addition, the cases of overhead line suffered lightning in
different thunderstorm days, different line height to the ground, and the overhead
line out rate can be analyzed.
Keywords Urban rail transit Overhead line Lightning protection Lightning
protection measures Aerial earth wire Metal oxide lightning arrester with series gap
70.1 Foreword
At present, GB 50157-2003 and IEC60913, the domestic and foreign standards, are
both relatively simple in stipulating lightning protection design standard for OHL.
The requirements of these standards can be summarized as follows:
– Surge arrester without gap shall be installed on the isolator of OHL on the
ground and on the position of OHL at both ends of the tunnel.
– Surge arrester without gap shall be installed for OHL on open ground line and
viaduct at interval of 500 m.
– Spark gap connection AEW (or metal mast) and bridge pillar reinforcement
earthing bar shall be set on viaduct section at interval of 200 m.
– The power frequency earthing resistance of surge arrester and spark gap will not
be more than 10 ohm.
L. Wang (&)
China Railway Electrification Survey Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd.,
Tianjin 300250, China
e-mail: [email protected]
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016 723
L. Jia et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference
on Electrical and Information Technologies for Rail Transportation,
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 377, DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-49367-0_70
724 L. Wang
Over the past 18 years since 1997, the practical operational experiences of
overhead line (OHL) on the ground and viaduct line, such as Guangzhou metro
No. 1 line, Shanghai metro No. 3 line [1], Tianjin-Binhai light rail, and Nanjing
metro No. 1 line, show that there are still large amount of accidents due to lightning
strikes such as traction substation trip, insulator damage, transformer breakdown, or
damage in substation after adopting the above protective measures [2]. These
accidents impact the operation safety and reliability of urban mass transit rail
system [3].
Since 2004, based on the lightning accidents occurred in Tianjin-Binhai light rail
[4], China Railway Electrification Survey, Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd.
cooperated with China Electric Power Research Institute, carried the research for
traction supply system lightning protection, experiencing several stages such as
simulation, protection scheme review, product trial operation on site, product
appraisal, and research project accreditation. Through site operation, a set of OHL
lightning protection design methods and guidelines for ground and viaduct line
have been summarized over 11 years, which may be a reference for urban rail.
This research based on setting up electrical geometry model (EGM) to resolve
lightning shield issue, firstly by using EMTP as principal software and CDEGS as
assistant one, established a mathematical model to simulate and calculate OHL
lightning withstand level, then by using MATLAB or FORTRAN calculated OHL
lightning flashover rate [5].
70.2 Electrical Geometry Model of OHL Lightning Shield
70.2.1 Basic Parameters
70.2.1.1 Ground Flash Density
The most direct parameter concerning lightning activity related to OHL lightning
flashover probability is ground flash density, which can be purchased in the initial
design from China’s state grid electric power research institute, who has set up a
lightning orientation observation system distributed nationwide, or obtain from
meteorological department. But in now design stage, most investigated meteoro-
logical information is the thunderstorm days for the local area. It is generally
acknowledged that the relationship between thunderstorm day and ground flash
density is as below:
Ng ¼ a Tdb ð70:1Þ
where
Ng: ground flash density, the unit is times/km2 a
Td: thunderstorm days, the unit is days, a = 0.023, b = 1.3.
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 725
70.2.1.2 Amplitude and Distribution of Lightning Current
The probability of OHL insulator flashover caused by lightning is highly dependent
on the amplitude of the lightning current. It is generally acknowledged that the
amplitude of lightning current obeys logarithmic normal distribution. The following
equation is adopted, which is recommended by standard of Overvoltage Protection
and Insulation Coordination of AC Electrical Installation, DL/T620-1997 [6].
I
log Pði [ I Þ ¼ ð70:2Þ
88
where
I: the amplitude of lightning current, the unit is kA
P(i > I): the probability of occurrence of lightning current with an amplitude larger
than I.
70.2.1.3 Lightning Polarity
Because most of the cloud-to-ground lightning flash are negative polarity lightning
and accounts for over 90 %, calculation for direct lightning overvoltage of insulator
will be based on negative polarity lightning and induced lightning overvoltage
based on the positive polarity.
70.2.2 OHL Parameters
70.2.2.1 OHL Geometry
OHL geometry includes space coordinate of aerial earth wire (AEW) and mes-
senger wire position.
70.2.2.2 Insulator Lightning Impulse Withstand Voltage
The insulator’s lightning impulse withstand voltage −U50 (kV) and +U50 (kV) can
be obtained directly from the test.
Standard value of insulator with creepage distance 250 mm: U50 ≥ 125 kV.
Test value of the insulator is: −U50 ≥ 150 kV, +U50 ≥ 136 kV.
726 L. Wang
70.2.2.3 Lightning Withstand Level
Insulator lightning withstand level can be obtained from EMTP simulation.
Ijmin means the minimum amplitude of lightning current direct strike OHL
causing insulator flashover.
IGmin means the minimum amplitude of lightning current causing insulator back
flashover due to the rising potential of OHL mast when lightning strikes AEW or
shield wire.
70.2.3 Type of OHL Lightning Flashover
When there is no shield wire, insulator flashover caused by lightning direct strike on
OHL conductors is called direct flashover, and insulator flashover caused by
overvoltage due to electromagnetic induction when lightning strikes ground or
buildings near the track is called lightning-induced flashover.
When OHL equips with shield wire, the insulator flashover caused by back strike
via shield wire or mast which suffers directly lightning is called direct flashover,
and insulator flashover caused by lightning which does not strike the shield wire but
OHL conductor is called shield failure flashover [7].
70.2.4 Calculation Method of Direct Lightning Flashover
Probability
The core principle of Electrical Geometry Model is boundary breakdown distance.
Before the guided head of discharge path developed from lightning cloud to ground
reach the struck object, the strike point is not assured. The object, to which the
lightning path head reach the breakdown distance earlier, will suffer lightning
current discharge. Based on Electrical Geometry Model, the breakdown distance is
related to the potential of the guided head, and further more related to the lightning
current amplitude. For example, the single line is shown in Fig. 70.1, the lightning
current I1, I2, I3 corresponds to the conductor breakdown distance RC1, RC2, RC3,
and the ground breakdown distances are Re1, Re2, Re3. Setting MW, AEW as center
of circle and the breakdown distance as radius, draw a circular arc and a horizontal
line with the height of ground breakdown distance, the circular arc and the hori-
zontal line will intersect forming three line segments such as A1N1M1O1B1,
A2N2M2O2B2, and A3N3M3O3B3. Those three line segments determine the selective
features of the lightning strike point corresponding to the lightning current I1, I2,
and I3; for example, the lightning current I2 falls alight vertically. Until it reaches
the segment A2N2M2O2B2, the lightning strike point is not assured. After it reaches
segment A2N2M2O2B2, if it falls in the segment of A2N2 or O2B2, the lightning will
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 727
Fig. 70.1 Schematic diagram of electrical geometry model of single line OHL on the ground
strike ground and for OHL the induced overvoltage will occur. If it falls in the
segment of M2O2, the lightning will strike MW. If it falls in the segment of N2M2,
the lightning will strike AEW. The selectivity of strike point for lightning current I1
and I3 will also be determined by segments of A1N1M1O1B1 and A3N3M3O3B3. The
selectivity of strike point for double line is shown as in Fig. 70.2 [8].
The following breakdown distance formula, recommended by IEEE, will be
adopted as:
Rc ¼ 10I 0:65 ð70:3Þ
½3:6 þ 1:7In ð43 hÞI 0:65 h\40
Re ¼ ð70:4Þ
5:5I0:65 h 40
Fig. 70.2 Schematic diagram of electrical geometry model of double line OHL on viaduct
728 L. Wang
In electrical geometry model, the conductor wire exposed width D, which is
defined as the horizontal shadow width of exposed section related to amplitude of
lightning current. The lightning current’s amplitude distribution obeys statistic
characteristics. Therefore, the total exposed width leading to OHL flashover can be
obtained by separately weighted aucumulation of the lightning current’s amplitude
probability distribution function.
Z S ¼ Z J þ ZG
X
Imax
ZJ ¼ ðPðI þ DIÞ PðIÞÞDJ ðIÞ ð70:5Þ
IJmin
X
Imax
ZG ¼ ðPðI þ DI Þ PðI ÞÞDG ðI Þ ð70:6Þ
IGmin
ZS: The total exposed width of OHL
ZJ: Exposed width of contact wire or messenger wire due to direct lightning
insulator flashover
ZG: Exposed width of AEW due to insulator flashover suffering back strike when
direct lightning strikes AEW.
Annual flashover times of up line and down line in the length of 100 km:
Pflashover ¼ ZS 0:2 Ng ð70:7Þ
where Imax is 300 kA which means the possible maximum lightning current. IJmin is
the direct lightning withstand level of OHL insulator, IGmin is the back-strike
lightning withstand level of OHL insulator. IJmin and IGmin can be obtained from
EMTP simulation. P(I) is the probability of occurrence of lightning current with an
amplitude larger than I (see Eq. 70.2). DJ(I) and DG(I) are the exposed width of
MW and AEW, respectively, which can be calculated by electrical geometry model.
70.2.5 Calculation Method of Induced Lightning
Flashover Probability
The insulator flashover is not only caused by directly lightning strike on OHL
conductor, but by induced overvoltage while lightning strikes on ground or object
near the track. The following equation is adopted, which is recommended by China
standard of Overvoltage Protection and Insulation Coordination of AC Electrical
Installation, DL/T620-1997 [6].
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 729
Ih
Ui ¼ 25 ð70:8Þ
S
where Ui is the lightning-induced overvoltage (kV) and I (kA) is the lightning
current, h (m) is the height of conductor to ground surface. S (m) means the vertical
distance from lightning strike point to conductor.
Therefore, for definite lightning current amplitude and OHL height, only the
vertical distance from the lightning strike point to the rail track is smaller than
25 þIhU50 , the lightning-induced overvoltage on OHL may lead to insulator flashover.
Because the OHL within the scope of exposed width will attract direct lightning, the
striking point of the induced lightning cannot approach the track boundlessly. It is
known from electrical geometry model that direct lightning will occur while
lighting strike point is within the OHL breakdown distance. The induced lightning
strike width causing OHL flashover is as follows:
Ih
LðI Þ ¼ 25 DðI Þ ð70:9Þ
þ U50
The total weighted width of induced lightning strike is given as:
X
Imax
Zm ¼ ðPðI þ DI Þ PðI ÞÞLðI Þ ð70:10Þ
Imin
Annual flashover time formula of up and down line for 100 km section is given
below:
Pm ¼ Zm 0:2 NJ ð70:11Þ
If the shield wire is available, calculation of OHL lightning flashover should
consider the shield wire’s coupling coefficient. According to the standard
DL/T620-1997, the formula of induced overvoltage on OHL conductor is given
below:
h
Ui0 ¼ Ui 1 k0 b ð70:12Þ
hd
where Ui (kV) is the induced overvoltage of conductor when shield wire is not
available, hb (m) is the shield wire’s average height to ground, hd (m) is the OHL
conductor’s average height to ground, and k0 is the coupling coefficient between
shield wire and OHL conductors. The formula is given as:
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ð hb þ hd Þ 2 þ d 2 2hb
k0 ¼ Ln qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi =Ln ð70:13Þ
2 cb
ðhb hd Þ þ d 2
730 L. Wang
where d (m) is the horizontal distance between shield wire and conductors, rb (m) is
the radius of shield wire. The formulas (70.8) and (70.9) can be changed into
formulas (70.14) and (70.15):
Ih
Ui ¼ 25 k0 ð70:14Þ
S
Ihk0
LðI Þ ¼ 25 DðI Þ ð70:15Þ
þ U50
In Fig. 70.3, perpendicular line OO′ is not only the middle line of OHL up line
and down line, but also the cross point of Jup (MW of up line as center of circle)
circle and Jdown (MW of down line) circle, and the cross point of Gup (AEW of up
line) circle and Gdown (AEW of down line) circle when Rc is long enough. GJ is the
line from AEW to MW with the midpoint of N. Make a perpendicular line of GJ
from N, the line will extend to the cross point O, connect OJ and OG,
OJ = OG = Rcmax, which is the longest distance of direct lightning striking on MW.
This means when the lightning current is bigger enough and its corresponding
Fig. 70.3 Geometry diagram of conductor-exposed width in electrical geometry model
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 731
breakdown distance will be longer than OG = Rcmax, the AEWs will completely
shield MW. The higher lightning current cannot directly strike on MW, but on the
AEW or ground probably. The point O is the boundary point for AEW fully
shielding the MW.
The MJ is vertical to the ground and parallel to OO′, and point M is the dividing
point that Rc exposed width (Xd) locate on left or right side of OHL.
When Rc > MJ, as point 1 in Fig. 70.3, the exposed width of messenger wire is
given as below:
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi !
1 4R2c
Xd ¼ d þ h 1 ð70:16Þ
2 h2 þ d 2
When Rc < MJ, as point 2 in Fig. 70.3, the exposed width of the messenger wire
is given as below:
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi!
1 4R2c
Xd ¼ dh 1 ð70:17Þ
2 h2 þ d 2
ON is the cross point line of the messenger wire J circle and AEW G circle.
70.3 Parameter Calculation
70.3.1 Calculation of AEW-Exposed Width
– ZG: Total lightning striking weighted exposed width of AEW
– RCG: Breakdown distance of AEW
– Re: Breakdown distance of the ground
– hg: Height of AEW to the ground
– hb: Height of messenger wire
– h: Height difference between AEW and messenger wire
– DGR: Lightning striking exposed width of AEW on OHL external side
– DGL: Lightning striking exposed width of AEW on OHL internal side
– PG: OHL insulator back-strike flashover times when lightning directly strike
AEW
– PJ: OHL insulator flashover times when lightning directly strike MW
– Pm: OHL insulator-induced flashover times (Fig. 70.4).
732 L. Wang
Fig. 70.4 Calculation of AEW-exposed width
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 733
Fig. 70.5 Calculation of MW-exposed width
734 L. Wang
70.3.2 Calculation of MW-Exposed Width
– IJmin: the minimum amplitude of lightning current direct strike OHL causing
insulator flashover, OHL lightning withstand level
– ZJ: The total weighted exposed width of OHL suffering lightning
– RCJ: The breakdown distance of OHL conductor (Fig. 70.5).
70.3.3 Calculation of Induced Lightning Width
It does not matter which the start point of lightning current I is. It is critical to find
the value of lightning current when Lmin > DGR. As long as the start point of the
Fig. 70.6 Calculation of
induced lightning width
70 The Calculation Method of Lightning Protection Design … 735
Fig. 70.7 Calculation of model combination
736 L. Wang
lightning current in calculation covers the IGmin, it will be satisfied. If not sure, it
can be start from zero (Fig. 70.6).
70.3.4 Calculation of Model Combination
See Fig. 70.7.
References
1. Daming P (2004) Overhead catenary lightning protection earthing system for Mingzhu line
phase I project. Electric Railway, 02:41–42 (in Chinese)
2. Ping W (2007) Lightning protection design for electric transmission line and application and
analysis of JiaoJi line overhead contact system. BeiJing Jiaotong University 10.7666/d.
y1229583(in Chinese)
3. Dongbing A (2013) Brief analysis of urban mass transit overhead contact system lightning
protection measures. Electric Railway 02:40–43 (in Chinese)
4. Xilin Y, Jun L (2011) Application of urban mass transit overhead contact system lightning
protection technology. Electric Railway 04:46–47, 50 (in Chinese)
5. Haijun Z, Weijiang C, Yanli W, Haibin S, Bin Y (2008) Urban mass transit overhead contact
system lightning protection. Electric Railway 05:23–27(in Chinese)
6. DL/T620 (1997) Overvoltage protection and insulation coordination of AC electrical
installation (in Chinese)
7. Yu T (2014) Study of Tianjin-Binhai light rail overhead contact system lightning protection.
J Railway Eng 05:90–94 (in Chinese)
8. Haijun Z, Weijiang C, Haibin S, Kai B (2015) Metro AEW’s lightning protection role and
analysis. J Railway Eng 01:122-128 (in Chinese)
