THE ION PLASMA

GENERATOR
The Most Effective Stroke
Collector

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Electrostatic
Field
5 to 30 kV/M
108 V + 10%

Ionized Path
 +++++ +++++
+++++
10 < 40 Coulombs

Point of Discrimination Upward Streamers

+ + + + ++ + + + +
Force Vectors

High Density Charge

+++
+++++

+++

+++++ +++++

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 Stroke Collector Options

• Lightning Rods
• Early Streamer Emitters (ESE)
• Guard or Shield Wires
• Ion Plasma Generator (New)

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 Conventional Collector
Limitations
• Collector Selection Made Within 30 us
• Others More Competitive In Strike Zone
• Collectors Must Be Strongest Attraction
• All Streamers Offer A Low Attractive
Force

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 Basic Principals

• Like Charges Repel

• Unlike Charges Attract

What Is The Attractive Force?

Attractive Force Calculation
Measured In Newtons Or Kilograms Of Force
Kgf
9.2 QL x QS
Kgf = 2
X 108
d
d = Distance Between QL and QS
QL
= Leader Charge

QS

= Streamer Charge
Streamer Sources
Conventional Rods

Early Streamer Emitters

Other Shaped Terminations

Trees and Other Natural Objects

 Streamer Collection in a
Competitive Environment
++++++++++
+ + +
+++++ + +

108 V

ESE F2 F1
Single Point

(F1 = F2= 23 Kg )
The Ion Plasma Generator
(IPG)

IPG DATA
Material 316 Stainless
Diameter 4’ Or As Required

Collects Most Lightning Current With No

significant Damage

Shaft Extensions Available

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 Design Criteria
• Objective:
– Create an ion plasma dense enough to win the
collector competition within the protected area.

• Method:
– Multi-Point Discharge
• Collection:
– A function of diameter.
– Number of points.

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 F2
Ion Plasma
(space Charge F1
d2
h d1 100m
Streamer

Ideal
IPG Point

h = 100 meters – Potential Arc Distance. Ideal point represents potential competition
 Collection Is A Competitive
Environment
+++++
+++++

IPG -48)
Kg f (
< 2800 d
IPGs’ = <
1
d2 2.
3
Kg
f

Ion Plasma

d
d = Collection Distance In A Competitive Situation
 Calculating the scope of protection (IPG-48)
by comparison to a single point

F2
Ion Plasma F1
(space Charge)

d2 h 200m
d1 Streamer

IPG
Ideal
Point

(1.22)(0.1)(9.2) 8
F 2
x10  2800kgf
( 200)

Where d1 (one point) = No Influence d2 = 180 meters

 Zone of the CTS influence
height of the leader's tip - 100 m.
200
Horizontal distance from the leader's tip, m

180

160

140

120

100

80
d
60 Ion
2
Plasma H
40 (space h d Streamer
Charge) 1
Ideal
20 IPG Point
0
H

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500
Number of points
 Zone of the IPG influence
350
**Greater Protection Radii Available By Special Order
Horizontal distance from the leaders' tip, m

300

Radius of protection*
250

**IPG-48
200

150

100
Minimum Safe Distance
To Assure Collection
50
* If Unobstructed View.

0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Height of the leaders' tip, m

 IPG INFLUENCE VOLUME
AS A FUNCTION OF LEADER HEIGHT ABOVE EARTH

Leader height
In meters (HL)
200 289

150 227

100 145

Collection 50 72
Range Limits

20 29

H = 20 m

400 300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400

Horizontal Distance in Meters

 Proof Of Performance
• Modeling Tests Performed By:
– Mississippi State University
• Systems Applications
– Mississippi Power & Light (120 km)
– Louisiana Power & Light*

* 70% over lake

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Recommended Applications
• Transmission Lines
• Electrical Substations
• Aircraft On Ground
• Buildings w/o Electronics
• Athletic Fields*
• Golf Shelters*
• Parking Lots
*Requires special grounding

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 IPG Conclusions
• IPG Collects all strikes within the
protected area.
• IPG will dissipate low energy strikes
prior to termination.
• IPG Design Is Traceable To
Foundational Physics.
• IPG is 100% Effective

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 Advanced Protection

For T&D Systems

LEC, Inc “Lightning Eliminators Worldwide Since 1971”

 Direct Lightning Strike
Protection
Problem:
• Lightning Strikes to Guard/Static Wires
and phase conductors cause flashovers
and tripouts
Solution:
• Prevent Lightning Strikes
• Divert Lightning Strikes
 Electrostatic Fields
Induced - T&D Systems
Mature Storm Cell

< 315 kV
< 300 kV

10 m
 Effectiveness of
Guard or Static Wires
• Line tripouts do not seem to be
influenced by the presence of a Static
Line or Guard Wire, for most voltages.

• Many utilities have stopped using

them.

Why?
 Stroke Physical Damage

Stroke Damage Here Shield Wire Here

 Lightning Stroke Impact
Mature Storm Cell

E = 108 Volts
E = 9.1 mV
100 meters

10 meters
 Strike to Midspan

Peak Current, I
Top Phase
Conductor Guard Wire

d = 1 meter
h = 10 meters
Magnetic Coupling

Span (l)
 Strike to Midspan
I = Peak Current
Equivalent = 20 & 70 kA
Circuit:

GND GND
 Voltages Induced at Midspan
Voltages Induced on Phase Conductor
by a Strike to the Ground Wire at Midspan

Span Length: Peak Current 20kAmp Peak Current 70kAmp

Rise Time 1 usec Rise Time 1 usec

400 ft. 560 kV 2,000 kV

600 ft. 800 kV 2,800 kV

 Strike to Support Structure

Support Peak Current, I

Top Phase Structure
Conductor Guard Wire

d = 1 meter
h = 10 meters
Magnetic Coupling

Span (l) Span (l)

 Strike to Support Structure
Equivalent
Circuit: I = Peak Current
= 20 & 70 kA
L L

Rg Rg

Rg

GND GND GND

Voltages Induced at Support
Structure
Voltages Induced on Phase Conductor
by a Strike to the Ground Wire at the Pole

Span Length Peak Current 20kAmp Peak Current 70kAmp

Rise Time 1 usec Rise Time 1 usec

400 ft. 140 kV 490 kV

600 ft. 150 kV 510 kV

 Lightning Outages 46kV -
500kV Lines
Total System Lightning Outages per 100 Miles
(Georgia Power Data)
10,000

46 kV Line
1,000
115 kV Line
Total Lightning
Outages
100
230 kV Line

10

500 kV Line
1
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
 Line Stress Factors
115 kV System Peak Current
3,200
Line Impulse Voltage Stress, kV

80 kA
2,800

2,400
FLASHOVER 60 kA
2,000

1,600 40 kA
1,200 115 kV System BIL
800
20 kA
400
200

10 20 30 40 50

Pole Grounding Resistance, Ohms

 Protection System
Options
Stroke Prevention:
• Dual Dissipator System (DDS)

Stroke Diversion:
• Ion Plasma Generator (IPG) System
 DDS Protection
Concept
DDS Wires
Electric Field Outside DDS: >
100 kV

Electric Field Inside DDS:

< 40 kV on DDS
< 30 kV on Phase Phase
Conductors Conductors
DDS Application
 IPG as Stroke Collector
“The Lower Cost Option”
Objective:

• Collect all Strikes that would otherwise

cause a tripout.

Concept:
• Provide the most effective collector (most
attractive force in competition with other
all other elements).
 IPG Collection Criteria
The Lightning strike - it’s a competitive event!

The IPG system must generate the most competitive path.

Competitors include:
Round Smooth Wires
Support Structures
Trees
Other Surrounding Objects
 Basic Principals

• Like Charges Repel

• Unlike Charges Attract

What Is The Attractive Force?

 Attractive Force Calculation
Measured In Newtons Or Kilograms Of Force
Kgf

Kgf =
Q L x Q S
2
( 4  O )d
4  O = Permeability Of Air
d = Distance Between QL and QS
QL
= Leader Charge
QS

= Streamer Charge
 Mature Storm Cell

Force Vectors

Ion Plasma
IPG Module

Conductor
 Design Criteria
• Objective:
– Create an ion plasma dense enough to win the
collector competition within the protected area.

• Method:
– Use multi-point discharge in the saturation mode;
under high stress conditions.
• Collection Range
– Made a function of diameter.

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 Typical IPG Situation
@ 100 Meters
+ + + + + + + + + ++ + + + +

EL

Parameters Of Concern
F
100 M EL= 1.8 x 108V
ELF = 1.8 MV/M
ELF 20 M
EI EI = 3.6 MV
F = Attractive Force 250 Kg F

Note: 250 Kg F for tower@20M Leader @ 100M

 DAS Attractive Force
Force of Static Field of MPDS charge.
1.E+05
Leader charge - 2 C
5K 1K
1.E+05 MPDS height - 20m
Electrostatic force, kgf 100

8.E+04
500

6.E+04

d 4.E+04
F
2.E+04

20 M 0.E+00
500 470 440 410 380 350 320 290 260 230 200 170 140 110

Distance from leader's tip to ground, m

Note: @ 200 Meters, F = 3,360 kgf

For LEC Hemispheres H48-84
 IPG Collection System
IPG Collector

Low Impedance
down-conductor
Chem-Rod
Low surge
impedance
interface
 The IPG
Pole Mounted
 Influence of Collection Volumes
200 289

150 227

100 145

50 72

20 29

1 Line Sag Reduces Risk

2 Smooth Wires Are Poor Conductors
3 IPG = An Extended Attractive Force Capture Path
Calculating the risk of a
1. No strikes below 40 kA cause tripouts
mid span strike (115kv) 2. Collections zones overlap at 90 kA
3. Currents between 40 kA & 90 kA ,<3%
4. 115 kA line @1200 ft., 31% exposed
5. (31%)(3%) = 1%
= 1 strike per 100

Mid span
Risk < 3%

%
All strikes
above collect

99%

40 Ka 90 Ka 200 Ka
 LEC Performance

Proof of Performance
Modeling Tests Performed by:
Mississippi State University
Systems Applications:
Mississippi Power & Light (120 km)
Louisiana Power & Light (100 km over a Lake)
Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo
The IPG Collection Factor:
• Over 10 Times Better Than A Rod

• Over 20 Times Better Than Guard Wires

•The IPG Cost Factor

Greater Than 30% Cost
Savings Per Installed Mile
 Substation Protection
Objectives
Prevent Strikes

• Prevent Surge Over-Voltages

• Reduce Protection System

Cost
 Strike Protection
LEC’s Two Options:
• Dissipation System Array - DAS
Prevents All Strikes

• Ion Plasma Generator - IPG

Reduces Risk of Strikes & Collects all other Strikes *

*No strikes to protected area

DAS Protection System
Substation
IPG Protection System
Substation
 Surge Prevention

Series-Hybrid Concept:

Surge
Interceptor
Station Low Protected
Energy
Arrestor Equipment
Arrestor
 Series-Hybrid
Concept Installation

Incoming
Power
Lines
LEC Surge
Interceptors

Station Class
Second Station Surge
Class Arrestor Arrestor

Insulator

Transformer
 The Patented Surge
Interceptor (SI)

• Easy Installation
• Prevents Passage of Line
Surges
• Lower BIL Requirements
• Much Lower
Construction/Replacement
Costs
Series-Hybrid Schematic
Surge Interceptor (no Input/Output
Capacitance)

Station Distribution
Class Class
Arrestor Arrestor

Station
Grounding Transformer
Resistance

Ground Ground
 SI Test Results
1 2 .00 k 1

2
8 .0 0k

4 .0 0k

0 .0 0 k
1
2

-4.0 0 k

1 0 .0 0 U 3 0 .00 U 5 0 .00 U 7 0 .00 U 9 0 .00 U

W F M .1 V 2 vs. T IM E in S ecs

Surge Voltage 500 kVolts, Surge Current 90 kAmp

V1 = 15.5 kVolts, V2 = 8.5 kVolts
 SI Performance Summary
Protection Surge Voltage Surge Current Peak Voltage on
Configuration (Line) Trans. (V2)

Series Hybrid 500 kV 155 kAmp 9.0 kV

SI Before Surge 500 kV 155 kAmp 11 kV

Arrestor

SI After Surge 500 kV 155 kAmp 10 kV

Arrestor

Surge Arrestor 500 kV 155 kAmp 16 kV

Only
 LEC Protection
LEC’s Protection Options:

• Dual Dissipator Total Strike

Prevention
• Ion Plasma Generator Prevention or
Collection
• Surge Interceptor Surge Prevention
for the Transformer
 “Engineering Solutions
To Lightning,
Grounding and Surge
Problems Worldwide Since 1971”

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