Distribution of Currents in the Lightning Protective System of a Residential Building-Part II: Numerical Modeling

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 2447 - 2455
• Main Authors: Lin Li, Rakov, V.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2008; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit testing; Circuit theory; Current distribution; Electrical engineering; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic modeling; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transforms; Frequency domain analysis; Grounding; Lightning; lightning electromagnetic field; lightning protective system (LPS); lumped circuit model; Numerical models; Power electronics, power supplies; Protection; System testing; Current source; Fourier transformation; Grounding; lumped circuit model; lightning protective system (LPS); Lumped parameter circuit; Inverse transformation; Lossy medium; Frequency domain method; Power electronics; Image method; Discrete method; Lightning discharge; Complex method; Time domain method; Lightning; Dipole; Current distribution; Numerical simulation; Electromagnetic field; Comparative study; lightning electromagnetic field; Circuit theory
• ISSN: 0885-8977; 1937-4208
• DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2008.923075

The distribution of lightning current in the lightning protective system (LPS) of a test residential building was experimentally studied in 2004 and 2005 at Camp Blanding, FL. Lightning was initiated using a rocket-and-wire technique and its current was injected into the LPS. Results are presented in the companion paper. The current distribution is modeled here using a model based on the lumped circuit theory in the frequency domain. The injected lightning current is represented in the model by an ideal current source. The effect of electromagnetic field radiated by the lightning channel is also accounted in the model (for one of the configurations tested). In field calculations, the lightning channel and the wire connecting the rocket launcher and the test house are modeled as vertical and horizontal electric dipoles above lossy ground. The discrete complex images method is used to calculate the electromagnetic field radiated by the electric dipoles. The time-domain current waveforms are obtained by means of the inverse Fourier transform. The calculated currents in the LPS are compared with those measured.