Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Determination of Lightning Arrester Value to 11/0.415 KV Distribution Substation Transformer on Unprotected Overhead Lines

Hachimenum Nyebuchi Amadi

Abstract


Lightning is among the major causes of outages in distribution networks. Over-voltages
arising from lightning strokes disrupt electricity supply by causing damages to transformers
and other sensitive equipment in the network. Transformers are a critical part of every
distribution network and serve the purpose of stepping down electrical energy to levels
suitable for consumption by the end users. Adequate protection of transformers and other
distribution equipment against lightning is a proactive measure to achieve high power
quality. Lightning arresters (LAs) afford reliable protection of equipment against damages
arising from lightning strikes. The study determined the actual value of lightning arrester by
evaluating its performance to a distribution substation transformer on unprotected overhead
lines in three different study locations namely Yenagoa, Port Harcourt and Owerri in
Bayelsa, Rivers and Imo States respectively. Data on thunder/lightning days covering a
period of ten (10) years for these locations were acquired from the Nigerian Meteorological
(NiMet) Agency and the Port Harcourt International Airport. The data were deployed in the
computation of ground flash density and other lightning parameters wherefrom the lightning
arrester value was determined using an on-line Arrester Works Calculator (AWC). The
findings show that the actual value of a lightning arrester is not its market value, but the cost
that the Utility would have incurred in replacing a failed distribution transformer were the
lightning arrester (LA) not in place in the event of a lightning strike on the overhead line. The
outcome of the study provides a simplified and practical technique for planning and design
engineers to evaluate the performances of lightning arresters in electric power distribution
systems.


Keywords: arresters, lightning, over-voltages, protection, transformers


Full Text:

PDF

References


REFERENCES

Pansini, A.J. (2005). “Guide to Electrical Power Distribution Systems”, 6th Edition, CRC Press.

Christodoulou, C.A., Vita, V. and Maris, T.I. (2017). “Lightning Protection of Distribution Substation by Using Metal Oxide Gapless Surge Arresters Connected in Parallel,” International Journal of Power and Energy Research, 1(1), April 2017. Available at

https://dx.doi.org/10.22606/ijper.2017.11001.

Trainba, M. and Ekonomou, L (2015). “Lightning performance of a HV/MV substation”, 10th WSEAS Int. Conf. on Energy & Environment (EE '15), Budapest, Hungary, 28–32.

Amadi, H.N. and Izuegbunam, F.I. (2016). Analysis of transformer loadings and failure rate in Onitsha Electricity Distribution Network. American Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 4(6), 157-163.

Oluseyi, P.O.; Akinbulire, T.O.andAmahian, O. (2018). Investigation of the Lightning Arrester operation in Electric Power Distribution Network. Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH), Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 490 – 497. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v37i2.27.

Piantini, A., de Carvalho, T.O., Obase, P.F., Janiszewski, J.M., Santos, G.J.G. and Fagundes, D.R. “The influence of Surge Arrester location on over-voltages caused by direct lightning strikes to MV Lines,” Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 8(3), pp508-514, March 2014.

Torres H. and Barreto L. (1996) “The lightning parameters andits spatial and temporal dependence”. Work Document CIGRE.

Torres H. (1998). Variation of Lightning Parameter Magnitudeswithin Space and Time. 24th. ICLP, England.

Aranguren, D., Tovar, C., Inampués, J., López, J., Soto, E., & Torres, H. (2015). Lightning effects on distribution transformers and reliability of power distribution systems in Colombia. Ingeniería e Investigación, 35(Sup1), 28-33. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.v35n1Sup.54069].

LEC (2020). Lightning Eliminators. Available at https://www.lightningprotection.com/?fbclid=IwAR3qZ65A2WeScqSR5bDRBIfkUA0bj4I5iInWBLabet7MIHLmX9QaGyPOT_I.

Nunoo, S. and Sey, A. E. (2018). Analysis of Lightning-Caused Distribution Transformer Failures in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Technology, Vol. 3, No. 1, 9 – 16.

Amadi, H.N. (2015). Power Outages in Port Harcourt City: Problems and Solutions. IOSR Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IOSR-JEEE), 10(2), 59-66.

Oluseyi, P.O.; Akinbulire, T.O.andAmahian, O. (2018). Investigation of the Lightning Arrester operation in Electric Power Distribution Network. Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH), Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 490 – 497. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v37i2.27.

Ribic J. (2015). Impact of line length on the operation of overvoltage protection in LV networks, Electric Power Systems Research, 121, 216–226.

Verho, P., Marttila, M., Kannus, K., Pylvanainen, J. and Pouttu, M. (2007). Optimization of overvoltage protection of distribution networks” 19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution, CIRED 2007 Session 5 Paper No 0616, Vienna Austria, 21-24 May, 1-4.

Yokoyama, S. (2007). Lightning protection of overhead power distribution lines. Available at https://doi.org/10.1002/tee.20199.

Darveniza, M. (2003). “Lightning Arrester Protection of Distribution Transformers – Revisited,” Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Australia, 22(2), 4.

Lightning Arresters. Available at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/electric_power/illustrated_glossary/substation_equipment/lightning_arresters.html

Afa, J.T. (2012). Lightning Activities and Ground Flash Density in Niger Delta Coast. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 7 (4): 339-341.

Bhavika, B. (2007). The influence of terrain elevation on lightning density in South Africa. Masters Thesis. University of Johannesburg.

Pinto, I.R.C.A. and Pinto, O. (2003). Cloud to ground lightning distribution in Brazil. J. Atmos. Solar Terr. Phys., 65:733-737.

Woodworth, J. (2012). “What is the value of a Distribution Arrester?” ArresterFacts 038. Available at http://www.arresterworks.com/arresterfacts/arresterfacts.php

Htwe, N.K. (2008).Analysis and Design Selection of Lightning Arrester for Distribution Substation, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 48.

Determination of Collection Rates. The IEEE 1410 Application Guide for Improving the Lightning Performance of Electric Power Overhead Distribution Lines. New York: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2011.

Alibaba (2018). Prices of Distribution Transformers and Lightning Arresters are as obtained online at https://www.alibaba.com on 26th September, 2018.

Definition of Terms. Available at https//:www.arresterworks.com/resources/calculators.php.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/ijepst.v6i1.1292

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.