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Lightning strikes near Medium Voltage (MV) electricity distribution lines cause voltage transients to be induced onto the conductors of the power lines. The resultant Lightning Induced Overvoltage (LIOV) on the phase conductors may be estimated using computer models or measurements. Models and measurements are mostly limited to short floating lines to simplify calculations and to ensure accurate results that can be easily compared between different models. Existing measurement methods cannot be used to distinguish between nearby lightning and direct lightning strikes to an operational MV network by using only one instrument on a line that is more than 100 km long. The instrument needs to be less than a hundred meters from where the LIOV amplitude on the line is the highest. The new method described in this paper allows one to distinguish between nearby and direct lightning strikes to the line; by comparing the polarity of the current transient recorded at the substation to the lightning return-stroke polarity obtained from a lightning detection network. The new method also allows one to determine whether the LIOV of a particular lightning transient exceeded the Basic Insulation Level (BIL) of the line, by observing the power frequency fault current. The new method was applied to an operational 714 km network operating at 22 kV, and the results were compared with predictions in IEEE Std 1410-2010. Significantly fewer line faults due to nearby lightning were observed than predicted; the reason for this is explained.

This paper presents application of line surge arresters on the compact transmission lines. Single and double circuit compact transmission lines are considered. Line lightning performance is computed using sigma slp simulation software. Different line surge arrester installation configurations are considered. Line lightning performance is computed for different tower footing resistance. Line performance before and after line surge arrester installation are compared. Line lightning performance of the unshielded line with line surge arresters is compared with the performance of the shielded line without line surge arresters. For double circuit shielded compact lines, double circuit outage rate is computed. Influence of the tower footing resistance on the double circuit outage rate is presented. KEYWORDS

This paper presents application of line surge arresters (LSA) on the different voltage level multi circuit overhead lines. Double circuit shielded compact line with and without distribution circuit on the same tower is analyzed. Distribution circuit has lower insulation level, meaning that almost all flashovers will happen on that circuit. Flashovers on the distribution circuit help to improve lightning performance of the transmission circuits. Flashovers on the distribution circuit diverts fraction of the lightning current along its phase conductors, improving at the same time coupling between distribution and transmission circuits. All software simulations are performed using sigma slp software package. A short description of the modeling for multi circuit flashover rate determination is given. In order to prevent flashovers on the distribution circuit LSA are installed on this circuit only. The improvement in the transmission circuit lightning performance is similar to that obtained without LSA. LSA installed on the distribution circuit are much cheaper than transmission LSA. KEYWORDS