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Direct observation of lightning current is a fundamental approach to evaluating lightning parameters, which are among the most basic factors for the lightning protection design of various grounded objects. However, for a tall grounded structure, upward lightning flashes initiated from the top of the structure have usually been observed, and the direct observation results of downward flashes have been limited. We developed and installed a pair of Rogowski coils at Tokyo Skytree, which is a 634-m-high freestanding broadcasting tower in Japan (35.71°N, 139.81°E), and have conducted direct observation of lightning flashes striking the tower. As of November 2018, 70 lightning flashes striking the tower, 26 downward and 44 upward, have been observed since the end of February 2012. In this paper, we focus on the downward negative flashes that occurred at the tower for seven years from 2012 to 2018 and report on the observed results of typical waveform parameters of lightning stroke currents in comparison with other observed results on downward negative flashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observation of lightning current by using Rogowski coils started in February 2012 at Tokyo Skytree, which is a 634-m-high freestanding broadcasting tower. Electromagnetic field waveforms have been also observed by calibrated capacitive antennas at several tens of kilometers from the tower. Simultaneously observed lightning current and electric field waveforms are reproduced by using an electromagnetic model of a return stroke over lossy ground with the help of NEC-4. Lightning channel models with inclination are reconstructed from observed images. Consequently, it turns out that the electromagnetic field waveforms are affected by the geometrical shape of a lightning channel, current refractions in the tower, ground conductivity, and current wave velocity in the lightning channel. NEC-4 is quite useful for such analysis of lightning strokes hitting high structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the analysis of back‐flashover phenomena of transmission lines, accurate evaluation of flashover occurrence at arcing horns is necessary. In this paper, parallel gap flashover phenomena are studied theoretically in the following conditions: (i) the gap lengths are different, and (ii) after one of the gaps flashes overs, there remains some residual voltage. The formulae for the occurrence probabilities of concurrent flashover on these conditions are introduced. Based on the analysis, application to the analysis of multiphase flashover is discussed. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, very tall structures with heights more than several hundred meters have been constructed all over the world and observation of lightning has been made. The striking characteristics obtained from these observations are reviewed, and conventional and new shielding models are discussed. In addition, future themes of studies to be carried out are proposed. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Recently, concept of the lightning risk management has been proposed for the minimization of damages caused by lightning. In distribution systems (power distribution lines, low-voltage distribution lines, telecommunication lines, and customer appliances), lightning protection measures based on the lightning risk management are effective since the number of facilities is enormous. In this paper, for the establishment of lightning risk management method of distribution systems, we expressed the lightning risk assessment method of distribution systems and examined the influence of arrangement of customer house on the lightning risk values of power distribution lines and customer appliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine electric power companies in Japan have been collecting lightning data with lightning location systems. Five years of the lightning data (2009-2013) are summarized and analyzed in this paper. The recent annual number of lightning flashes of which the current is more than 10 kA in Japan is around 1 million. The variations of lightning occurrence characteristics by areas, seasons, and so on, are clarified. Meteorological conditions that may affect lightning occurrence are also discussed. Furthermore, we show that there is a clear correlation between the number of lightning strikes and the outage rate of transmission lines. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric geometry model suggested by Armstrong and Whitehead was used to calculate the performance of lightning-shielded transmission lines. However, since the ultra high voltage (UHV) designed transmission lines were brought into 500 kV operation, it has become evident that their actual performance is different from the calculated predictions in terms of their actual faults, lightning observation results, etc. It is thought that the UHV designed transmission lines are subjected to foggy or rainy conditions when lightning strikes, because they often pass through mountainous areas at higher altitudes. However, according to the electric geometry model, the striking distance is determined by the lightning-stroke current value only, and the model does not consider the environment of discharge path for the relevant lightning strokes. These considerations suggest that foggy conditions may affect transmission line lightning shielding performance. In this study, discharge tests were conducted using a scaled-down transmission line with a 5 m air gap. The discharge point to the simulated conductor was analyzed in both dry and foggy conditions. Tests were also conducted with a dc bias applied to the simulated power lines, to take the operating voltage of the lines into consideration. These experiments have shown that the effect of fog on the discharge ratio to the conductors is negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lightning occurrence characteristics around Tokyo Skytree are investigated with Japan Lightning Detection Network, and the results are evaluated with observation data by the Rogowski coils installed at a height of 497 m and by cameras set around Tokyo Skytree. After the construction of Tokyo Skytree, the apparent density of detected strokes near Tokyo Skytree increases, but without lightning strokes to Tokyo Skytree, the density of detected strokes around Tokyo Skytree seems to be roughly constant. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the incidence of ground lightning between the period of 1992-1995 in Japan. Establishment of the rational insulation design of power transmission systems; Information on lightning location systems in Japan; Description of the dispersion of lightning flash density in Japan; Examination of the relationship between the number of lightning strokes and thunderdays.