See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/335528305

Estimation of the minimum backflashover current of 150 and 400 kV overhead

transmission lines through ATP-EMTP simulations: Effect of the lightning
stroke location along line spans

Conference Paper · August 2019

CITATIONS READS

0 73

5 authors, including:

Zacharias G. Datsios Pantelis N. Mikropoulos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
24 PUBLICATIONS   101 CITATIONS    121 PUBLICATIONS   803 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Thomas E. Tsovilis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
61 PUBLICATIONS   337 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Insulation coordination for power systems View project

Surge Protection View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Zacharias G. Datsios on 01 September 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 21st International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, Budapest, Hungary, August 26-30, 2019

ESTIMATION OF THE MINIMUM BACKFLASHOVER CURRENT OF

150 AND 400 kV OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES THROUGH
ATP-EMTP SIMULATIONS: EFFECT OF THE LIGHTNING STROKE
LOCATION ALONG LINE SPANS
Z. G. Datsios*, P. N. Mikropoulos, T. E. Tsovilis, V. T. Karakostas, and S. P. Mavidou
High Voltage Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
Thessaloniki 541 24, Greece
*Email: zdatsios@auth.gr

Abstract: The lightning performance of overhead transmission lines is greatly affected by

backflashover, that is, flashover of line insulation due to fast-front overvoltages caused by
lightning strokes terminating to towers or shield wires along line spans. One of the
parameters affecting the estimated backflashover rate of overhead transmission lines is
the minimum lightning current causing backflashover. In estimating this critical current,
the lightning stroke location along the span is usually disregarded. Actually, the
backflashover rate of overhead transmission lines is most commonly estimated based on
the critical current corresponding to lightning strokes to transmission towers. The fact that
lightning strokes terminate to shield wires along the span is considered indirectly by using
a multiplier coefficient (span factor) of 0.6; however, this coefficient is expected to depend
on the several influencing factors. In this study the minimum backflashover current of 150
and 400 kV double-circuit overhead lines of the Hellenic transmission system is estimated
through ATP-EMTP simulations considering the lightning stroke location along the span.
It is shown that the lightning overvoltages stressing line insulators decrease with
increasing distance of the lightning stroke location from the tower, taking the lowest
values at midspan; this behaviour is due to the lower current flowing through the tower for
midspan strokes. The minimum backflashover current increases with increasing distance
from the tower; this is less pronounced for relatively high ground resistance values. The
ratio of the total backflashover rate of the overhead lines to the backflashover rate for
strokes to tower only (span factor) is found to vary between approximately 0.5 and 0.9,
depending on tower ground resistance and transmission line geometry and insulation
level. Thus, the span factor may take values significantly higher than the commonly used
value of 0.6; this may lead to underestimating backflashover rate, especially for overhead
lines with relatively high ground resistance values.

1 INTRODUCTION calculations using simplified expressions [1-3] or

Backflashover of overhead transmission lines is
defined as flashover of line insulation due to
fast-front overvoltages caused by lightning strokes
terminating to towers or shield wires along line
spans. One of the parameters affecting the
estimated backflashover rate, BFR, of overhead
transmission lines is the minimum lightning current
causing backflashover, IBF. This critical current
depends on:
– overhead line geometrical and electrical
characteristics
– tower geometry
– tower grounding system geometry
– soil electrical properties
– lightning current waveshape
– phase angle of the power frequency voltage at
the instant of the lightning strike
– location of the lightning stroke along the span.
These influencing factors can be taken into
account in the estimation of IBF through analytical
through computer simulations [4, 5]. The latter
allow for the detailed modelling of the transmission
line components and of the complex phenomena
involved in backflashover [6-10]. However, in
estimating IBF the lightning stroke location along
the span is commonly disregarded. According to
CIGRE [2], the BFR of overhead transmission lines
is estimated based on the critical current
corresponding to lightning strokes to transmission
towers. In the same technical brochure [2], the fact
that lightning strokes terminate to shield wires also
along the span is considered indirectly by using a
conservative multiplier coefficient (span factor) of
0.6. However, this coefficient is expected to
depend on the influencing factors listed above.
In this study the minimum backflashover current of
150 and 400 kV double-circuit overhead lines of
the Hellenic transmission system is estimated
through ATP-EMTP [11, 12] simulations
considering the lightning stroke location along the
span. It is shown that IBF increases considerably
with increasing distance of stroke location from the
tower; this is due to reduced lightning overvoltages
stressing line insulation. The ratio of the total BFR
to that due to strokes to the tower only is obtained;
this ratio depends on tower ground resistance as
well as transmission line geometry and insulation
level.
2 TRANSMISSION LINE MODELLING
Geometry and characteristics of the investigated
150 and 400 kV double-circuit overhead lines of
the Hellenic transmission system are shown in
Figure 1. These typical transmission lines have
been employed in lightning overvoltage simulations
before in [13-20]. Details on modelling of line
components have been given in [19]. Briefly, ten
spans were considered in simulations, terminated
by long sections so as to avoid reflections. Each
span was modelled with a JMarti [21] frequency-
dependent model. The phase angle of the power
frequency voltage (cosinus function) at the
lightning stroke instant was varied from 0o to 330o
in 30o increments.
Four lossless frequency-independent distributed
parameter lines connected in series were used for
tower modelling. The surge impedance of the
double-circuit towers was calculated by
approximating them as cones. The Sargent and
Darveniza [22] and the Chisholm et al. [23] models
were adopted for lightning strokes terminating
respectively to the tower (vertical current injection)
and to the shield wire within the span (horizontal
current injection). Surge propagation velocity along
towers was taken equal to 85% of the speed of
light [24].
In order to obtain conservative simulation results,
the concentrated tower grounding systems were
represented by their low current and low frequency
ground resistance, R0, which was considered as a
150 kV 400 kV
Insulator length (m):
1.86 3.62
BIL (kV):
750 1425
Span length (m): 300 350
Shielding angle at tower (deg):31.6 19.2
Phase configuration: Superbundle
(A: upper phase)
3.2 m
5.2 m
3.9 m
5.2 m
3.9 m
40 cm
4.1 m
20 m
5.8 m
150 kV
Figure 1: Geometry and characteristics of the 150
and 400 kV double-circuit overhead lines of the
Hellenic transmission system.
parameter; soil resistivity values, ρ, used for line
parameter calculation were varied accordingly [19,
20]. Insulator flashover was predicted using the
CIGRE [2] leader development model with
parameters for negative flashover of cap and pin
insulators. This model was implemented in ATP-
EMTP with the aid of a type-94 circuit component
[17] considering the predischarge current flowing in
the gap during the leader development phase.
Several lightning stroke locations were considered
in simulations by dividing the span in 25 m
segments. The CIGRE [2] current source was
adopted for lightning current representation
(negative polarity). A 400 Ω resistance in parallel to
the source was used to simulate the effects of the
return-stroke channel [15, 25, 26]. The adopted
current waveshape parameters correspond to
median values: the time to half value was 77.5 μs,
whereas the front time and maximum steepness
were functions of the current peak [2].
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Computed overvoltages across line
insulation
Figure 2 shows computed overvoltages (withstand
cases) arising across the insulators of the 150 and
400 kV overhead lines due to lightning strokes to
the tower and midspan at the time instant of the
positive peak of the power frequency voltage of
each phase conductor. These maximum
overvoltages were obtained for power frequency
ground resistance values of 25 Ω and 100 Ω. It can
be seen that the overvoltages caused by lightning
strokes to midspan are considerably lower due to
the smaller current flowing through the tower (red
lines in Figure 2). Therefore, the minimum lightning
current causing backflashover of line insulation is
expected to increase with increasing distance from
the tower reaching its maximum value at midspan.
5.6 m
3.2 Minimum backflashover current
8.6 m
5.8 m
Figure 3 shows the variation of the minimum
backflashover current, IBF, with the phase angle of
8.5 m the power frequency voltage for several lightning
9.4 m
stroke locations along the span of the 150 and 400
kV overhead lines. From this figure it can be seen
8m that the phase angle determines the phase
6.4 m insulator where flashover occurs. For the
investigated double-circuit lines, the lower insulator
is more prone to flashover due to the reduced
coupling of the lower phase conductor with the
20 m
shield wire resulting in higher overvoltages (Figure
2). Consequently, the lowest (threshold) value of
IBF is obtained for a phase angle of 240o
8.4 m corresponding to the positive peak of the power
400 kV frequency voltage of the lower phase conductor.
From Figure 3 it can also be observed that IBF
varies considerably with the lightning stroke
 200
150 kV 10 Ω 25 Ω
175 50 Ω 100 Ω

Critical current, IBFthr (kA)

200 Ω
150

125

100

75

50

25

0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150
200 Distance (m)
175

Critical current, IBFthr (kA)

150

125

100

75

50

25
400 kV
0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175
Distance (m)
Figure 4: Variation of the threshold critical current,
IBFthr, of the 150 and 400 kV overhead lines with
the distance of the lightning stroke location (along
the span) from the tower; parameter: R0.
200
Tower
Midspan
175
Threshold critical current, IBFthr (kA)

150

125
400 kV
100

75

50

25 150 kV

0
Figure 2: Normalized overvoltages across the 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200
insulators of the 150 and 400 kV overhead lines Power frequency ground resistance, R0 (Ω)
together with the current flowing through the tower Figure 5: Variation of the threshold critical current,
(red lines). Lightning strokes to the tower and IBFthr, of the 150 and 400 kV overhead lines with
midspan; withstand cases. ground resistance, R0, for lightning strokes to the
Upper phase
flashover
Middle phase
flashover
Lower phase
flashover
Upper tower and midspan.
50

45 location along the span. This variation is better

Critical current, IBF (kA)

40 demonstrated in Figure 4 for the threshold critical

35 current IBFthr (lower insulator, phase angle: 240o)
30 with R0 as a parameter. Evidently, IBF increases
25
with the distance of the stroke location from the
Tower 25 m
20
50 m 75 m tower. This becomes less pronounced for higher
15 100 m 125 m
150 kV 150 m R0 values, as can also be seen from Figure 5,
10
110 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 which presents the variation of IBFthr with R0 for the
Phase angle (deg)
100 cases of lightning stroke to the tower and midspan.
Critical current, IBF (kA)

90 It is important that for strokes to the tower

80 backflashover could not be obtained for R0<~6 Ω
70 and 17 Ω for the 150 and 400 kV lines,
60 respectively. For midspan strokes, the
corresponding R0 values are ~13 Ω and 33 Ω.
Tower 25 m
50
50 m 75 m
40 100 m 125 m
400 kV 175 m
30
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 3.3 Backflashover rate
Phase angle (deg)
Figure 3: Variation of the minimum backflashover According to CIGRE [2], the backflashover rate,
current, IBF, with the phase angle of the power BFR, of an overhead transmission line is given as
frequency voltage (cosinus function) of the 150 and (backflashovers/100 km/yr):
400 kV overhead lines; R0 = 100 Ω.
 100

BFR  0.6 N s  f  I dI (1)
150 kV
I BF

BFR (Backflashovers/100 km/yr)

10
where NS (strikes/100 km/yr) is the annual number
of lightning strokes to shield wires, IBF is the
minimum backflashover current due to strokes to
1
the tower and f(I) is the probability density function
of the lightning crest current distribution given by
(2). In the latter Ī and σln are the median value and
0.1
the standard deviation of the natural logarithm of Tower
Midspan
the lightning crest current distribution taking values Total
of 30.1 kA and 0.76 [27], respectively. The span Total (simplified)
0.01
factor of 0.6 has been introduced in (1) to account 10 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200
for the effect of lightning strokes along the span to 400 kV Power frequency ground resistance, R0 (Ω)

the BFR of the line [2].

BFR (Backflashovers/100 km/yr)


 ln I  ln I   
2
1
f I   exp   (2) 1
2π ln I  2 ln2 
 

NS in (1) can be estimated as:

0.1

N s  0.1N g  2 Req b  (3)

where Ng (strikes/km2/yr) is the ground flash

0.01
density, b (m) is the separation distance between 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200
the shield wires and Req (m) is the equivalent Power frequency ground resistance, R0 (Ω)

interception radius of the shield wire:

 R  I , h  f  I dI
Req 
0
where R(I, h) is the interception radius and h the
average height of the shield wire. In this study, the
electrogeometric model of lightning attachment
proposed by IEEE Std 1243 [28] was adopted for
the calculation of Req.
For estimating the total BFR of the evaluated lines
using the simplified approach that is based on the
IBF obtained for lightning strokes to the tower only
together with the span factor of 0.6, using (1)-(4),
the BFR corresponding to each phase angle of the
power frequency voltage is calculated. The
average of all these instantaneous BFR values is
the total BFR (simplified) of the line.
This procedure is also followed for all lightning
stroke positions along the span of the line and the
total BFR is calculated as the average of the BFR
values at all positions in order to consider the
effects of lightning strokes along the span. In this
case, the span factor of 0.6 in (1) is disregarded.
Figure 6 depicts the backflashover rate, BFR, of
the evaluated 150 and 400 kV overhead
transmission lines as a function of R0 for lightning
strokes to the tower (black solid lines), midspan
(black dashed lines) as well as the total BFR of the
lines (red solid lines), that is, the average of the
BFR values along the span. BFR increases with a
progressively lower rate tending to upper limits at
relatively high R0 values. Figure 6 also includes the
Figure 6: Variation of the BFR of the 150 and 400
kV overhead lines with ground resistance, R0; Ng =
1 strike/km2/yr.
(4)
total BFR estimated according to the simplified
approach that is based on the IBF obtained for
lightning strokes to the tower together with the
span factor of 0.6 (blue dotted lines). This BFR
deviates from the total, depending on ground
resistance. Actually, the span factor, that is, the
ratio of the total BFR to the BFR at tower, was
found to vary in the range from 0.47-0.91 and 0.55-
0.85 for the 150 and 400 kV overhead lines,
respectively, depending on R0. Hence, using a
span factor of 0.6, as proposed by CIGRE [2], may
lead to underestimating BFR, especially for lines
with relatively high R0 values. A thorough
investigation is necessary to quantify the effects of
geometry and characteristics of typical overhead
lines on the span factor; this calls for further work.
4 CONCLUSIONS
The effect of lightning stroke location along an
overhead line span on the minimum backflashover
current and backflashover rate of the line has been
investigated. Two typical 150 and 400 kV double-
circuit overhead transmission lines were simulated
using ATP-EMTP software by considering the
power frequency tower ground resistance and the
phase angle of the power frequency voltage as
influencing parameters.
The lightning overvoltages stressing line insulators
decrease with increasing distance of the lightning
stroke location from the tower, taking the lowest
values at midspan; this behaviour is due to the
lower current flowing through the tower for
midspan strokes. The minimum backflashover
current increases with increasing distance from
tower; this is less pronounced for relatively high
ground resistance values.
The ratio of the total backflashover rate of the
overhead lines to the backflashover rate for strokes
to tower only (span factor) has been found to vary
between approximately 0.5 and 0.9, depending on
tower ground resistance and transmission line
geometry and insulation level. Thus, the span
factor may take values significantly higher than that
of 0.6 proposed by CIGRE; this may lead to
underestimating BFR, especially for lines with
relatively high R0 values.
REFERENCES
[1] A. J. Eriksson and K. H. Weck, “Simplified
Procedures for Determining Representative
Substation Impinging Lightning Overvoltages”,
CIGRE Paper 33-16, 1988.
[2] CIGRE Working Group 33.01, “Guide to
Procedures for Estimating the Lightning
Performance of Transmission Lines”, Technical
Brochure 63, 1991.
[3] A. R. Hileman, Insulation Coordination for
Power Systems, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL,
USA, 1999.
[4] IEEE Fast Front Transients Task Force,
“Modeling Guidelines for Fast Front
Transients”, IEEE Trans. Power Del., Vol. 11,
No. 1, pp. 493–506, 1996.
[5] A. Ametani, N. Nagaoka, Y. Baba, and T.
Ohno, Power System Transients: Theory and
Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL,
USA, 2014.
[6] M. S. Banjanin and M. S. Savić, “Some
Aspects of Overhead Transmission Lines
Lightning Performance Estimation in
Engineering Practice”, Int. Trans. Electr. Energ.
Syst., Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 79–93, 2016.
[7] R. Shariatinasab, J. Gholinezhad, K.
Sheshyekani, and M. R. Alemi, “The Effect of
Wide Band Modeling of Tower-Footing
Grounding System on the Lightning
Performance of Transmission Lines: A
Probabilistic Evaluation”, Electr. Pow. Syst.
Res., Vol. 141, pp. 1–10, 2016.
[8] A. R. J. Araújo, C. M. Seixas, S. Kurokawa,
and B. Kordi, “Overvoltage Analysis of
Transmission Towers Considering the
Influence of Tower-Footing Impedance”, in
Proc. XIV SIPDA, Natal, Brazil, 2017.
[9] A. R. Rodrigues, G. C. Guimarães, M. L. R.
Chaves, W. C. Boaventura, D. A. Caixeta, and
M. A. Tamashiro, “Lightning Performance of
Transmission Lines Based upon Real Return-
Stroke Current Waveforms and Statistical
Variation of Characteristic Parameters”, Electr.
Pow. Syst. Res., Vol. 153, pp. 46–59, 2017.
[10] J. Gholinezhad and R. Shariatinasab, “Time
Domain Modeling of Tower-Footing Grounding
System Based on Impedance Matrix”, IEEE
Trans. Power Del., early access, DOI:
10.1109/TPWRD.2018.2881696.
[11] Canadian-American EMTP Users Group, ATP
Rule Book, 1997.
[12] H. W. Dommel, Electro-Magnetic Transients
Program (EMTP) Theory Book, Bonneville
Power Administration (B.P.A.), 1986.
[13] Z. G. Datsios, P. N. Mikropoulos, and T. E.
Tsovilis, “Estimation of the Minimum Shielding
Failure Flashover Current for First and
Subsequent Lightning Strokes to Overhead
Transmission Lines”, Electr. Pow. Syst. Res.,
Vol. 113, pp. 141–150, 2014.
[14] Z. G. Datsios and P. N. Mikropoulos, “Modeling
of Lightning Impulse Behavior of Long Air Gaps
and Insulators Including Predischarge Current:
Implications on Insulation Coordination of
Overhead Transmission Lines and
Substations”, Electr. Pow. Syst. Res., Vol. 139,
pp. 37–46, 2016.
[15] Z. G. Datsios, P. N. Mikropoulos, and T. E.
Tsovilis, “Effects of Lightning Channel
Equivalent Impedance on Lightning
Performance of Overhead Transmission
Lines”, IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Compat.
DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2019.2900420, early
access, 2019.
[16] Z. G. Datsios, P. N. Mikropoulos, and T. E.
Tsovilis, “Impulse Resistance of Concentrated
Tower Grounding Systems Simulated by an
ATPDraw Object”, in Proc. IPST, Delft, The
Netherlands, 2011, Paper no. 39.
[17] Z. G. Datsios and P. N. Mikropoulos,
“Implementation of Leader Development
Models in ATP-EMTP Using a Type-94 Circuit
Component”, in Proc. 32nd ICLP, Shanghai,
China, 2014, pp. 735–741, Paper no. 270.
[18] Z. G. Datsios and P. N. Mikropoulos, “Effect of
Tower Modelling on the Minimum
Backflashover Current of Overhead
Transmission Lines”, in Proc. 19th ISH, Pilsen,
Czech Republic, 2015, Paper no. 26.
[19] Z. G. Datsios, P. N. Mikropoulos, T. E. Tsovilis,
and S. I. Angelakidou, “Estimation of the
Minimum Backflashover Current of Overhead
Lines of the Hellenic Transmission System
through ATP-EMTP Simulations”, in Proc.
ICLPS, CIGRE SC C4, Bologna, Italy, 2016,
Paper no. 32.
[20] Z. G. Datsios, P. N. Mikropoulos, T. E. Tsovilis,
and S. I. Angelakidou, “Effect of Concentrated
Tower Grounding System Modeling on the
Minimum Backflashover Current and BFR of
150 and 400 kV Overhead Transmission
Lines”, in Proc. ICHVE, Athens, Greece, 2018,
Paper no. O-TE1-2.
[21] J. R. Marti, “Accurate Modelling of Frequency-
Dependent Transmission Lines in
Electromagnetic Transient Simulations”, IEEE
Trans. Power App. Syst., Vol. PAS-101, No. 1,
pp. 147–157, 1982.
 [22] M. A. Sargent and M. Darveniza, “Tower Surge
Impedance”, IEEE Trans. Power App. Syst.,
Vol. PAS-88, No. 5, pp. 680–687, 1969.
[23] W. A. Chisholm, Y. L. Chow, and K. D.
Srivastava, “Travel Time of Transmission
Towers”, IEEE Trans. Power App. Syst., Vol.
PAS-104, No. 10, pp. 2922–2928, 1985.
[24] IEEE Working Group on Lightning
Performance of Transmission Lines, “A
Simplified Method for Estimating Lightning
Performance of Transmission Lines”, IEEE
Trans. Power App. Syst., Vol. PAS-104, No. 4,
pp. 919–932, 1985.
[25] A. Ametani and T. Kawamura, “A Method of a
View publication stats
Lightning Surge Analysis Recommended in
Japan Using EMTP”, IEEE Trans. Power Del.,
Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 867–875, 2005.
[26] L. V. Bewley, Traveling Waves on
Transmission Systems, 2nd Edition, Dover
Publications, New York, NY, USA, 1963.
[27] Lightning and Insulator Subcommittee of the
T&D Committee, “Parameters of Lightning
Strokes: A Review”, IEEE Trans. Power Del.,
Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 346–358, 2005.
[28] IEEE Guide for Improving the Lightning
Performance of Transmission Lines, IEEE Std
1243-1997, 1997.