Lightning Arrester : Working Principle, Types and Differences 6/14/22, 6:53 AM

What is Lightning Arrester : Working

Principle and Its Types
Lightning generates voltage surges in different ways and they directly hit
on your house. It can strike wiring of the circuit within the walls of the
house. Lightning can hit an object close to your home to cause a surge
like the ground or a tree. So it plays an essential role to protect the
electrical devices and traction installation from surges. The proper
protection for this device is very necessary to check the normal power
supply of rolling stock for smooth running in electrified sections. This
article discusses an overview of the lightning arrester, types, working,
advantages and disadvantages.

What is Lightning Arrester?

Definition: The circuit which is protected from the strokes of lightning
with the help of a protection device is known as lightning arrester. Here
the lightning strokes are nothing but surges with high transient voltage,
arcs of isolation, spark, and surge currents because of lightning, etc.
These devices are used to defend the power systems by forwarding the
high voltage surges in the direction of the ground. And these power
systems and over headlines can also be protected by using ground wire or
the earthing from the direct strikes of lightning. The lightning arrester
diagram is shown below.

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lightning-arrester

The arrangement of these devices can be done on the towers,

transmission poles and buildings to give a secure lane to the voltage &
discharging current. Here these can be occurred during the strokes of
lightning toward the ground to defend the system from the induced
problems of lightning.

Working Principle

Lightning arrestor working principle is, once the voltage surge travels
throughout the conductor then it reaches the location of the arrestor
where it is installed. So it will break down the insulation of the lightning
arrestor for a moment, so voltage surge can be discharged toward the
ground. Once the voltage of the system falls under the fixed value, then
the insulation will be restored among the ground & conductor. Further, the
current flow toward the ground will be stopped.

Types of Lightning Arrester

Generally, lightning arresters are classified into different types. The

construction of lightning arrestors is different based on its type but the

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Lightning Arrester : Working Principle, Types and Differences 6/14/22, 6:53 AM

working principle is the same. It provides a low resistance pathway to the

surges in the direction of the ground. The types are

Horn Gap Arresters

As the name suggests, this arrestor has two metal rods in horn-shaped.
The arrangement of these metal rods can be done around a small air gap.
The distance between these two rods can be increased because they
increase from the gap. The metal rods are located on ceramic insulators.

The connection of the horn can be done by connecting it to two dissimilar

wires. One side of the horn can be connected to the line throughout a
resistance & choke coil whereas the other side is grounded efficiently.

Horn-Gap-Arrester

horn-gap-arrester

The resistance restricts the flow of current toward a minute value. The
choke coil is used to provide less reactance at the usual power frequency
and also provides high reactance at transient frequency. Therefore the
choke coil doesn’t permit the transients to go into the apparatus to be
protected. The gap among the horns can be adjusted so that the usual
supply voltage is not sufficient to cause an arc.

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Multi-Gap Arresters

These types of arresters are designed with a sequence of metal cylinders

that are insulated and divided through air gaps with each other. In the
sequence of cylinders, the primary cylinder is connected toward the
electrical line, whereas the remaining cylinders are connected to the
ground by series resistance. Some of the gaps among the next cylinders
contain a shunt resistance that grabs a surge when there is a surplus of
voltage.

Valve-Type Arresters

These kinds of arresters are applicable to electrical systems that are high-
powered. These devices include two main parts like a sequence of spark
gaps as well as a series of non-linear resistor discs.

The working of these devices can be done whenever an extreme voltage

causes the spark gaps to stroke & the non-linear resisters hold the
voltage within the ground. Whenever the surge of surplus power stops,
the spark gaps can be pushed separately by the resisters.

Pellet-Type Arresters

The designing of these arresters can be done with glass tubes that are
filled with lead pellets. These are finished from an inside of lead peroxide
coated through the lead oxide.

Lead oxide within the lead peroxide is not powerfully conductive. Once the
lead oxide is heated up, it turns into lead peroxide and provides the place
to flow the current. Whenever the flow of current is transmitted, then the
lead peroxide will be changed reverse to lead oxide. This kind of arrester
is not broadly used.

Difference between Lightning Arrester and Surge

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Lightning Arrester : Working Principle, Types and Differences 6/14/22, 6:53 AM

Arrester

The difference between these two includes the following.

Lightning Arrester Surge Arrester

The installation of a lightning arrestor can be done The installation of surge arrestors
outside of the panel board. within the panel board.
The main function of this arrester is to protect the The main function of this arrester
apparatus from the outer surface. apparatus from inside
This arrester defends the system
This arrester is mostly used for lightning strikes as
lightning, surges, transients voltag
well as linked surges.
faults.
This kind of arrester redirects the flow of current to
This kind of arrester interrupts the
the ground throughout the arrester device to the
surplus energy toward the ground
ground.
The types of surge arrestors are d
The types of lightning arresters are rod, sphere,
voltage, station, DC, neutral prote
horn, multi gap, electrolyte, and metal oxide.
signal, network, etc.
This arrester cannot be used as a surge arrestor This arrester can be used as a sur

Location of Lightning Arrester

The arrangement of this arrester can be done near to the device that is
needed to be protected. Generally, these are connected among ground
and phase within an AC system, pole & ground within the DC system. For
every phase within an AC system, a separate arrester is used.

In a high voltage system, the surge diverter can be used to defend the
transformers, lines, circuit breakers, generators, bus bars, circuit breakers,
etc. The arrester like HVDC system is mainly used for protecting the filter,
unit reactor, buses,

Advantages

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Lightning Arrester : Working Principle, Types and Differences 6/14/22, 6:53 AM

The advantages of lightning arrestor are

Property damage can be reduced from strokes of lighting.

Outdoor equipment of the substation can be protected
Avoid damage in lines
Outlet surges can be avoided
Electromagnetic interference
Simple to use

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of lightning arrestor are

It occupies more space

The installation cost is high.

FAQs

1). What is lightning attracted to?

In the generalized scenario, lightning will be attracted by nothing. Lighting

happens on extreme high ranges to be impacted by the minimal things
along with the metal bodies.

2). How is the lightning arrester connected?

The lightning arrester is in parallel connection with the apparatus that

safeguards at the substation locations, which means in between earth and
line, the arrester is connected.

3). Is lightning DC or AC?

There is no specific conclusion to state that lighting is AC or DC, it is

termed as a sequence of impulse signals.

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Lightning Arrester : Working Principle, Types and Differences 6/14/22, 6:53 AM

4). Why do lightning arresters fail?

Arrester breakdown might happen in situations of dielectric failure or

when the device does not hold the ability to operate with extended
voltages.

5). How do Lightning Arresters Protect Power Systems?

When the system voltage levels increase, then arresters connect the path
to the ground and dissipate the energy.

Thus, this is all about an overview of the lightning arrester, types, working,
advantages and disadvantages. It is one kind of electrical device used to
protect the device from high voltages or surges. Here is a question for
you, what is the function of a lightning arrester?

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