Protection of Transmission Line against Over voltages

Feba koshy

Roll no:7
Power System and Control
GECBH

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 1 / 11

Protection against Lightning Over voltages

Over voltages due to lightning strokes can be avoided or minimized in

practice by
Shielding method-shielding the overhead lines by using ground wires
above the phase wires
Using ground rod and counter-poise wires
By using protective devices like Rod Gap,Arcing Horn,Lightning
Arresters

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 2 / 11

Lightning Protection using Ground Wires

Ground wire is a conductor run parallel to the main conductor of the

transmission line supported on the same tower and earthed at every
equally and regularly spaced towers
Made of galvanised steel wires or ACSR conductors
Increases the capacitance between conductors and ground
Thus reduce voltages induced on the conductors from nearby strokes
Does not allow an arc path to form between the line conductor and
ground

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 3 / 11

Lightning Protection using Ground Wires

When a ground wire is struck by direct lightning stroke,

shield the lines by attracting the lightning strokes to themselves
due to reduced impedance of current flow path no flashover is
produced
provides multiple paths for conducting the strokes current to ground
In order to provide efficient protection :
There should be an adequate clearance between the line conductors
and the ground
There should be an adequate clearance between the ground wires and
line
The tower footing resistance should be as low economically justifiable

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 4 / 11

Lightning Protection using Ground Wires

Figure 1: Shielding arrangement of overhead lines

(P-P) -phase wires ,G- ground wire

For good shielding of the line conductors, protective angle (α) does not
exceed 30°
Protective angle: The angle between a vertical line through the ground
wire and a slanting line connecting the ground wire and the phase
conductor to be protected .Ranges from 20° to 45°

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 5 / 11

Protection using Ground rods and Counter-Poise wires

When line is shielded,the lightning strikes either the tower or the

ground wire
Path for drainage of the charge and lightning current :
1 through the tower frame to ground
2 through the ground line in opposite directions from the point of striking
If the tower footing resistance is reduced,surge voltage developed is
also get reduced
For that, ground rod and counter poise wires are connected to tower
legs at the tower foundation
Ground rods:Number of rods about 15mm dia. and 2.5 to 3m long
Counter poise wires:Wires buried in the ground at a depth of 0.5 to
1m,running parallel to transmission line conductors and connected to
tower legs

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 6 / 11

Protection using Ground rods and Counter-Poise wires

Figure 2: Arrangements of radial (non-continuous) counterpoise wires

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 7 / 11
Protective Devices
Rod Gap or Coordinating gaps

Figure 3: Rod Gap

Protection to line insulators, equipment insulators and bushings of

transformers
Two rods of approx. 1.2 cm diameter or square, which are bent at
right angles
One rod is connected to the line while the other rod is connected to
ground
Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 8 / 11
Rod Gap

Distance between the gap and the insulator should be more than
one-third of the gap length
Disadvantage:Every operation of the rod gap creates an L-G fault
which can only be cleared by the operation of the circuit breaker
Results in circuit outage and interruption of power supply

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 9 / 11

Arcing Horn

Figure 4: Suspension string with arcing horns

Keeps insulator string,free from the arc

Consists of small horns attached to the clamp of the line insulator
string
Creates a spark gap across insulator with low breakdown voltage than
air, so an overvoltage will cause air to breakdown & arc forms
,diverting it away from insulator
Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 10 / 11
Lightning Arresters or Surge Diverters
Connected between the line and ground at the substation
When surge reaches the diverter, it sparks over at a certain prefixed
voltage ( point P)
Provides a relatively low-impedance path to ground
It limits the amplitude of the overvoltage across the line and ground
known as ‘residual voltage’(point Q)

Figure 5: Voltage chara. of surge diverter

Feba koshy DPPS Seminar 11 / 11