LIGHTNING MODEL FOR HVDC TRANSMISSION LINES

M. You*, B. H. Zhang*, L. Y. Cheng*, Z. Q. Bo, A. Klimek

* School of Electrical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, China. E-mail:youmin1985@gmail.com

AREVA T&D Automation, UK. E-mail: zhiqian.bo@areva-td.com

Keywords: HVDC transmission line, lightning discharging

model, insulator string flashover model, tower model, arrester
model.

Abstract
In the paper, the complete lightning model for HVDC
transmission lines is presented, and the model is divided into
five parts: lightning discharging model, insulator string
flashover model, arrester model, tower model and
conductor/ground wires model. The proposed lightning model
was successfully tested in the PSCAD/EMTDC software. And
the model is shown to be a potential tool for studying on
lightning disturbance identification of DC line protection.

1 Introduction
HVDC transmission lines are suitable for long-distance power
transmission. Complex geographic conditions and
meteorological conditions along DC transmission lines make
it a great possibility in lightning striking on the line. For DC
line protection, correctly distinguishing the transient signals
caused by lightning shock or line faults is one of the key
problems that must be solved. Therefore, in order to
comprehensively and better study the identification of
lightning shock, it is very significance to establish a detailed
lightning model.C
It has been shown that the lightning discharging model is
presented by a current source equivalent circuit based on
double exponential function. And lightning current
waveforms mainly include: 1.2/50s, 4/300s, 10/200s,
10/700s waveforms (recommended by National Standard)
and 8/20s, 10/350s common waveforms. Considering the
lightning flashover phenomenon, the insulator string
flashover model is proposed, which can generally be
presented by a capacitor parallel with a voltage-controlling
switch. In essence, the voltage-controlling switch is
controlled by both 50% breakdown voltage characteristic and
volt-second characteristic to determine whether the insulator
string is flashover or not. HVDC transmission line arresters
are generally installed at the dc side exit of converters, which
are mainly used for avoiding the lightning waveform
spreading alone lines into the converters to damage the
valuable equipment. The mathematical model of arrester is
Project Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China
(50977074)

usually presented by its volt-ampere characteristics. Moreover,

three kinds of simulation models for transmission line tower,
contain lumped inductance model, single-wave impedance
model and multi-wave impedance model, are discussed.
Finally, it is shown that PI model Bergeron Model and
Frequency Dependent Line Model are common models of DC
transmission lines. And the Frequency Dependent Line Model
is adopted for the reason that DC line is usually very long and
the research object is about wide frequency band transient
signals.

2 Lightning Model
2.1 Lightning discharging model
The substance of thundercloud to ground discharge is the
sudden release of thundercloud charge. Although it needs
high initial electrical potential to breakdown atmosphere,
forming leader-main discharge, the potential of stricken
object on the ground is not up to the initial potential, but the
product of lightning current and its impedance (the impedance
between stricken point and zero potential). Therefore, the
above is like the procedure of a current supply [1]. Figure 1
shows the calculation model of the discharge of a common
lightning current, where, i0 represents lightning current, i
represents the current flowing the stricken object, Z0
represents the lightning channel surge impedance(generally
300), A represents lightning strike point, and Z represents
the impedance between breakdown point and the ground.

Figure 1: Calculation model for lightning discharging

Many experimental results show that lightning current almost
increases with time exponentially to the peak, then declines
with the same trend. Bruce and Godle proposed lightning
current waveform double exponential function [2, 3], as in
equation (1):
(1)
i0 (t ) kI 0 (e D t  e  E t )
Where, I0 represents the peak of lightning current (kA to
hundreds kA), and i0 (t) represents the instantaneous lightning
current, as shown in the Figure 1. and represent wavehead and wave-tail attenuation quotients of lightning current,
respectively. And k represents the waveform correction index.

In this paper, lightning current waveforms are classified in the

following categories: National Standard recommended
lightning experiment waveforms 1.2/50s 4/300s
10/200s 10/700s, and the common used 8/20s
10/350s. According to the definition of standard waveform
[3], parameters corresponding to different lightning current
waveforms are calculated, as in Table 1:
Lightning
waveform
1.2/50s
4/300s
10/200s
10/700s
8/20s
10/350s

Wave-head
attenuation
quotient
1.473104
2.394103
3.914103
1.028103
7.714104
2.127103

Wave-tail
attenuation
quotient
2.08106
6.47105
2.31105
2.579105
2.489105
2.461105

Waveform
correction
index k
1.043
1.025
1.091
1.026
2.45
1.051

Table 1: Parameter values of different lightning waveforms

Typically, the 1.2/50s lightning current discharge model is
conducted in PSCAD, as in Figure 2(a), and the output
waveform is shown in Figure 2(b). It can be seen that the
wave head and wave tail of lightning current happen
punctually, proving the accuracy of the model.

(a) Standard 1.2/50s lightning discharging model under PSCAD

environment

characteristic & volt-second characteristic, i.e. there are two

ways to decide whether the insulator string is flashover or not,
as following [5]: 50% breakdown voltage method of insulator
string and volt-second method of insulator string.

Figure 3: Insulator string flashover model

1. 50% breakdown voltage method of insulator string
The 50% breakdown voltage U50% (kV) of standard cap and
pin type suspension insulator or long insulator string is only
related to the strings length, which basically increases
linearly with the length increases. The relationship between
them can be expressed as below [5, 6]:

U 50%

5.33L  110

(2)

In the equation (2), L is the length of insulator string, using

cm as the unit.
The experimental results of Kundson show that regardless of
whether it is in dry or wet condition, the existence of different
polarities DC voltage make the 50% breakdown voltage of
insulator string slightly less than the breakdown voltage
without the working voltage. Moreover, within the voltage of
f300~f600kV, the 50% breakdown voltage Udc50% can be
expressed [5, 7] approximately by using the equation (3):

U dc50%

U 50%  U dc  100

(3)

Where, Udc50% is the 50% breakdown voltage considering the

DC working voltage and U50% is the 50% breakdown voltage
without taking DC working voltage into account.

(b) Standard 1.2/50s lightning waveform

Figure 2: Lightning waveform

2.2 Insulator string flashover model

The insulator string involved in the simulation model is

referred to the rod suspension composite insulator string, the
model number of which is FXBZ-500/180-7200, used by
Gui-Guang 1# f 500kV HVDC transmission line and
provided by McLean Electric Power Co., Ltd., Guangzhou.
The insulator length is 5.03m and according to the equation (3)
the 50% breakdown voltage of positive DC line insulator
string is calculated as 2391 kV while 3391 kV is the 50%
breakdown voltage of negative DC line insulator string.

Insulator string flashover model can be equalled as a

capacitance(C) parallel with a voltage-controlling switch(S),
as in Figure 3, where C indicates the coupling between
insulator string (before flashover) and conductor. Typically,
the value of cap and pin type suspension insulator is 80 pF/p,
and the value of pin insulator is 100 pF/p. Moreover, C is
chosen as 0.003F in this paper.

Figure 4: 50% breakdown voltage flashover model

Voltage-controlling switch(S) is controlled by the voltage

across the insulator string and 50% breakdown voltage

The 50% breakdown voltage flashover model under the

PSCAD simulation environment is listed in the Figure 4. By

respectively comparing the positive and negative polarity

voltage (U1 and U2) across the insulator string with the
corresponding 50% breakdown voltage, the close signal can
be given to the voltage-controlling switch once the former is
bigger.

comparison of the voltage across insulator string (U1) and

voltage Uu_t calculated by equation (4) begins. Once there is
U1>Uu_t, the signal BRK3_U is triggered immediately, then
the voltage-controlling switch S closes.
2.3 Arrester model

2. Volt-second characteristic method of insulator string

Generally, the mathematical model of lightning arrester is

The breakdown voltage relates to the discharge delay under expressed by its volt-ampere characteristic, the processing
the same standard impulse voltage waveform, which is the methods of which can be divided into two types [11]: one
volt-second characteristic [8]. Since 1960s, Darveniza and his method is the fitting method, including single exponent fitting
assistants had done quite a lot of experiments on it, and the and poly-exponent fitting, both of which are calculated by
experimental results showed that the volt-second fitting formula. The single exponent fitting method is to fit
characteristic of insulator string can be expressed as the the volt-ampere characteristic by using only one exponent
function of the insulator strings length [9, 10], as equation (4) during the whole value range, while the poly-exponent fitting
method is to fit the characteristic by divide the value range
listed below:
into several sections. The other method is fractionation
710 L 4
method, which selects the characteristic points according to
U u t 400 L  0.75
the electrical characteristic of MOA, then use these points to
t
constitute the characteristic curve of the lightning arrester.
Where, U u t is the breakdown voltage, the unit of which is kV;
L stands for the length of insulator string with m as its unit;
and t represents the time interval from the lightning strike to
flashover, using s as the unit.
As the length of insulator string differs, the variation of the
flashover voltage with time is as Figure 5 shows.
7000
1m
2m
3m
4m
5.03m
6m

6000

Flashover Voltage / kV

5000

4000

In the reference [12], the author points out that using the
single exponent fitting method in the whole value range of the
current is inaccurate, especially in the small current and huge
current value ranges. While the poly-exponent fitting method
improve the calculation accuracy by dividing the value range
into several sections, however, this method is likely to
generate singular points, which would lead to no convergence
results. But the fractionation method requires only some
typical volt-ampere values to fit the whole volt-ampere
characteristic, the process of which is much simpler. The
parameters of volt-ampere characteristic is provided by GuiGuang 1# DC line lightning arrester, the detailed parameters
can be seen in the Table 2(the benchmark value of the voltage
can be set as the rating volt 550kV).

3000

U (p.u.)
I (kA)
U (p.u.)
I (kA)

2000

1000

5
t / s

10

Figure 5: Volt-second characteristic curves of insulator

strings with different lengths

Figure 6: Volt-second characteristic flashover model

The simulation model of volt-second characteristic of
insulator string under PSCAD environment is as Figure 6
shows. When lightning strikes the tower top or line, the

4.610
0.0004
5.700
4.0

4.760
0.02
6.392
20.0

5.168
0.4
6.800
40.0

5.270
0.8
7.412
80.0

5.440
2.0
8.364
160.0

5.576
3.2

Table 2: V-I characteristic values of f 500 kV DC line

arresters
2.4 Tower model
There are three simulation models for tower [13], namely
lumped inductance model, single-wave impedance model and
multi-wave impedance model.
(1) Lumped inductance model: generally speaking, lumped
inductance is adopted to simulate tower when the tower
height is below 30 meters, however, this method neglects
wave propagation process on the tower.
(2) Single-wave impedance model: this method considers the
wave propagation process on the tower, and takes the tower
as a uniform parameter, so its better than the lumped
inductance model.
(3) Multi-wave impedance model: with the highest
calculation accuracy, considering the variation of tower

parameter as its height varies, as well as the wave propagation

process.

range. As a result, its the most precise model among the

three, but with the longest calculation time [14].

As a result, multi-wave impedance model is adopted in this

paper, and the model in PSCAD is shown in the Figure 7(a).
The values of cross-arm & tower wave impedances and earth
resistance are given in the literature [5]. Figure 7(b) is the
tower simulation interface defined by the author for an
intuitive view.

Take the long HVDC transmission line and fault transient

travelling wave rich in frequencies into account, Frequency
Dependent Line Model is the most suitable model in the paper.

(a) Tower simulation model

(b) Tower simulation interface

Figure 7: Tower model

2.5 Conductor/ Ground wire model
Three simulation models of HVDC transmission lines are
available in PSCAD/EMTDC: PI model, Bergeron model and
Frequency Dependent Line Model.

Table 3: Parameters of DC line conductors and ground wires

(3) Frequency Dependent Line Model, in which parameters
vary with frequencies, can accurately describe the transient
travelling wave propagation process in a wider frequency

Reactive
Power Source

0.0057

AC Filter

12

DC Filters

Ground
wires

DC Filters

Conductors

Parameters
29
15.6
1.0e-11
2
4
0.5
0.01514
18
0.03666
1043
0.0057
9
4

The literature [15] provides the HVDC transmission system,

shown in the Figure 8. The models, introduced in 2.1-2.5
sections, are added in the system, and lightning striking
simulations (i.e., lightning strikes the tower top and lightning
strikes directly on the line) are shown in Figures 9 and 10.
And the curves stand for the DC voltage and current sampled
at the rectifier side.

AC Filter

Tower

Subjects
conductor height(m)
conductor level interval(m)
conductance (S/m)
ground wire number
bundled conductor number
geometrical mean distance (m)
radius (m)
sag height (m)
dc resistance (/km)
length (km)
radius (m)
sag height (m)
vertical distance away form
conductor (m)
level interval between ground
wires (m)
dc resistance (/km)

3 Simulation

Reactive
Power Source

(1) PI model is a lumped parameter model, and the line

parameters are unrelated to the frequency. It is applicable for
short lines. For example, when the simulation step is 1s, its
travelling wave propagation distance is 300 meters, so lines
within 300 meters can use PI model.
(2) Bergeron model, with discrete inductance and capacitance
parameters, is similar to the combination of numberless of PI
models. It can only roughly reflect impedance variation in
different frequencies. However, the Bergeron model is
suitable for research on one certain frequency.

There are two ways to input transmission line parameters in

PSCAD: input the geometric parameters of transmission line,
i.e. the design data of tower and line (such as tower height,
wire radius, bundled numbers and so on), or input the
electrical parameters, i.e. resistance and reactance per
kilometre. The former is adopted in the paper and detailed
parameters are listed in the Table 3. Besides, the soil
resistivity is 200 m and the soil relative permeability is set
as 1.

Figure 8: Schematic diagram of HVDC transmission system

Take lightning strikes the midpoint of DC line as an example,
shown in the Figure 10, to illustrate the dynamic response
process of HVDC system after stricken by lightning. During
normal operation of the HVDC system, assume that lightning
strikes the DC line midpoint at 0.5 s, the DC line volt rises
instantaneously, which results in the potential difference
across the insulator string increasing. When the flashover
criterion of insulator string is met, the string is broken down,
shown in Figure 10(a). As a result, the stricken DC line is
connected to the earth. Immediately, converter firing angle is
adjusted by HVDC system control strategy to quickly lower
the DC line voltage. Meanwhile, the DC line current is also
reduced by the low-voltage current-limiting control strategy.
After some while (about 0.05 s), the DC voltage and current
tend to be another steady-state again. Moreover, assume that
the fault disappeared at 0.7 s, the voltage and current reach to
be the normal steady-state at 1.0 s in the role of the controller,
respectively. Of course, if the insulator string is not broken
down, shown in the Figure 10(b), as a result of travelling
wave refraction and reflection, the voltage and current
gradually attenuate to be normal stable, respectively.

(2) Actualization. In order to better reflect actual situation,

two insulator string flashover models, arrester model,
tower model and conductor/ground wires model are taken
into consideration.
(3) Concretization. In view of the tower model, lightning
strikes at the tower top as well as lightning directly
strikes on the line can both be realized in the HVDC
system.
(a) Causing insulator string flashover

(b) Not causing insulator string flashover

Figure 9: Standard 1.2/50s lightning current strikes the

tower top at the line midpoint

(a) Causing insulator string flashover

(b) Not causing insulator string flashover

Figure 10: Standard 1.2/50s lightning current directly strikes

the midpoint of dc line

4 Conclusion
The purpose of this paper is to lay the foundations of
lightning model for DC line protection, to highlight
diversification, actualization and concretization of the
lightning model.
(1) Diversification. Proposed lightning current waveforms
contain four National Standard recommended lightning
experiment waveforms and two common used ones.

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