Lightning-Induced Voltages on a Distribution Line With Surge Arresters Using a Hybrid FDTD–SPICE Method

Installing lightning arresters is an effective way to protect distribution lines from lightning-induced voltages. Spacing effectiveness of lightning arresters is one of the main concerns in the industry. Different separation distances of arresters have been proposed in the literature. In these studies, the simulations are made with simplified circuit models, which are not sufficient to support their conclusions. This paper presents a hybrid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) SPICE method for analyzing lightning-induced overvoltages on a distribution line with arresters being installed. The FDTD method gives a full-wave solution of the induced voltages. To handle nonlinear lightning arresters, this FDTD method is integrated with a circuit solver SPICE. A diode-based model for the arrester is proposed using a SPICE subcircuit and is coupled to the FDTD domain as a connecting port. For the verification purpose, the method is compared with the results obtained in the rocket-triggered lightning experiment, in which no arresters were installed. Lightning-induced overvoltages on the distribution line with different arrester spacing arrangements are analyzed finally. Efficient arrester spacing under both first and subsequent strokes is investigated.