Applying Traveling Wave Theory To Surge Protection of Underground Distribution Systems letin 70026 1970 Reprinted from THE LINE, Fourth Quarter, 1969 zApplying Traveling Wave Theory To Surge Protection of Underground Distribution Systems 5.5. Kershaw, Jr Engineer Protective Equipment Section McGraw-Edison Power Systems Division South Milwaukee, Wisconsin Many schemes have been proposed for the protection of underground distribution systems against over- voltage transients. The reasoning which has led to the development of these schemes can be better under- stood by utilizing traveling wave theory and considering only those surges which enter cable circuits from the overhead line in the form of traveling waves. Only lightning phenomena will be con- sidered here, even though voltage transients can also develop from system disturbances, such as switch- ing surges or certain types of fuse blowing, Protection of underground distri bution systems differs from that for overhead because of the phenom- enon of voltage doubling that can ‘occur at open points in a system, Transient voltages approaching, twice the incident wave voltage can also occur at terminating trans- formers. The traveling wave is the result of a rapid voltage buildup at some point on the overhead system usually due to the discharge (or pre- discharge) of energy from a charged cloud (lightning). Lightning energy can be introduced on a line in two ways: inditectly by a stroke to a point remote from the system, or directly by a stroke to a system. Remote Strokes Remote strokes induce relatively low energy on a system because the lightning energy is dissipated directly to ground. The voltage to which a line can be charged by a remote stroke is dependent on line- to-ground capacitance and the proximity and intensity of the stroke. The magnitude of this voltage is limited by the unprotected line insulation level. In the remote stroke analysis, the system is not an intermediary in the path to ground of the lightning stroke. Current that does flow on a system as a consequence of the remote stroke results from the induced voltage and the line surge impedance. For example, the maxi- ‘mum transient current that can exist on a system with a surge im- pedance of 500 ohms (typical of open \wire distribution systems) and a line insulation level of 500 kv is 1000 amperes (Ohm's law). Itis conceivable that induced stroke voltages, resulting from strokes in close proximity to the system, could exceed the line insulation level, if not limited by protective equipment. This condition is treated as part of the following direct stroke analysis Direct Strokes Direct strokes to a line can produce line-to-ground flashover. Parts of a system remote from the flashover point are subject to traveling voltage waves in a manner similar to that produced by strokes separate from the system, The line-to-ground flashover arc voltage will produce 2 propagating voltage wave. The energy associated with this wave will be relatively small because the charged cloud energy has already found a preferential path to ground {lashover point) Essentially traveling wave theory involves a line charge voltage seem- ing to propagate ata rate determined by line characteristics. For overhead lines: 4 vic = 985 ft/usec (1000 feet/usec used in calculations) x10" cm/sec where ine conductor inductance C= line-to-ground capacitance See Figure 1. This voltage, propa- gating through the surge impedance Of the line (2 =\/UC) produces a line-charging cutrent. This line- charging current should not be con- fused with lightning surge current which does not flow until a path to {ground has been established Line Flashover May Not Occur A direct stroke to a line does not necessatily produce line flashover. When a lightning stroke strikes an overhead conductor, the voltage of that conductor rises rapidly, frequently at rates of 500 kv per microsecond or faster. The available cloud energy discharges to ground, through the conductor, when a path to ground is established—either by line flashover, equipment break- down, or lightning arrester sparkover. Since a voltage wave propagates from the stricken point at approxi- mately 1000 feet per microsecond, an appreciable distance can be traveled before the stricken point reaches flashover voltage. For in- stance, if a voltage at point Aon a lime to which a lightning stroke terminates rises at the rate of 500 kv per microsecond, the voltage dis- tribution over a conductor in one microsecond is shown by Figure 2The leading edge of the voltage wave has traveled a distance of 1000 feet in both directions from the stricken point during the time the voltage at point A has increased by 500 wv Assume that a lightning arrester having an impulse sparkover of 50 kv is installed at point B on the con- ductor (Figure 2). The leading edge (zero voltage) of the traveling voltage wave will arrive at point B in approximately 0.5 microseconds (500 feet + 985 feet/nsec). A 50-kv buildup across the arrester will occur in 0.1 microseconds (50 kv * 500 kv/usec). The arrester would spark over at 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.6 microseconds after the stroke contacted point A. The voltage at point A would have been held to 300 kv (500 kv/usec x 0.6 usec). Initiation of arrester gap sparkover diverts the traveling voltage wave to ground and allows the release of surge current energy from the cloud, through the 500 feet of conductor (distance from point A to point B), through lightning, arrester, to ground. Line Inductance ‘Once a path to ground has been established (preferably through a lightning arrester) the line changes from a surge impedance character- istic to an inductance because the line-to-ground capacitance is shunted in the vicinity of the ground path. In addition the line capacitance, being somewhat charged by the propagating voltage wave, becomes less effective. As a result, the line appears to the discharging lightning current as an inductor rather than @ surge impedance. The voltage that develops on a conductor due to the flow of surge current is equal Figure + ‘VOUTRGE, wv Figure 2 iRecnow oF