Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fractal-based lightning model for investigation of lightning direct strokes to the communication towers

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Electrical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, a fractal-based Lightning model simulates lightning downward leaders to investigate the direct lightning strokes to the communication towers. This model mimics the zigzag and the branched nature of lightning leaders with high accuracy. This model has the ability to simulate the probabilistic behavior of lightning downward leaders is also well modeled by using the fractal method. This paper also uses a recently introduced new model for charge distribution within the lightning downward leader's branches. The striking distance for a telecommunication tower is calculated using the fractal model. The results are compared with the Leader Progression Model results. Also, the electric field on the ground near the lightning strike point is calculated and compared with the measured values. Then the number of lightning strikes on the tower and antenna is examined. The results show that despite using the lightning rod in this telecommunication tower, about 2% of lightning strikes the antenna installed on this tower, and a suitable solution should be considered to reduce these strikes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hileman AR (1999) Insulation coordination for power systems. CRC Press

  2. Petrov NI, Waters RT (1995) “Determination of the striking distance of lightning to earthed structures. Proc Royal Soc London. Ser A: Math Phys Sci 450(1940):589–601

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dong L, He J, Zeng R (2010) A statistical view for fractal simulation of lightning. In: 2010 Asia-Pacific international symposium on electromagnetic compatibility, pp 1227–1230

  4. Nematollahi AF, Vahidi B (2021) The effect of the inclined lightning channel on electromagnetic fields and the induced voltages on overhead lines. Electr Eng, pp 1–14

  5. Wagner CF, McCann GD, MacLane GL (1941) Shielding of transmission lines. Electr Eng 60(6):313–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Young FS, Clayton JM, Hileman AR (1963) Shielding of transmission lines. IEEE Trans on PAS 83:132

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brown GW, Whitehead ER (1969) Field and analytical studies of transmission line shielding: part. IEEE Trans Power Appar Syst 5:617–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mousa AM, Srivastava KD (1988) Effect of shielding by trees on the frequency of lightning strokes to power lines. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 3(2):724–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Paolone M, Rachidi-Haeri F, Nucci CA (2010) IEEE guide for improving the lightning performance of electric power overhead distribution lines, IEEE

  10. Eriksson AJ (1987) An improved electrogeometric model for transmission line shielding analysis. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 2(3):871–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Taniguchi S, Tsuboi T, Okabe S, Nagaraki Y, Takami J, Ota H (2010) Improved method of calculating lightning stroke rate to large-sized transmission lines based on electric geometry model. IEEE Trans Dielectr Electr Insul 17(1):53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dellera L, Garbagnati E (1990) Lightning stroke simulation by means of the leader progression model. I. Description of the model and evaluation of exposure of free-standing structures. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 5(4):2009–2022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yahyaabadi M, Vahidi B, Tavakoli MRB (2010) Estimation of shielding failure number of different configurations of double-circuit transmission lines using leader progression analysis model. Electr Eng (Archiv fur Elektrotechnik) 92(2):79–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tavakoli MRB, Vahidi B (2011) Transmission-lines shielding failure-rate calculation by means of 3-D leader progression models. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 26(2):507–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tavakoli MRB, Vahidi B (2010) Transmission-lines shielding failure-rate calculation by means of 3-D leader progression models. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 26(2):507–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Rahiminejad A, Vahidi B (2016) LPM-based shielding performance analysis of high-voltage substations against direct lightning strokes. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 32(5):2218–2227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nematollahi AF, Rahiminejad A, Vahidi B (2019) A novel multi-objective optimization algorithm based on lightning attachment procedure optimization algorithm. Appl Soft Comput 75:404–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Pietronero L, Wiesmann HJ (1984) Stochastic model for dielectric breakdown. J Stat Phys 36(5):909–916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wiesmann HJ, Zeller HR (1986) A fractal model of dielectric breakdown and prebreakdown in solid dielectrics. J Appl Phys 60(5):1770–1773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Niemeyer L, Pietronero L, Wiesmann HJ (1984) Fractal dimension of dielectric breakdown. Phys Rev Lett 52(12):1033

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. Kawasaki Z, Matsuura K (2000) Does a lightning channel show a fractal? Appl Energy 67(1–2):147–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kawasaki Z-I (1988) Numerical simulations of lightning by means of the leader propagation model. In: NOAA, international aerospace and ground conference on lightning and static electricity. pp 44–46(SEE N 89-10429 01-47)

  23. Petrov NI, Petrova GN (1992) Modeling of lightning channel branching and bending. In: Proceedings of the 9th international conference on atmospheric electricity, vol. 3, pp. 675–679

  24. Takeuti T, Hashimoto T, Takagi N (1993) Two dimensional computer simulation on the natural stepped leader in summer. J Atmos Electr 13(1):9–14

    Google Scholar 

  25. Perera MDN, Sonnadara DUJ (2013) Fractal nature of simulated lightning channels. Sri Lankan J Phys 13(2):9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Vechi G, Labate D, Canavero F (1995) A fractal model of the fine structure of lightning radiation. In: Proceedings of 1995 Lnt’l aerospace and ground conference on lightning and static electricity, pp. 161–1610

  27. Li J, Yang Q, Sima W, Sun C, Yuan T, Zahn M (2011) A new estimation model of the lightning shielding performance of transmission lines using a fractal approach. IEEE Trans Dielectr Electr Insul 18(5):1712–1723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Tsonis AA, Elsner JB (1987) Fractal characterization and simulation of lightning. Beiträge zur Physik der Atmosphäre 60:187–192

    Google Scholar 

  29. Xiaojing L, Chang D, Caihong L (2009) Mathematical model analysis and improvement of Lightning simulation. In: Proceedings. the 2009 international symposium on information processing (ISIP 2009), p 25

  30. Rahiminejad A, Vahidi B (2017) An application of fractal-based lightning for SFR calculation of high voltage substations. Indian J Sci Technol 10:15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rahiminejad A, Vahidi B, He J (2019) A fractal-based stepped downward leader model including branched channel charge distribution and branch fading. Electr Power Syst Res 176:105940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Rahiminejad A, Vahidi B (2018) Fractal-based lightning model for shielding failure rate calculation of transmission lines. IET Sci Meas Technol 12(6):719–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yahyaabadi M, Sadoughi A, Karimi B (2015) Evaluation of parameters influencing the lightning performance of communication towers by numerical modeling and experimental tests. J Electrostat 77:35–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Aslani F, Yahyaabadi M, Vahidi B (2019) An intelligent-reduced time method to analyze lightning performance of communication towers and validation using experimental tests. Electr Power Syst Res 173:143–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Wagner CF, Hileman AR (1960) A new approach to the calculation or the lightning perrormance or transmission lines III-a simplified method: stroke to tower. Trans Am Inst Electr Eng Part III: Power Appar Syst 79(3):589–603

    Google Scholar 

  36. Aslani F, Yahyaabadi M, Vahidi B (2021) A new-intelligent method for evaluating the lightning protection system performance of complex and asymmetric structures. Electr Power Syst Res 190:106843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Cooray V (2003) The mechanism of the lightning flash. The lightning flash. . Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, pp 144–159

    Book  Google Scholar 

  38. Cooray GV (2003) The lightning flash, no. 34. Iet

  39. Becerra M, Cooray V (2006) A simplified physical model to determine the lightning upward connecting leader inception. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 21(2):897–908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Shi W, Li Q, Zhang L (2014) A stepped leader model for lightning including charge distribution in branched channels. J Appl Phys 116(10):103303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Cooray V (2003) The mechanism of the lightning flash. Lightning Flash 34:127–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering Department, Imam Hossein Comprehensive University, Shahid Babaei Highway - After Lashgarak Bridge - Central Location, Tehran, 1698715461, Iran

    Reza Ghaffarpour & Saeid Zamanian

Authors
  1. Reza Ghaffarpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saeid Zamanian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reza Ghaffarpour.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Author Reza Ghaffarpour declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author Saeid Zamanian declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ghaffarpour, R., Zamanian, S. Fractal-based lightning model for investigation of lightning direct strokes to the communication towers. Electr Eng 104, 2543–2551 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-022-01503-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-022-01503-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation