ABSTRACT
Protection of power systems from lightning-related damage and faults is crucial to maintaining adequate power quality, reliability, and controlling damage costs to the utility system. In the United States, the most severe lightning activity occurs in the southeast and Gulf coast states. However, lightning is also a major cause of faults and interruptions in areas with just modest lightning activity, such as New England. 660There are many facets in the design of lightning protection, including surge arrester sizing and placement, grounding issues, and the selection of appropriate power system equipment and insulation ratings. This chapter focuses on the factors that impact the lightning performance of power distribution systems, providing background on the characteristics of lightning, methods for calculating lightning flashover rates, and guidelines in the application of lightning protection equipment.
