3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN POWER SYSTEMS MPS 2010, 18-21 MAY 2010, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Rolling Sphere Method Application for HV
Lines
D. Machidon, M. Istrate, M. Gu and M. Dragomir
Abstract--One of the most important aspects to be considered
when designing an overhead power transmission line is the
protection against direct lightning strokes. In this paper
graphical determination rules of the protective zones given by
ground wires systems using the rolling sphere method are
presented. The methodology and the obtained mathematical
relations are applied to determine the dimensions of the
protective zones for several power transmission lines, with
different tower types.
Index terms--high voltage overhead lines, protective zones,
rolling sphere method.
I. INTRODUCTION
D IRECT lightning strokes are one of the most important
cause of the power transmission systems failure, the
lines being the most exposed elements to direct lightning
strokes. Serious failures that may occur require a special
focus on their protection against direct lightning strokes.
The minimum risk for direct lightning strokes in the
phase conductors of a transmission line is obtained when the
protective zone zone is one of the most important stages in
the power transmission lines design.
In this sense, one of the most effective methods is the
rolling sphere method, which is based on electro-geometrical
theory. The main hypothesis of the method is based on
the idea that the lightning strikes the nearest object on the
earth situated at the so-called orientation distance from the
descending leaders head. Thus, one can imagine one
sphere which is moving towards the ground and which has
the radius equal with the orientation distance. The head of
the descending leader is considered to be in the center of this
sphere. The first object touched by this virtual sphere will be
stricken by the lightning [1].
II. PROTECTIVE ZONE DIMENSIONS DETERMINATION
The lightning protection systems of the power
transmission lines include the ground wires and the towers,
the last ones being considered as vertical lightning rods.
The analysis can be conducted for the cases where the lines
towers height, h, is greater or smaller than the rolling sphere
radius, R.
D. Machidon, M. Istrate, M. Gusa, M. Dragomir are with Technical
University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi, ROMANIA.
In Fig. 1 is given the drawings of the sections through the
protective zone of two ground wires placed on a rectangles
sides, at the same height, fixed on vertical rods, which can
be assimilated with that created by two adjacent towers and
two ground wires.
For these drawings, should be done some considerations,
as follows:
The R radius arcs, vertically determine the outline of the
exterior areas of the protective zones, which results from the
rolling of the rolling sphere around the vertical rods and
along the ground wires;
The horizontally sections next to the vertical rods at the
ground level, respective at the hx height, are determined
by arcs of circles having the radius given by the following
formulas:
If h < R, than r0 = h(2 R h) , rx = r0 hx (2 R hx ) (1)
If h < R, than r0 = R , rx = R hx (2 R hx ) (2)
Along the ground wires, the horizontal sections through the
protection zone are delimited by lines which are parallel with
the wires traces in the horizontal plane, at the distances
given by following formulas:
b0 = h (2 R h) and bx = b0 hx (2 R hx ) (3)
For the protective system with one ground wire, if h > R
the rolling sphere partially intrude under the ground wires,
and if the distance a, between the vertical lightning rods, is
smaller than the radius R, then maximum height of the
protective zone, in the perpendicular section, is given by:
hm = 2 R h (4)
The upper section of the protective zone is given by
the rolling sphere which stays on ground wires (distance
2a2 in Fig. 1), the inner minimal height of the protective zone
being:
h0 = h R + R 2 a 22 (5)
In the plane crossing on ground wires situated at the
distance 2a1, the outline of the inner upper areas of the
protective zone is given by a straight line having the length
equal with 2a1 -2a2, placed at height h0, and connected at the
ends, in the vertical plane of the ground wires traces, with
arcs having the R radius.
In order to have a more complete perspective on the
appearance of the protective zone in Fig. 2 is presented the
3D images of the protective zones associated with the rolling
sphere which generates them.
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 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN POWER SYSTEMS MPS 2010, 18-21 MAY 2010, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
III. THE PROTECTIVE ZONES FOR SOME 400 KV
TRANSMISSION LINES
The described above methodology can be applied in
order to determine the protective zones generated by the
Fig. 1. Ground wires placed on a rectangles sides, at the same height, fixed on vertical rods, for h > R
Fig. 2. The 3D aspect of the protective zone generated by a system of
two ground wires
TABLE I
ANALYZED TRANSMISSION LINES DESCRIPTION
The dimensions of the analyzed towers are taken from
[3]. The length between two adjacent towers is of 375 m and
the insulators length is of 3.57 m. The dip of the phase
conductors and ground wires is of 10 m and respectively of 8
m.
To obtain the dimensions of the protective zones is
essential to establish the minimal intensity of lightnings
current that can produce insulators flashover, the rolling
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ground wires and the towers of several 400 kV overhead
lines.
The analyzed transmission lines are realized on three
different tower types presented in the table I:
sphere radius being determined by the value of this current.
The minimal intensity of lightning current at the striking of
the t o w e r s l i n e g i v e n i n t h e R o ma n i a n N o r ma t i v e
N T E 0 0 1 /03/00 (Normative regarding insulation
coordination and power systems protection against high
voltages) is of 150 kA [4]. According to the methodology
used to determine the specific number of the disconnections
of the lines, in case of the direct lightning strokes in ground
wires, the lightnings protective current is considered to be
twice as the protection current corresponding to the towers
strikes. For these values, the protective zone resulted
oversized.
In order to achieve more accurate results, the minimal
intensities of lightning currents were obtained by simulating
such transients, using ATP-EMTP software. The
parameters for the considered 400 kV transmission line,
realized on PAS type towers are those given in [5]. The
lightning strokes are considered in lines towers and in its
ground wires. Connecting a surge current source in the
mentioned above points, it was simulated the transient. The
injected current generates surge voltages, which are
compared with the flashover surge voltage of the lines
insulator chains. The minimal intensity of the lightning
current corresponds to that voltage that is equal with the
flashover surge voltage of the lines insulators.
In these circumstances, after more ATP simulations, the
values of the protection currents result quite similar for all
the three above described lines. Thus, when the lines towers
are stroked, the minimal intensity of lightning current
 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN POWER SYSTEMS MPS 2010, 18-21 MAY 2010, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA

results of 320 kA and when the ground wires are stroked lightning strokes, as it can be observed also from the values
results of 210 kA. In case of direct lightning strokes in phase of the parameters presented in Table II.
conductors, the minimal intensity of the protective current is Based on previous results we may conclude that the
of 1.5 kA [5]. analyzed power transmission lines are very well protected
Using these values of the protective currents and the above against direct lightning strikes. But this result is contradictory
given formulas, the geometrical dimensions of the protective with events recorded on such transmission lines, by the
zone were calculated, the obtained values being given in national power grid operators. In reality a quite large
Table II. number of lines disconnections, due to direct lightning
As it was expected, due to the high values of the lightning strokes, are recorded.
protective current, all phase conductors of the all three
analyzed power lines are very well protected against direct
TABLE II
PROTECTIVE ZONE DIMENSIONS OF THE ANALYZED LINES BASED ON LIGHTNING CURRENTS DETERMINED AFTER ATP-EMTP SIMULATIONS
Rolling sphere radius (m) hx (m)
Lines tower Phase level at middle of the
at towers r0 (m) rx (m) b0 (m) bx (m) h0 (m) at towers
at ground wires lines span
level level
PAS 400 A, B, C 439.77 332.10 158.35 19.70 117.55 27.54 21.42 22.43 12.43
SnY 400 A, B, C 439.77 332.10 175.41 19.86 134.60 25.50 28.40 28.43 18.43
A 21.31 23.53 46.68 36.68
Sn 400 B 439.77 332.10 218.29 42.46 175.24 44.82 50 36.68 26.68
C 62.73 66.15 28.43 18.43
The notations corresponds to those given in Fig. 1 and b0 is the width of the horizontally section at the middle of the lines span; bx is the width of the
horizontally section at the hx height.

The analyzed overhead lines are fully protected only for
the previously determined values of lightning currents. But
the probability of appearance of such high lightning currents
is very small. According to Andersons cumulative
distribution of the return stroke current [6], the probability
of appearance of a lightning current with a 320 kA intensity
is of 0.23% and of 0.68% for 210 kA lightning currents.
Other authors give probabilities lower than 0.1%, for such
intensities of the lightning current.
Thus, it is obvious that most of the lightning strokes that
appear in the vicinity of the power transmission lines have
lower current intensities than those determined by simulation.
In these circumstances, for smaller protective currents, the
ground wires systems of the analyzed power lines does not
ensure a full protection, some of the active conductors being
exposed to direct lightning strokes.
As ATP simulation revealed, any lightning that strikes
in the active conductors and has a value equal or higher than
1.5 kA, can lead to the disconnection of the line.
Considering all these aspects, it is important to determine
the protection zone dimensions for several different values of
the lightning current, thus identifying the unprotected active
conductors.
As results from Table III, depending on lightning current
intensity, one, two, or all the phase conductors remain
exposed to direct lightning strokes.
Along the line span, the phase conductors are exposed for
smaller currents, the minimum values being recorded
w h e n the lightning strikes in the middle of the lines span.
For the single circuit lines with a two ground wire system
only phase A and C are unprotected at relatively low current
intensities (5.413 kA and 7.515 kA), as results from data
in Table III.
TABLE III
PROTECTIVE ZONE DIMENSIONS FOR DIFFERENT VALUES OF THE
LIGHTNING CURRENT
For the single ground wire double circuit line analyzed,
much greater lightning current intensities than the previous
cases.
For current intensities between 24 kA, at the middle
of lines span, and 38 kA, at towers plane, only the A phase
conductor is unprotected, while all phase conductors are
exposed for lower intensities (9.5 kA at the middle of lines
span and 14 kA at towers plane).
Although phase C is unprotected only for small lightning
currents, which are very often recorded, the lines
disconnections are mostly related to the phase A and B
insulators flashover. This fact can be explained
considering the constructive shape of the Sn 400 type lines
tower, phase C being installed at a lower level, under phase
A and B.
Using the same Andersons cumulative distribution of the
return stroke current, for the lightning current given in Table
III, the probability of the appearance is that given in Table
IV.
As the double circuit power transmission line equipped
with a single ground wire is the most exposed to direct
lightning strokes, in Fig. 3 is represented the section through
the protective zone, in the towers plane, for different
lightning protection levels.

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 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN POWER SYSTEMS MPS 2010, 18-21 MAY 2010, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA

different tower types.

The ATP simulation of direct lightning strokes on
overhead lines lead to the values of the lines protection
currents, that are further used to calculate the rolling
sphere radius and, then, to draw the protective zone of the
analyzed system of lines towers and ground wires. The
resulted protective zones ensure a very good protection
against direct lightning strokes for all considered 400 kV
lines.
Despite these results, records from operating practice have
showed a far greater number of direct lightning strokes on
the active conductors of the studied lines. In these
circumstances, the authors have determined the lightning
currents intensities for which some active conductors of the
analyzed lines are no longer protected.

Fig.3. Protective zone representation for different lightning current

levels: with green - Ipr=38 kA; blue - Ipr=27 kA; red - Ipr=14 kA;

For a better view, in Fig. 4 a 3D representation of the same

protective zone is presented but only for a 27 kA lightning
current. Thus it is obvious that for such lightning current the
phases A and B are unprotected. Phase C is still protected by
the ground wire installed on the towers top.
Such type of power lines are installed through large areas
and that the probability of such lightning currents is very
high, so it is expected that the disconnection number to
be quite high. This is confirmed by the operating practice, Fig.4 3D representation of the protective zone for Ipr=27 kA
records showing a much higher number of disconnections
due to direct lightning strokes in case of double circuit lines
with a single ground wire than in case of single circuit lines. The obtained results show that the active conductors are
unprotected for much lower lightning currents than those
TABLE IV obtained by ATP-EMTP simulation. Probability of
SYNTHETIC RESULTS FOR DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CURRENTS appearance for these lightning current values was also
LEVELS ON ANALYZED POWER LINES
determined and protective zones were drawn.
Lightning
Tower I P Phase
striking
type (kA) (%) exposed V. REFERENCES
location
> 13 < 90.54 - [1] N. Gavrila, M.Gu, M. Istrate, C. Ciobanu, Rolling sphere method
at towers level
13 90.54 A, C application to substations protection, Revue Roumaine de Sciences
PAS 400
at middle of > 5.4 < 98.94 - Techniques lectrotechn. et nerg, Tome 45, 4, pp.553-561, 2000,
the lines span 5.4 98.94 A, C Bucharest.
> 15 < 86.84 - [2] N. Gavrila, M. Istrate, M.Gu, C. Ciobanu, Folosirea metodei sferei
at towers level
15 86.84 A, C fictive la construirea zonelor de protecie a unor sisteme de paratrsnete, Al
SnY 400
at middle of > 7.5 < 97.56 - VI-lea simpozion Naional de Tehnica Tensiunilor nalte, 1999, Bucureti
the lines span 7.5 97.56 A, C [3] Gh.Georgescu, N. Sufleel, Elemente constructive ale liniilor electrice
> 38 < 37.06 - aeriene, Iai, Casa de Editur Venus, 2004, pp.182-188.
27 - 38 37.06 -58.88 A [4] Normativ privind alegerea izolaie, coordonarea izolaiei i
at towers level proteciasistemelor electroenergetice mpotriva supratensiunilor, NTE
14 - 26 58.88 - 88.76 A, B
< 14 > 88.76 A, B, C 001/03/00, 7.02.2003 .
Sn 400 [5] M. Istrate, M. Gu, Analysis of lightnings strokes on HV Lines in
> 24 < 66.04 -
at middle of 18 - 24 66.04 - 80.43 A an ATP approach, Acta Electrotehnic, Proceedings of the 2nd
the lines span 9.5 - 18 80.43 - 95.58 A, B International Conference on Modern Power Systems MPS 2008, 2008, pp.
162-165.
< 9.5 > 95.58 A, B, C
[6] Lightning and Insulator Subcommittee of the T&D Committee,
Parameters of Lightning Strokes: A Review, IEEE Transactions on Power
IV. CONCLUSION Delivery, vol.20, No.1, January 2005.

In this paper the authors have determined the protective

zones for some 400 kV power transmission lines, installed on

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