Lightning Overvoltages in Copel’s Compact Urban Transmission Lines Modeling and comparison of compact and supercompact arrangements

Abstract

Knowledge about possible internal or external overvoltages in electrical power systems is critical to their proper design and reliable operation. In overhead AC transmission lines, such overvoltages will directly determine the type of insulation and phase-to-phase clearance. It is essential to analyze the effects of overvoltages caused by atmospheric discharges on compact AC overhead transmission lines in order to identify their behavior and propose strategies to prevent line outages, ultimately improving transmission line performance. This paper describes a study of possible transient overvoltages in Copel’s compact and supercompact urban transmission lines, using ATPDraw software for modeling and simulations. Compact and supercompact overvoltages are found to differ from each other mainly due to the different levels of surge impedance in transmission lines. It can therefore be stated that, in this case, smaller phase-to-phase clearances are not a decisive factor in overvoltages caused by atmospheric discharges.