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1308 PIERS Proceedings, Marrakesh, MOROCCO, March 2023, 2011

An Engineering Approach in Modeling Lightning Effects on


Megawatt-class Onshore Wind Turbines Using EMTP and Models
Y. M andez1 , G. Drobnjak1 , A. Claudi2 , and M. Kizilcay3
endez Hern
1
GE Global Research Europe, Germany
2
University of Kassel, Germany
3
University of Siegen, Germany

Abstract This publication addresses the topic of the effects of traveling waves on onshore
wind parks caused by direct lightning strikes with main focus on predicting potential risk of dam-
age due to overcurrents and overvoltages. The simulation program EMTP-ATP, programming
language MODELS, pre-processing program ATPDraw and post-processing program PLOTXY
were chosen for this study. This approach is an attempt to reflect an insight on this topic from
the engineering point of view.

1. INTRODUCTION
With increasing nacelle heights and rotor blade lengths in modern wind turbines (WTs) the unex-
pected effects of lightning and electromagnetic traveling waves in form of overvoltages and overcur-
rents are brought to the attention of the scientific community, especially wind parks (WPs) with
several WTs and rated power of several megawatts e.g., 100 MW and above. In some cases the
earthing (grounding) systems of the WTs are galvanic connected to each other in order to ensure
a common earth potential in the whole electric installation; however these techniques can lead to
other effects such as overvoltages caused by direct lightning strikes.
2. APPROACH
The approach of modal components (surge impedance with a propagation velocity) was chosen for
this work, this in order to model the fast electromagnetic transients and provide an acceptable
frequency response of the models. The simulation is divided in the following components:
Lightning source represented by a Heidler source.
WT Rotor blades, which were modeled by surge impedances with a specific propagation
velocity.
Rotor blade and Nacelle Azimuths bearings, that were represented as concentrated elements
calculated at an electric frequency of 500 kHz.
Steel tower, which was modeled as a surge impedance per segment.
Earthing (grounding) system, modeled as a variable footing resistance.
Low voltage cables, represented as a PI-equivalent diagram.
Low voltage panelboard, modeled as a surge capacitance.
Linear distribution transformer, including LV and MV bushings and coil surge capacitors.
Medium voltage cables, represented as a JMarti model calculated at an electric frequency of
1 MHz.
3. WIND PARK MODELS FOR FAST TRANSIENTS EFFECTS
Figure 1 shows the general assumptions and references for the simulation, where, ii corresponds to
the index of the conductor i; hi the height of the conductor above ground and, ri the radius of the
conductor i. The surge impedances are assumed to have similar values in the rotor blades R, S
and T .
3.1. Rotor Blades
The rotor blade lightning protection system (LPS) chosen for model was the receptor-based light-
ning protection system, which consists in this case of two metal air termination systems (so-called
lightning receptors) embedded within the aerodynamic glass fiber composite (GFC) structure or
skin of the rotor blade and galvanically connected to an internal down-conductor and widely ex-
plained in [1] and [2].
Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Marrakesh, Morocco, Mar. 2023, 2011 1309

Down conductor: T

Down conductor: R

hi y

x
: Ref. angle
Down conductor: S

Figure 1: Surge impedance references.

Table 1: Parameter calculation for the rotor blades, using the theory in [4].

r L [mH] r C [F] Zw [Ohm] Length [m] v [m/s]


Blade Segment 1 1 4.14E-2 2.4 2.35E-5 4.20E0 18.75E0 1.50E2
Blade Segment 2 1 4.14E-2 2.4 2.35E-5 4.20E0 18.75E0 1.50E2

Table 2: Parameter calculation for the rotor blade and azimuth bearings.

Rbear [Ohm] Lbear [mH] Clayer [F] Flashover Threshold [V] Club [F]
Rotor Blades Bearings 3.17E-6 7.67E-8 4.72E-2 1.00E-3 1.06E-4
Azimut Bearing 2.06E-5 7.59E-8 1.17E-4 1.00E-3 2.63E-4

The blades were modeled in two segments (representing each lightning receptor and its internal
downconductor connection), each one with own characteristic surge impedance Zw and a propa-
gation velocity v, as explained in [4]. The magnetic and capacitive coupling between the rotor
blades were neglected; due to the reason that special interest and focus was made on the effects
of direct lightning; however, these couplings may influence the traveling waves patterns (reflection
and transmission). Table 1 shows the parameters used for the calculation.
Special consideration to this first modeling of the rotor blades should be made, due to the
reason that it was adopted from the transmission line theory, indeed this is an attempt to model
the complex electromagnetic nature of the rotor blades during lightning strikes.
3.2. Rotor Blade and Azimuth Bearings
The bearings parameters were calculated with a FEM-Program (Maxwell-3D Ver. 11.1.1) and
imported as concentrated linear electric circuit elements to the main simulation program. The
bearings metal parts (flanges and metal balls mainly) were modeled as a resistance Rbear in series
with an inductance Lbear calculated at an electric frequency of 500 kHz in order to consider the
skin effect. The non-conductive parts such as the thin layer of lubricants between the bearing
balls were modeled as a thin capacitor Clayer and the surrounding lubrication layers with a shunt
capacitor Club , which are short-circuited with a voltage-controlled switch after a certain flashover
voltage threshold has been reached. Table 2 depicts the parameters used for the bearings, which
are connected in series.
3.3. Tower
The tower is usually manufactured in steel or reinforced concrete. The surge impedance model
proposed in [5] was chosen for a steel tower, where the tower height and base radius of the equivalent
1310 PIERS Proceedings, Marrakesh, MOROCCO, March 2023, 2011

Table 3: Parameter calculation for the tower.

ZT ower [Ohm] Length [m] v [m/s]


Tower Segment 1.98E2 2.90E1 2.50E2

Table 4: Parameter input values for the calculation for LV and MV cables.

Radius [m] Cross-Section [m] Length [m] r [m] Cable Array


LV Cables 1.40E-2 6.16E-4 1.50E1 2.00E1 2.30E-8 3 Conductors/Phase
LV Earthing Cable 7.00E-3 7.00E-3 1.50E1 1.00E1 2.30E-8 1 Conductor
MV Cables 2.00E-2 1.26E-2 3.00E2 2.70E1 2.30E-8 1 Conductor/Phase
MV Earthing Cable 2.00E-2 1.26E-2 3.00E2 2.70E1 2.30E-8 1 Conductor

Table 5: Parameter input values for the distribution transformer.

MV [kV] LV [kV] Rsec [] Lsec [mH] Rm []


Transformer 33.00E1 0.69E0 2.00E-3 5.20E-2 1.00E-6

cone of the tower are used as input parameters to obtain the equivalent surge impedance Ztower .
For this calculation a tower of 3 segments is proposed, whereby every segment observes the same
surge impedance value. Table 3 depicts the parameters.
In this publication the tower was assumed to be the only down-conductor for the lightning
current; however some WT manufacturer install earthing down-conductors inside the tower, which
are out of the scope of the study.
3.4. Earthing (Grounding) System and Earthing Rods
The earthing type B ring electrode system was chosen for this study and is usually installed in
onshore WTs; it comprises a ring earth electrode external to the structure in contact with the soil
or a foundation earth electrode [1]. The footing resistance RT can be modeled from the guidelines
proposed in [5] and widely explained in [2].
The soil resistivity assumed in this work for the calculation of the parameters was 500 m. The
earthing rods were modeled as a resistance in parallel with a capacitor as proposed in [6].
3.5. Low and Medium Voltage Cables
The non-shielded LV-cables connecting the WT panelboard to the LV side of the WT distribution
transformer were modeled with a PI-equivalent model, three conductors/phase (equivalent to a
1000 Kcmil in AWG- notation) and one additional copper conductor for earthing were modeled.
The MV-cables shielded cables (sheath) connecting the primary side of the WT transformers
were simulated and calculated with the JMARTI model of EMTP-ATP at 1 MHz (10 decades, 9
Points/Dec). Table 4 depicts the dimensions and lengths of the cables.
3.6. Three-phase Distribution Transformer
Each WT is connected to a distribution transformer, which was also modeled in order to address
the overvoltage effects on the primary and secondary sides. Table 5 depicts the input parameters
of the transformer; the impedances are referred to the secondary side. The surge capacitances were
modeled with the guidelines proposed in [6].
4. SIMULATION RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
A total of five WTs were modeled, which are connected to a medium voltage Thevenin-equivalent
network with a short circuit three-phase impedance (75 MVA, 33 kV Zbase ); this in order to simulate
the medium voltage connection of the WTs distribution transformers. The earthing systems of the
WTs were galvanic connected between each other on the distribution transformers LV-Side (star
connection) and firmly earthed with earthing rods. Each MV cable sheath and earthing conductor
were connected to the LV earthing system of the WT. The distance between the WTs is 300 m.
Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Marrakesh, Morocco, Mar. 2023, 2011 1311

4.1. Case Study: 30 kA (1.2/50 s) Lightning Impulse


A positive downward lightning stroke (30 kA, 1.2/50 s) on the tip of the rotor blade R and the WT1
was simulated in order to explore the effects of the traveling waves across the WP. A simulation
time step of 5 ns for a total simulation time of 100 s was chosen.
Figure 2 depicts the lightning current decay effects of the stroke. On the left figure a comparison
of the stroke current injected at the tip of the blade (in red color) and the lightning current flowing
across the earthing system of the WT1 is depicted; the effects of the lightning current traveling
waves (reflection and transmission) across the earthing system with a high frequency over-imposed
oscillation are showed. The segments of the rotor blades and tower, which may introduce additional
transmission and reflection effects, may cause the superimposed high-frequency oscillations.
Figure 3 depicts the surge voltage on the transformer LV-side; WT1 and WT2 observe the
highest overvoltage values, which could lead to flashover or similar effects on the LV coils and LV

60 2000
[kA] [A]
1500
50
1000
40
500

30 0

-500
20
-1000

10 -1500

0 -2000
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10
(f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) c:XX0001-STROKE c:WT1GND-WT1_GR (f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) c:WT2GND-WT2_GR c:WT3GND-WT3_GR
c:WT4GND-WT4_GR c:WT5GND-WT5_GR

(a) (b)
Figure 2: Lightning current plot: (a) stroke and WT1, (b) WT2 to WT5.

50.0 50.0
[kV] [kV]
37.5 37.5

25.0 25.0

12.5 12.5

0.0 0.0

-12.5 -12.5

-25.0 -25.0

-37.5 -37.5

-50.0 -50.0
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10
(f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) v :WT1SSA-WT1_TG v :WT2SSA-WT2_TG (f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) v :WT3SSA-WT3_TG v :WT4SSA-WT4_TG
v :WT5SSA-WT5_TG

(a) (b)
Figure 3: Transformer LV-side voltage: (a) WT1 and WT2, (b) WT3 to WT5.

100 25.00
[kV] [kV]
18.75
-50
12.50
-200
6.25
-350 0.00

-500 -6.25

-12.50
-650
-18.75
-800
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10 -25.00
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 [ms] 0.10
(f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) v : -WT1_GR v : -WT2_GR v : -WT3_GR (f ile 01_wp_li30ka_500_ohmm.pl4; x-v ar t) v : -WT2_GR v : -WT3_GR v : -WT4_GR
v : -WT4_GR v : -WT5_GR v : -WT5_GR

(a) (b)
Figure 4: Voltage in the earthing system: (a) stroke and WT1, (b) WT2 to WT5.
1312 PIERS Proceedings, Marrakesh, MOROCCO, March 2023, 2011

grid connection. On the right figure, the delay in the formation of the overvoltages is observed,
mainly caused by the traveling time required to reach the other WTs.
Figure 4 depicts the effects of the traveling waves on the footing resistance models described in
Section 3.4 and [2]; the propagation of the traveling waves across the earthing system of the WTs
shows the expected delay and remarkable overvoltages in the WTs of the WP.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The effects of direct lightning strikes and traveling waves on WPs in form of overcurrent were
addressed using approximations and models for fast transients applications. The suggested rotor
blade models are an attempt to establish a model for these complex structures; indeed the decoupled
transmission line model approximation is the first approximation that needs to be further developed.
The methodology presented in this publication suggests the consideration of several WTs in order
to address the possible negatives effects and their mitigation e.g., with proper shielding/earthing
or the implementation of surge protection devices.
During a direct lightning strike to a wind turbine, the electromagnetic effects on the earthing
system with higher overvoltages and overcurrents amplitudes are registered in the wind turbine
affected and in the nearby located wind turbines, taking into consideration the travel time necessary
to overcome the complex low and medium voltage network in the wind park.
Further work is required in order to improve the modeling of the different components, especially
the rotor blades and bearings.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to gratefully thank the University of Siegen, University of Kassel and the
General Electric Company for the support and facilitation of this work.
REFERENCES
1. IEC 61400-24, IEC 61400-24 Ed.1: Wind turbines Part 24: Lightning protection, IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission, June 2010.
2. Mendez, Y., et al., A first approach in the modelling of failures in rotor blades caused by
lightning strikes, Proceedings of The 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection,
Cagliari, Italy, September 2010.
3. Fast Front Transients Task Force of the IEEE Modeling and Analysis of System Transients
Working Group, Modeling guidelines for fast front transients, IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 11, No. 1, 1996.
4. Dommel, H. W., EMTP Theory Book, Branch of System Engineering, Bonneville Power
Administration, 1986.
5. Dudurych, I. M., et al., EMTP analysis of the lightning performance of a HV transmission
Line, IEE Proc. Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 150, No. 41, 2003.
6. De Conti, A., et al., Calculation of lightning-induced voltages on complex low-voltage distri-
bution networks, Proceedings of The 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection,
Cagliari, Italy, September 2010.

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