Definition: The device which is used for the protection of the equipment at the substations

against travelling waves, such type of device is called lightning arrester or surge diverter. In
other words, lightning arrester diverts the abnormals high voltage to the ground without
affecting the continuity of supply. It is connected between the line and earth, i.e., in parallel
with the equipment to be protected at the substation.

The following are the damages that are caused by the travelling wave on the substation
equipment.

1. The high peak or crest voltage of the surge may cause flash-over in the internal
winding thereby spoil the winding insulation.
2. The steep wave fronts of the surges may cause external flashover between the
terminal of the transformer.
3. The highest peak voltage of the surge may cause external flashover, between the
terminal of the electrical equipment which may result in damage to the insulator.

Working of Lightning Arrester

When a travelling wave reaches the arrestor, its sparks over at a certain prefixed voltage as
shown in the figure below. The arrestor provides a conducting path to the waves of relatively
low impedance between the line and the ground. The surge impedance of the line restricts the
amplitude of current flowing to ground.

The lightning arrester provides a path of low impedance only when the travelling surge
reaches the surge diverter, neither before it nor after it. The insulation of the equipment can
be protected if the shape of the voltage and current at the diverter terminal is similar to the
shape shown below.
An ideal lightning arrester should have the following characteristics;

1. It should not draw any current during normal operating condition, i.e., it sparks-over
voltage must be above the normal or abnormal power frequency that may occur in the
system.
2. Any transient abnormal voltage above the breakdown value must cause it to break
down as quickly as possible so that it may provide a conducting path to ground.
3. When the breakdown has taken place, it should be capable of carrying the resulting
discharge current without getting damaged itself and without the voltage across it
exceeding the breakdown value.
4. The power frequency current following the breakdown must be interrupted as soon as
the transient voltage has fallen below the breakdown value.

Employ “Drop Out Fuses”… Ensure Safety

How well are your electrical components secured? It’s appreciable if you are pretty sure of it.
However, there’s nothing wrong in enhancing your safety precautions. This time, try adding a
drop out fuse to your major electrical components. The installation of drop out fuses at the
high voltage side can ensure a secondary back up against any minor flaws. Compaq
International (P) Limited presents you the most reliable and economical drop out fuses.

Construction:

The fiberglass tubes are employed as the fuse carriers in drop out fuses. The either terminals
are tinned heavily with nonferrous materials. The connection and cleaning actions are
performed by the phosphorus bronze brush type contacts.

Materials to Use:
The material used in drop out fuses should possess lower resistance as well as lower melting
points. The tendency to get oxidized should be rather minimum.

Working:

Any errors caused makes the fuse element fused. The fuse element carrying tube drops down.
It is still supported by the lower hinged joint. An outstanding advantage of drop out fuse is that
a clear inspection is not required to detect its fusion. They readily catch the eye of the observer
from a distance. As the fuse drops down under the action of its own weight, the required
isolation is provided between the terminals. The dropped out fuse is brought down and the fuse
element is replaced. Thus, it is back in action.

Lightning Arrester

The lightning conductor protects structures against direct lightning strikes.

The lightning conductor material is arranged outside on the highest point of a structure.

The lightning conductor has the function of capturing lightning strikes are succeptibles
directly hitting the structure it protects.

The Outdoor Installation Protection against Lightning consists of a sensor called lightning
rod, at least oneconductorand a grounded outlet dedicated to each driver.

The ground connections must be connected together and all the metal masses in the vicinity.

Outdoor installation Protection against Lightning captures leads and flows into the ground the
electric current from lightning.

Surge Arrester or ZnO arrester

The arrester protects against indirect effects of lightning strikes.

The SPD is the material placed inside of a structure on networks that transport electricity
(power, communications, data ...).

The arrester has the function to avoid surges in the network it protects.

The Inside Installation of Protection against Lightning consists of one or more arresters
systems.

The arresters act as switches. The arresters close their circuit when surge appears on the
network and they divert the current to earth ground.

Indoor installation Protection against Lightning duct and flows surges and currents in the
electrical grounding.

How to a drop out fuse protects transformer:

In electrical distribution, a fuse cutout or cut-out fuse is a combination of a fuse and a

switch, used in primary overhead feeder lines and taps to protect distribution transformers
from current surges and overloads. An overcurrent caused by a fault in the transformer or
customer circuit will cause the fuse to melt, disconnecting the transformer from the line. It
can also be opened manually by utility linemen standing on the ground and using a long
insulating stick called a "hot stick".

Or,

A distribution transformer or service transformer is a transformer that provides the final

voltage transformation in the electric power distribution system, stepping down the voltage
used in the distribution lines to the level used by the customer. The invention of a practical
efficient transformer made AC power distribution feasible; a system using distribution
transformers was demonstrated as early as 1882.[1]

If mounted on a utility pole, they are called pole-mount transformers. If the distribution
lines are located at ground level or underground, distribution transformers are mounted on
concrete pads and locked in steel cases, thus known as a distribution tap pad-mount
transformers.

Distribution transformers normally have ratings less than 200 kVA,[2] although some national
standards can allow for units up to 5000 kVA to be described as distribution transformers.
Since distribution transformers are energized for 24 hours a day (even when they don't carry
any load), reducing iron losses has an important role in their design. As they usually don't
operate at full load, they are designed to have maximum efficiency at lower loads. To have a
better efficiency, voltage regulation in these transformers should be kept to a minimum.
Hence they are designed to have small leakage reactance.[3]