2009 International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics

5-7 August 2009, Selangor, Malaysia

LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM

IMPROVEMENT ON EXTRA HIGH VOLTAGE
500 KV TRANSMISSION LINES IN INDONESIA
USING EXTENDED MAST TERMINAL
Reynaldo Zoro#1, Tulus Leo#2
#
Power Engineering Research Division, School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Institute of Technology Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10 Bandung, Indonesia
1
reynaldozoro@yahoo.com
2
twoluz@yahoo.com

Abstract- 500 kV Extra High Voltage Transmission Lines, which
have higher insulation level than other transmission lines with
lower voltage level, should have more strength against lightning
strikes. But in reality several problems appear. Broken insulators
due to lightning strikes are often found in 500 kV EHV lines.
Research on these problems was carried out at Paiton-Kediri lines.
It took place especially in the areas that have higher lightning
density. Broken insulator can cause lack of insulation strength and
potentially reduce lines performance due to outages on the lines.
In order to improve transmission lines lightning performance, a
new innovation had been done by using Extended Mast Terminal
(EMT) attached to transmission tower. EMT is a pylon that was
installed at the top of transmission tower consists of Early
Streamer Emission air terminal, double shielded down conductor,
lightning event counter, and peak lightning current measurement
system using commercial magnetic tape.
The purpose of this research is to install and observe the use of
EMT in Transmission Lines lightning performance by reducing
the number of broken insulators. Installation of EMT in EHV lines
Paiton Kediri had been done at the end of 2006. Significant result
has been obtained in the lightning performance by installing the
EMT on the EHV lines Paiton-Kediri..
Keywords- Lightning Data in the tropics, Lightning Strikes to EHV
lines, Broken Insulator, Extended Mast Terminal, Early Streamer
Emission.
I. INTRODUCTION
Lightning overvoltage that happened at electric power
system could be caused by two kinds of lightning strikes, which
are indirect and direct strikes. Cases of direct strikes on
transmission lines, lighting can strike at phase conductor, tower
and ground wire. While indirect strikes is strike to the ground
which reside near by transmission lines.
Lightning direct strikes cause more problems in Extra High
Voltage Transmission lines. Strikes at phase conductor may
result flashover at insulator, and strikes at transmission tower or
ground wire may result back flashover. Both have potency to
bother the lines performance in transmitting electric power; in
this case will be read as phase to the ground problem generating
the opening of Circuit Breaker at the end of transmission lines.
Other effects of flashover are quality degradation of insulator
and broken insulator (glass type) which is needed to perform
replacement of insulator.
Many broken insulators due to lightning strikes were
found at EHV lines 500 kV Paiton-Kediri. This matter
happened especially at areas with high density of lightning
strikes. Damage of insulator result the insulation level
decrease and have potency to decrease transmission quality
due to outages. To improve lightning performance,
innovation was applied by installing Extended Mast
Terminal (EMT) at transmission tower.
II. 500 KV EHV LINES PAITON KEDIRI
LIGHTNING DATA
Before the installation of Extended Mast Terminal at 500
kV EHV lines Paiton Kediri, Lightning Data analysis was
done to determine the regions in path of EHV lines that have
high density of lightning strikes. This lightning data also
very useful to predict lightning cycle that happened in area
of around EHV lines so that care to lightning strikes at the
lines can be concentrated at the time of high lightning
strikes frequency.
Center of obsevation for the lightning data is - 7.75023 S
, 112.8069 E. This coordinate is used as reference to derive
lightning data from Jaringan Deteksi Petir Nasional
(JADPEN) which using Lightning Position and Tracking
System (LPATS) technology. The border of the data window
is West : 111.9025 E, East : 113.7114 E, north : 7.4789 S,
and South : 8.0216 S. Lightning data was taken from
January 1st 1996 till December 31st 2000.
Figure 1 Lightning Strikes around EHV lines 500 kV Paiton Kediri
year 1996 (square : higher lightning density)
Square at Fig.1 is part of the transmission lines which has
high density of lightning strikes. Every year this area shows
high density of lightning so that it can become the priority
area of EMT installation at transmission tower. Other areas

978-1-4244-4913-2/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE

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at transmission lines still possibly become the installation TABLE I
SUMMARY OF LIGHTNING CHARACTERISTIC AT EAST JAVA
location but probability of lightning strikes will be smaller
Lightning Characteristic Negative Positive
compared to the area in square.
Polarity Polarity
Monthly variant statistics give information of occurrence Maximum 340.2 290.52
lightning frequency each month during one year. Thunder storm Probability 85% 29 20
activity is in general follow the season pattern in Indonesia. Peak
Probability 50% 47 32
From Fig.2, lightning start its monthly cycle in February, Current
Probability 2% 140 160
March, April and May. But in December and January lightning Average 69.3 63
also shown high activities, which is transitory time of second Flash Density Total 2.5 – 16
thunder season with first thunder season. Second cycle started (Strikes/km2/year)
in September, October and November, which is their
occurrence frequency, is lower compared to the first season or TABLE II
cycle of lightning. Months which relatively have lower SUMMARY OF LIGHTNING CHARACTERISTIC IN INDONESIA [4]
lightning strikes are in June, July and August. Lightning Characteristic Negative Positive
Polarity Polarity
Statistik Variansi Bulanan Kejadian Petir di Wilayah Jawa Timur Maximum T. Perahu 280 kA 298 kA
(1 Januari - 31 Desember 1999), Center 7.75023 S 112.8069 E, Window 200 x 60 Km2 Peak
Jawa Barat 335 kA 392 kA
5000 Current
Probability 50 % 40 kA 18 kA
(i)
4500
Average 41 kA 30 kA
4000 Steepness Maximum (kA/μs) 119 120
3500 (di/dt) Probability 50 % (kA/μs) 30 20
3000
Flash Density (strikes/km2/year) 4,1 – 12,4 1,5 – 3,8
Flash Density total (strikes/km2/year) 7,9 – 15,5
Bin

2500

2000
III. INNOVATION OF LIGHTNING PROTECTION
SYSTEM USING EXTENDED MAST TERMINAL ON
1500

1000
TOWER 353 EHV 500 KV PAITON KEDIRI
500

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr Mei Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Des
Bulan

Petir Positif Petir Negatif Petir Awan

Figure 2 Mothly variant statistic on East Java region

Figure 3 Ground Flash Density on East Java region

Figure 4 Lightning strikes to transmission tower which could produce
Back flashover on insulator
Figure 3 show us that higher lightning density located at
northern shorelines of East Java. Highest intensity is on Parameters that will be used on backflashover analysis
Mojokerto region. Generally lightning data in the area can be are based on voltage equation due to lightning strikes to
summarized as follow: transmission tower as follow :
Probability lightning strike to transmission tower is higher
di (1)
compared to conductor span because transmission tower has VM = iS .RE + L + VL
more height so it exposed to direct strikes. Thereby lightning dt
direct strikes at tower require getting special attention. Figure 4 Where VM is voltage stress due to lightning strike to
show us lightning strike to transmission tower. tower, IS is lightning peak current, L is tower inductance, RE
is tower footing resistance.

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 Solution for reducing back flashover problems due to
lightning strike is installation of air terminal at the top of the
tower and down conductor to deliver lightning current to
ground, named Extended Mast Terminal (EMT). This system
will be replaced tower parameter as shown on equation 1. EMT
has some important parts which are :
1) Air terminal. We use early streamer emission (ESE) air
terminal. Compared to conventional ones, ESE has devices that
can trigger streamer/ leader faster. This study will evaluate ESE
performance on lightning protection.
2) Down Conductor Cable. We use double shielded down
conductor. Double shielded down conductor has specific
characteristics as follows :
a) Low Inductance per unit length
b) Control electric field distribution inside cable to
minimize electric field when lightning current is flowing.
c) Voltage elevation at grounding system is reduced (In this Figure 5 Magnetic tape erasement when lightning current flow at down
case tower footing voltage) conductor
TABLE III
DOUBLE SHIELDED DOWN CONDUCTOR CHARACTERISTIC Air Terminal – Early
Streamer Emission
Characteristics Value
Impedance (Ohm) 45
Inductance (nH/m) 37
Capacitance (pF/m) 1100
Resistance (mOhm/m) 0.5
3) Lightning event counter (LEC). LEC is a device that
counts lightning strikes to EMT. If a strike occurred, number on
LEC will increased. The number on LEC show us how many Double Shielded Cable
strikes to EMT in which can be a good indicator for EMT
maintenance and also for replacing magnetic tape.
4) Alat Ukur Pita Magnetik (APM) is measuring tape that
can be used to predict lightning current that flow on down
conductor of EMT system. It is a group of tape that has been
injected with 325 Hz radio wave. Calibration of Alat Ukur Pita
Magnetik (APM) was carried by injecting the standard impulse
current 8/20 micros to the conductor, which is equipped with
magnetic tape. Range of impulse current was 2 kA to 100 kA.
Each current will flow to conductor and erase the pre-recorded
signal at the magnetic tape. Three type of magnetic that are
Lightning Event Counter
used are IEC type I; Normal, IEC type II; Chrome, and IEC and Peak Current
type IV; Metal (Ferro). These types of magnetic tape give the Measurement
difference response to the lightning impulse current.
Installation location of Extended Mast Terminal is important
matter in this study. Correct installation in place will yield the
accurate data able to assist the behavioral analysis of lightning Figure 6 Extended Mast Terminal on EHV 500 kV tower
strike on transmission lines. In this case ideal place for
installation finial should have the criterion : transmission lines After derives EHV lines lightning data and finds all areas
area with high density of lightning strikes, high frequency of that has high density of lightning strikes, we coordinate with
troubles or problems, and have an easy access to go to the PT PLN (persero) Region Jawa Timur dan Bali especially
tower. UPT Probolinggo, UPT Kediri, and PDKB to find out
location of EMT which have criterions as mentioned above.
According to data from LPATS and PT PLN (persero)
RJTB, it was decided to install the EMT at tower 103 and

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353 on 500 kV EHV lines Paiton Kediri. Some of the
considerations strengthen this decision for example :
- Lightning data indicate that area of around tower of
353 have high density of lightning.
- PLN PDKB have done replacement of insulator at this
tower (broken insulator).
- Information of citizen express when it is raining,
lightning often happens and strikes the tower result the
sparks appearance at tower.
- Tower location is close to countryside road; street and
settlement of resident so that it will easily facilitate the
observation and give easy access to go to the tower.
Figure 7 show us lightning strikes around tower 353 year
1997 with 10 x 10 km window.
(b)
PLN P3B Jawa Timur SUTET 500 kV Paiton-Kediri
Petir di sekitar tower 353 tahun 1997
Figure 8 Installation of EMT on Tower 353 (a) air terminal ESE on top of
-7.58
the tower (b) Lightning Event Counter and Alat Ukur Pita Magnetik

IV. RESULT OF EMT RESEARCH ON EAST JAVA

-7.59 YEAR 2007-2008

Since the installation of EMT in December 2006,

-7.60 Lightning Event Counter on tower of 353 have noted the
lightning strikes 11 times. Several times APM is not taken
Lintang Selatan

on the happening of lightning strikes, so that the data

-7.61
353 collected is only 8 lightning current as shown on table 4
following:
1 km
TABLE IV
LIGHTNING CURRENT ITS DATE ON EMT
-7.62
INSTALLATION AT 500 KV LINES EAST JAVA
NO Date Current
(kA)
-7.63
112.42 112.43 112.44 112.45 112.46 112.47 1 6 February 2007 26
Bujur Timur
2 12 February 2007 38
Tower Transmisi Petir Negatif Petir Positif Series4
3 15 March 2007 28
4 14 November 2007 54
Figure 7 Lightning Strikes around tower 353 which has been installed EMT 5 16 December 2007 46
year 1997
6 8 January 2008 22
7 28 February 2008 28
8 19 November 2008 33

Average of lightning peak current data collected is 34.57

kA with time occurrences of lightning strikes divided into
two phase, first phase is on February till March and the
second is on November till December. This show us that
lightning strikes in Mojokerto area, place of where tower of
353 residing in, follow the cycle of Transition season. The
first Transition (namely season change of direction
movement of wind of south to north or on the contrary)
happened in March, April and May every year its. While in
September, October and November is second Transition.
(a) After installation of EMT in tower of 353, there is no
broken insulator reported at this tower. Data show the tower
of 353 have experienced of broken insulator in the year
2005. This is possible because EMT system use double

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shielded cable which have low inductance (see table 3) will
reduce voltage stress at insulator. Lower voltage stress at
insulator will reduce the possibility of back flashover at
insulator for high lightning current.
Figure 9 show us that at 54 kA lightning current (lightning
strikes of 14 November of 2007) insulator only experience
voltage stress equal to 1700 kV at tower footing resistance of
25 Ohm. This footing resistance is assumed is impulse
resistance. It is smaller compared to the insulator voltage if
tower is stroked directly, about 3200 kV.
Tegangan Isolator (kV)
Figure 9 Insulator Voltage is decreased after
installation of EMT on 500 kV tower
VI. CONCLUSION
Lightning Protection System using Extended Mast Terminal
is a new innovation compared to the conventional protection
used used at transmission lines which is ground wire. Lightning
strike on Extended Mast Terminal will prevent lightning current
parameter “read” the towers parameters. The lightning current
will only flow inside double shielded down conductor cable
which has very low inductance value (0.0037 microHenry) and
it will reduce the tower voltages due to the steepness of the
lightning current and reduce also the voltage stress accros the
insulators and prevent back flashover.
Installation of Extended Mast Terminal at tower 353 on 500
kV EHV lines Paiton-Kediri prevent back flashover that lead to
the insualtors damages. No broken insulators were found after
installing the EMT on tower 353 since early 2007.
Lightning strikes data collected during period of 2007-2008
indicate that the installation of EMT have protected the tower
from lightning direct strikes. Lightning current data which have
been collected shows that 8 data took place at transition season
on month March, April and May.
Performance of Lightning air terminal with Early Streamer
Emission technology which attached at EMT give the evidence
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of ESE efectiveness in 'catching' lightning. This research
result may become valuable input in ESE experiment as an
active terminal to improve lightning protection system on
transmission lines.
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