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Back Flashover Phenomenon Analysis in Power Transmission Substation for

Insulation Coordination

Conference Paper · May 2012

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 Back Flashover Phenomenon Analysis in Power
Transmission Substation for Insulation Coordination
Saeedollah Talaei Mobarakei Taghi Sami Babak Porkar
East Azarbayjan Power Generation Azerbaijan Higher Education & Ministry of Energy_ Tavanir
Management Co. Research Complex Tehran, Iran
Tabrize, Iran Tabrize, Iran bporkar@[Link]
saeedollahtalaei@[Link] Taghi_sami@[Link]

Abstract— Back Flashover (BFO) is one of the several these years, 135 current waveforms of lightning strokes on 60
phenomenon which decreases power transmission lines transmission towers recorded and using observed waveforms
reliability. It occurs as a result of direct lightning stroke to the the parameters of lightning current waveforms defined [5][6].
tower structure or guard wires and injects wave currents with
high amplitude and very high steepness to the phase conductors, This paper has analyzed the mechanism of BFO and found
injection of these wave currents produce voltages with high out the most effective parameters on BFR. Then considering
amplitude and very high steepness, which in turn cause phase to these effective parameters two methods have been suggested in
ground faults in power transmission lines. In order to treat with order to decrease BFR. Also simulations related with insulation
this phenomenon, it is necessary to analysis its mechanism and coordination of a GIS type substation considering back
effective parameters on its occurring probability. In this paper, flashover phenomenon has been done and the results presented.
the mechanism of phenomenon has been analyzed and effective In these simulations the basic insulation levels (BIL) of
parameters on its probability of occurring are evaluated. Then substation devices and the effectiveness of lightning arresters
several methods in order to decrease this probability are have been evaluated. Finally some methods have been
suggested. Finally, related simulations with insulation suggested in order to increase the protection level of system.
coordination of a 765 kV transmission substation also have been
done and the results have been presented.
II. MATHEMATIC MODELING OF BFO
Keywords- Over Voltage; Back Flashover; Insulation Direct stroke of lightning to a transmission tower produces
Coordination, GIS Substation, EMTP Soft ware a voltage surge on the tower structure which its waveform is
according to V1 on “Fig. 1-a”. Considering capacitance and
I. INTRODUCTION inductance coupling between guard wires, tower structure and
Power transmission lines are the widest part of a power phase conductors, another surge voltage with same waveform
system from physical point of view and the lightning is the and lower amplitude induces on the phase conductors. It has
most important natural phenomenon to disturb their normal been named V2 on “Fig. 1-a”. The coupling factor between V1
operation. In order to prevent direct lightning stroke to the and V2 may be variable from 15% to 25%. The voltage applied
phase conductors it is usual to use guard wires. These wires to the line insulator is equal to instantaneous difference
almost protect phase conductors from direct lightning stroke, between V1 and V2 and its waveform is according to V in “Fig.
but lightning stroke to these wires, may lead to back flashover 1-b”. In “Fig. 1-b”, D illustrates insulation strength of line
(BFO) phenomenon which in turn will cause phase to ground insulator and when these curves meet each other at t1 an
fault on the line. If it happens near the substations, the lightning electrical arc starts from tower structure toward phase
arresters installed in the substation entrance may don’t be able conductor. Then the major part of electrical charges transmits
to discharge produced over voltages to the ground. Entrance of to phase conductor’s throe the arcing pass and increase its
these surge voltages to the substation considering their voltage from V2 to V1 suddenly. So the surge voltage created
amplitude and high steepness may lead substation devices to on phase conductor as a result of BFO will be according to
explosion [1]. bolded curve on “Fig. 1-c” [1].

Lightning as one of several phenomenon to disturb power

transmission lines normal operation, has been considered since
1950 and up to now a lot of researches have been done on this
field. BFO for the first time considered in 1961 when Anderson
used Monte Carlo methods in order to determine back
flashover rate (BFR) [2]. Later some other methods also
created. But finally in 1982, with the recognition of the revised
stroke current distribution, Anderson [3] produced a new
estimating method using a constant 2-µs front. This method
with minor modifications was adopted by IEEE working group
and published as IEEE method [4]. One of the latest researches
Figure 1. Mechanism of BFO.
in this field has been done in 1994 to 2004 in Japan. During

978-1-4577-1829-8/12/$26.00 ©2012 IEEE

 Direct stroke of lightning to the tower top will produce a Ri: impulse or high-current footing resistance, ohms
surge voltage on the tower structure. The amplitude of this CFO: Critical Flashover voltage of nonstandard lightning current
voltage on a point at tower structure which is opposite to phase wave form, kV
A conductor is according to “(1)”. For other phases the Considering all stroke currents bigger than critical current
equations will be similar to (1): and also all possible times to crest BFR, we have:
(1) ∞ ∞ (14)
V
TA
=K K I
SP TA BFR = 0.6N L ∫ ∫ f ( I | t f )f (t f )dI dt f
0 IC
Where:
Where NL is number of lightning to stroke to the
2T (2)
K = 1−α (1 − α )[(1 − S ) transmission line [7].
SP R T t
f
4T 6T III. SUGGESTED METHODS IN ORDER TO REDUCE BFO
+α α (1 − S ) + (α α ) 2 (1 − S ) + ...]
R T t R T t
f f
A. Reduction of footing resistance of towers
TA (3) Surge impedance of current path included tower structure
KTA = Re +αT ZT
Tf and footing resistance is the most effective parameter on BFR.
Zg (4) Discharging speed of electrical charges to the ground decreases
αR = as this impedance increase and consequently it causes the
Z g + 2R0
amplitude of surge voltage created on the tower structure
Z g −2 Ri (5) increases. This surge voltage travels along the tower structure
αT = toward footing resistance, at the point where the tower
Z g + 2 Ri
structure connects to the earthing system part of surge transmits
Z g Ri (6)
Re = to the ground and the rest reflects toward tower top [7]. The
Z g + 2R i reflected part of surge is as below:
TT (7)
K TT = R e + αT Z T (15)
z oe − z oh 2
Tf e rt = et
Also voltages on insulators will be expressed as (8) to (10): z oe + z oh 2

V IA = (KTA − C A K TT )K SP I +V LN sin ωt (8)

Where et is the surge voltage created as a result of lightning
stroke to the tower structure, Zoe surge impedance of tower
V IB = (K TB − C B K TT )K SP I +V LN sin(ωt − 120 )
D (9)
earthing system and Zoh2 is the surge impedance of lower part
of tower structure i.e. from lowest arm to the ground surface.
V IC = (K TC − C C K TT )K SP I +V LN sin(ωt + 120D ) (10)
The surge voltage ert reflects toward tower top and
depending to its polarity adds to or subtracted from tower top
The critical currents are according to (11) to (13): voltage. According to “(11)”, if (z oe z oh 2 > 1) then ert will
CFO NS −V LN sin ωt (11) positive and adds to the tower top voltage and as a result
I CA = increases BFR, but if ( z oe z oh 2 < 1) then ert will be negative
( K T A − C A K T T )K S P
and subtracted from tower top voltage and as a result decreases
(12)
BFR [7].
CFO NS −V LN sin(ωt − 120 D )
I CB =
( K TB − C B K T T ) K SP B. Using Multi Circuit Lines with Horizental Phase
Coducters Arrengment
(13)
CFO NS −V LN sin(ωt + 120 D ) For a double circuit line having horizontal phase
I CC = configuration, outer phases of lower circuit are usually most
( K T C − C C K T T ) K SP
probable phases to flashover. When flashover happens on these
phases then they act like underbuilt shield wires and decrease
The definitions of variables are:
BFR for upper circuit strongly. Therefore on a multi circuit line
tf : time to crest of stroke current, µs installing an important circuit on the top of the one or more,
C: coupling factor less important circuit could be a clue to decrease BFR for the
ZT: surge impedance of tower, ohms upper circuit.
Zg: surge impedance of ground wires, ohms
TT: tower travel time, µs C. C. Using Multi Circuit Lines with Horizental Phase
TA: tower travel time to any location on the tower A, µs Coducters Arrengment
TS: travel time of a span, µs
For a double circuit line having horizontal phase
I: stroke current, kA
configuration, outer phases of lower circuit are usually most
IR: current through footing of struck tower, kA
probable phases to flashover. When flashover happens on these
R0: measured or low-current footing resistance, ohms
phases then they act like under built shield wires and decrease • Evaluating BIL of 1800 kV and 1950 kV for
BFR for upper circuit strongly. Therefore on a multi circuit line substation and power transformer, respectively, are
installing an important circuit on the top of the one or more, enough to protect the whole system or not.
less important circuit could be a clue to decrease BFR for the • Evaluating protection level of substation devices and
upper circuit [7]. power transformer against a strong lightning stroke to
third tower top.
IV. CASE STUDY • Evaluating the effectiveness of suggested methods in
As a case of study, three spans of a 765 kV line has been order to reducing BFR.
simulated and analyzed under BFO situation, where the “Fig. 4” shows the voltage differences on the second tower
lightning current amplitude is 200 kA. This line is a single insulators. According to this curves as the voltage difference
circuit one and its phase configuration is horizontal. “Fig. 2” applied to phase C insulator meets the insulation strength level
illustrates its physical dimensions. of insulator, BFO happens on this phase.

Figure 2. Line physical dimensions Figure 4. Voltage differences on the insulators of second tower

The lightning impulse insulation strength level of line “Fig. 5” illustrates voltages on the substation bushing and
insulators is 2500 kV and the line is terminated to a GIS type lightning stroke point. The biggest voltage belongs to phase C
substation. “Fig. 3” illustrates system devices arrangement. and is about 1400 kV. Therefore considering BIL of substation
(1800 kV) under this situation the system is protected against
BFO. In order to evaluate the first lightning arrester ability to
protect whole the system lonely, the lightning arrester
connected to power transformer HV terminals has been
canceled and the voltages have been recorded again. “Fig. 6”
illustrates voltages on the power transformer HV terminals
under this situation.

Figure 3. System devices arrangement

Simulation has been done on EMTP soft ware and its

purposes are:
• Evaluating protection level of substation devices and
power transformer against a strong lightning stroke to Figure 5. Voltages on the substation bushings and lightning stroke point
second tower top.
According to “Fig. 6”, the voltage on phase C reaches the
• Evaluating zinc oxide (Zno) type lightning arrester
maximum value of 2200 kV which is higher than power
installed on substation entrance ability in order to transformer BIL. At the same time voltage of phase C on the
protect whole the system without second Zno type substation bushing reaches the maximum value of 1900kV
lightning arrester installed on power transformer high which is also higher than BIL of substation. Therefore both
voltage terminals.
lightning arresters are necessary and one of them cannot protect
the system completely.

Figure 7. Increasing footing resistance of second phase from 15 ohms to 16

ohms causes double phase flashover

The BIL of transmission line is usually higher than that of

other parts of power system, if a lightning stroke to a line far
from substation BFR will be small. But as the lightning stroke
point gets closer to the substation, the BFR also increases. In
Figure 6. Voltages on power transformer HV terminals when the lightning order to analyze this parameter effect on BFR, the lightning
arrester connected current has been applied to the third tower and the results have
been recorded. Lightning stroke to the third tower leads to
In order to analyze the lightning current crest value effect on BFR it
has been decreased from 200 kA to 160 kA in 10 kA steps. However the
flashover on phase C insulator. Under this situation the voltage
lightning arrester installed on power transformer HV terminals has been on substation bushings and power transformer HV terminals
canceled. The voltages of power transformer HV terminals and substation will be 2250 kV and 2100 kV respectively. Therefore under
bushing in each step have been recorded and presented on Table 1. The this situation the system is not safe and some special methods
results show that if the crest value of lightning stroke current be should be use to increase system safety.
160 kA, the lightning arrester connected to the substation
Firstly, the footing resistance of third tower has been
bushings are enough to protect whole the system lonely.
decreased, the recorded results show that if this resistance be
less than 5 ohms then the substation will be safe but power
TABLE I. THE EFFECT OF LIGHTNING CURRENT CREST VALUE transformer is still unsafe. If the footing resistance of third
VARIATION ONE BFR WHILE THE LIGHTNING ARRESTER tower decrease below 0.3 ohms power transformer also will be
CONNECTED TO POWER TRANSFORMER HV TERMINALS
safe. But this amount for footing resistance of a tower is almost
Maximum value Maximum voltage on Maximum voltage inaccessible. Therefore footing resistance of second tower
of Lightning transformer HV on Substation should decrease too. According to the simulation results whole
current terminals bushings the system will be safe if footing resistance of third and second
200kA 2212kV 1938kV towers be less than 1 ohm and 2 ohms, respectively. If these
190kA 2143kV 1902kV amounts also be inaccessible considering physical
180kA 2063kV 1862kV configuration of the ground on the area, earthing systems of
170kA 1964kV 1814kV these towers may be connected to the substation earthing
160kA 1846kV 1749kV system.

Footing resistance of towers is one the most effective V. CONCLUSION

parameters on BFR. Up to now a fixed 15 ohms resistor has This paper has analyzed back flashover phenomenon on
been used as footing resistance of towers. In order to evaluate power transmission lines and suggested some methods in order
its effectiveness this parameter has been varied and the results to reduce its probability. As a case of study, three spans of a
recorded. Increasing footing resistance of second tower from 765 kV transmission line has been selected and simulated
15 ohms to 16 ohms develops single phase flashover to double under BFO situation on EMTP soft ware. According to the
phase flashover. It means that BFO occurs both on C and B results, guard wires installed on the transmission lines are not
phases (“Fig. 7”). Increasing footing resistance of second tower able to protect system against lightning stroke to the lines
to 47 ohms will cause all the phases to flashover. This value is completely and some other methods should be used in order to
too high for footing resistance of a tower and it means that the protect power system against over voltages created by BFO.
probability for three phase flashover is too small. Therefore on Recorded results showed that the under study substation is not
multi circuit lines, the probability of BFO for upper circuit will safe against lightning stroke to the last tower of line, therefore
be too small, because when BFO happens on the lower circuit third and second towers footing resistances should be
its phase conductors act as under built shield wires and decreased to some acceptable amounts. If these amounts are
decrease BFR for the upper circuit strongly [7]. not accessible for any reason other suggestions such as towers
surge impedance reduction should be used.
 REFERENCES
[1] Tahmasebgoli, Shahrokhshahi “lightning and power transmission lines
book” Tehran 1986.
[2] J. G. Anderson, “Monte Carlo computer calculation of transmission line
Lightning Performance,” IEEE Trans. on PA&S, Aug. 1961, pp. 414-20.
[3] J. G. Anderson, “Lightning Performance of Transmission Lines,”
chapter 12 of transmission lines reference book, Palo Alto, CA: Electric
Power Research Institute, 1982.
[4] IEEE Working Group on the Lightning Performance of Transmission
Lines, “A Simplified Method for Estimating the Lightning Performance
of Transmission Lines,” IEEE Transaction on PA&S, Apr. 1985, pp.
919-932.
[5] J. Takami, S. Okabe, “Observational results of lightning current on
transmission towers,” IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 22, no. 1, pp.
547-56, Jan. 2007.
[6] J. Takami, S. Okabe, “Characteristics of direct lightning strokes to
phase conduc-tors of UHV transmission lines,” IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 537-46, Jan. 2007.
[7] A. R. Hileman, Insulation Coordination for Power Systems, CRC Press,
Taylor & Francis Group, FL, USA, 1999.

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