Lightning-Induced Overvoltage Formation

Lightning is a very chaotic event, and lightning strikes are the most damaging among natural disasters. Lightning does not necessarily have to strike the facility directly to damage our facilities. After the lightning impulse strikes, it can proceed by drawing a radius of 10 km in the form of a traveling wave. Lightning can come from electrical lines, or it can damage our facility with the coupling effect.

Effects of lightning and ways it can spread

Lightning can strike our facility directly, or by striking very close to the facility, it can create overvoltage in the facility due to equipotential differences. As shown in the image below, the impulse comes from different places and causes an overvoltage. The electric field voltage created by a strong lightning impulse can cause sudden surge impulses in low circuits. Also, the strong current level of the lightning impulse creates a magnetic field, causing overvoltage induction in data lines and energy transmission cables. Lightning impulses proceed in a ring shape creating overvoltage waves. This situation can affect different parts in our facility through conductive coupling .

Moreover, the lightning impulse can strike the external lightning protection system directly and cause an overvoltage in our facility. Establishing only an external lightning protection system shows that the facility is unprotected against the overvoltages that occur.

Use of Surge Arresters

To be protected from all these lightning-induced overvoltages, surge arrester systems must be present in our facility. Starting from Class B+C surge arresters in the main panel, LV surge arrester design and application are required for facilities in sub-panels and protection of sensitive systems. Otherwise, even if lightning does not strike your facility, overvoltage accumulation may occur in your facility due to electric and magnetic fields and coupling effects. Sensitive electronic devices such as data lines, UPSs, energy transmission lines, cameras, servers can be damaged especially by this coupling effect.

Burning caused by lightning impulse