ATP-EMTP simulation of lightning protection system for multi-storey building

Abstract

Multi-storey buildings with occupied highly technological instruments have more attraction possibilities of a lightning stroke than ordinary residential buildings. A protection system against lightning is necessary for these buildings and the level of the protection system performance is an issue to be examined. In this study, a protection system for a three-storey building is simulated in Alternative Transient Program-Electromagnetic Transients Program (ATP-EMTP). Distributed-parameter line models are used for the conductors of the protective system by modelling vertical conductors as nonuniform lines. The currents flowing in the critical conductors and the voltages at some critical points resulting by a lightning stroke are computed. The conventional lighting parameters required for structural protection such as lightning peak current, current rise time and time interval for the current flowing are determined. The effect of the radius of conductors in the protection system on the surge response is investigated.