Lightning return stroke. A numerical calculation of the optical radiation

Abstract

A numerical model for a lightning channel that includes a multigroup treatment of radiative transport was used to calculate the optical output corresponding to an assumed current waveform. The calculation compares well with the experimental data that are available. The time development of the temperature, pressure, density, and electrical conductivity profiles across the channel were investigated, as was the energy balance for the process.

On the NOx production by laboratory electrical discharges and lightning

“…The experimental data obtained by Orville (1968a) on the temperature of the lightning stepped leader channel show that at the formation of the step the channel temperature increases to about 25,000-30,000 K. Subsequently, the temperature decreases to about 15,000 K and remains at that level until the channel is retraced by the return stroke. The theoretical calculations of Paxton et al (1986), Hill (1971) and Plooster (1971) also indicate that by the time the pressure inside the spark channel reduces to the atmospheric pressure the average temperature in the channel is close to 20,000-15,000 K. After the pressure equilibrium is reached, the cooling of the channel takes place mainly due to the entrainment of cold air across the channel boundaries into the hot core of the channel effectively reducing the diameter of the hot core (Hill et al, 1980). Similarly, Eq.…”

Lightning strike thermal damage model for glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites and its application to wind turbine blades

“…Comparisons of the channel radius obtained using (6) with numerical results of [15,19,20] are shown in Fig. 5.…”

“…As one can see, the results obtained using expression (6) are consistent with other models. The model developed in [19] is essentially a generalization of Plooster's gas dynamic model [15] for lightning plasma channel. The two are different in the treatment of radiative transport.…”

Energy dissipation in lightning flashes

“…In the fourth category the shape and amplitude of the return stroke current are assumed, and the energy dissipated in the channel is calculated by analyzing the temporal development of the channel properties as a function of time [Plooster, 1971;Hill, 1971;Paxton et al, 1986]. More recently, Cooray [1991] and Borowsky [1995] estimated the energy dissipation in return strokes by using physically reasonable return stroke models which are capable of predicting the temporal and spatial variation of the return stroke current along the channel.…”