The Application of the Lightning Locating System Data to Analyze Lightning Performance of Rural Distribution Lines in Minas Gerais State

Abstract

This work presents the results of a study based on the application of the lightning location system (LLS) data to analyze actual lightning performance of rural distribution lines at Minas Gerais State. A methodology is used to process the LLS lightning activity information, and correlate it to the rural power lines topology, observed outage levels, and resulting performance data. The method is applied to three different feeders with different insulation levels. The estimated and the observed performance data are presented and compared. The results are encouraging, and show the usefulness of the proposed methodology as a practical engineering tool to investigate, evaluate and estimate the lightning performance of rural distribution lines