On the simulation of lightning current for the application in lightning arrester and material ablation tests

Approximately 70% of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes are multi-stroke flash with an average stroke number of about four per flash. The main lightning current components found in natural lightning include first return stroke current, subsequent return stroke currents, intermediate currents and long-duration continuing current. For the purpose of engineering applications such as lightning arrester tests and material ablation tests, many types of single and multi-pulse surge current generators are developed. This paper reviews the waveform and amplitude requirements for such tests and corresponding techniques for developing those generators. The deficiencies of the existing surge current generators are analyzed and a new technique for full-scale lightning current effect simulation with a multi-waveform multi-pulse impulse current generator (MWMP ICG) is introduced. The potential application of such MWMP ICG is also discussed.