Influence of electrogeometric model and statistical current distribution in distribution lines indirect lightning performance estimation considering the ground resistivity

The estimation of overhead distribution lines lightning performance is very important for insulation design. Due to the random nature of lightning, different aspects of the phenomenon, such as the discharge points of incidence and the statistical distribution of the current intensity, are modeled in performance evaluation studies. This paper presents a comparative study of different models proposed in the literature to estimate the indirect lightning flashover rates of overhead distribution lines. The electrogeometric model, that defines the lightning striking point, and the statistical current distribution are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations. The results show the importance of considering the most accurate information on these parameters for a more realistic performance estimation.