An integrated monitoring and data analysis system to evaluate the effects of lightning activity on distribution networks

Overhead power distribution lines have significant power quality variations (voltage transients) during thunderstorms. Lightning strokes, whether direct or indirect, are among the main causes of such power quality disturbances. In order to assist the analysis of lightning effects on power quality indices, we present in this paper a monitoring network and an integrated database analysis, including voltage waveform recorders, local electric field measurement, information from Lightning Location Systems, and utility databases. The idea is to present a general procedure to indicate the correlation between lightning and power quality events (mainly short-circuits) in the monitored distribution network. Also, we present an automatic waveform analysis that allows the automatic segmentation and classification of transients in a waveform and a simulation procedure that assists the correlation process. Finally, we present an initial case study addressing the advantages and relevant correlations that can be obtained from the proposed approach.