Classification of strokes and identification of stroke location from the measured tower base currents of LPS to Indian satellite launch pad-I

Performance of any engineering design needs to be evaluated in the field, irrespective of its sophistication. This is specifically true for lightning protection systems. Even though there are many options for this, several considerations show that the measurement of lightning currents at the tower bases is an ideal choice. Once such measurements are done, two basic issues need to be addressed. First one is the classification of strokes due to intercepted strokes, bypass strokes and stroke to ground outside the protected volume of the Lightning Protection System (LPS). Second one is the identification of stroke location from the measured tower base current. These issues have been addressed in the present work. A suitable electromagnetic model is proposed and an experimental validation has been provided for the numerical modelling. Basic characteristics of tower base currents for different strokes have been identified and based on the same a simple procedure is developed for classification of strokes and identification of stroke location. These contributions are quite novel and seems to be first of their kind.