Modeling and Simulation of the Current Quenching Behavior of a Line Lightning Protection Device

Abstract

We develop a consistent model for a Line Lightning Protection Device and demonstrate that this model can explain the two modes of current quenching -- impulse quenching and current zero quenching -- observed in such devices. A dimensional analysis shows that impulse quenching can always be obtained if the power loss from the electric arcs is large enough as compared to $U_0 I_f$, where $U_0$ is the grid voltage and $I_f$ is the maximum follow current after a lightning strike. We further show that the two modes of quenching can be reproduced in a full 3D arc simulations coupled to the appropriate circuit model. This means the arc simulations can be used for optimization and development of future LLPDs.