Remote Radio Unit Rru DC Feed Protectionrev7

Document technical content created by M J Maytum
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Remote Radio Unit (RRU) DC Feed

protection
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2014 Copyright of M J Maytum
For licence permissions contact mjmaytum@gmail.com
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Abstract: Distributed Base Stations (DBS) split the traditional Radio Base Station
(RBS) antenna tower base equipment into two locations; a Base Band Unit
(BBU) at the tower base and a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) mounted on the top of
the tower. Normally the BBU and the RRU would be connected by a fibre optic
cable to carry the signals and a DC feed to power the RRU. Towers are likely to
be struck with lightning and so some form of protection is necessary to prevent
damage to the DC powering feed and connected equipment. Several example
protection methods and a worked example are given. Feed cable currents and
protection stress levels are calculated for negative and positive lightning flashes.
Clause 1 describes the DBS configuration with term definitions in clause 2.
Clause 3 shows three possible protection configurations and clause 4 determines
the circuit parameters. Clauses 5 through to 7 calculate DC feed cable currents
and the Surge Protective Device (SPD) energy for four variants of lightning
stroke. Clause 8 outlines two other forms of DC feed protection. Finally clause 9
summarises and comments on the results.
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Keywords: DBS, RRU, RRH, BBU, SPD, DC powering feed, protection, lightning stroke, positive
lightning, negative lightning
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Contents
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1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 RRH Configuration ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 History ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
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2. Definitions and abbreviations............................................................................................................................ 2

2.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................................. 3
3. Protection configurations ................................................................................................................................... 3
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4. Circuit component values .................................................................................................................................. 5

4.1 Resistances .................................................................................................................................................. 5
4.2 Inductances .................................................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Equivalent experimental tower circuit ....................................................................................................... 6
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5. Tower voltage during a negative lightning flash.............................................................................................. 7

5.1 First stroke ................................................................................................................................................... 8
5.2 Subsequent strokes....................................................................................................................................12
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6. Tower voltage during a positive lightning stroke ..........................................................................................14

6.1 Positive stroke ...........................................................................................................................................14
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7. Tower voltage during an extreme positive lightning stroke ..........................................................................16

7.1 Extreme positive stroke ............................................................................................................................17
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8. Alternative protection arrangements ...............................................................................................................18

8.1 Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) reference bonding ......................................................................................18
8.2 Shielded DC feed ......................................................................................................................................19
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9. Lightning stroke results and comments ..........................................................................................................19
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Annex A (informative) Bibliography.................................................................................................................23
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Remote Radio Unit (RRU) DC Feed

protection
1. Introduction
1.1 RRH Configuration
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Traditionally Radio Base Stations (RBS) had the bulk of the equipment at the base of the antenna tower or
mast. Distributed Base Stations (DBS) split the equipment into two sections; a Base Band Unit (BBU) at
the tower or mast base and a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) mounted at the top of the tower or mast. Normally
the BBU and the RRU would be connected by a fibre optic cable to carry the signals and a DC feed to
power the RRU, see Figure 1. The RRU is also called a Remote Radio Head (RRH). To harmonize with
[B3] the acronym RRU will be used in this document.
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Where a tower exists, such as power distribution pylons, the RRU may be mounted at an intermediate level
rather than at the tower top.
1
Lightning Rod
Antennas
Remote Radio
Unit RRU
Tower or
Mast
Powering: Blue
Signal: Yellow
Base Band
Unit RBU
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Figure 1 Distributed Base Station
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1.2 History
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RRU DC feed protection has been under discussion in the ITU-T since the submission of [B1] in 2011. The
2012 presentation [B2] gave details the unexpected DC feed protection surge waveshape and the reasons
for it. In 2014 the ITU-T published a Recommendation [B3] giving a more comprehensive explanation of
the DC feed surge protection.
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2. Definitions and abbreviations
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2.1 Definitions
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For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
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Radio Base Station (RBS): Installation intended to provide access to the telecommunication system by
means of radio waves.
[B3]
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Distributed Base Station (DBS): One kind of Radio Base Station, where the Remote Radio Unit (RRU)
and Base Band Unit (BBU) can be installed separated.
[B3]
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Remote Radio Unit (RRU):

(Syn. Remote Radio Head (RRH))
The radio frequency module of Radio Base Station which can be installed separately. Optical fibre is
commonly used to connected radio frequency module and base band unit of Radio Base Station.
[B3]
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Base Band Unit (BBU): The base band module of Radio Base Station which can be installed separately.
Optical fibre is commonly used to connected base band module and radio frequency module.
[B3]
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surge reference equalizer: A surge protective device used for connecting equipment to external systems
whereby all conductors connected to the protected load are routed, physically and electrically, through a
single enclosure with a shared reference point between the input and output ports of each system.
[B4]
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2.2 Abbreviations
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BBU
Base Band Unit
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DBS
Distributed Base Station
44
RBS
Radio Base Station
45
RRU
Remote Radio Unit
46
RRH
Remote Radio Head
47
RTN
Return
48
SPC
Surge Protective Component
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SPD
Surge Protective Device
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3. Protection configurations
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Figure 2 shows the common arrangement where the floating DC feed has protection applied at the RRU
and the BBU. During lightning stroke events the protection, the red block in Figure 2, becomes a surge
reference equalizer, lightning event bonding the DC feed to the local tower structure via the black
connection line from the protection block to the tower.
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Lightning Rod
Remote Radio
Unit RRU
Protection
Tower or
Mast
Powering: Blue
Signal: Yellow
Protection
Base Band
Unit RBU
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Figure 2 Protection (red block) applied to DC powering feed at tower base and top
Figure 3 through to Figure 5 shows some protection configurations for a -48 V DC feed, assuming the
lightning stroke current flows from tower top to bottom. The lightning stroke current, IS, divides between
the tower, IT, and DC feed, IR and IF. Because of the values of tower and DC feed impedances, most of the
stroke current will flow in the tower. In the Figures, the tower impedances are RT and LT and the DC feed
impedances are RR and LR for the return and RF and LF for the -48 V. The mutual inductance between the
tower and DC feed is represented by MTRF.
IF
RF
LF
MTRF
-48 V
RRU
RBU
IR
SPD1
RR
LR
MTRF
SPD3
SPD2
IT
IS
RTN
RT
LT
SPD4
MTRF
Stroke
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66
Tower
Figure 3 2 SPD Protection of DC powering feed

In Figure 3, SPD1 and SPD2 at the tower top and SPD3 and SPD4 at the base reference equalize the DC
feed voltage to the local tower voltage during a lightning stroke.
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IF
RF
LF
MTRF
-48 V
SPD5
SPD2
RRU
IR
SPD1
RR
LR
MTRF
RT
IT
IS
RTN
SPD4
SPD3
LT
RBU
SPD6
MTRF
Stroke
Tower
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68
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Figure 4 3 SPD Protection of DC powering feed

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, but has the addition of an extra SPD, SPD 2 and SPD5, across the DC feed
at the tower top and base to limit the differential feed surge voltage.
IF
RF
LF
MTRF
SPD2
RRU
-48 V
SPD4
IR
RR
LR
MTRF
SPD1
RBU
RTN
SPD3
IT
IS
RT
LT
MTRF
Stroke
Tower
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Figure 5 Single SPD for reference equalization
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Figure 5 uses a single SPD for reference equalization, SPD1 and SPD3, and another SPD, SPD2 and SPD4,
across the DC feed at the tower top and base to limit the differential feed surge voltage.
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4. Circuit component values
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Reference [B1] measured a three leg, 5 cm square tube, folded 24 m tower in a laboratory environment
fitted with a 6 mm2 DC feed cable.
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4.1 Resistances
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The three mild steel tower legs had 2 mm walls, making the total cross-sectional area, A, 3 x (502-462) =
1152 mm2. The calculated tower resistance will be:
5
l
24
1.5 10 7
3.1 m
A
1152 106
81
RT
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Where:
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l = 24 m
A = 1152x10-6 m2
= 1.5x10-7 m (mild steel)
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The actual measured tower resistance was 2.2 m equivalent to 6.6 m per leg.
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Similarly the 6 mm2 DC feed cable resistance calculates to 68 m using = 0.17x10-7 m (copper).
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4.2 Inductances
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To enable short connection leads to the surge generator, the tower was bent back on itself to form a U or
hairpin shaped structure. Had the tower been straight, the equation for a straight conductor inductance,
L=0.2l(ln(2l/r)-0.75) H, based on [B5] could have been used. This equation results in an inductance value
of 32 H per tower leg or 11 H with three in parallel. A tower inductance relationship is given in [B6],
which gives a rule of thumb of 0.84 H for every metre of tower height, giving an inductance value of
20 H for a 24 m tower.
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The inductance of a hairpin shaped tower can be treated as rectangle with sides of length L and width d
formed by a conductor of radius r. The inductance equation [B9] for a rectangle is:
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d
l2 d2
L 0.4 2l d 2 l 2 d 2 d ln
l
l
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This equation results in an inductance value of 17 H per tower leg or 5.8 H with three in parallel.
2
2
l ln l l d
d
d
d ln 2d l ln 2l H
r
r
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Using the equation for the 6 mm2 DC feed cable gives a value of 32 H. Bending the tower round in a
hairpin to apply the surge generator reduces the tower and cable inductance.
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The mutual inductance between the tower and cable is neglected as the recorded current waveforms did not
show any major mutual inductive effects.
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4.3 Equivalent experimental tower circuit
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Figure 6 shows the simplified circuit for [B1] using the values from previous clauses showing currents and
component voltages.
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Stroke
IS
Top
Tower
IC
IT
LT
LC
5.8 H
32 H
RRU
Cable
VLT
VLC
SPD1
+
SPD2
VRT
RT
RC
2.2 m
68 m
VSPD
VRC
RBU
Base
Ground
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107
Figure 6 Folded 24 m tower simplified circuit
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The tower path is lower in impedance than the cable path so most of the current flows in the tower path. As
most of the current is in the tower path the tower acts like a voltage generator to drive current through the
cable path. The voltage across the parallel arms must have the same value, giving:
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VLT VRT VLC VSPD VRC
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Rearranging in terms of V LC
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VLC VLT VRT VSPD VRC
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Integrating this equation with time will result in the voltseconds applied to the cable inductance, LC, which,
when divided by the cable inductance will give the cable current, IC. This approach is used to determine the
cable current in the following clauses.
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5. Tower voltage during a negative lightning flash
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The median stroke values from [B7] will be used to emulate a negative lightning flash. The parameter
values are:
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First stroke: 30 kA, 5.5/75 and 5.2 C

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Subsequent strokes: 12 kA, 1.1/32 and 1.4 C
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Inter-stroke interval: 60 ms
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Subsequent stroke number: 3 to 5
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5.1 First stroke
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Figure 7 shows the simulated first stroke tower current. The slow start to current rise is to model more
accurately the naturally occurring stroke initial current rise. A double exponential lightning equation gives
a rapid initial rate of rise and overestimates the inductive voltage levels. The alternative equation given in
[B8] was used to emulate the current waveform slow initial rise.
30000
Tower Current A
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0
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130
20
40
60
80
100
120
Time s
Figure 7 First stroke tower waveform
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Figure 8 shows the tower inductive (VLT) and resistive (VRT) voltage components as a result of the first
stroke current.
40000
35000
Inductive Voltage
Resistive Voltage
Component Voltage V
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
time vs i
5000
0
-5000
0
20
40
133
134
60
80
100
120
Time s
Figure 8 First stroke tower voltages
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The stroke current rate of rise develops a substantial tower inductive voltage (40 kV red line) and this
determines the voltage applied to the cable and the consequent current in the cable. The tower resistive
voltage developed in this case is negligible (green line). Until the combined voltage thresholds (V SPD) of the
two SPDs, SPD1 and SPD2, is exceeded, substantive current cannot flow in the cable. If, for example the
combine threshold voltage was 200 V only the portion of the tower voltage exceeding 200 V will build up a
current in the cable.
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Figure 9 shows the portion of the inductive voltage that exceeds 200 V in red and that below 200 V in
black. The fill represents the volt-seconds (172 mVs) applied to the cable inductance, LC.
40000
< 200 V
> 200 V
35000
Inductive Voltage V
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
-5000
0
143
144
145
146
147
10
20
30
40
50
Time s
Figure 9 First stroke waveform above 200 V

Figure 10 integrates the red portion (>200 V) volt-seconds of Figure 9 and shows the cumulative millivoltseconds applied to the cable inductance LC. As the volt-seconds divided by the cable inductance is the value
of current, the cumulative waveshape is also the cable current rise waveshape. The total volt-seconds
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applied is 172 mVs and that would give a peak inductive current of 172m/32 = 5380 A. The inductive
cable energy stored is 0.5*32*5380 2 = 460 J.
200
180
160
Cumulative mVs
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
10
15
150
151
152
20
25
30
Time s
Figure 10 Cumulative millivolt-seconds applied to the cable inductance LC

Figure 11 shows the simplified circuit elements just after the cable current peak.
Stroke
30000 A
IS
5380 A
Top
Tower
IC
IT
LT
LC
5.8 H
32 H
RRU
Cable
VLT
VLC
SPD1
+
SPD2
VRT
RT
RC
2.2 m
68 m
Ground
153
155
156
VRC
RBU
Base
154
VSPD
Figure 11 Simplified circuit elements for cable current decay

After the cable current has peaked, the cable stored inductive energy discharges. The voltage polarity
across the cable inductance (V LC) and tower (VLT) reverses after the current peak as the stroke di/dt
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becomes negative. The voltage across the cable inductance will essentially be the combined SPD clamping
voltages of SPD1 and SPD2 (200 V) and the tower voltage. The previous voltage equation becomes
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VLC VLT VRT VSPD VRC
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The modified equation shows that the combined SPD voltage now adds to the tower voltage instead of
subtracting from it, so reducing the time for the cable inductive energy to discharge.
0
Tower + SPD voltage after current peak V
-500
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
25
162
163
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
Time s
Figure 12 Tower voltage after current peak
164
165
166
167
The tower voltage plus the voltages of the SPD1 and SPD2 is applied to the cable inductance. Figure 12
shows the combined tower and SPD voltage after the stroke current peak. By integrating the total voltage
with time, the time at which the volt-second product reaches 172 mVs can be found. The 172 mVs value is
reached at 168 s. At 168 s the induced current in the cable will be zero.
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169
Figure 13 shows the tower and cable currents. The cable current drops to zero at 168 s or 151 s after the
current peak.
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171
172
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The SPD energy deposited can be found from integrating the cable current and multiplying by the SPD
voltage (200 V). The total SPD energy deposited was found to be 68 J comprised of 5 J in the current rise
and 63 J in the current decay. The total energy deposited in each SPD is 34 J. This is less than 10 % of the
energy (460 J) that was stored in the cable inductance.
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30000
6000
5000
First stroke tower current
Cable current
20000
4000
15000
3000
10000
2000
5000
1000
0
0
50
100
150
200
250
Time s
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175
176
Cable Current A
First stroke tower current A
25000
Figure 13 First stroke tower and cable currents

In summary, the significant first stroke parameters were:
177
Peak tower current 30 kA (stroke current 35 A)
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Peak cable current 5.38 kA
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Cable volt-second integral during current rise 172 mVs
180
Cable stored energy 460 J
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Cable current time from peak to zero 161 s
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SPD energy 68 J (about 34 J each SPD)
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5.2 Subsequent strokes
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Subsequent strokes are typically lower in amplitude, faster rate of current rise and shorter decay times, but
they occur in multiples of 3 to 5. Figure 14 shows the simulated subsequent stroke tower current.
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Subsequent stroke tower current A
13000
12000
11000
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0
10
20
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Time s
186
187
188
189
30
Figure 14 Subsequent stroke tower current

Figure 15 shows the tower inductive and resistive voltage components as a result of the subsequent stroke
current.
90000
Tower component voltages V
80000
Inductive voltage
Resistive voltage
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
0
190
20
30
40
50
Time s
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192
193
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Figure 15 Subsequent stroke tower voltages

The fast rate of current rise causes a peak tower voltage of over 80 kV. The treatment of these values
followed the same procedure as the first stroke clause. Significant parameters were:
194
Peak tower current 12 kA (stroke current 14 kA)
195
196
197

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198
199
Figure 16 shows the tower and cable currents. If there were 5 subsequent strokes the total energy deposited
in a single SPD (SPD 1 or SPD2) would be 5*7 + 34 = 69 J.
Subsequent stroke tower current A
12000
2400
2200
Subsequent stroke tower current
Cable current
10000
2000
1800
8000
1600
1400
6000
1200
1000
4000
800
Cable current A
200
201
600
2000
400
200
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Time s
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203
Figure 16 Tower and cable currents
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6. Tower voltage during a positive lightning stroke
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The median stroke values from [B7] will be used to emulate a positive lightning stroke. The parameter
values are:
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35 kA, 22/230 and 16 C
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6.1 Positive stroke
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210
Figure 17 shows the simulated positive stroke tower current. The slow start to current rise is to model more
accurately the naturally occurring stroke initial current rise.
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Positive stroke tower current A
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0
50
100
150
250
300
350
400
450
500
Time s
211
212
213
214
200
Figure 17 Positive stroke tower current

Figure 15 shows the tower inductive and resistive voltage components as a result of the subsequent stroke
current.
12000
11000
Inductive voltage
Resistive voltage
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
-1000
0
215
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Time s
216
217
218
50
Figure 18 Positive stroke tower voltages

The rate of current rise causes a peak tower voltage of 12 kV. The treatment of these values follows the
same procedure as the first stroke clause. Significant parameters were:
219
220
221
222

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223
224
Figure 16 shows the tower and cable currents. This figure shows that, with the 35 kA stroke current, when
the stroke current time to half value is 250 s or longer the cable current decay waveshape tends to a linear
ramp. This was noticed on the oscilloscope shots of [B1] where the surge generator used had a time to half
value of 400 s to 440 s.
40000
8000
Positive stroke tower current A
35000
7000
Positive stroke tower current

Cable current
30000
6000
25000
5000
20000
4000
15000
3000
10000
2000
5000
1000
Cable current A
225
226
227
228
0
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Time s
229
230
Figure 19 Positive stroke tower and cable currents
231
7. Tower voltage during an extreme positive lightning stroke
232
233
The recommended extreme (1 % population) stroke values from [B11] were used to emulate an extreme
positive lightning stroke. The positive stroke parameter values given are:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
350 kA peak current, 11 s time to current peak, 40 s time to half value and 500 kA/s di/dt
maximum
For reference the extreme negative stroke parameter values given are:
160 kA peak current, 6 s time to current peak, 80 s time to half value and 500 kA/s di/dt
maximum
Both waveforms have a 500 kA/s maximum rate of rise and will generate the same value of peak
inductive voltage.
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7.1 Extreme positive stroke
242
243
Figure 20 shows the simulated extreme positive stroke tower current. This simulation only achieves a
maximum di/dt of 100 kA/s and not the recommended 500 kA/s.
Extreme positive stroke tower current A
241
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
0
20
40
80
100
120
140
Time s
244
245
246
247
60
Figure 20 Extreme positive stroke tower current

Figure 21 shows the tower inductive and resistive voltage components as a result of the extreme positive
stroke current.
700000
600000
Inductive voltage
Resistive voltage
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
0
248
40
60
80
100
120
140
Time s
249
250
251
20
Figure 21 Extreme positive stroke tower voltages

The rate of current rise (105 kA/s) causes a peak tower voltage of 620 kV. The treatment of these values
follows the same procedure as the first stroke clause. Significant parameters were:
252
253

17
254
Cable volt-second integral during current rise 1.79 Vs
255
Cable stored energy 50 kJ
256
257
Figure 22 shows the tower and cable currents. The tower inductive voltage dominates making the cable
current waveshape similar to the stroke current waveshape.
400000
80000
350000
70000
Tower current
Cable current
Tower current A
300000
60000
250000
50000
200000
40000
150000
30000
100000
20000
50000
10000
0
0
260
261
Cable current A
258
259
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Time s
Figure 22 Extreme positive stroke tower and cable currents
262
8. Alternative protection arrangements
263
8.1 Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) reference bonding
264
265
266
Clause B.5 Series connected GDTs for DC power applications in [B10] shows how a series combination
of GDTs can develop a combined arc voltage higher than the protected DC supply voltage. This series
arrangement avoids the possibility of the GDTs continuing to conduct after a lightning surge.
267
The previous Figure 5 circuit can be used with single GDTs for SPD1 and SPD3.
18
IF
RF
LF
MTRF
-48 V
SPD2
RRU
SPD4
IR
RR
LR
MTRF
RBU
RTN
SPD1
SPD3
IT
IS
RT
LT
MTRF
Stroke
Tower
268
269
Figure 23 Single GDT for reference equalization
270
271
272
273
When the tower stroke voltage causes the sparkover of the GDTs, the return, RTN, cable is bonded to the
tower top and base. As a result a portion of the stroke current will flow in the cable RTN for the stroke
duration. SPDs SPD2 and SPD4 should be clamping type voltage limiters to avoid shorting the DC supply.
The feed (-48 V) cable current will be similar to that of the clause 4.3 circuit.
274
8.2 Shielded DC feed
275
276
277
278
The Appendix I, Isolated protection solution: example of [B3] shows how a cable shield and a power feed
isolation barrier in the RRU could be used to remove the need of SPD elements. The withstand voltage of
the isolation barrier needs careful consideration to comprehend the maximum stroke voltages. In this
document peak values of 80 kV have been calculated just for nominal conditions on the 24 m tower.
279
9. Lightning stroke results and comments
280
Table 1 Lightning stroke values and results

Stroke
(clause #)
Peak
tower
current
kA
Cable
peak
current
kA
Stroke
waveshape
Cable
current
time to 0
s
Vs
integral
peak
mVs
Tower
energy
J
Cable
energy
J
Total
SPD
energy
J
Negative
first (5.1)
30
(100 %)
5.4
(18 %)
5.5/75
160
170
2610
(100 %)
460
(18 %)
68
(2.6 %)
Negative
subsequent
(5.2)
12
(100 %)
2.2
(18 %)
1.1/32
70
69
418
(100 %)
75
(18 %)
13
(3.1 %)
Positive
(6.1)
35
(100 %)
6.1
(17 %)
22/230
340
200
3550
(100 %)
600
(17 %)
210
(5.9 %)
Extreme
positive
(7.1)
350
(100 %)
56
(16 %)
4.5/40
110
1800
355000
(100 %)
50000
(14 %)
460
(0.13 %)
Percentage values shown are relative the tower current peak or tower energy
19
281
Table 1 results were obtained by the following procedure:
282
283
284
1)
Estimate the inductive and resistive components of the tower and DC feed cable.
2)
Define the lightning stroke waveform applied to the model.
3)
Assume most of the stroke current flows in the tower
285
286
287
288
289
290
4)
Calculate the tower voltage from the stroke current and the tower inductance and resistance.
291
(in this example the resistive voltage was negligible)

5)
Subtract the nominal SPD voltage from the result of 4).
6)
Integrate the result of 5) with time to give a cumulative Vs waveform.
7)
Divide the result of 6) by the cable inductance to give the SPD current versus time waveform.
8)
Multiply the result of 7) by the nominal SPD voltage to give the SPD power versus time waveform.
9)
Integrate the result of 8) for the cable current duration time to give the SPD cumulative energy.
292
293
Only a nominal value of SPD clamping voltage was used. A further refinement of this procedure would be
to incorporate a model for the SPD clamping voltage versus current.
294
295
296
297
298
The lightning parameters used for analysis of the first three table data rows were median stroke values from
[B7]. The forth extreme positive stroke row used recommendations from [B11], which represents the more
stressful values occurring in the field. For a given amplitude of stroke current, the energy deposited into the
SPD increases with increasing time to half value of the stroke. Longer times, over about 250 s, to half
value cause the SPD current decay waveshape to approach a linear ramp.
299
300
301
The transition from a truncated stroke waveshape to a linear ramp warrants further investigation. The
following (simplistic) approach provides some indication of the transition region. The actual tower current,
iT, can be approximated to:
302
iT iS
303
Where:
304
305
306
iS = Peak stroke current

LT = Tower inductance
LC = Cable inductance
307
308
309
In Figure 24 the tower current is approximated to a triangular waveform. The waveform rises in time TF to
a peak of current of iTMAX and then linearly decays to 50 % of iTMAX, in time TDT, measured from the current
peak. The cable current reaches zero in time 2 TDT.
LC
LC LT
20
Tower Current
iTMAX
0.5iTMAX
iT actual
TDT
iT linear approximation
0 TF
2TDT
vTMAX
Voltage
-vSPD
0
-vSPD
Cable Current
iCMAX
2TDC
0 TF
310
311
Figure 24 Simple analysis of cable current decay time to zero
312
313
314
In the time to peak current, the tower current rate of rise generates an inductive voltage, VTMAX, of
LT*iTMAX/TF. The voltage applied to the cable inductance, LC, will be reduced by the SPD clamping voltage
VSPD. The peak cable current, iCMAX, will be:
315
iCMAX TF LT iTMAX / TF VSPD / LC
316
Simplifying to
317
iCMAX LT iTMAX / LC TFVSPD / LC
318
Generally the TFV SPD /LC factor will be small making

21
319
iCMAX LT iTMAX / LC
320
During the tower current decay time the cable inductive voltage, v CD, will be
321
vCD LT iTMAX / 2TDT VSPD
322
or
323
vCD LT iTMAX 2TDTVSPD / 2TDT
324
The time, 2TDC, for the cable current to decay to zero is given by
325
2TDC LC iCMAX / vCD
326
Simplifying
327
2TDC 2TDT LT iTMAX / LT iTMAX 2TDTVSPD
328
2TDC 2TDT / 1 2TDTVSPD / LT iTMAX
329
330
331
332
333
The equation above indicates that the cable current decay linearizes when the 2TDTVSPD/(LTiTMAX) factor
becomes significant compared to unity. Inserting the example values gives 400TDT/(5.8iCMAX) =
69TDT/iTMAX, where TDT is in microseconds. In clause 6.1 with iTMAX = 35 kA and TDT =200 s a linear
ramp is noticeable. The factor for this condition is 69*200/35000 = 0.39, making 2TDC = 2*200/1.39 = 290
s. The actual calculated value using exponential decays was 340 s.
334
335
336
337
The above shows the transition from a cable current truncated exponential decay waveshape to a linear
decay ramp is determined by the 2TDTVSPD/(LTiTMAX) factor becoming significant compared to unity. For a
given setup VSPD and LT will be fixed and the variables are TDT and iTMAX. In the example given, a
linearized ramp occurred with a factor of TDT/iTMAX = 200 s/35 kA = 5.7 nAs.
338
Further the approximate SPD energy, ESPD can be calculated with
339
ESPD VSPD iTMAX TDC LT / LC
340
341
342
Using previous values ESPD = 200*35000*100 s*5.8/32 = 20*35*5.8/32 = 126 J. The actual calculated
value using exponential decays was 210 J. Thus the simplistic linear approach can be used to establish
orders of magnitude but not to any level of accuracy.
343
344
The analyzed tower was 24 m and folded. Higher towers will result in proportionally larger values of stress
as the inductances will be proportional to the tower height.
22
Annex A
345
346
347
348
349
Bibliography
350
351
These bibliographical references provide background information, but do not need to be consulted to
understand this document.
352
[B1]
353
354
[B2] Mick Maytum, Towering Powering protection problem on Remote Radio Head (RRH) cellular
systems, PEG 2012 Conference
355
[B3] ITU-T Recommendation K.97 (02/2014): Lightning protection of distributed base stations
356
357
[B4] IEEE Std 1100-1999 - IEEE Recommended Practice for Powering and Grounding Electronic
Equipment
358
359
[B5] IEEE Std 518-1982 - IEEE Guide for the Installation of Electrical Equipment to Minimize Electrical
Noise Inputs to Controllers from External Sources
360
361
[B6] E. A. Williams, G. A. Jones, D. H. Layer, T. G. Osenkowsky, National Association of Broadcasters

Engineering Handbook, Focal Press
362
363
[B7] CIGR (Council on Large Electric Systems) Technical Bulletin (TB) 549 (2013), Lightning
Parameters for Engineering Applications
364
365
366
[B8] F. Heidler, Z. Flisowski, W. Zischank, C. Mazzetti, Parameters of lightning current given in IEC
62305 Background, Experience and Outlook, 29th International Conference on Lightning Protection,
23rd 26th June 2008 Uppsala, Sweden
367
368
369
[B9] Rectangular loop inductance,

http://www.cvel.clemson.edu/emc/calculators/Inductance_Calculator/rectgl.html, Clemson University,
retrieved 2014-10-28
370
371
[B10] IEEE PC62.42.1 - Draft Guide for the Application of Surge-Protective Components in Surge
Protective Devices and Equipment Ports - Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs)
372
373
[B11] W. R. Gamerota, J. O. Elisme, M. A. Uman and V. A. Rakov, Current Waveforms for Lightning
Simulation, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 54, No. 4, August 2012, pp 880-888
(informative)
Mr Politis Zafiris, Lightning current through MOV based SPDs in RRH applications, Raycap SA
23

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