2005 Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena

Numerical Simulation of Lightning-Caused Inrush Currents in Power Distribution Transformers

Z. Song and M. R. Raghuveer
The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

metal oxide arresters, whose discharge voltage for low

amplitude lightning currents of magnitude < IkA is
greater than that of comparable silicon carbide arresters,
cause a larger magnitude of inrush current. The metal
oxide arresters therefore may be associated with a
greater probability of nuisance fuse operation. The authors suggested that this probability may be lowered by
lowering the protective level afforded by the arrester.
Numerical simulation of the effect of different arresters on the saturation of protected transformers and
therefore inrush currents is useful in the selection of
protective arresters and fuses. Numerical simulation of
inrush currents in transformers caused by surges due to
breaker switching and associated mitigating strategies
have been reported [4-6]. The characteristics of lightning current are different from that due to surges created
by breaker switching; the effects on the transformer and
arrester, and therefore inrush currents are different [3].
However, numerical simulation of lightning-caused
inrush currents in transformers and the effect of
different arresters are yet to be considered. In this paper
a simulation procedure has been used to examine the
influence on inrush current of lightning current
amplitude, duration and the magnitude of the 60 Hz
voltage at the time of the lightning strike. The
simulation results may be helpful in the assessment of
lightning perfornance of operating transformers and
arresters and the design of suitable schemes to minimize
nuisance fuse operation and the specification of
guidelines for fuse selection and arrester ratings.

Abstract: Arresters connected in parallel with distribution transformers limit lightning caused over-voltage to
the residual voltage which due to long duration lightning strikes, may cause magnetic saturation of the
transformer core. This, in turn, leads to transient currents which may cause nuisance operation of fuses. In
this paper the influence on current, voltage and transient
of lightning current amplitude, duration and the phase
angle of the AC voltage at the moment of lighting strike
has been simulated. The simulation results indicate that
a long duration lightning current, even with low amplitude, may cause transformer core saturation and inrush
current. The simulation results may be helpful in the assessment of lightning performance of operating
transformers and arresters and the design of suitable
schemes to minimize nuisance fuse operation and the
specification of guidelines for fuse selection and arrester

ratings.

Introduction
Even though power transformers are protected by paralleled surge arresters, lightning-caused faults have been
observed in power distribution [1, 2]. It is believed [1,
2] that the passage of long duration low-amplitude lightning surge current through a surge arrester may cause
sufficient over-voltage to saturate the protected transformer and therefore an inrush current. The combined
action of magnitude and duration of the inrush current
may cause false or unnecessary operation of transformer
protective fuses (Figure 1).
Lon duat

Saturable transformer model & arrester model

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Figure 1: Lightning current propagates to a transformer

The authors of [3] have experimentally examined

nuisance fuse operation by considering a single-phase
distribution transformer rated 100 kVA, 15 kV. This
transformer was protected either by silicon carbide or
metal oxide arresters. In the tests, the inrush currents
were examined by application of rated 60 Hz voltage to
the transformer which was previously subjected to impulse currents which created some residual flux. Based
on experimental data, the authors of [3] concluded that

0-7803-9257-4105/$20.00 2005 IEEE

Modelling the hysteresis characteristics of a transformer

core, including core saturation, and the discharge
voltage of arresters are key factors in the simulation of
transient oftransformer and arrester.
In order to represent core flux transient phenomena
in transformers, with various core and winding
configurations, a theoretical model is required. The
model should represent the relation between the current
and core flux including residual flux.
Saturable Transformer Model 171
A saturable transformer with two windings wound on
the same core is modeled as an equivalent circuit shown
in Fig. 2. Winding resistances and leakage inductances
are represented with RI, R2 and Li, L2 respectively.
Magnetic characteristics of the core is modeled by a

289

linear resistance R. simulating the core active losses

and a nonlinear inductance Lsat which represents the
saturation of the core.

scale and on a logarithmic scale shown in Fig. 4b. In the

simulation, Vref, Iref, n, k, to k3 and al to ct are specific
for an arrester based on manufacturer data.
tOg(V/Vref)
, t0 f 0 fi:0:

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Vprot

:Dfff

013

00

000

413

;-

niref

~~a,

The nonlinear flux-current characteristic of core may

be represented in two ways, i.e. single-valued saturation
curve and hysteresis saturation loop.
In the model of saturation without hysteresis, the
saturation characteristic of the transfonner is represented by a piecewise linear relation between the flux
and the magnetizing current (Fig. 3a). The total iron
losses including eddy current and hysteresis are modeled by the linear resistance Rm.

f rf

Figure 5 illustrates the single-phase simulation circuit of

lightning-caused inrush current in a non-loaded power
distribution transformer in parallel with metal oxide arrester. The transformer is rated 100 kVA, 14.4 kV/120V
and its flux-current saturation characteristic is modeled
in two ways, i.e. single-valued saturation curve and
magnetic characteristic including hysteresis. The protective arrester is rated 17.2 kV rms.
Lightning current is modeled by linking the Signal
Builder element and User Defined Function element in
Matlab Simulink and the Controlled Current Source
element in SimPowerSystems. The amplitude and duration of lightning current can be varied by changing the
parameters of above elements.

a
b
Figure 3: Flux-current characteristic of transformer core. a) single
valued curve; b) hysteresis loop.

Metal Oxide Arrester Model 171

As far as arrester discharge models are concerned, the
nonlinear V-I characteristic of the arrester column is
modeled by a combination of three exponential functions ofthe form
Y

f I A29

The V-I characteristic is graphically represented by

three segments shown in Fig. 4a. The reference voltage
Vref obtained with a single column is specified at a reference current of 500 A. al to a3 are defined on a linear

bt

Simulation results and discussions

I-

In the hysteresis model with saturation (Fig. 3b), the

linear resistance RPm represents only the core eddy current loss. The magnetizing current is computed from the
flux ID obtained by integrating the voltage across the
magnetizing branch. The static model of hysteresis defines the relation between flux and the magnetization
current evaluated in DC when the eddy current losses
are not present.

77

Figure 4: Metal oxide arrester model. a) V-I characteristic; b) modeling V-I characteristic in the simulation.

-2

'1-

Iog(illref)

412

Figure 2: Equivalent circuit of saturable transformer

Signet
(3

14.4 kIVA

uIT1-

1OOS
MOVI

sMOVt 1_ W
0
*012 kV

Figure 5: Circuit set-up used in the simulation

Transient simulation due to long duration lightning

strike
Simulations were carried out with lightning current
magnitude of 4 kA, with shape of rise time of 8 ,us to
peak and 1000 gs to half value, i.e., t4/t, = 8/1000 js.
The lightning is assumed to occur at the second zero of
the AC voltage which is modeled as a sinusoid wave.
The waveforms of transformer voltage and flux in per
unit are shown in Fig. 6a and the waveforms of currents
flowing into the transformer and arrester respectively
are shown in Fig. 6b. From Fig. 6a it is seen that the
lightning strike causes arrester operation with maximum
residual voltage 1.86 pu and the flux is 2 pu. The
current waveforms in Fig. 6b indicate that the arrester

290

responds to the lightning strike with about 2.43 kA of

current flowing through it. As the current in the arrester
declines from its peak value to 1.8 kA, the current flowing to the transformer abruptly grows and reaches a
peak value of 21.5 A which is 29 times of its normal
non-load current of peak value of 0.75 A. This phenomenon can be explained by the interaction between
the equivalent transient impedances of the arrester and
the saturated transformer core.
Voltage

Flux

..

Effect of phase angle, 6, and duration of lightning

current

In the simulations reported in this section with AC voltage = 14.4 kV, the lightning current amplitude IL = 4
kA, and its durations t/tt = 8/600, 8/1000 and 8/2000 ps;
the phase angle 6 is varied in the range 0 < 6 < 360 degrees. The peak values of voltage of the transformer
primary in parallel with the arrester, current flowing in
the arrester and current flowing in the transformer primary are shown in Figs. 8a to c respectively.
The plots in Figs. 8a to c show that a lightning strike
at the peak of AC voltage may cause the greatest transient residual voltage and arrester current; the inrush
current in transformer may reach the maximum at 8 z
180 degrees. The peak values of voltage and currents
increase with lightning duration.

0.005

0.1
Time t, second

0.015

0.02

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:

::: Tirne t, second

C)~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~2

0.00

0.0

:: ::0::.
::005

.015

0.02

Effect of lightning current amplitude

.010second

b
Figure 6: Transient of operating transformer and arrester stroke by
long duration lightning. IL = 4 kA, t/t, = 8/1000 gs, strike at 6 = 180
degrees of AC of 14.4 kV. a) voltage and transformer core flux; b)
cufrents flowing in transformer and arrester.

Effect of modeling transformer magnetic characteristic on simulated results

Figure 7 shows the waveforms of current using the single valued and hysteresis representations of magnetic
characteristic behavior of transformer.
25

Fiur20: :f

of c

using magnesfc cunre

netic curve andhysteresisloopre hpectively

-using

1E0

It is indicated that the current waveform obtained using magnetic curve is approximately 0.6 A greater than
that obtained using hysteresis loop in the pulse segments
which may be caused by saturation, while the two waveforms intercross in the segments with normal unloaded
current. This result is due to the fact that the two methods of core representation differ only in the unsaturated
region, I < Is, D <cD, (Fig. 3b).
The above comparison indicates that a single valued
core model may have enough accuracy for numerical
simulation of inrush current.

a|2 A02

0.3

0.04

Figure 7: Waveforms of current flowing in transformner using magnetic curve and hysteresis loop respectively.

291

The results reported in this section were obtained with

AC voltage = 14.4 kV, phase angle 6 = 180 degrees,
lightning current duration = 8/20, 8/600 and 8/1000 ps
and amplitude varied in the range of 0 < IL < 10 kA.
Figure 9 shows the peak value of current flowing in
the transformer as a function of lightning current amplitude when its durations tpWtt = 8/20, 8/600 and 8/1000 js
respectively. The low level of transformer current (< 0.8
A) represented by plot I indicates that no transformer
core saturation occurs when tItA = 8/20 ,us and IL < 10
kA. Plots 2 and 3 indicate that when tplt, = 8/600 and
8/1000 ps, the transformer core may be saturated when
IL is of the order of hundreds of amperes. The inrush
current in the transformer increases with increase in
lightning current amplitude. When IL = 10 kA, the transformer current may reach as high as 25 and 35 A for tI/tt
= 8/600 and 8/1000 is respectively; which are about 33
and 47 times of the normal non-load current. It may be
concluded from plots 1 to 3 that transformer saturation
and resulting inrush current is more sensitive to the duration of lightning current than to its amplitude.

transformers. The influence of lightning current amplitude, duration, phase angle of the AC voltage at the
moment of lighting strike and transformer core modeling has been considered.
The simulation results indicate that transformer saturation may occur and that transformer inrush current
occurs during the tail of the long duration discharge current of arrester. The inrush current increases with the
increase of lightning current amplitude and duration. In
a cycle of AC sinusoidal voltage, greatest transformer
inrush current may arise due to a positive lightning
strike at the AC phase angle a = 180 degrees (AC voltage assumed to be a sine wave); while the greatest
voltage and arrester current occur when a = 90 degrees.
Single valued and hysteresis representations of the
transfonner can have little effect on the simulation of
inrush current.
The simulation results may be helpful in the assessment of lightning performance of operating transformers
and arresters and the design of suitable schemes to
minimize nuisance fuse operation and the specification
of guidelines for fuse selection and arrester ratings.

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2.56
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30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Phase angle 8, degree

30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Phase angle j, degree

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Acknowledgements

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Financial support from the Natural Sciences and

Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is
gratefully acknowledged. Technical support from Mr.
Daryl Hamelin is also gratefully acknowledged.

10

05
0

30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Phase degree 8, degree

References

Figure 8: Variation oftransients of transformer and arrester as a function of phase angle 8 and duration of lightning current. AC voltage =
14.4 kV, lightning current amplitude IL = 4 kA. Plot 1: tA = 8/600 lts;
Plot 2: t1/t, = 8/1000 's; Plot 3: tpt = 8/2000 ts. a) voltage; b) current
flowing in arrester; c) current flowing in transformer primary side.

[1] Parrish, D.: "Lightning-caused distribution transformer outages

on Florida distribution system," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery,
Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 880-887, April 1991.
[2] Barker, P., Mancao, R., Kvaltine, D. and Parrish, D.: "Characteristics of lightning surges measured at metal oxide distribution
arresters," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 301310, Jan. 1993.
[3] Hamel, A., St-Jean, G. and Paquette, M.: "Nuisance fuse operation on MV transformers during storms," IEEE Trans. Power
Delivery, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 1866-1874, Nov. 1990.
[4] Hudson, A.: "Transformer magnetizing inrush current, a resume
of published information," The Electrical Research Association
(ERA) Report, No. 5152, Aug. 1966.
[5] Popov, M., Sluis, L. and Paap G. C.: "A simplified transformner
model for the simulation of fast surges and adequate protection
measures," Proceeding of IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting, Vol. 1, pp. 323 -328, Jan. 2001.
[6] Brunke, J. and Frohlich, K.: "Elimination of transformer inrush
currents by controlled switching, Part I - theoretical considerations," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 276 -280,
April 2001.
[7] Hydro Quebec TransEnergie Technologies, SimPowerSystems
User's Guide, May 2005

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10
0

Lkghtning current amplitude, kA

10

Figure 9: Variation of peak value of current flowing in transformer as

a function of amplitude of lightning current. Lightning striking at 6 =
180 degrees of AC of 14.4 kV. Plot 1: tv'tt = 8/20 ps; Plot 2: t/t, =
8/600 ts; Plot 3: t/tt = 8/1 000 .s.

Conclusions
A numerical model has been suggested for simulation of
lightning-caused inrush currents in power distribution

Authors address: Zeqing Song, M. R. Raghuveer, Departnent of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T
5V6, Email: zqsongfraghuv()ee.nitoba.ca.

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