A new model based on electro-geometrical theory for estimating the lightning protection zones

Direct lightning strokes are one of the most severe threats for power systems due to the numerous implications related for such events. In these circumstances protection against direct lightning strokes is a key parameter in terms of reliability of power systems. Although the rolling sphere method (RSM) is the most popular method used today for dimensioning the lightning rod protective systems, this method was elaborated on the base of several simplifying assumptions, thus resulting potential unrealistic dimensions of the estimated protection zones. This paper presents a new methodology for estimating the lightning protection zones, also based on the electro-geometrical theory, named the elliptic model.