Evaluation of line surge arrester failure rate for multipulse lightning stresses

This paper develops a method to analyze energy stresses on transmission line surge arresters. The approach computes the failure rate of arresters due to energy stresses, convolving the density probabilities of first and subsequent pulses. Multipulse stroke effects are considered in a 138 kV line case study, typical of single circuit lines, located in regions with high densities of ground flashes, in SE Brazil. The proposed method provides an improved insight into energy stress evaluation for selection of line surge arresters.