Evaluation of transmission line arresters against winter lightning

The authors have tested 154 kV class transmission line arresters by installing them on an instrumented tower of a double-circuit test transmission line during winter seasons since 1993. The tower is struck by natural and artificially-triggered lightning several times during each winter season. The conventional transmission line arrester designed against summer lightning was effective against winter lightning. The authors developed a new transmission line arrester of reduced rating, and investigated its applicability against winter lightning based on EMTP analysis, taking account of measured lightning current waveforms in winter. Although omission of an earth wire is not feasible on transmission towers having high footing resistance, the new arrester of reduced rating is a reasonable option to realize a line of high lightning performance.