Electromagnetic interference analysis for GSM tower under the influence of lightning over voltage

One of the major tasks of a grounding system is to ensure safety for sensitive electrical and electronic equipments. The purpose of this paper is to provide knowledge of the physics of the lightning and of its effects on a GSM communication tower (low voltage circuit). Lightning interaction with man-made communication networks is part of the general area of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Based on collected data, a tower model was designed in EMTP (electromagnetic transient program) and results are obtained by applying lightning as a current source on the designed tower. The results of calculation show that the electrical and electronic equipments are very sensitive for any transient state. This transient state induces voltages and currents in low voltage communication cables, which can cause severe problems in control and measurement.