Method, surge arrester, and systems for optimizing lightning protection of overhead distribution lines and equipement

A system (101) for optimizing lightning protection of overhead distribution lines and equipment, comprising:

• a multi-phase distribution line mounted on an electric pole comprising a plurality of phase conductors;
• wherein one of the plurality of phase conductors is arranged at a first plane and rest of the phase conductors of the plurality of phase conductors are oriented at a second plane parallel to the first plane on a crossarm (403) of the electric pole;
• and
• a plurality of surge arresters, wherein each surge arrester of the plurality of surge arresters is connected to each individual phase conductor of the plurality of phase conductors, and wherein equipping all phase conductors with the surge arresters reduces the percentage of flashes that convert into flashovers to 0.6%,
• wherein each surge arrester of the plurality of surge arresters comprises:
• a lightning arrester (409) with a first end connected to a crossarm (403) of the electric pole and a second end connected to a phase conductor by a cable;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic discharge rings (407-1, 407-2), wherein a first magnetic discharge ring (407-1) of the plurality of magnetic discharge rings (407-1, 407-2) is connected to the first end of the lightning arrester (409) and a second magnetic discharge ring (407-2) of the plurality of magnetic discharge rings (407-1, 407-2) is connected to the second end of the lightning arrester (409), wherein each of the first magnetic discharge ring (407-1) and the second magnetic discharge ring (407-2) is connected with a tap lead (417-1, 417-2) oriented towards each other.

A method for optimizing lightning protection of overhead distribution lines and equipment, comprising:

• receiving (301) a plurality of overhead distribution system parameters related to an existing overhead distribution line structure from one or more sources (111-1 to 111-n);
• determining (303) one or more output parameters based on the plurality of overhead distribution system parameters;
• and
• determining (305) at least one optimized lightning protection configuration for the existing overhead distribution line structure using at least one of the one or more output parameters, one or more surge arresters, a critical flashover voltage, and a shielding wire, wherein the surge arrester demonstrates current from a generator's trapped charge with no power follow current.