A Study of Fast Front Transients of an HVDC Mixed Transmission Line Exposed to Bipolar Lightning Strokes

Abstract

Bipolar lightning strokes are associated with multiple polarity electrical discharge with no current intervals in between, making their behavior quite peculiar. This work presents a fast front analysis of a mixed high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link, evaluating the factors that influence the line transients due to shielding failures and backflashovers (BFOs), considering both overvoltage and repeated polarity reversal at the cable sending terminal. The research process includes a detailed modeling of a bipolar lightning stroke, frequency-dependent HVDC overhead, and underground transmission line sections. Noticeable findings include the occurrence of only a positive polarity insulator BFO for the adjacent and subsequent tower, despite the dual polarity of the lightning stroke with relatively small values for the lightning parameters. The influence of traveling waves on the insulator flashover performance of the line with varying parameters (such as the riser section length, the tower grounding impedance, and the location of the lightning stroke) is recorded and explained.