Analysis of a novel method of current sharing in a resistive lightning protection terminal

A new method, which simulates the lighting channel as a series network of R -C circuits, has been proposed by the authors. It successfully calculates t he return stroke current with various added resistance values at the base o f the lightning channel. The calculation shows that the peak current and cu rrent risetime along the channel are strongly influenced by the added resis tance element at ground level. However, the larger voltage across this resi stance element may cause the flashover along its surface and result in fail ure of current limiting. This paper describes the analysis and simulation o f a novel method of current sharing following the termination of a lightnin g stroke onto a resistive lightning protection terminal. Such a system of r esistance elements is essential to ensure that surface flashover does not o ccur across lightning rods and current limiting is successful.