Externally gapped line arresters placement effect on transmission line lightning performance including the frequency response of the grounding system

Abstract This paper conducts the frequency‐dependent grounding system impact on externally gapped line arresters (EGLAs) operation and their placement effects on the lightning performance of a transmission line (TL). The study involves placing EGLAs at different phases of a 400‐kV double‐circuit TL with two downstream shield wires and selecting the optimal state with fewer back‐flashover incidents. The results show that using a non‐linear grounding system leads to a higher back return current from insulators or EGLAs, resulting in a higher flashover rate compared to the frequency grounding system (FGS). Installing four EGLAs in the middle and upper phases of the TL provides satisfactory lightning protection, and the flashover probability is zero and 4.2% for the FGS and the non‐linear grounding system, respectively. A sensitivity analysis including soil resistor variation, economic analysis, and grounding electrode configuration has been performed that confirms installing downstream shield wires and EGLAs is an effective and economical technique for lightning protection.