Critical Length Estimation of Counterpoise Subjected to Lightning Stroke Currents

The conventional grounding impedance of a counterpoise is calculated as a function of the length of the counterpoise by use of the distributed parameter circuit model with an application of the EMTP(Electromagnetic Transient Program). The adequacy of the distributed parameter circuit model is examined and verified by comparison of the simulated and the measured results. The conventional grounding impedance of the counterpoise is analyzed for the first short stroke and subsequent short stroke currents. As a result, the simulated results show that the minimum conventional grounding impedance gives at a specified length of the counterpoise. The shorter the time taken to reach the peak of injected currents, the shorter the length of the counterpoise having the minimum conventional grounding impedance. We also present the critical lengths of the counterpoise for short stroke currents as a function of soil resistivity. Based on these results, it is necessary to compute the length of the counterpoise in a specified soil resistivity which satisfies both the low conventional grounding impedance requirement whilst also providing a suitable ground resistance in order to obtain an economical design and installation of the counterpoise.