Simulation of combined shield wire and MOV protection on distribution lines in severe lightning areas

This paper presents the protective effects of shield wire coupled with Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) arresters in a distribution network located in a severe lightning area. The presented test case is the IEEE 34-node radial distribution test feeder injected with multiple lightning strokes and simulated with the Alternative Transients Program/ Electromagnetic Transients program (ATP/EMTP). The response of the distribution line to lightning strokes was modeled with three different cases: no protection, protection with surge arresters and protection with a combination of shield wire and arresters. Simulations were made to compare the resulting overvoltages on the line for all the analyzed cases.