Sparta Lightning Protection

User Manual

Version 3.0

June, 2023
 Sparkta Lightning Protection Systems Design
User Manual

Read before using this software

This software license agreement is a legal agreement between you and the author of this software (Sparta
Lightning Protection) for the software product “Sparkta”.

By installing or using the software product, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this
agreement. If you do not wish to agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, you must not
install or use Sparkta.

License Agreement
1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Sparta Lightning Protection
grants to Licensee a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the software Sparkta. This license is
solely for the use of the Software by the Customer on a single computer. License may not, however,
transfer or sublicense the Licensed Program to any third party, in whole or in part, in any form, whether
modified or unmodified.
2. TERM OF LICENSE. The license will continue perpetually from the date of purchase. The Customer may
transfer the Software to another computer, provided that the Software may not be used on more than
one computer at any given time.
3. TRIAL VERSION. Use of the Software Product without purchase of a License shall be limited to evaluation
purposes only. The Licensee shall have the right within a maximum period of 30 days starting from the
date of first use of the software. Any kind of distribution of the software is prohibited.
4. MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT AND UPDATES. For a period of one year following the purchase of the
Software, updates and new versions are free of costs. In order to receive updates after the first year it is
necessary to pay an annual maintenance fee. The first year and the annual maintenance fee also
provide technical support by email.
5. COPYRIGHT. The Software is copyrighted, and all rights therein are reserved by Sparta Lightning
Protection. The Software Product is licensed, not sold.
6. LIMITED WARRANTY. The Customer assumes all responsibility for the selection of the Software as
appropriate to achieve the results intended by the Customer. Licensor does not warrant that the
functions contained in the Software will meet licensee's requirements or that the operation of the
Software will be uninterrupted or error free.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. In no event will Sparta Lightning Protection be liable for any amount of
incidental, consequential or other indirect damages arising out of the Customer’s use of the Software,
including, lost profits, interruption of business or any incidental or consequential damages.
8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The Customer acknowledges that has read and understands this agreement and
agrees to be bound by all its terms and conditions.

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Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Interface..................................................................................................................................................... 4
3 Settings ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
4 Adding physical data .................................................................................................................................. 7
4.1 Roofs ................................................................................................................................................. 8
4.2 Air terminals....................................................................................................................................10
4.3 Substation physical data .................................................................................................................12
5 Editing physical data ................................................................................................................................14
6 Deleting physical data..............................................................................................................................15
7 Saving a Project .......................................................................................................................................17
8 Opening a project ....................................................................................................................................18
9 Visualizing the structures ........................................................................................................................19
10 Simulating and analyzing results .............................................................................................................21
11 Step by step .............................................................................................................................................24

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1 Introduction
Sparkta is software for the design of Lightning Protection Systems using the electrogeometric model
methodology. The program is a tool for carry out designs that ensure user defined lightning risk levels
using the least amount of strike termination devices.

The methodology of design using Sparkta is an iterative process which consists of adding air terminals only
at points which have the greatest likelihood of lightning strikes. Each time, the user adds only one or few
air terminals and evaluates the risk. The process finishes when the number of discharges on the protecter
elements are less than the tolerable values.

The program allows the analysis of the protection provided not only by the air terminal but also for other
elements such us metallic roofs, chimneys, etc.

2 Interface
The figure below shows the interface provided by Sparkta.

Sparkta consists of a Menu Bar, a Toolbar and graphic area. The menu bar and the toolbar provide access to
the data files, graphics, simulation, and other facilities of the program. The graphic area provides access to
the physical data of the structure (roofs, air terminals, lines and substation columns).

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3 Settings
The option “Settings” allows to set the parameters for the simulation.

The program will show a dialog window with the settings for the simulation.

Project Name User defined name for the current project

Type of simulation The user can choose three types of simulations:
- Probabilistic: the program simulates flashes with discharge currents
according to a distribution of probability. Choose this type of
simulation if you want to assess risk.
- Single current: the program simulates flashes with a single discharge
current or striking distance.
- Lightning Protection Surface: the program creates a 3D surface
showing the protection given by the protection objects for a specific
discharge current or strike distance.

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Lightning flash density Flashes per square kilometer of the place where the project is located. This
parameter is needed only if the Probabilistic simulation is selected.
Formula for Striking The program allows the user to select various formulas that describe the
Distance relationship between discharge current and striking distance. These formulas
are outlined in the IEEE 998 “Guide for Direct Lightning Stroke Shielding of
Substations”. If the user requires a different relationship than those provided
by the formulas, can choose the “User Defined” option. This allows the user to
manually set both the “Striking Distance” and “Discharge Current”
parameters.

S: Striking Distance in meters

I: Discharge Current in kA
Striking Distance Striking distance in meters of the flashes. This parameter is needed only if the
Single Current or Lightning Protection Surface simulations are selected. If the
user set this parameter, the program automatically calculates the Discharge
Current.
Discharge Current Discharge current in kA of the flashes. This parameter is needed only if the
Single Current or Lightning Protection Surface simulations are selected. If the
user sets this parameter, the program automatically calculates the Striking
Distance.

Calculate Substation This option allows the user to calculate the critical current for the substation
Critical Current (IEEE 998) lightning protection design. For this calculation Sparkta uses the methodology
described in the IEEE 998 “Guide for Direct Lightning Stroke Shielding of
Substations”. The calculated critical current for the substation is used as
Striking Distance in the lightning protection simulation.

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BIL (Basic lightning Impulse insulation Level): is the electrical strength of

insulation expressed in terms of the crest value of the standard lightning
impulse.

Show Enabled Elements Those two options allow the user to select which elements to show in the plan
Show Disabled Elements view and in the 3D view.

Write the name of the project, select the type of simulation and set the parameters needed. Click on
“Save” to save the changes or “Cancel” to keep the current settings.

4 Adding physical data

For the simulation the user must model the structure. For the lightning protection of buildings, the
relevant parts of the structure are the roofs and the strike termination devices (air terminals). For
substations, the relevant structures for lightning protection are the columns, air terminals, shield wires and
phase cables.

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4.1 Roofs
To create a new roof, click on the icon corresponding to the shape of the roof. Then draw the two-
dimension shape of the roof in the working area.

Draw a rectangle for:

- Rectangle
- Gable
- Broken Gable
- Hip
- Mansard
- Curved
-
Roof shapes
Regular Polygon

Irregular Polygon

The program will show a dialog window with the parameters of the roof, the dimensions are in meters.

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Set the parameter of the roof and click on “Save” button to add the new roof or on “Cancel” button to
abort.

The following figure shows the parameters for each type of roof.

Rectangle Curved Gable

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Broken Gable Hip mansard

Regular Polygon Irregular Polygon

The metallic roofs that have a metal thickness of 4.8 mm (3⁄16 in.) or greater and that are connected to the
protection system in accordance with Section 4.9 of NFPA 780, can be used as strike termination devices.
In this case check the option “Protector”, the program will assume the flashes to those roofs like to the
flashes to the air terminals.

4.2 Air terminals

To add a new air terminal, click on the button and then click on the point (x,y) where you want to
insert the terminal. The program will show a dialog window with the parameters of the air terminal.

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The dimensions are in meters. Set the parameters of the air terminal and click on “Save” button to add the
new air terminal or on “Cancel” button to abort.

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4.3 Substation physical data

To create a substation element, click on the icon corresponding to the object. Then draw the two-
dimension shape of the object in the working area.

Substation Objects

The program will show a dialog window with the parameters of the object, the dimensions are in meters.

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Set the parameter of the element and click on “Save” button to add the new roof or on “Cancel” button to
abort.

The following figure shows the parameters for the objects used in substations.

Substation Columns Line

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Single Phase Line Three Phase Line

5 Editing physical data

To edit any object, right click on the object and click on “Edit Element” button.

Right Click on
The object to edit
Click on
“Edit Element”

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The program will show the element dialog window as in the following figure.

The user can change both the physical parameters and the name of the element. Click on the “Save”
button to save the changes or on “Cancel” to keep the current parameters.

6 Deleting physical data

To delete any object, right click on the object and click on the “Delete Element” button.

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Right Click on
The object to edit
Click on
“Delete Element”

The program will show the element dialog window as in the following figure.

Click on “Yes” button to delete the selected object or on “No” button to abort.

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7 Saving a Project
To save the project with the current file name, click on the “Save” option in the “file” menu.

The program will save the project with the current file name and extension “.spkta”.

To save the project with a different file name, click on the “Save As” option in the “file” menu.

The program will show the “Save As” dialog window.

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Write the file name and click on the “Save” button to save the file with the written name, click on “Cancel”
button to abort.

8 Opening a project
To open an existing project, click on the “Open” button.

The program will show the “Open” dialog window.

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Select the folder and the Sparkta file with “.spkta” extension, click on the “Open” button to open the
project, click on the “Cancel” button to abort.

9 Visualizing the structures

The program offers two-dimensional and three-dimensional views of the project. The two-dimensional
view is shown in the working area. The user can Zoom In or Zoom Out using the mouse Scroll. Also it is
possible to move through the model using the Pan feature.

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To display the three-dimensional view, click on the “View 3D” button in the “View” menu.

The program will show the 3D view of the project. The roofs are shown as solids and the air terminals as
red lines.

The user can zoom In or Zoom Out the view using the Mouse Scroll. To rotate the 3D view, Mouse Down
on the model and move the mouse.

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10 Simulating and analyzing results

Once the user has finished the setting for the simulation and the physical modeling, can simulate the
electrogeometrical model. Click on the “Run” button.

Click on the button

The simulation can take several minutes depending on the area covered by the project, the number of
objects and the type of simulation. The progress bar will display the progression of the simulation. When
the simulation is over the program will display the plan view with red dots representing the impacts of
flashes. The flashes can impact objects, air terminals or ground. With this graphic the user can visualize
the points of the structures exposed to direct flashes.

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The results of the last simulation can be deleted by clicking on the “Clear Results” button in the “View”
menu.

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If the user has simulated with the “Probabilistic” type of simulation option, then the program allows
carrying out analysis based on the yearly lightning strike frequency. To do this analysis, click on the
“Results” button in the “View” menu.

The program will display the following window with one table.

The results window shows the yearly strike frequency for each object. In the results tables the user can
identify the objects with the highest direct flash probabilities and decide the most convenient places to
install the air terminals.

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11 Step by step
The following example shows how to design a lightning protection system using Sparkta.

1. Create a new project.

2. Select the type of simulation and set the parameters.

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3. Add the objects of the structure and set the parameters.

4. Add the air terminals of the structure and set the parameters.

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5. Display the plan view and the 3D view.

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6. Save the project.

7. Select the type of simulation.

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8. Run the simulation.

9. Analyze the results (only for “Probabilistic” simulation)

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10. Show 3D protection surface (only for “lightning Protection Surface” simulation)

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