Workshop 'Impact of Communications Technology to

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TLM Model for the Lightning Transient

Analysis of the GSM Base Station

Slavko Vujević*, Petar Sarajčev* and Jakov Petrović**

*University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
and Naval Architecture, HR-21000 Split, Croatia
**Zagrebinspekt d.o.o. HR 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

Contact: slavko.vujevic@fesb.hr

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Introduction
Transmission line model (TLM) for the GSM base station lightning transient analysis
is presented.
TLM model is based on the use of the well-known ATP-EMTP software package.

Direct lightning strike to the GSM base station tower is modelled with the Heidler's
type of surge current source.

The earthing grid and the GSM base station's tower structure are approximated by
the circular cross section conductors.
In numerical model, conductors are subdivided into segments (1D finite elements)
and Clark's model with distributed parameters is used.
Because of limitations of ATP-EMTP software package, the leakage resistance of
buried segments is modelled as lumped parameter.

Analytical expressions for distributed and lumped segment parameters are derived
using the average potential method.
Results obtained by the developed TLM model, are compared with the results
obtained with more exact electromagnetic model (presented in [3]).
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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (1)

GSM base station tower conductors are, by

applying the finite element technique, subdivided
into segments (1D finite elements).

A Clark's model with distributed constant

parameters is then applied on each tower
segment. Input data for Clark's model are:

a) Resistance per unit length

b) Surge impedance
c) Propagation velocity
d) Segment length.

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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (2)

Ad a) Per unit resistance of the tower segment (1D finite element) can be computed
as follows:
s
R
ro2  
where:

ρs – resistivity of the segment [Ωm],

ro – equivalent radius of the tower segment conductor [m].

Ad b) Surge impedance of the GSM tower segment is defined by the following

equation:

L
Zs 
C

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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (3)

where:
L – per unit inductance of the tower segment [H/m]

C – per unit capacitance of the tower segment [F/m].

Per unit capacitance of the tower segment depends on the position of that segment,
relative to the earth surface. It can be computed by means of average potential
method, as follows:
Q
C
av  

where:
Q – electric charge uniformly distributed along the segment [C],

ℓ - length of the segment [m],

av – average potential of the segment.

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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (4)

Per unit capacitance of the segment can be computed as follows, [4]:

4    o   4    o  
C 
d' d ds  d Iself  Imut
 r   r
'   s

where:

ε0 = 8.854∙10-12 [As/Vm] – dielectric constant of the vacuum.

Iself, Imut - double integrals.

The first integral in the expression for the per unit capacitance computation
accounts for the self-capacitance, while the second integral accounts for the
mutual capacitance between the tower segment and it’s image.
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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (5)

Value of the second integral (mutual per unit capacitance between segment and
it’s image) depends on the position of the 1D finite element/segment relative to the
earth surface, as will be explained later.
All these integrals can be computed analytically. This fact contributes to the
numerical stability of the derived method.

Once the capacitance is computed, one can easily obtain the needed value of the
segment's per unit inductance from the following relationship:

o  o
L
C
where μ0 = 4π∙10-7 [Vs/Am] is relative permeability of the vacuum.

Surge impedance of the GSM tower segment can be written as:

L o  o
Zs  
C C
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Transmission Line Model of the GSM base station tower (6)

Ad c) Modal propagation velocity of the surge current through the GSM tower
segments is equal to the velocity of light, i.e.:

c = 3108 m/s

Ad d) Segment length (in meters) shouldn’t exceed maximum value which is

defined by:
3  10 8
max 
6  fmax

where fmax presents maximal frequency (in Hz) of interest, found in the
lightning surge.

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Transmission Line Model of the earthing grid (1)

Each conductor of the earthing grid, by applying the finite element technique, can
be subdivided into segments (1D finite elements).
A Clark's model with distributed constant parameters is then applied on each
segment. Input data for Clark's model are:

a) Resistance per unit length

b) Surge impedance
c) Propagation velocity
d) Segment length.

Because of limitations of ATP-EMTP software package, the leakage resistance of

buried segments is modelled as an additional lumped parameter.

Ad a) Per unit resistance of the earthing grid segment (1D finite element) can be
computed as follows:
s
R
ro2  
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Transmission Line Model of the earthing grid (2)

Ad b) Surge impedance of the earthing grid segment is defined by the following

equation:

L o   r  o   r
Zs  
C C
where:

L – per unit inductance of the earthing grid segment [H/m]

C – per unit capacitance of the earthing grid segment [F/m].

ε0 = 8.854∙10-12 [As/Vm] – dielectric constant of the vacuum,

εr – relative dielectric constant of the earth,

μ0 = 4π∙10-7 [Vs/Am] is permeability of the vacuum,

μr = 1 is relative permeability of the earth.

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Transmission Line Model of the earthing grid (3)

Per unit capacitance of the segment can be computed by means of average

potential method.
Again, per unit capacitance of the buried conductor segment depends on the position
of the segment respective to the earth surface. Following figure shows a buried
segment in arbitrary position, relative to the earth surface.

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Transmission Line Model of the earthing grid (4)

Similarly to the aforementioned analysis employed for the GSM tower model, per
unit capacitance of the segment can be computed as follows, [4], [5]:

4    o  r   4    o   r  
C  
d' d ds  d Iself  I mut
 r    r
'  s 

Ad c) Propagation velocity of the lightning surge in the earth can be estimated by

the following relation:
c 3 108
v 
r r

where c represents velocity of the light in the air and εr presents the relative
dielectric constant of the earth.

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Transmission Line Model of the earthing grid (5)

Ad d) Each of the earthing grid segments should satisfy the following relation
for the maximum length (in meters):

3160 
max  
6 f max

where:

ρ – resistivity of the earth [Ωm],

fmax - maximal frequency of interest found in the lightning

surge [Hz].

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Leakage resistance of the buried conductor segments

Leakage conductance of the buried segment is represented in EMTP with the

concentrated resistance on each side of that segment. Double value of the
resistance on each side of the segment is chosen (2RL) in order to obtain value of
RL after the parallel connection.
Value of the earthing grid conductor's segment resistance (R L) is composed of
two terms:
  d' d ds  d  
RL  
2 
        Iself  I mut   R self  R mut
4      '  r r  4   2
s  

where: R self - self resistance of the segment in homogeneous and

unbounded medium (earth),

R mut - mutual resistance between segment and its image

in relation to earth surface,
ρ – resistivity of the earth [Ωm].
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Analytical solution of double integral Iself

Expressions for distributed and lumped segment parameters include two double
integrals. The first of them is integral:

d' d  2  ro2   
Iself    2    ln    ro  ro 
2 2

' 
r  ro 
 
The double integration is performed along the segment axis (curve  ’ in the Figure
below) and along the curve on segment surface, which is parallel to the segment
axis (curve Γ in the Figure below).

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Analytical solution of double integral Imut (1)

ds  d
The second double integral is: I mut    r
s 

Analytical solution of integral Imut depends on the position of the segment relative
to the earth surface.
Three different segment arrangements will be examined:
• Segment is parallel to the earth surface

• Segment is perpendicular to the earth surface

• Segment is in aslope position to the earth surface

If segment is buried at depth h parallel to the earth surface, integral solution is

(ro 2h  Iself  Imut ):

 2  4  h 2   
I mut  2    ln  2
  4h 2
 2h 
 2h 
  16
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Analytical solution of double integral Imut (2)

If segment is perpendicular to the earth

surface, the first integration is carried out

along the axis of segment image (curve Γ s in

the Figure), while the second integration is

carried out along the curve on segment

surface, which is parallel to the segment

axis (curve Γ in the Figure).

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Analytical solution of double integral Imut (3)

If segment is perpendicular to the earth surface, the integral solution is:

u1 u2
I mut  u1  Arsh  u12  ro2  u 2  Arsh  u 22  ro2
ro ro

u3
 2  u 3  Arsh  u 32  ro2
ro

where:
u1  h1  h 2  
u 2  h1  h 2  
u 3  h1  h 2

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Analytical solution of double integral Imut (4)

If segment is in aslope position to the

earth surface, parameters signed in the
Figure can be computed as follows:

  d 2  (h 2  h1 ) 2

where d represents orthogonal projection

of the segment onto the earth surface.

min  h1 , h 2 
x p  zp  
h 2  h1

max  h1 , h 2  2d 2
x k  zk   cos   2
1
h 2  h1 
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Analytical solution of double integral Imut (5)

If segment is in aslope position to the earth surface, the integral solution can be
written as:

Imut  2   B(x p , z p )  B(x k , z k )  B(x p , z k )  B(x k , z p ) 

where for ro << ℓ:


B(x, z)  x  ln z  x  cos   x 2  z 2  ro2  2  x  z  cos  
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Lightning surge model

Lightning surge model used for the simulation is based on the Heidler's model of
current source, which can be described with the following expression:
n
 t 
  t
I0  1  
i(t)   e 
  t 
n
1  
 1 
where:
Io , η – peak value of the lightning current and it’s correction factor, respectively

n – factor influencing the rate of rise of the function

 – the strike duration; interval between t = 0 and the point on the tail where the
function amplitude has fallen to 50 % of its peak value

1 – duration of the lightning surge front.

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Verification of the model (1)

60x60 m earthing grid with 10x10 meter

square meshes, constructed of copper
conductors with diameter 1.4 cm, buried at
0.5 m depth, is considered for the
numerical examples.

Soil is homogenous with resistivity 100 Ωm

and relative permittivity 36, according to [3].

Lightning surge current parameters are: 1.0167 kA amplitude and 1/20 μs shape.

Concerning the injection of the lightning surge current, two scenarios are considered:
- injection of the current in the corner point of the grid (point 1)
- injection of the current in the middle point (point 25).
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Verification of the model (2)

In ATP‑EMTP simulation all parameters of the earthing grid conductor segments

are computed according to the presented mathematical relations, by means of a
computer program (preprocessor) developed for that purpose.

Compress -> Extract

(grouping feature of the
EMTP) has been
employed.

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Verification of the model (3)

11
[kV] Scenario 1 - results
9

3 Temporal transient voltage

1 response in nodes 1, 9 and 17.
-1
0 4 8 12 16 [us] 20
(f ile Grounding1.pl4; x-v ar t) v :1 v :9 v :17

Spacial transient voltage

distribution (3D graphical
form).

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Verification of the model (4)
5500
[V] Scenario 2 - results
4500

3500

2500

1500 Temporal transient voltage

500
response in nodes 25, 33 and 49.

-500
0 5 10 15 [us] 20
(f ile Grounding2.pl4; x-v ar t) v :25 v :33 v :49

Spacial transient voltage

distribution (3D graphical
form).

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GSM base station numerical example (1)

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GSM base station numerical example (2)
Direct lightning strike into the top of the GSM tower is considered. Following
lightning current parameters are selected: 80 kA amplitude and 1/20 μs shape.
Resistivity of the soil is 100 Ωm, and relative permittivity 9.

Simulation results
Following figures present temporal transient overvoltages: a) In the GSM tower foot
(junction between tower and earthing grid), b) In the middle (point 25) of the earthing grid.

a) b)
300 12
[kV] [kV]
250 10

200 8

150 6

100 4

50 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 [us] 10 0 2 4 6 8 [us] 10
(file GSMTow er_Grounging.pl4; x-var t) v:XX0001 (file GSMTow er_Grounging.pl4; x-var t) v:XX0290

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Conclusion

• By comparing the presented results with those obtained by more exact

electromagnetic model (presented in [3]), good agreement has been obtained, both

in the computed amplitude of the overvoltage, as well as in the temporal and spatial
overvoltage distributions.
• Due to the limitations of the transmission line model approach and the
application of the ATP-EMTP software package, the electromagnetic coupling
between segments could not be taken into account.

• The earth model is limited to the heterogeneous earth.

• The soil ionization effect can be included.

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References

[1] Kizilcay, M.; Høidalen, H. K.: "ATP‑EMTP Beginner’s Guide for EEUG
Members", European EMTP‑ATP Users Group e. V., 2000.
[2] Prikler, L.; Høidalen, H. K.: "ATPDRAW Version 3.5 for Windows
9x/NT/2000/XP – Users’ Manual", European EMTP ‑ATP Users Group e. V.,
2002.
[3] Grcev, D. L.: "Computer Analysis of Transient Voltages in Large Grounding
Systems", EEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 815-823,
1996.
[4] Petrović, J.: "Using the ATP-EMTP Software Package in the LPS Analysis",
B. Sc. Thesis, University of Split, FESB Split, Split, 2004, (in Croatian).
[5] Vujević, S., Sarajčev, P. and Sarajčev, I., "EMTP Modelling of Direct Lightning
Strikes to the GSM Base Station Tower", SoftCOM 2005, Split, Marina Frapa,
2005.

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THANK YOU !

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