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Optimization of Surge Arrester's Location

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DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2003.820213 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004
Optimization of Surge Arrester’s Location
Ángel L. Orille-Fernández, Member, IEEE, Santiago Bogarra Rodríguez, and Ma. Àngela Grau Gotés
Abstract—The lightning surges being considered the most dan-
gerous events in power distribution systems, knowledge of the same
allows to obtain a better selection and coordination of protection
devices. Moreover, a better knowledge of lightning surges permits
to optimize the location of device protection, to reduce the insula-
tion costs of the installations, and to operate with risks of failure
that are well known.
The development of a computer application allowing determina-
tion of the optimal position of the surge arrester in power systems
minimizes the risk of failure, thus permitting the selection of ap-
propriate protection schemes for each network. As a consequence,
protection costs are being reduced in accordance with the costs of
the elements actually protected and the continuity of service to be
achieved.
Index Terms—Lightning surges, optimization methods Matlab,
risk analysis, surge protection arresters.
I. INTRODUCTION
T HE purpose of this work is the selection of protection
schemes for power networks using mathematical tech-
niques in order to find the minimum of failure risks, thus
optimizing the location of surge arresters [1].
The program chosen for development of a computer applica-
tion in order to minimize the risk of failure has been MATLAB,
a program disposing of an extremely high calculation power as
well as different toolboxes (e.g., POWERSYS, which has made
possible the simulation of electrical power networks.
For every network simulation, the maximum voltage value is
being stored for each one of the nodes. From each maximum
voltage set obtained from all simulations, the overvoltage dis-
tribution is found for each node. Once the insulation flashover
distribution of the network components has been known, the risk
of failure can be evaluated for each one of them; furthermore,
the global risk of the network can be calculated in the aim to
keep such a risk to the minimum in order to find the optimal
lightning arrester positions.
To contemplate the random character of different parameters
that lightning overvoltages depend on, these values are being
generated random-wise. In the present analysis, the peak value
of return stroke current is randomly varied, this current being
one of the parameters of most influence upon the surges value
attained. Moreover, following the same procedure, there can be
made an analysis including the random character of parameters
Manuscript received May 26, 2002.
A. L. Orille-Fernández and S. Bogarra Rodríguez are with the Department
of Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona
E-08028, Spain (e-mail: orille@ee.upc.es; bogarra@ee.upc.es).
M. A. Grau Gotés is with the Department of Applied Mathematics,
Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona E-08028, Spain (e-mail:
angela@ma2.upc.es).
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TPWRD.2003.820213
0885-8977/04$20.00 © 2004 IEEE
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145
(e.g., the slope of the wave front, the impact point of the light-
ning stroke, etc.).
II. RISK OF FAILURE
The first problem is to obtain the statistical distribution of
lightning overvoltages at the network nodes depending on in-
dependent random variables, such as the peak value of return
stroke current, the impact point of the lightning stroke, etc. In
this section, the method followed to solve this problem in an ap-
proximate way is presented.
The statistical distribution of independent random variables
is supposed to be known. However, we do not have a known
function in order to obtain the statistical distribution of lightning
overvoltages, but we have computing programs for electromag-
netic transients which, once the independent variables have been
fixed, are able to obtain the values of lightning overvoltages at
the nodes of the network
In order to generate the statistical distribution of lightning
overvoltages in the network nodes, we need to dispose of a
procedure offering random values of the statistical distributions
known of the independent variables; the procedure considered
most convenient is the Monte Carlo method [3].
The lightning overvoltge set for each network node is
obtained with a set of the independent variables and using an
electromagnetic transients program. It is assumed that lightning
overvoltage distribution is the Gaussian density function, so
this distribution can be obtained in terms of the mean value and
the standard deviation
(1)
where
probability density of overvoltage occurrence;
overvoltage for which the probability density of occur-
rence is 50%;
standard deviation.
For every network simulation, the maximum voltage is stored
for each one of the nodes. The mean value and the standard
deviation is calculated from maximum overvoltages obtained
for each node.
Statistical evaluation of lightning overvoltages in power
systems is being made by analyzing the influence of a series
of random variables, especially the maximum intensity (peak
value) of the return stroke current. The latter is a random
variable of most significant influence upon the value attained
by the surges in question.
It is assumed that probability of disruptive discharge of insu-
lation is given by a Gaussian cumulative probability function.
 146
whereas:
R risk of failure,
f(V) probability density of overvoltage occurrence,
p(V) probability of disruptive discharge.
1 nents is considered attributes the same importance to the protec-
f(v) p(v)
Risk
0 The global risk of the network is found from the arithmetic
Voltage [V]
Fig. 1. Risk of failure of a network component.
Therefore, the probability of disruptive discharge is character-
ized by the mean value and the standard deviation as represen-
tative values of the standard deviation of the order of 3%
(2)
where
probability of disruptive discharge;
voltage under which the insulation has a 50% proba-
bility to flashover or to withstand;
standard deviation.
The risk of failure of a network component, Fig. 1, is calcu-
lated with the distribution of applied overvoltages to this net-
work component and the distribution of its withstand voltages,
is expressed by
(3)
where
risk of failure;
probability density of overvoltage occurrence;
probability of disruptive discharge.
III. WEIGHTING THE RISK OF FAILURE
The protection of several network components should con-
sider their relative weight, therefore, to find the global risk of
the network, the risk of failure found for every one of network
component should be weighted, and quite right for every one of
analyzed node (interesting node).
At the developed analysis, two weighting methods have been
considered to evaluate the global risk of the network: network
components valued with the same weight and network compo-
nents valued depending on replacemnet costs.
The first attributes the same weight to the protected network
components, so the global risk is found from the arithmetic
mean of the calculated risks of failure for the interesting nodes.
The second attributes a relative weight to every one of the
network component based on established economic criteria, so
the global risk is found from the weighting of the calculated
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IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004
risks for the interesting nodes depending on replacement costs
of the network components.
A. Network Components Valued With the Same Weight
The weighting where equal weight for all network compo-
tion of each one of them, without taking into account econom-
ical criteria (e.g., replacement costs for the components dam-
aged by lightning overvoltages and service quality criteria) such
as the network being off service as a consequence of deficient
network protection against overvoltages.
mean of the calculated risks of failure for the nodes of interest,
since each node is associated to a component to be protected
against lightning overvoltages. On some occasions, it may be
convenient that for underground cables, depending on their
length, the risks of failure be evaluated at several points, so
that in the global risk calculation, the risks of different nodes
associated to one and the same underground cable are being
taken into account. For orientation purposes, we can say that a
maximum number of three nodes of interest is recommended
for the first 25 m of cable and, thereafter, one node for each 25
m of additional cable length is appropriate.
The global risk is given by
(4)
where
global risk of the network;
risk for node 1;
risk for node 2;
risk for node “n”;
number of nodes of interest.
B. Network Components Valued Depending on Replacement
Costs
The weighting that values each network component de-
pending on replacement costs attributes more importance to
the protection of those elements that are more expensive and to
those for which the replacement work is higher rated, although
the material itself is of rather moderate cost.
The economical criteria established and presented in this
paper in order to value the components of the network are
rather simple ones, although they are most representative of
actual production and installation cost levels, the prices being
subject to both quantities requested and stocks available with
the electrical companies.
Table I contains the approximate prices of some distribution
network components, and Table II gives the replacement costs
estimated.
It is important to observe that supply interruptions can also
cause additional costs to the Electrical Company, as there is in-
dicated in “Guide of electric verifications,” article 71.1 about the
regularity in energy supply [4]. Therefore, it is indeed justified
to realize higher investments for the protection against lightning
overvoltages in order to reduce the number of flashovers per
year originated in a determined area. The costs due to supply
interruptions may also be included in the valuation of the global
 ORILLE-FERNÁNDEZ et al.: OPTIMIZATION OF SURGE ARRESTER’S LOCATION 147

TABLE I risk for a node of of interest of a cable;

APPROXIMATE PRICES OF SOME DISTRIBUTION NETWORK COMPONENTS risk for the connection node of apparatus set;
COMPONENT PRICE [$] number of connection nodes of transformers;
number of nodes of interest of underground cables;
Surge arrester, number of connection nodes of apparatus set.
300
30 kV and 10 kA
Underground cable DHV-18/30,
12 IV. OPTIMIZATION OF SURGE ARRESTER’S LOCATION IN
150 mm2
Conductor LA-110, 116.2 mm2 6 POWER SYSTEMS
Transformer
15000 A. Unconstrained Nonlinear Optimization
1600 [kVA] y 25 [kV]/380 [V]
Transformer
630 [kVA] y 25 [kV]/380 [V]
7500 This work is based on the optimization theory to find the surge
Switch-disconnector arrester location that provides the minimum global risk of the
450
20 [kV], 400/63/63 [A] network.
Disconnector, 25 [kV] 750 The calculus of the surge arrester location that provides
Fuse, 25 [kV] 450
the minimum global risk of the network, is based on numeric
methods to find the minimum of nonlinear functions without
TABLE II restrictions, where the arrester positions are the independent
APPROACHED REPLACEMENT COSTS OF SOME DISTRIBUTION NETWORK variables and the global risk is the object function to minimize.
COMPONENTS
If the arrester positions are restricted, the restrictions are
COMPONENT PRICE [$] imposed outside of the optimization algorithms.
The search of the minimum is obtained from iterative
Damaged cable length 900 algorithms, starting at the initial estimated point and estab-
Transformer 9000 lishing a feasible descending direction toward the minimum (d).
Surge arrester 300
Apparatus-set 450 The analyzed optimization methods find local minima, without
being able to prove them for being global minima. Therefore.
a method has been created to approach the solution to a global
risk of the network, depending on the number of flashovers pro- minimum.
duced. The following stop criteria are used.
Taking into account the replacement costs for the distribution A satisfactory approximation has been found, if
network components, economical criteria established to value a) the slope is equal or less than a specified tolerance;
the global risk shall have a greater weight for the connection b) the distance between two consecutive points is less than a
nodes of transformers; the following weight shall correspond to specified tolerance.
the nodes of interest being associated to underground cables; An unexpected finalization of the optimization process is pro-
finally, the smallest weight shall be attributed to those nodes to duced if
which apparatus sets are being connected.
a) it is impossible to locate a new point with better accuracy;
The highest replacement costs correspond to the connection
b) the number of iterations is very big;
node of the transformer: therefore, its weight is 1. The replace-
c) there is repeatedly overcome the maximum step length.
ment cost of the damaged cable length is approximately 10% of
To update a new approximation, the linear search is used, its
the replacement costs for the transformer; therefore, the weight
objective being to find the optimal length of the step in the
is 0.1 for each node of interest of the cable. Finally, the replace-
direction of the steepest descent , in order to obtain a new
ment costs of the apparatus set being estimated 5% of the re-
point from a previous point
placement cost for the transformer, the weight is fixed to be 0.05
for the connection node of the apparatus set. (6)
The only network component to which more than one node
of interest may be assigned is the underground cable. In this It is required that
case, there is assigned to each node of interest of the cable a
weight of 0.1; however, the number of nodes selected must be (7)
limited depending upon the length of the cable. For orientation
purposes, there may be chosen a maximum of three nodes of The -dimensional problem becomes a one-dimensional
interest for the first 25 m of cable, and further nodes for each 25 (1-D) problem, where the only variable to find is the step
m of additional cable. length . To find the step length, it is necessary to proceed
The global risk is given by carefully in order to avoid possible convergence problems.
There are two conditions of Armijo–Goldstein (AG1 and AG2),
which delimit the value of the step length in order to guarantee
(5) the convergence of the unconstrained nonlinear optimization
(UCNLO) algorithms. The conditions of Armijo–Goldstein are
where given by
global risk of the network;
risk for the connection node of a transformer; (8)

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 148
(9)
where
analyzed point;
length of the step in the direction of steepest descent;
direction of steepest descent;
first constant of Armijo-Goldstein;
second constant of Armijo-Goldstein.
There are several methods to carry out a linear search. For
the developed application, the chosen method of linear search is
based on the concept of backtrack. This developed method con-
sists of reducing successively until finding an optimal value
which is able to find a new acceptable point (starting each iter-
ation with ). This method controls mainly the two condi-
tions of Armijo-Goldstein and it carries out the backtracking (or
reduction of the length step) by successive quadratic and cubic
adjustments [2].
The selected method to implement the application has been
the method of the gradient (Fig. 2) since it presents good con-
vergence and is currently used in very advanced algorithms. The
calculation process of this method is based on the first derivative
of the object function to find the direction of steepest descent
and to obtain a new point. We do not have an explicit function
that can differentiate; we only have evaluations of the function,
so the gradient of the function is evaluated approaching the first
derivative of the function by differences.
The notation used in the optimization algorithm of Fig. 2 is
where
initial point;
k counter of iterations;
minimum of the function;
direction of steepest descent at the k-iteration;
optimal length of the step in the direction of steepest
descent;
new point reallocated after each iteration.
The object function (global risk of the network), f(x), is not
represented by an explicit equation. Therefore, in order to eval-
uate its gradient at one point (position of arrestor) , we need
to run an electric transients program. Also, as we have not an
explicit equation of the object function, to evaluate the gradient
of the function in one point , the derivatives of the function
are approached by finite differences between the values of the
function surrounding this point.
The shown method of the gradient is valid for finding local
minima, but in case there is more than one minimum in the ana-
lyzed interval, it is not possible to prove that the minimum actu-
ally found is the global minimum within the interval. Therefore,
it is necessary to use a strategy that is able to approximate the
result to the global minimum. The proposed method is the fol-
lowing.
1) Start the method of the gradient in a point of the interval
and find the respective minimum.
2) Establish a relatively wide interval around the minimum
found and evaluate the function at its extrema.
3) If the value of the function at the minimum is smaller than
the one at the extrema, reduce the interval and evaluate the
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Starting:
xk = x0, k = 0 ;
YES
xk = x *
STOP
NO
Direction of
steepest descent:
dk = -∇ f(xk)
Update:
xk+1=xk+λk.dk
k=k+1
xk+1 = xk
Fig. 2. Optimization algorithm based on the method of the gradient.
function at its extrema. Again, if the value of the function
at the minimum is smaller than that at the extrema, the
minimum found is valid.
4) If the value of the function at the minimum is not smaller
than that at some end point, return to step (1), starting
the method of the gradient at the point concerned with a
smaller value of the function.
5) Every time you return to step (2), the interval is decreased
until it is sufficiently small or the minimum found in the
step (3) has been considered valid.
B. Application Program to Optimize the Surge Arrester’s
Location
The application implemented calculates the surge arrester po-
sitions so that the global risk of the network is minimum, starting
from the initial positions specified by the user.
This application has been implemented with Matlab v. 5.3,
since it is a powerful calculation tool which also allows an easy
assembly of the optimization algorithms with the transients sim-
ulation program (Toolbox Simulink and Powersys).
The optimization algorithms find the successive positions of
the arresters, using the global risk of the network at each itera-
tion. The transients simulation program is run at each iteration
to calculate the surges in the nodes of the network, evaluate the
risk of failure at each node and, finally, obtain the global risk.
The block diagram of the application is shown in Fig. 3.
 ORILLE-FERNÁNDEZ et al.: OPTIMIZATION OF SURGE ARRESTER’S LOCATION 149

Initial position of Global risk [p.u.]

arresters
0.8
RG = 0.16

Optimal
YES END: Optimal
position position 0
30 45
NO 0 0
Electrical Position of Position of
Optimization simulation
arrester 1 arrester 2
program
x1 [m] x2 [m]

Arresters at cables 1 and 2

New position Output data: (x1,x2)=(0,0)
of arresters
RG =16%
Fig. 3. Block diagram of the application program.
Global risk [p.u.]
Cable2
4 0. 8 RG = 0.058

Line Cable1
0 1 3
0
Cable3 0 30
5
90 0
Arrester 1
Position of Position of
arrester 2 arrester 1
Arrester 2 x3 [m] x1 [m]

Arresters at cables 3 and 1

Output data:(x1,x2) = ( 0, 90 ) [m]
RG = 5.8% Output data: (x1,x3)=(0,90)
RG= 5.8%
Fig. 4. Protection circuit by two surge arresters.
Global risk [p.u.]

V. EXAMPLE
0. 7
0.7
RG = 0.10
In this section, we perform the analysis of the protection of an
underground network connected to an overhead line. The rated
voltage used for this distribution system is 25 kV (value used by 0
electrical companies in Catalonia). 0 45
The underground network has a cable connected to two ca- 90 0
bles in parallel position with the same electrical parameters but Position of Position of
different lengths, Fig. 4. We consider that the impact of the arrester 2 arrester 1
lightning stroke is on the last span of the overhead line and the x3 [m] x2 [m]
flashover on the insulator chain does not occur.
The used models for the overhead line and underground cable Arresters at cables 3 and 2
are models with distributed parameters, the surge arrester is sim- Output data: (x2,x3)=(0,90)
ulated as a varistor, and the transformer is simulated as an open RG= 10%
circuit or a capacitance.
To protect the network against lightning overvoltages, surge Fig. 5. Global risk versus arrester positions.
arresters are employed, finding the positions of surge arresters
to obtain an admissible risk of failure. The protection circuit
has a minimum that coincides with the one obtained by the
obtained locates the first surge arrester at the node of line—cable
optimization application program.
connection (node 1) and the second surge arrester at the end
node of the largest cable (node 5), as there is shown in Fig. 4,
VI. CONCLUSION
with a global risk of 5.8%.
The result obtained with the optimization application has The aim of this work is to establish a method to select the
been proven by the evaluation of the global risk depending protection schemes of power systems against lightning overvolt-
on the arrester positions. Fig. 5 shows how the global risk ages, based on statistical analysis of surges and mathematical

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 150 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004

techniques to find the minimun of risk of failure. The imple- Ángel L. Orille-Fernández (M’95) was born in Ujo,
mented algorithms optimize the surge arrester location, working Spain, on June 21, 1946. He received the Ph.D. de-
gree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic
with known risks of failure. This optimization method can be University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain, in 1988.
used for networks represented by single phase models. Currently, he is Professor of Electrical Engineering
The optimization method computes with statistical values of at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, where he
has been since 1989. He was head of the Department
lightning parameters. The statistical distribution of these param- of Electrical Engineering from 1995 to 2000.
eters is known, and its values are generated by the Monte Carlo
method. The statistical distribution of lightning overvoltages is
obtained from surges calculated by using electrical transients
programs.
The protection of several network components should con-
sider their relative weight; therefore, to find the global risk of the Santiago Bogarra Rodríguez was born in Gavá,
network, the risk of failure found for every one of the network Spain, on May 8, 1966. He received the Ph.D.
components should be weighted; for example, by establishing degree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic
University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain, in 2002.
economical criteria based on replacement costs of the network Currently, he is Associate Professor of Electrical
components. Engineering at the Polytechnic University of
The search of arrester positions that provide the minimum Catalonia, where he has been since 1997.
global risk for the network is based on numeric methods to
find the minimum of nonlinear functions without restrictions,
by the method of the gradient, and, furthermore, by recurring to
a method developed in order to find a solution that approaches
the global minimum.
Ma. Àngela Grau Gotés was born in Sant Feliu de
REFERENCES Codines, Spain, on March 19, 1963. She is currently
[1] S. Bogarra, “Overvoltage Restriction in Power Systems,” Ph.D. disser- pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics at
tation, Dept. Electrical Eng., Polytechnic Univ. Catalonia, Spain, 2001. the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona,
[2] J. E. Dennis and R. B. Schnabel, Numerical Methods for Unconstrained Spain.
Optimization and Nonlinear Equations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Pren- Currently, she is Associate Professor of Applied
tice-Hall, 1996. Mathematics at the Polytechnic University of Cat-
[3] D. Peña, Estadística. Modelos y métodos. 1. Fundamentos, 2nd alonia, where she has been since 1991.
ed. Madrid, Spain: Alianza Editorial, 1995.
[4] MIE Reglamento de verificaciones eléctricas, MIE, 1995.

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