VIII International Symposium on
Lightning Protection
21st-25th November 2005 – São Paulo, Brazil
REQUIREMENTS ON INSULATED DOWNCONDUCTORS
Dr. Ralph Brocke
ralph.brocke@technik.dehn.de
DEHN+SÖHNE GmbH + Co. KG
Hans-Dehn-Straße 1, D-92318 Neumarkt
Abstract – Lightning protection of buildings and electrical
installations includes also the controlling of separation
distances to avoid uncontrolled side flashes between the
different systems. A new solution for an insulated down-
conductor will be proposed. The requirements on this
insulated down-conductor are shown and an appropriate
test method is applied to determine an equivalent separation
distance.
1 INTRODUCTION
In the field of lightning protection for buildings and
electrical installations, also the question of a suitable
installation of down-conductors is important, apart from
the question for the selection and construction of air
terminations for protection against direct lightning strikes
and preventing partial lightning currents to enter the
inside of the building.
Proximity Voltage u at the point of
proximity induced by
lightning impulse
current i
t
250 ns
1M
Installation u
V
MEB i separation distance s has to be determined
25 kA
Fig. 1 - Puncture in the proximity area between the LPS and the
electrical installation at insufficient separation distances
If the required separation distance s is not kept,
uncontrolled flashovers and/or punctures can occur
between earthed parts of the building construction (e.g.
steel girders, reinforcements, elevator rails, etc.) and the
lightning current carrying components of the lightning
protection system LPS (air terminations, down-
Dr. Peter Zahlmann
peter.zahlmann@technik.dehn.de
conductors, etc.). The same phenomenon arises between
electrical installations and the LPS. Fig. 1 illustrates the
relation between lightning current rate of rise, induced
voltage and a possible puncture in the proximity area.
These can be avoided, if the required separation distance
s is kept between earthed conductive parts of the building
installation and/or the electrical installation and the LPS.
In practice, the control and the permanent keeping of the
separation distances has proved to be difficult and partly
impossible. Electrical installations are flush-mounted or
covered so that the exact position can often not be
located. If later installations are performed, the required
separation distance is often not controlled.
2 SEPARATION DISTANCE
[1,2] describe the calculation of the required separation
distance for avoiding proximities.
ki ⋅ kc (1)
s= ⋅L
km
with s: Separation distance
ki: Factor - protection level of the LPS
kc: Factor - lightning current distribution
km: Factor - material of the electrical isolation
L: Vertical distance from the point, where the
to the next point of the equipotential
bonding.
The length of the separation distance depends on the
down-conductor length, the protection level, the division
of the lightning current over different down-conductors
and the material [3] in the isolating distance.
In Bavaria an annual damage of two-digit amounts of
millions has been caused by lightning strikes into
agricultural buildings. Therefore in a study over 100
damage claims were investigated. A considerable number
of fires was also caused in agricultural buildings with
LPS. The main causes of this damage were
• incomplete equipotential bonding
• insufficient separation distance
A solution for a safe and permanent keeping of the
required separation distances is the use of partly isolated
LPS. The air terminations are installed on insulating
supports over the roof.
The idea of a safe control of proximities by means of
special insulating components was already performed in
1987 in the model installation “Guglhof“ as a pilot object
of the ABB/VDB (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 - Structure of the partly isolated LPS at the model
installation “Guglhof“ (1987)
The functional size of the used components, however,
were undesirable under architectural and technical aspects
(e.g. wind loads). This partly isolated LPS was further
developed in 1997 (Fig. 3) and can now be integrated into
e.g. an existing roof surface.
Fig. 3 - Partly isolated LPS to be tested
3 USE OF INSULATING MATERIAL FOR THE
REDUCTION OF THE REQUIRED SEPARATION
DISTANCE
The basic idea of the insulated down-conductor is to coat
the lightning current carrying conductor with insulating
material.
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
• Possibility of a lightning current proof connection
with the air termination via clamps, connectors or
alike with a standard dimension
• Keeping the required separation distance by a
sufficient electrical strength in the zone of the
feeding point and along the down-conductor
• Sufficient current carrying capability
• Possibility to connect with the earth-termination
system or existing LPS via clamps, connectors or
alike with a standard dimension
By including insulating materials with a high electrical
withstand capability, the separation distance s can
basically be reduced. However the electrical strength of
the total system “down-conductor” is determined by the
arrangement itself as well as the coming up of creeping
discharges.
In order to get independent from the arrangement of the
down-conductor, the use of unshielded insulated down-
conductors becomes conceivable (Fig. 4). With this type
of conductor the problem, however, is not resolvable.
Experiments show, that already at relatively low induced
impulse voltages creeping discharges may come up in the
proximity area which may cause a total flashover over
long conductor lengths.
Injection of the
lightning current
(feeding point)
Connection with the air
termination
Conductor
High-voltage resistant
isolation
External coating
(weather and UV
resistant)
Fig. 4 - Insulated down-conductor, basic structure
Critical areas regarding the occurrence of creeping
discharges are areas combining isolating materials, metals
and air. In this transition areas the considerably higher
electrical filed strength and creeping discharges cause an
considerably reduced voltage withstand capability.
Creeping discharges have always to be expected if normal
components of the electrical field strength E lead to an
exceeding of the creeping discharge threshold voltage,
and tangential field components drive the spreading of the
creeping discharge forward. This performance was
already described by Toepler in [4].
If the electrical strength of the air is exceeded at points of
max. field strength (e.g. at the transition from isolating
material to metal), creeping discharges are initiated. This
creeping discharge threshold voltage defines the
withstand capability of the complete isolation
arrangement. It is known from literature, that the specific
flashover voltage decreases to values of some kV/cm after
the coming up of creeping discharges. The effect of
reloading of isolation capacities at steep impulse voltages
intensifies this phenomenon. At the beginning a first
creeping discharge grows from the point of the highest
electrical field strength when reaching the creeping
discharge threshold voltage. This partial discharge, that
does not lead to the flashover of the total distance yet, but
causes a considerable displacement current via the
isolation capacity due to the high voltage steepness du/dt.
This procedure leads to a thermoionisation of the already
flashed over section longitudinally to the insulation
surface. The voltage drop along this thermoionised
channel is comparably low, so that the “earth potential“ is
carried along the cable insulation. A new partial discharge
comes up due to the high displacement current in the pre-
ionised channel and an additional isolation distance is
flashed over. This process continues until the complete
distance flashover along the insulation (Fig. 5).
Flashover
Inner
conductor
Isolation
Partial-
discharge
Proximity
Fig. 5 - Growing of a creeping discharge at a steep impulse
voltage
Taking a PE-coated high-voltage cable as an example, it
becomes clear, that after exceeding the partial discharge
threshold voltage (approx. 250...300 kV lightning impulse
voltage), the withstand capability of the complete
arrangement cannot be further increased, even if the
creeping distance is raised. Labtests showed, that
doubling of the creeping distance from approx. 2.5m to
5m resulted in no noticeable increase of the voltage
withstand capability (Fig. 6).
≈ 300 kV
(1.2/50 µs)
l1 = 5 m
Fig. 6 - Determination of the creeping discharge threshold
voltage at a PE cable
4 COAXIAL CABLES AS INSULATED DOWN-
CONDUCTORS
In order to be independent from the high voltage potential
and the geometrical structure of the LPS, HV-coaxial
cables with a metal shield and a special field control in
the feeding area can be used.
A specially developed coaxial single-conductor cable can
prevent the onset of creeping discharges and conduct the
lightning current to the ground (Fig. 8).
Insulated down-conductors with field control and
conductive shield prevent creeping discharges. They
allow the injection of the lightning current into the special
cable and grant the conducting of the lightning current by
keeping of the required separation distance s.
However, it has to be taken into account, that the
magnetic field surrounding the current carrying down-
conductor is not influenced by the conductive shield.
5 MAGNETIC COUPLING IN INSTALLATION
LOOPS
Lightning impulse currents are characterised by high rate
of rise of current di/dt. The highest di/dt come up at
negative subsequent strokes. If the lightning current is
conducted by a down-conductor to the earth, the down-
conductor is surrounded by a considerable magnetic field.
This variable magnetic field induces electrical voltages
and/or currents into conductive loops. The value of the
magnetic coupling into an installation loop depends on
the di/dt of the lightning current, the size of the
installation loop and the distance between the down- Parameters for the calculation (Fig. 10):
conductor and the loop. A measure for the magnetic
coupling between down-conductor and loops is the Down conductor Inductance: L1 = 26 µH
mutual inductance M and/or the coupling factor kf. Installation loop Inductance: L2 = 65 µH
Loop resistance Rloop = 100 kΩ (open)
Mutual inductance: M1,2 = 16 µH
Injection of the Coupling factor: kf = 0.37
lightning current
(feeding point) Connection with After flashover comes up at this point, considerable
the air termination partial lightning currents are carried into the building. The
Inner
Conductor Field control
coupling factor, as a measure of the magnetic coupling
Isolation
between two conductor loops reaches values of
Safety distance s ⇒ Thickness of the kf = 0.3...0.5, i.e. This means that 30..50% of the current
Conductive insulating material flowing through the down-conductor can be induced in
shield (braided Building big short-circuited installation loops.
copper) Flashover
To avoid this flashover, the separation distance s should
nevertheless be kept at the point of proximity between
installation and metal cable sheath.
Blightning
RLoop

15 m
6 COAXIAL CABLE WITH SEMI-CONDUCTIVE
M1,2
COVER

Installation loop
In order to fulfil the requirements on an insulated down-
5m conductor and to avoid partial lightning currents via the
earthed conductive cable sheath, a special coaxial cable
Fig. 7 - Magnetic coupling between an insulated down- with a semi-conductive cover has been developed. In
conductor an installation loop using an insulated down- order to optimize the field control, a specially adjusted
conductor with field control and conductive shield
cable entrance fitting was designed, that allows the
realisation of an equivalent separation distance s ≤ 0.75 m
It has to be considered, that an HV-insulated coaxial (Fig. 9).
cable with its metal and earthed cable shield can form a
part of an induction loop (Fig. 7).
αα Interception Rod
If the cable sheath is connected with the equipotential
bonding only at the earth side, the installation forms an Insulating cable entrance fitting area
open loop were a high voltage is induced. Depending on support tube
the size and position, the induced voltage can reach
amplitudes of some MV (Fig. 8). Antenna Insulated Downconductor
2 40 Corresponds to
s = 0,75m in air
MV kA

1 20 Connection to the
earth termination
Connection to the system
equipotential bonding
0 0 of the BTS

Fig. 9 - Basic structure of an insulated down-conductor with

0s 2 µs 4 µs 6 µs Time field control and semi-conductive cover (DEHNconductor
Uopen I L1 HVI®)
Fig. 8 - Calculated inductive voltage in an open installation loop
at (s Æ 0) This special cable entrance fitting is realised via an
adjusted connection to the air termination (feeding point)
and an special designed connection to the equipotential
bonding mounted in a corresponding distance.
The complete semi-conductive cover of the cable has a The about 200 cm long sample of the insulated down
considerably higher resistance compared with a metal conductor is set up on an insulation support. At the
shield of an coaxial cable. Thus, no noticeable partial opposite end of the down-conductor a second clamp 2is
lightning currents are carried into the building. While installed, that is also connected to laboratory ground The
partial lightning currents of some 10 kA are induced in other end of the insulated down-conductor to be tested is
short-circuited installation loops under the conditions connected to the HV-electrode of the CA. The gap
indicated in Fig. 9, the induced currents are reduced to spacing of the CA is sV The earth electrode of the CA is
values less than 100 A, even in case of a multiple earthing mounted in a height of approx. 2 m above ground.
of the semi-conductive cover.
Relying on the required separation distance s, the max.
8 TEST SERIES FOR DETERMINATION OF THE
length Lmax of such an insulated down-conductor can be
EQUIVALENT SEPARATION DISTANCE
calculated as follows:
km
Lmax = ⋅s (2) Two test series were performed for determination of the
ki ⋅ kc
equivalent separation distance. The first test series was
made with a PE-coated high-voltage cable without field-
7 DETERMINATION OF THE EQUIVALENT controlling. This test series was performed in order to
SEPARATION DISTANCE demonstrate the upcoming creeping discharge to be the
definitive limit. For all tests the steep impulse 0.4/45 μs
with a negative polarity was used.
The following test set-up (Figs. 10) allows a comparison
of the dielectric strength of the insulated down-conductor In a second test series, a PE cable with field control by
at a chopped wave-impulse voltage with the one of a means of a semi-conductive coating was used. With this
comparable inhomogeneous spark gap in air (comparison measuring series it was proved that the creeping flashover
arrangement, CA). This CA has been applied by Zischank withstand capability can be significantly improved with
et. al. [5,6] for the test of insulated distance holders. an appropriate field control.
Area with a creeping HV electrode Table 1 shows the results of the first test series without
discharge to be tested of the CA field control. The limiting factor for the peak value of the
Clamp 1 Clamp 2 selected test voltage is the corresponding creeping
distance. The table also shows the achievable clearance sV
SV at the CA at the selected test voltage.
SG
Insulated down
conductor Table 1 - Test object without field control, list of the measuring
results

Impulse Earthed electrode of the CA sG in [mm] Û in [kV] sV in [mm]

generator
500 170 150
Fig. 10 - Test set-up, basic circuit diagram
750 220 200
1000 230 300
In order to be close to reality, a steep impulse of 0.4/45 µs
is used. In addition to previous examinations the CA is 1400 no significant improvement possible
used as a chopping gap. This procedure allows to test the
insulated down-conductor with very short impulse
voltages and simultaneously a direct comparison with the The results of the second series with field controlled
electrical strength of the CA. Furthermore, it allows a insulated down-conductor show a fundamentally different
loading of the insulated down-conductor with an impulse performance (see Table 2). For the lower values sG = 500
current with a high di/dt after the response of the CA as a mm and/or 750 mm, the flashover voltage between clamp
chopping gap. 1 and connection with the high-voltage generator is the
The insulated down-conductor is connected directly with limiting factor. There is no limiting creeping discharge.
the impulse generator. Clamp 1 is mounted in a variable With sG = 1400 mm, the max. voltage of the test system
distance (max. 140 cm) for the connection with the is reached without upcoming of creeping discharges.
equipotential bonding and connected to laboratory ground
for the test purposes. This distance is varied during the Table 2: Test object with field control, HVI
tests between 50 cm and 140 cm and thus represents the
creeping distance sG to be tested.
 SG in [mm] Û in [kV] SV in [mm]
500 210 200
750 300 300
1000 500 500
1400 700 750
The flashover takes always place at the CA. Such a load
is controlled safely and repeatedly by both the semi-
conductive coating and the conductor itself.
9 DISCUSSION OF THE MEASURING RESULTS
AND DETERMINATION OF THE EQUIVALENT
SEPARATION DISTANCE
The test results show that the electrical strength of the
insulated down-conductor can be determined with the
selected test arrangement and compared to an air
clearance (CA). The tests at the insulated down-conductor
with semi-conductive coating and field control show that
the phenomenon of creeping discharges on surfaces of
isolating material can be controlled safely over long
distances. An equivalent separation distance s = 750 mm
for the examined semi-conductive coated coaxial cable
was determined by the comparison with the CA without
any creeping discharges. Because of the resistive
dimensioning of the semi-conductive coating, a change of
the electrical strength due to humidity or pollution can be
practically excluded and makes the examined insulated
down-conductor suitable for outdoor use.
The natural voltage waveforms can differ from those used
during the tests. A copy of the real stress is hardly
possible with the test technology available in laboratory.
The used test impulses, however, were selected to come
as close to the real conditions as possible.
Induced voltages caused by negative subsequent strokes
may have an impulse duration that is even shorter than
that of the applied test voltages. For such short impulses
the spark over voltage of the CA becomes somewhat
higher. However, as is shown in [7], the breakdown
voltage of PE insulation, too, increases for short duration
voltage impulses. The breakdown field strength for
untreated PE, for instance, reaches values of
Ebreak ≥ 4...5 MV/cm for sub-microsecond impulses [7].
10 CONCLUSION
Lightning protection standards clearly require the control
of proximities, the realisation and permanent keeping,
however, is often difficult in practice. With the presented
solution of an insulated down-conductor made of a
special coaxial cable with its semi-conductive coating
provides the possibility for planning engineers and
constructors to keep the required separation distances s
permanently and almost independent from the laying. The
suitability of the presented solution was proven by the
application of a test procedure, that has already been used
for testing components of partly isolated lightning
protection systems and which allows the determination of
an equivalent separation distance.
11 REFERENCES
[1] IEC 62305-1, Ed.1: Protection against lightning – Part.1:
General principies
[2] IEC 62305-1, Ed.1: Protection against lightning – Part.3:
Physical damage to structures and life hazard
[3] Zischank W.: Der Einfluss von Baustoffen auf die
Stoßspannungsfestigkeit von Näherungsstrecken bei
Blitzeinschlägen, 18. Internationale Blitzschutzkonferenz,
München (1985), Referat 3.3
[4] Toepler, M: Über die physikalischen Grundgesetzte der in
der Isolatorentechnik auftretenden elektrischen
Gleiterscheinungen, Arch. Elektrotechnik, Bd. 10 (1921),
pp. 157-185
[5] Zischank W., Wiesinger J., Hasse P., Zahlmann P.:
Teilisolierte Blitzschutz-Anlagen zum sicheren Einhalten
des Näherungsabstandes, VDE-Fachbericht 52 „Neue
Blitzschutznormen in der Praxis“, VDE-Verlag Berlin
Offenbach (1997), pp. 135-145
[6] Zischank W., Wiesinger J., Hasse P.: Insulators for Isolated
or Partly Isolated Lightning Protection Systems to Verfiy
Saftey Distances, 23rd International Conference on
Lightning Protection (ICLP), Firenze (1996), pp. 513-518
[7] Beyer M., Bock W., Möller K., Zaengel W. :
Hochspannungstechnik, Springer-Verlag (1986)