Theory and Applications of Lightning Location

System in Yunnan Power Grid

Electric Power Science Research Institute ,

Yunnan Power Grid Co.，Ltd.，Kunming，Yunnan
Reported by Fangrong Zhou
November 2021· Kunming
 1 Principle of lightning location

Composition of lightning location system in Yunnan Power

2 Grid

3 Application of lightning location system in fault inspection

4 Lightning damage area query for transmission line

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 1. Theory of lightning location
The lightning location system is a intelligent system that is highly automatic, large-
area, high-precision and real-time intelligent system, which combines various
technologies such as electromagnetic telemetry, satellite, geographic information and
computer application. Using this system, many lightning parameters, for example,
lightning strike time, azimuth, polarity, intensity and return stroke times could be
measured in real time. Thus, the system has been widely used in many industry fields
like electric power , meteorology, insurance management and so on.

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 1.1 Lightning locating methods

• Direction locating：

N
A

E α HNS W
HWE
S
H NS
tg 
H WE
Each lightning detection station can measure lightning direction relative to the north.
When two or more detection stations receive the lightning signal at the same time, the
results will be transmited to position analyzer which can determine the time consistency of
the signals from various stations. If the signals have a same oringin, lightning location can be
determined by using geometric algorithm.
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 1.1 Lightning locating methods

• Time difference locating:

From a geometric point of view, the distance difference between lightning point and
two detection stations is known, so a pair of hyperbolas can be obtained，and the location of
the lightning point is on the hyperbola. If the third detection station also receives the
lightning wave signal, we can get another pair of hyperbolas. Then, the specific location of
lightning strike point can be determined as the intersection of two pairs of hyperbolas.
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1.2 Overall objectives of lightning location system construction

v The monitoring scope must cover the main grid of Yunnan Power
Grid (35kV and above, taking into account 10kV)

v The detection rate of lightning detection system shall not less than
95%

v The detection error of lightning location system shall not greater

than 500m
 1 Principle of lightning location

Composition of lightning location system in Yunnan Power

2 Grid

3 Application of lightning location system in fault inspection

4 Lightning damage area query for transmission line

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 2.1 System structure

Detection station

Communication system

Central station

User system

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 2.2 Schematic diagram of lightning location system communication
mode for Yunnan Power Grid

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 2.3 Location distribution of lightning detection stations in Yunnan
Power Grid

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 2.4 Detection efficiency of 47 stations in Yunnan Power Grid lightning
location system (connecting with China Southern Power Grid)

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 1 Principle of lightning location

Composition of lightning location system in Yunnan Power

2 Grid

3 Application of lightning location system in fault inspection

4 Lightning damage area query for transmission line

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 3.1 Login system
• Entering the server link in the IE address bar of the intranet：Log in to
Yunnan Power Grid lightning information website and enter the home page of
Yunnan Power Grid lightning location information system. (Intranet)

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 3.2 Lightning location system of Yunnan Power Grid—Main interface
The main interface of lightning location system consists of function module, map
module and output module of hourly lightning statistics.

Map module

Hourly statistics module

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Function module
 3.3 Lighting query
Lighting query functions: line query, substation query, area query, circle query,
rectangle query, polygon query, etc. The process of line query:

Parameters setting of line query

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 3.3 Lighting query
Lighting query functions: line query, substation query, area query, circle query,
rectangle query, polygon query, etc. Take line query as an example:

Transmission line

Query results

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 3.3 Lighting query
Lighting query functions: line query, substation query, area query, circle query,
rectangle query, polygon query, etc. Take line query as an example:

Export query results in excel table

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 3.3 Lighting query
Parameter settings for substation query, area query, circle query, rectangle query and
polygon query.

Substation query Rectangle query

Circle query Polygon query

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 3.4 Lightning statistics
Lightning statistics function: line statistics, regional statistics and density statistics.
Take line statistics as an example：

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 3.5 Transmission line editor
Line editing and substation editing:

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 1 Principle of lightning location

Composition of lightning location system in Yunnan Power

2 Grid

3 Application of lightning location system in fault inspection

4 Lightning damage area query for transmission line

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 Website:http://10.180.81.83:8001/，
初始界面如下：

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 Homepage:

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 Homepage—Distribution map of cloud-to-ground discharge：

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 Homepage—Lightning damage distribution map：

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 Homepage—Query results of lightning damage section of the line

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 Homepage—Lightning fault statistics

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 Homepage—Lightning fault analysis

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Homepage—Real time density map of cloud-to-ground discharge section

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 Annual density map of cloud-to-ground discharge

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 Density map of cloud-to-ground discharge—Real time density map of cloud-
to-ground discharge section

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 Lightning damage distribution map—Query results of lightning damage section

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 Lightning damage distribution map—Lightning damage risk distribution map

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 Statistical report—Overview statistics of annual line minefield

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 Statistical report—Lightning stroke fault statistics

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 Auxiliary decision—Lightning stroke fault analysis

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 Auxiliary decision—Lightning stroke fault analysis

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 Auxiliary decision—Multi layer superposing analysis

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 Auxiliary decision—Multi layer superposing analysis

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 Basic data

The basic data modules are mainly used to manage lightning data and power grid data, including adding,
deleting, modifying, exporting and other operations. Lightning basic data has been divided into lightning
historical fault and tower lightning protection configuration ledger. The basic data of power grid has been
divided into substation management, converter station information, line management, tower real scene
information, power plant management, tower management, simulated tower information and simulated (New)
transmission line.
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 System management
The system management module includes system function configuration, user management,
role management and password modification. The administrator can add, modify and delete the
company and user roles, modify the system login password and user permission settings.

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 Overview statistics of annual line minefield
The administrator can query, view and export the statistics of line minefields every year, and
configure the exported tables.

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 The system has been connected with other provincial systems of the southern
power grid to improve the detection efficiency and accuracy.

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 l Just import the corresponding line coordinates to query the lightning
location of 200km near the border between Yunnan and Vietnam.
l If 2-3 lightning detection stations can be constructed in Vietnam, the
lightning location effect will be better.

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