Studies on Lightning, Effects and Characteristics of Waveform

Lightning is a natural Phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere when charge accumulated in the cloud discharges into a neighbouring cloud (cloud to cloud or sometimes within the cloud) or cloud to the ground. Lightning causes more deaths than other natural disasters. Also, it affects the performance of the power system. Unless the proper protection system is not in place, the damage to the power system equipment is significant. Understanding the characteristics of lightning is important for designing and testing electrical equipment that is exposed to lightning strikes. By simulating the effects of lightning strikes, manufacturers and operators can ensure that electrical equipment is able to withstand the high voltages, currents, and other transient effects caused by lightning, and operate safely and reliably under such conditions. In this Chapter causes of lightning, effect of lightning on the power system, generation of lightning impulse in laboratory for testing the high voltage equipment and methods to mitigate the lightning are studied.