volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

To address the quantification challenges of transient responses in direct lightning strike protection design for photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, this study establishes an integrated coupled model using CDEGS simulation software, incorporating horizontally layered soil, PV mounting structures, and grounding systems. A comprehensive consideration of key factors, including lightning current waveforms, soil resistivity, and the number of down conductors and vertical grounding electrodes, enables quantitative analysis of transient overvoltage and transient ground potential rise (TGPR) distribution characteristics under varying operating conditions. The results demonstrate that both soil resistivity and lightning current waveforms are critical factors influencing the transient lightning-induced characteristics of PV systems. In typical low-resistivity (ρ = 200 Ω.m) and high-resistivity (ρ = 2000 Ω.m) soil environments, increasing the number of grounding down conductors and vertical grounding electrodes can both reduce induced overvoltage and transient ground potential rise. However, beyond a certain threshold, shielding effects between adjacent grounding bodies limit current dissipation efficiency, leading to diminishing returns. Therefore, PV system lightning protection design must holistically account for soil properties, lightning current parameters, and optimized layout strategies to mitigate transient amplitudes, achieving an optimal balance between lightning protection effectiveness and economic efficiency.

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Professor Wen Cao

Dr. Xiaojun Tang

Dr. Yicheng Fan

Dr. Wei Shen

Dr. Bobo Chen

Dr. Jiarui Zhang