RBF-FDTD Analysis of Lightning-Induced Voltages on Multi-Conductor Distribution Lines

Lightning-induced voltages on overhead distribution lines present a formidable obstacle to ensuring the reliability of power systems, evaluated through conventional numerical techniques, such as the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method and the Finite Element Time Domain (FETD) method. This study proposes a novel implementation of the Radial Basis Function-Finite Difference Time Domain (RBF-FDTD) method, extending the foundation of our previous work to address the field-to-line coupling equations governing such systems. The effectiveness and accuracy of this approach are rigorously validated through RBF-FDTD numerical simulations, applied to both horizontal and vertical configurations of a 1 km, 110 kV multi-conductor distribution line, as well as a real-world three-phase overhead line in Vietnam. In this study, the impact of various parameters, including line geometry, the presence of ground wires, and the influence of perfectly and imperfectly conducting ground, on the lightning-induced voltages are investigated. The simulation and computational results are in good agreement with findings from prior studies, underscoring the potential of the RBF-FDTD method as a robust tool of practical implications.