CN Tower Lightning Return-Stroke Current Simulation

Different functions have been used to model the lightning return-stroke current with the aid of direct current measurements at tall structures. In this paper, a comparison between the Pulse function and Heilder function is carried out to find out the suitability of each of these functions for simulating the lightning return-stroke current, measured at the CN Tower. An automated system for determining the CN Tower lightning return-stroke current waveform parameters is introduced. The curve fitting technique of this system and the estimation of the initial values of the simulation function parameters are presented. An artificial lightning signal, free of noise and reflections, is used as a reference signal for evaluating the parameter extraction system. Finally, cumulative statistics of the CN Tower lightning return-stroke current waveform parameters (peak, maximum rate of rise, risetime, pulse width, decay time and charge) are derived using the Pulse function parameters.