The Measurement Of Broadband Radiation Field Generated By Lightning For Determination Of Lightning Strike Distance.

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

THE MEASUREMENT OF BROADBAND RADIATION FIELD
GENERATED BY LIGHTNING FOR DETERMINATION OF
LIGHTNING STRIKE DISTANCE

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal
Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering
Technology (Industrial Power) (Hons.)

by

MUHAMMAD AKMAL BIN BAHARI
B071210068
930604-02-5593

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
2015

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA

TAJUK: The Measurement Of Broadband Radiation Field Generated By
Lightning For Determination Of Lightning Strike Distance
SESI PENGAJIAN: 2015/16 Semester 1
Saya

MUHAMMAD AKMAL BIN BAHARI

mengaku membenarkan Laporan PSM ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti
Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:
1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis.
2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan
untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja dengan izin penulis.
3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan
pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.
4. **Sila tandakan ( )
SULIT

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan
oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan
atau kepentingan Malaysia sebagaimana yang termaktub
dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

TIDAK TERHAD
(TANDATANGAN PENULIS)

Disahkan oleh:
(TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat Tetap:
Kampung Bemban Mukim Gelong

Cop Rasmi:

06000, Jitra
Kedah Darul Aman.

** Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi
berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh laporan PSM ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT
atau TERHAD.

DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “The Measurement of Broadband Radiation
Generated by Lightning for Determination of Lightning Strike Distance” is the
results of my own research except as cited in references.

Signature

:………………………

Name

: MUHAMMAD AKMAL BIN BAHARI

Date

: 9 DECEMBER 2015

APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of UTeM as a
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Electrical
Engineering Technology (Industrial Power) (Hons.). The member of the
supervisory is as follow:

……………………………….
(Dr. Zikri Abadi Bin Baharudin)

v

ABSTRACT

Dangerous is a word to describe a lightning strike effect towards human,
animal and environment. A lightning strike can blows a fatality to human and causes
death. Besides that, lightning strike has potential to damage property especially the
transmission tower and reduces the performance of our power system transmission.

Lightning cannot be diminished yet controlled by human but human can reduce the
risk from getting struck to avoid the lightning by keeping a safe distance from the
lightning activities area. The purpose of this project was to measure the distance of the
lightning strikes. The project focused on to measure the broadband radiation generated
by lightning for determination of lightning strike distance takes place in Melaka,
Malaysia. The measurement conducted by using a flat-plate antenna to capture the
electric field waveform of the cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes. THS4631 was used in
this project as an amplifier. The electric field signal transmitted by using coaxial cables
with 50 Ohm impedance. Then the electric field waveform displayed on the Teledyne
LeCroy oscilloscope to be analysed. Technique of Time-of-Arrival (TOA) was used
to calculate the distance of lightning strike by using delay time of arrival between the
electric field antenna and magnetic field antenna. From the result, the lightning
activities were detected in the range from 0.5km to 50km from the measuring station.
However, lightning strikes were very unique and difficult to understand and more
information and equipment needed for preparation for future research.

Keywords – Lightning distance, Electric field, THS4631, Flat-plate antenna.

vi

ABSTRAK

Bahaya ialah satu perkataan yang sesuai digunakan untuk menggambarkan
tentang kesan panahan kilat terhadap manusia, haiwan dan alam sekitar. Kesan
panahan kilat terhadap manusia dapat membawa maut. Selain itu, panahan kilat
berupaya untuk merosakkan menara pencawang elektrik dan memberikan kesan
dengan mengurangkan prestasi terhadap sistem bekalan kuasa. Kilat tidak dapat
dihapuskan dan dikawal oleh manusia tetapi manusia dapat mengawasi diri dengan
tidak berada dekat dengan kawasan panahan kilat. Tujuan projek ini adalah untuk
menentukan jarak panahan kilat berdasarkan kadar radiasi yang dihasilkan oleh
panahan kilat. Projek ini memfokuskan terhadap penentuan jarak panahan kilat
berdasarkan kadar radiasi yang dihasilkan di sekitar Melaka, Malaysia. Jarak kilat
dapat ditentukan dengan menggunakan antena jenis leper dan rata untuk mengesan
gelombang medan elektrik yang dihasilkan oleh jenis kilat yang terpancar dari awan
ke tanah. THS4631 merupakan sejenis litar bersepadu yang digunakan dalam projek
ini. Gelombang medan elektrik yang dikesan dihantar melalui kabel sepaksi 50 Ohm.
Selepas itu, gelombang medan elektrik dipaparkan pada skrin osiloskop Teledyne
LeCroy untuk dikaji. Teknik “Time-of-Arrival (TOA)” digunakan untuk menetukan
jarak panahan kilat dengan menggunakan kadar masa diantara antena medan elektrik
dan juga antena medan magnet. Panahan kilat dapat dikesan dalam lingkungan jarak

daripada 0.5 km sehingga 50 km berdasarkan hasil kajian. Walaupun begitu, ciri- ciri
panahan kilat sangat unik dan susah untuk difahami dan memerlukan lebih banyak
ilmu dan pengetahuan beserta alatan yang perlu digunakan untuk kajian pada masa
hadapan.

Kata Kunci – Jarak kilat, Medan elektrik , THS4631, Antenna Leper

vii

DEDICATIONS

To my beloved parents,
Mr. Bahari and Mdm. Kamariah,
Whom was raised me,
Feed me,
Accompany me,
Cheer me,
I love you both.

viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Alhamdulliah, all praises to God.
I would like to thank you to all those who provided me the possibility in
completing the report. A particular thanks goes to my valuable supervisor, Dr. Zikri
Abadi Bin Baharudin for his advice and truthful assistance with obligatory information
regarding the project “The Measurement of Broadband Radiation Generated by
Lightning for Determination of Lightning Strike Distance”.
Besides that, my deepest gratitude for my parents Mr Bahari Bin Ali and
Madam Kamariah Binti Nayan and the rest of my family for giving me their fullest
support, understanding and patience. Without them, I would not be able to finish this
project.
Finally, I would like to thanks to all my BETI friends for the brilliant ideas and
tips throughout the project in this semester.

ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................ iv
APPROVAL................................................................................................................. v
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ vi
ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................. vii
DEDICATIONS ........................................................................................................ viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................... ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. x
LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. xiv
LIST OF TABLE ....................................................................................................... xv
LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................... xvi
CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................ 1
1.0

Introduction ................................................................................................... 1

1.1

Background ................................................................................................... 1

1.2

Problem Statement ........................................................................................ 2

1.3

Project Objectives.......................................................................................... 2

1.4

Objectives of Research .................................................................................. 3

1.5

Significance of the project ............................................................................. 3

1.6

Organisation .................................................................................................. 4

CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................ 5

2.0

Introduction ................................................................................................... 5
x

2.1

Electric Field ................................................................................................. 5

2.1.1

Characteristics of Proton and Electron ................................................... 5

2.1.2

Relationship of Electric Field with Lightning........................................ 6

2.1.3

Relationship of Electric Field with Electromagnetic Field .................... 7

2.1.4

Michael Faraday`s Law of Induction ..................................................... 8

2.2

Discovery of Lightning Phenomena .............................................................. 9

2.2.1

Types of Lightning ................................................................................. 9

2.2.2

The Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Flashes ............................................. 12

2.3

The Previous Research ................................................................................ 13

2.3.1

Measurement of Electric Field and Magnetic Fields due to Lightning

Strokes Based on Single-Station Detection ....................................................... 13
2.3.2

Development of Single Station Lightning Detection System .............. 13

2.3.3

An Improved Distance Finding Technique for Single-Site Lightning

Location System Using Reflection Characteristics of The Anisotropic
Ionosphere .......................................................................................................... 14
2.4

Literature Review Summary ....................................................................... 14

CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................................. 15
3.0

Introduction ................................................................................................. 15

3.1

Diagram of the Overall System ................................................................... 15

3.2

Flow Chart Method ..................................................................................... 16

3.2.1

The flow chart of the overall procedures to obtain the data to measure

the distance of the lightning strike. .................................................................... 17
3.2.2

The flow chart to design the circuit controlling signal to record the

electric field signal ............................................................................................. 19

xi

3.2.3

The flow chart to construct the antenna to capture the electric field ... 21

3.3

Circuit Controlling Signal ........................................................................... 23

3.4

Simulation using ORCAD Capture ............................................................. 24

3.4.1

The Circuit Simulation ......................................................................... 25

3.4.2

The Circuit Simulation Result.............................................................. 26

3.5

The Schematics for PCB using ORCAD Layout Plus ................................ 26

3.6

List of Hardware and Components .............................................................. 28

3.6.1

The Antenna ......................................................................................... 28

3.6.2

The Integrated Circuit .......................................................................... 30

3.6.3

The Cable ............................................................................................. 30

3.6.4

The Connector ...................................................................................... 31

3.6.5

Data Measurement ............................................................................... 32

3.7

Method to Calculate Distance ..................................................................... 33

CHAPTER 4 .............................................................................................................. 35
4.0

Introduction ................................................................................................. 35

4.1

Data Measurement Result ........................................................................... 35

4.1.1

Analysis of Data ................................................................................... 36

4.1.1.1

The Tabulation of Data ................................................................. 37

4.1.1.2

The Graph ..................................................................................... 38

4.1.1.3

The Location of Measuring Station .............................................. 39

4.1.2

Characterisation of Cloud-to-Ground with Same Distance ................. 40

4.1.3

Characterisation of Cloud-to-Ground with Different Distance............ 42

4.2

Discussion ................................................................................................... 43
xii

4.2.1

Preliminary Breakdown Pulse .............................................................. 44

4.2.2

Stepped Leader ..................................................................................... 45

4.2.3

Return Stroke ....................................................................................... 45

4.3

Discussion Summary ................................................................................... 46

CHAPTER 5 .............................................................................................................. 47
5.0

Introduction ................................................................................................. 47

5.1

Summary of Research ................................................................................. 47

5.2

Achievement of Research Objectives.......................................................... 48

5.3

Significance of Research ............................................................................. 48

5.4

Problems Faced During Research ............................................................... 48

5.5

Suggestion for Future Work ........................................................................ 48

APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................ 51
APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................ 55
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 57

xiii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: The attraction of the positive test charge and a negative test charge ........ 6
Figure 2.2: The figure shows a bolt of lightning strike. ............................................... 7
Figure 2.3: The diagram of relationship of electric field and electromagnetic wave. . 8
Figure 2.4: Cloud-to-Cloud lightning ........................................................................ 10
Figure 2.5: Intra-Cloud lightning .............................................................................. 10
Figure 2.6: Cloud-to-ground lightning ....................................................................... 11
Figure 2.7: Types of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes............................................. 12
Figure 3.1: The diagram of the overall process.......................................................... 15
Figure 3.2: Project methodology flow chart .............................................................. 17
Figure 3.3: The flow chart to design the circuit controlling signal ............................ 19
Figure 3.4: The flow chart to construct the antenna................................................... 21
Figure 3.5: The equivalent circuit to measure the electric field ................................. 23
Figure 3.6: The Graphical User Interface for ORCAD Capture Simulation.............. 24
Figure 3.7: The Circuit Schematic ............................................................................. 25
Figure 3.8: The Simulation of The Voltage Output Outcome .................................. 26
Figure 3.9: The Circuit Schematic for PCB ............................................................... 26
Figure 3.10: The PCB Design in ORCAD Layout Plus ............................................. 27
Figure 3.11: The Completed Hardware Assembling.................................................. 28
Figure 3.12: The Electric Field Antenna .................................................................... 29
Figure 3.13: THS 4631............................................................................................... 30
Figure 3.14: The Structure of Coaxial Cable ............................................................. 31
Figure 3.15: The Connector BNC type ...................................................................... 31
Figure 3.16: Teledyne LeCroy Oscilloscope ............................................................. 32
Figure 3.17: Both of the pictures were taken while capturing the waveform ............ 33
Figure 3.18: The EF (Pink) is the starting trigger point while MF (Blue) is the end
point. .......................................................................................................................... 34
Figure 4.1: The simulation result of the bandwidth ................................................... 35
Figure 4.2: The Graph of Time Delay between EF and MF vs. Distance ................. 38
Figure 4.3: The red dotted in the map showing the measuring station locating in Paya
Rumput, Melaka. ........................................................................................................ 39
Figure 4.4: Profiling for CG Flash of 22.1 km ........................................................... 40
Figure 4.5: Profiling for CG Flash 22.4 km ............................................................... 40
Figure 4.6: Profiling for CG Flash of 6.14 km ........................................................... 42
Figure 4.7: Profiling for CG Flash 32.24 km ............................................................. 42
Figure 4.8: The Properties of CG Flashes .................................................................. 43
Figure 4.9: The properties of CG Flashes from previous researcher. ........................ 44
Figure 4.10 : The Stepped Leader .............................................................................. 45
Figure 4.11: The Return Stroke.................................................................................. 45
xiv

LIST OF TABLE

Table 4-1: The Data Measurement of the Cloud-to-Ground Flashes Distance from
Paya Rumput, Melaka. ............................................................................................... 37

xv

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CC

=

Cloud-to-Cloud

IC

=

Intra-Cloud

CG

=

Cloud-to-Ground

PBP

=

Preliminary Breakdown Pulse

RS

=

First Return Stroke

SRS

=

Subsequent Return Stroke

PCB

=

Printed Circuit Board

EF

=

Electric Field

MF

=

Magnetic Field

xvi

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.0

Introduction
This section comprises about the main idea of whole project. This section

explained about the main objectives and the scopes of this project which are determine
the purpose of this project. Generally, the purpose of the project is to determine the
lightning strike distance by the radiation of the lightning strike.

1.1 Background
The project is about to measure the radiation of the lightning strike by the
determination of lightning strike distance. A lightning phenomena often happens in
Malaysia. As a country that has a tropical whether, Malaysia has a moisture layer of
air which is a perfect medium for the path of the lightning strikes. Lightning or flashes
is an electrostatic discharge that may occurs between cloud and another cloud (CC
lightning), electrically charged regions of a cloud (IC lightning) or cloud and ground
(CG lightning).The lightning strike is an action of the equalization of a different
charged regions within the atmosphere and the object on the ground through the air by
striking an object on the ground. The lightning strikes produce a broadband radiation
of waveform on the air like a bell-shape. A lightning detector can be able to detect and
record the lightning strikes depends on the radiation of the waveform produced. The
waveform needs to be analysed to determine the location of the lightning strike.
Therefore, some measurement methods and calculations need to be used to determine
the distance of these lightning strikes.

1

1.2

Problem Statement
There are many problems brought by the lightning strikes. The lightning strike

contains high amount of voltage in the lightning. There are several problem due to the
lightning occurrences such as:
1) The lightning strike always damages the transmission tower. Thus, there will
needs many maintenance to repair the damaged transmission tower.
2) The lightning strike can be harmful towards human. The lightning can blows a
fatal strike to human which leads to death.
3) The damages of the property. The electronic appliances such as television,
computers, refrigerator and others may easily damage by the lightning strike.
If there is a lightning detector system, all the negative effect causes by the lightning
may be reduced. Therefore, the lightning detection system is an essential for this world
to minimize the damages by this phenomenon.

1.3

Project Objectives
The objective is a purpose of the project. This part gives a brief explanation

about the purpose on how to determine the distance of the lightning strike.
There are three mains objectives of this project:

i)

To construct the hardware for measuring the broadband radiation field
generated by lightning for determination of lightning strike distance.

ii)

To determine the characteristics of the broadband radiation field
generated by lightning for determination of lightning strike distance.

iii)

To measure the broadband radiation field generated by lightning for
determination of lightning strike distance.

2

1.4

Objectives of Research
The scope is a specific objectives of the project. This part gives a specified

information about how the project will be done.
There are three scopes in this projects:

i)

To produce a design circuit using THS4631 for measuring the electric
field generated by lightning for determination of lightning strike
distance using ORCAD PCB design.

ii)

To determine the properties of waveform generated by Cloud-toGround (CG) flashes of the first return stroke captured by the flat-plate
antenna.

iii)

To measure the distance of CG flashes based on the broadband
radiation generated by CG flashes in Melaka.

1.5

Significance of the project

The project is significance because the lightning is very hazardous for all human
being and property. The lightning detector system can help human to take some safety
precautions before doing some specific work which is related to the lightning strikes
for examples,
1) A company that holds a contract to build the high voltage transmission tower
can measures the intensity of the lightning strikes occur by using this system.
This can reduce the probability of the transmission tower being hit by the
lightning strike and can saves the cost of the maintenance to replace the surge
arrester that may be broken down due to the lightning strikes.
2) A golfer that playing the sport in a wide area can use this system to warn them
about the activity of the lightning strikes. They should stop from playing and
can move to the safe area where the probability of being struck by a lightning
strike can be avoided such as under a building.
3

1.6

Organisation
This report contains three chapters. Firstly, the reports begin with the Chapter 1:

Introduction that introduces about the background of the project, problem statement,
project objectives, project scopes and significance of the project. Secondly, this report
continues with Chapter 2: Literature Review. This chapter contains basic information
about the whole project. It is basically gives the main idea about the related theories
and the previous research that completed by other researchers. Thirdly, this report
continues with the Chapter 3: Methodology. The Methodology is a chapter where the
information about the procedure and the lists of hardware to conduct the project is
described. Fourthly, the Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Discussion is where the data are
analysed and discussed. Lastly, the Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation is the
last chapter that concludes about the whole project and suggest some recommendations
in improving this thesis in the future.

4

CHAPTER 2
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

2.0

Introduction
The literature review of this project involves materials from journal, research

paper, books and internet. The lightning phenomena occurs because of the charged
particles moving or attracting of each other. The literature study will bring together the
concept of electric field, lightning phenomena and the law of voltage induction.

2.1

Electric Field
Electric field plays an important role in the lightning occurrences. It is one of the

element that involves in the lightning phenomena.
2.1.1 Characteristics of Proton and Electron
The proton and electron are charged particles. The proton carries positive
charged particle while the electron is a negative charged particle. The properties of the
positive test charge will radially move outward in contrary with the negative test
charge which is move radially in toward the point charge. The different charged
particles will attracts each other while the same charged particles will repel each other.

5

Figure 2.1: The attraction of the positive test charge and a negative test
charge
(Source: [20/5/15])

Figure 2.1 shows the example of reaction between the different charged
particles. Electric field of the positive test charge is attracted towards the negative
charged particle.

2.1.2 Relationship of Electric Field with Lightning
The cloud contains the negative and positive charged particles. The charges
begin to separate within the cloud creating the electric field between the upper cloud
and the lower cloud regions. The higher the separation between positive charges and
negative charges, the higher the strength of the electric field. The atmosphere is a good
insulator that prevents the electric flow from discharged to the ground. When a
remarkable amount of charges are cumulated, the electric flow can be discharged to
6

the ground. This is because the strength of the electric field has overcome the
atmosphere’s insulator threshold. This is when the lightning phenomena occurs.

Figure 2.2: The figure shows a bolt of lightning strike.
(Source: [21/05/15])

.
2.1.3 Relationship of Electric Field with Electromagnetic Field

Electric field is a component of the electromagnetic field. Basically, a moving
charge oscillating produce electric field and magnetic field are electromagnetic wave.
The electromagnetic wave carry the energy from the electric field and magnetic field
in the right angle plane. In other words, the summation of the electric field energy and
magnetic field energy is the total energy that carried by an electromagnetic wave. The
frequency of the electromagnetic wave depends on the speed of light and wavelength
of the radiation. This can be concluded as the energy of the electromagnetic wave is
the proportional to the frequency of the wave connected via the speed of light.

7

C=f λ

(2.1)

C: speed of light (m/s);
f: frequency (Hz); and
λ: the wavelength (m).

Figure 2.3: The diagram of relationship of electric field and electromagnetic
wave.
(Source: [21/05/15])
The Figure 2.3 shows the electromagnetic wave properties. It contains the
electric field, magnetic field and the wavelength of wave.
2.1.4 Michael Faraday`s Law of Induction
Michael Faraday was a man that conducted an experiment about the
electromagnetism around 1831. He was a first physicist that introduced the law of
electromagnetism induction. He stated that any change in the magnetic environment
of a coil wire will cause a voltage to be induced in the coil. This concept can be used
to induce the voltage through the coil as viewed in BBC History website at
.

8

Any movement in electromagnetic field can creates a certain amount of voltage
depending on the strength of the electromagnetic field. Towards his concept, the
voltage can be create to be as a signal input to measure the distance of the lightning
with appropriate hardware setup.

2.2

Discovery of Lightning Phenomena
In the remotest times, Franklin discovered that lightning interruption on

expanding electric power systems formed comprehensive study of the lightning
phenomena was crucial. He was using the kite with the attached key and tied it to a
post with a silk thread. As time passed, Franklin sensed the loose fibres on the string
stretching out and touched the key. Then, he saw a spark jumped the gap showed that
lightning was a discharge of static electricity. Many researchers had taken interest with
this phenomena. They conducted numerous of experiments to study about the lightning
natures. This phenomena appears because when the electric field becomes strong, the
bolt of lightning will arises between clouds and the ground. The electrical discharge
continually superheats the discharge channel making the air to expand and produce a
wave as thunder.

2.2.1 Types of Lightning

There are variant types of the lightning strikes. Lightning and lightning
discharges within a cloud are usually termed “lightning flashes or simply called
“flashes”. They can be intra-cloud (IC), cloud-to-cloud (CC), cloud-to-ground (CG).
The name tells the nature as the CC Lightning is the interaction of the electrical charges
between one cloud with another, CG Lightning is exists between the cloud and the
ground while IC Lightning is the electrical discharges by the cloud itself (Z.A.
Baharudin, 2014).

9