MKEK 1643 LIGHTNING PROTECTION AND GROUNDING SYSTEM Mar-Jul 2026

 

 COURSE INFORMATION

Course synopsis:This course introduces students to the fundamentals of lightning protection and grounding system. Emphasis will be on the lightning protection system (LPS) design as per standards requirements based on lightning and grounding fundamentals. The course also exposes students to step by step design of an LSP for a given structure. In addition, the course covers the field work on soil resistivity and ground electrode resistance measurements. At the end of the course student should be able to critically design an LPS and a substation grounding system including using application software and tools.
Course coordinatorDr Zuraimy Adzis
P06
zuraimy@utm.my
LecturerProf. Dr. Zulkurnain Abdul Malek
F54-1-135 (UTM JB)
+6012-7167607
zulkurnain@utm.my
people.utm.my/zulkurnain
School/Faculty:Electrical Engineering/Engineering
Program name:Masters of Engineering (Electrical Power)
Course code:MKEK 1643
Course name:Lightning Protection and Grounding System
Credit hours:3
Pre/co requisite:Nil

Mapping of the Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) to the Programme Learning Outcomes (PLO), Teaching & Learning (T&L) methods and Assessment methods:

No.Course_Learning_Outcomes (CLO)PLO (Code)Taxon./
Generic Skills
T&L methodsAssessment methods
CLO1Attain specialized and latest knowledge on lightning and its potential hazards on man and man-made systems, and the principles of lightning protectionPLO1
(KW)
C3Lecture, active learningT, F
CLO2Demonstrate proficiency in selected analytical methods and simulations  to perform  LPS design studiesPLO2C5Lecture, active learningT, F
CLO3Solve lightning protection system critically and synthesize relevant knowledge through design and developmentPLO3C6Project-based learningPRR, Pr
CLO4Plan and perform assigned project responsibly, professionally and ethicallyPLO4EM3Project-based learningPRR, Pr
  • EM3 – Observing Ethical practices and responsible to the society

Details on Innovative T&L practices:

Active learningConducted through in-class activities
Project-based learningConducted through design assignments. Students in a group of 2 are given 1 design project that require solutions involving the design calculations and verification using CDEGS/DEHN Risk Tool. Compliance to the design specifications need to be given in the form of written reports.

Weekly Schedule:

Lectures are scheduled on Tuesdays 10-1a am and Thursdays 11am-1pm

Overview:

16/3-1/5/26First half of Sem 2 (7 weeks)
4/5-10/5/26Mid-Sem Break
11/5-26/6/26Second half of Sem 2 (7 weeks)
29/6-5/7/25Revision week
6/7-19/7/25Final exam
Week_Dates_Hrs W1 (ONLINE LECTURES)
16 Mar – 20 Mar
1 hours Chp 0
2hours Chp 1
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: https://utm.webex.com/meet/zulkurnain
Conditions:
1. All students’ cameras MUST BE ON throughout the lecture duration otherwise ATTENDANCE NOT COUNTED
2. All microphones must be MUTED except when asking/answering questions

Course Information
Introduction to MEEP1643
Tue (17/3): Introduction and Overview of the Course (1 hr)

Thurs (19/3): (2 hrs)


Chapter 1. Lightning Phenomenon and Its Detection (updated)
Introduction, Thunderstorm Formation, Lightning Flash, Lightning Parameters, Striking Distance, Lightning Detection, Lightning Related Damages, Lightning Protection
W2 (ONLINE LECTURES)
23 Mar – 27 Mar
3 hrs Chp 1
Chapter 1 cont.
 IEC62305 Standards
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
W3
30 Mar – 3 Apr
3 hrs Chp 2
Chapter 2a. Risk Management
Introduction to LPS Standard, Risk Management -Need and economic justification for LPS, Risk Assessment, Exercises
DEHN Risk Tool Guide

W4
7 Apr & 9 Apr
2 hrs Chp 2
1 hrs Chp 3

 



Chapter 2a cont.
Chapter 2b. Risk Tool Tutorial

Chapter 3. LPS Design
Introduction to LPS, Protection of Structures, LPS Design, External LPS Design, Air Termination System, Down-Conductor System, Separation Distance, Earth-Termination System, Internal LPS Design

 


LPS Design Assignment
Submit Group Name and Members


LPS Risk Tool 

How to 3D-SShield

Submit Assignment Part 1 (Due Apr 2026)
(refer to Chp 2 slides 90-101, MS word)

Submit Assignment Part 2 (Due May 2026)
(Risk Assessment Report, MS Word)

Submit Assignment Part 3 (Due Jun 2026)
(Air Termination System Design, MS Word)

Submit Assignment Part 4 (Due Jun 2026)
(Down conductor and earthing systems design, MS Word)

Submit Assignment Part 5 – Presentation (Due June 2026) (Everything above summarised in Presentation Slides format, MS Powerpoint)

Part 6 Make the Presentation ( June 2026)

Groups so far
Grp 1
Grp 2
Grp 3

W5 


14 Apr

16 Apr


3 hours Chp 3

Chapter 3 cont.

W6


21 Apr

23 Apr
3 hours Chp 3

Chapter 3 cont.

W7

28 Apr
30 Apr


Chaper 3 cont.
Chapter 4 Internal Protection System
Design and installation of SPM,Earthing and bonding, Magnetic shielding and line routing, Coordinated SPD system, Isolating interfaces,
SPM management


4 May – 10 May

 Mid-Semester Break


W8
12 May

14 May
1 hour Test 1
2 hours Chp 4

16 May 11.50am-12.35pm (replacing 24 Apr)

TEST 1 Chps 1&2 (2 May 202)

Chapter 4 cont.

W9
19 May

21 May
3 hours Chp 5


Chapter 5 Earthing
Chapter 5 Earthing (Additional Notes)
Fundamentals of Earthing, Earthing system and soil structure, Resistance of Earthing Systems, Impulse Impedance, Earthing system design, Standard Requirements for LPS, Earthing Measurements


W10
26 May

28 May
3 hours Chp 5


Chapter 5 cont.

W11
2 Jun

4 Jun
hours Chp 5
1 hour Presentation

Chapter 5 cont.
Submit Field Work Report (Due June 202)

Presentation Schedule June 202:
2.00pm Grp 1
2.12pm Grp 2
2.24pm Grp 3


All slides will be already uploaded to my laptop. You just need to come out at the front and present them within 10 minute duration ONLY..

W12
9 Jun

11 Jun
3 hours Chp 6

Chapter 6. Lightning Surges in Power System
Mechanisms of overvoltages in power systems due to lightning strikes, Surge propagation fundamentals, Computation of tower voltage, Lightning surge arresters, Surge arrester application in a substation and its protection performance
  

W13


16 Jun
18 Jun
1 hour Test 2

2 hours Chp 6

TEST 2 Chps 3-5 ( 30 May)

Chapter 6 cont.

W14
23 Jun

25 Jun
3 hours Chp 6

 

Chapter 6 cont.
 Course Summary and Revision
Thursday (Chp S) (Field Measurements at IVAT Laboratory)
Starting JulFinal Exam

Transferable skills (generic skills learned in course of study which can be useful and utilised in other settings):

  • Team working
  • Ethics and Professionalism

Student learning time (SLT) details:

Assessment Samples

  • Sample Test 1
  • Sample Test 2
  • Sample Final Exam Paper

 

Special requirement to deliver the course (e.g: software, nursery, computer lab, simulation room):

  • Access to computers with DEHN Tool/CDEGS

Learning resources:

Main references

  • IEC 62305 Part 1-4, Protection Against Lightning
  • IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding, ANSI/IEEE Std 80-1986

Additional references

  • Electrical Insulation in Power Systems. N.H. Malik, A.A. Al-Arainy, M.I. Qureshi (1997). CRC Press.
  • High Voltage Engineering, M.S. Naidu and V. Kamaraju (2004), McGraw-Hill
  • The Lightning Flash, edited by Venon Cooray (2003), London (IEE Power & Energy Series 34)
  • High Voltage Engineering: Theory and Practice, M. Khalifa (1990), Marcel Dekker.

Online

Academic honesty and plagiarism:

Assignments are individual tasks and NOT group activities (UNLESS EXPLICITLY INDICATED AS GROUP ACTIVITIES)
Copying of work (texts, simulation results etc.) from other students/groups or from other sources is not allowed. Brief quotations are allowed and then only if indicated as such. Existing texts should be reformulated with your own words used to explain what you have read. It is not acceptable to retype existing texts and just acknowledge the source as a reference. Be warned: students who submit copied work will obtain a mark of zero for the assignment and disciplinary steps may be taken by the Faculty. It is also unacceptable to do somebody else’s work, to lend your work to them or to make your work available to them to copy.

Disclaimer:

All teaching and learning materials associated with this course are for personal use only. The materials are intended for educational purposes only. Reproduction of the materials in any form for any purposes other than what it is intended for is prohibited.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.