Abstract
Lightning strikes happens in a fraction of time, where they can transfer huge amounts of charge and high currents in a single strike. The chances for a structure to be struck by lightning increases as the height increases; thus, tall structures are more prone to lightning. Despite the existing lightning protection systems available for wind turbine blades, there are still many cases reported due to the fact of damage caused by lightning strike. Owing to that, the present work introduces a new approach for a lightning protection system for wind turbine blades where preliminary investigations were done using Analysis Systems (ANSYS) Workbench. Two models were developed: one with a conventional type down conductor system and the other with a hybrid conductor system. The recorded findings have been compared and discussed, where it was found that the hybrid conductor system may provide alternative protection from lightning for wind turbine blades.
Highlights
Windmills have been around for centuries, operating as grain grinders and water pumps
Temperature generated by current; As the current from the lightning strike runs from the striking point towards ground (0 V), it Deformation caused by and temperature
As the current from the lightning strike runs from the striking point towards ground (0 V), it heats up the conductor and the blade at the contact surfaces
Summary
Windmills have been around for centuries, operating as grain grinders and water pumps. There are approximately 2000 thunderstorms at any given minute and about 100 lightning strikes per second worldwide [1]. This creates great risk for tall structures, such as wind turbines, to be struck by lightning, where the average electric current from a lightning return stroke is 30 kA [1]. This massive flow of current can heat up the leader channel air to between 25,000 ◦ C and 30,000 ◦ C
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