Statistic analysis of lightning transients on wind turbines

Abstract

In view of the actual random behavior of lightning strikes, an efficient algorithm is proposed in this paper for statistical analysis of the lightning transients on wind turbines. The equivalent circuits are established for blades, moving contact site, tower and grounding arrangement. A set of formulas is provided for evaluating their respective circuit parameters. With the equivalent circuits connected in sequence, a complete circuit model of wind turbines (WTs) is constructed for calculating lightning transients. The lightning transient responses can be obtained at different locations on a wind turbine by using the circuit model to perform the transient calculation. For checking the validity of the circuit model, the experiment measurement is also made on a laboratory-scale WT. An approximate match appears between the measured and calculated results. On the basis of the circuit model, the transient calculation is performed sequentially for each discrete amplitude in a large interval of lightning current. The random distribution of lightning current is taken into account by a cumulative probability function of exponential type. The corresponding probability density function is derived to weight the peak values of the lightning transient responses. The statistical values of the lightning transient responses can be determined by totalizing the weighted peak values in the interval of lightning current. Then, a case study is carried out to contrast the statistical values with the non-statistical ones calculated from the standard lightning current amplitudes, and a significant difference is discovered between them.