IPG Lightning Protection Systems for Wind Turbines

1. IPG Lightning Protection System for Wind Turbines

2. Inside 20 years, the U.S., Europe and Japan have the potential for generating up to 40% of their electrical needs from wind energy. With the trend toward larger wind turbines, the cost/kWh for generating electricity continues to drop. As a result, many countries are developing and constructing wind farms. Even older wind turbine projects are being re-furbished and upgraded with larger turbines. Wind energy advocates say wind could provide 10% of the world’s electricity requirements. • Therefore, it is critical to custom design and install a lightning protection system (LPS) for the wind turbine. Cause, unfortunately due to their exposed location and height, wind turbines are vulnerable to the effects of direct lightning strikes. As wind turbine increase in size the effects of lightning become more significant. The higher structures, up to 90-110m, are more susceptible to lightning while the cost of replacing damaged components on site significantly increases with turbine size.

3. Let us explain Lightning usually hits the sharpest and tallest object in an area because ground charges emitted from objects with high elevations reach to opposite charged streamers of the cloud earlier than the charges from any shorter object. On the other hand, lightning current aims to reach ground by following the shortest and most conductive way. That is why; a tall structure such as a wind turbine in a wind farm is the primary target for lightning strikes in an open area. Solution For more than 40 years, Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC), Boulder Colo., has been involved in developing lightning protection systems. Over the last twenty five years the focus of our company has been on researching the science of strike collection. From this research we have developed a collection system process:

4. 1 The Ion Plasma Generator (IPG) The patented Ion Plasma Generator is a highly effective air terminal engineered for applications where lightning prevention is not practical, but that still require reliable lightning protection from direct strikes. During lightning conditions, the IPG acts as the most attractive object in the protected area by using the storm’s energy to develop dense corona plasma. As the electrical field grows, this highly charged corona becomes more attractive, drawing strikes safely to the IPG and preventing damage to valuable assets. Unlike traditional collectors that often fail to exert enough attractive influence on approaching strikes, the IPG’s materials and construction are optimized for maximum risk reduction in a cost effective and durable design. Contact us for a customized lightning protection system for your wind farm.

5. Thanks! ANY QUESTIONS? You can find me at Address: 6687 Arapahoe Rd. Boulder, CO 80303, USA Phone: 303-447-2828 Email: info@lecglobal.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lightningeliminators/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lightningprotec Website: https://www.lightningprotection.com/