Increased interest in renewable will see more power channeled to various grids in various nations across the world. Wind energy is recording increased contribution amidst increasing power consumption around the world. In the few coming years, more wind turbines are set to be installed in different countries around the world.
For many countries, the challenge is to increase output of single wind power plants, although some say individual stand alone solutions could also offer good help.
The risk of lightening is pulling a limit on height of wind turbines, since those 200 metres high are bound to be affected by lighting and surge. However, it is important to consider lighting and surge protection for the turbines. Risk of strike by lighting and increases quadratically as height increases.
The need to lower downtime is also paramount, and thus offshore wind turbines must always be available.
DEHN lightning and surge protection products
DEHN is a renowned expert in wind energy. The company develops customized protection solutions for wind turbines, including HVDC, residential or transformer platforms. The company performs a lightning impulse test with a test current of 400 kA (10/350μs). Based in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, and deeply rooted in Germany, the company has customers in over 70 countries around the world.
As experienced developers of wind turbines lightning protection systems, the company has learnt how to help others protect damage of turbines by rotor blades, bearings and gearboxes, as well as downtime resulting from related currents from lighting activities.
The company follows the IEC 62305 standards in selecting, arranging of lighting and other things for the protection gadgets. They use the dimensions of the system as specified or advised by class of LPS as recommended by IEC 61400-24 standard. The standard advises that a lower class may be used, however, depending on situation at hand.
A wind turbine lightning protection system consists of an external lightning protection, internal lightning protection / surge protection and equipotential bonding and earthing. The company plans for protection measures by dividing the wind turbine into lightning protection zones (LPZs).
The rolling sphere method is used to determine areas susceptible to lightning strikes (LPZ 0A) damage.
Contacts
Debs Sielemann
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dehn-international.com
