Lightning Protection Systems

  LEC surveyed and reported that blades on at least 55 machines at a wind farm in Honshu, Japan, were destroyed by lightning at a cost in excess of $5.5 million. Instances of severe mechanical or fire damage to complete turbines were also reported. By their very nature, wind turbines end up in harsh locations where damage from volatile weather makes them vulnerable. In fact, wind turbines may be the most exposed of all types of generators connected to electric-power networks. Costly lightning-related damage is most often caused by ·   Insufficient direct strike protection ·   Inappropriate or inadequate transient voltage surge suppressors ·   Unsatisfactory bonding and/or grounding What we can do ·    A properly designed  lightning rod protection  system will prevent physical damage to the turbine by redirecting lightning currents to Earth. ·    The cost of these lightning rod protection systems represents a small portion of the total project capital expense but results in a dramatic i