Wind turbines are usually installed on the sea, hills or ridges with strong winds. The height of the wind turbine and the open terrain make the number of lightning strikes on the wind turbine much higher than the number of lightning strikes under the local average ground lightning density.
Wind turbines integrate a large number of sensitive electronic and electrical components. If they are struck by lightning (especially the blades and valuable parts of the generator), in addition to the loss of electricity revenue during the repair period, they also have to bear the huge cost of disassembly and repair of the damaged parts. Therefore, preventing lightning hazards is the primary issue to ensure the safe operation of wind turbines.
Risks of lightning strikes and surge voltages faced by wind power generation systems:
- Lightning strikes directly hit wind turbine blades or nacelles
- Upward leaders appearing at wind turbine blades and other locations
- Surge overvoltages generated by lightning induction (such as lightning electromagnetic pulses LEMP formed by indirect lightning strikes) will cause permanent failure of wind turbine electrical and electronic systems.
Eyzao provides comprehensive and efficient lightning protection solutions for wind power generation. According to the IEC 62305 series standards and the protection requirements of IEC 61400-24 for various special parts of wind turbines, the installation and selection of SPDs for wind power generation systems must be considered:
- Lightning protection zone (LPZ0…3);
- Test current waveform that SPD complies with (8/20μs waveform and 10/350μs waveform);
- Voltage protection level (Up value of SPD);
- Power supply system voltage and standard (230/400 V and 400/690 V systems, TN and TT, etc.);
- Anti-harmonic interference, etc.
Standard basis
- IEC 62305 “Lightning Protection” series standards
- IEC 61312 “Protection against Lightning Electromagnetic Pulses”
- IEC 61400-24 “Lightning Protection for Wind Power Generation Systems”
- IEC 61643-11 “Surge protectors connected to low voltage power distribution systems”
- GB 50057 “Lightning protection design specifications for buildings”
