Lightning protection of Wind Turbines

Hans V. Erichsen
hve@electricon.dk 2011-10-14 Serec, , Zurich, , Switzerland

www.testinglab.dk

Requirements for lightning protection of wind turbines

All wind turbine manufactures claims that they fulfill the IEC 61400 61400-1; 1; Wind turbine generator systems - Part 1: Safety requirements . This standard claim that the wind turbine need to have a LPS (Lightning i ht i Protection t ti System) t ) These demands can be found in: IEC 61400-24, 2010 Wind Turbines Part 24: Lightning Protection. Requirements for lightning protection is based on both direct and indirect effects.

Lightning flash parameters for wind turbine

The Lightning Protection Level (LPL) is recommended by IEC 61400-24 61400 24 to be LPL I. Level I is the highest level of protection, where the maximum values of lightning current parameters relevant to LPL I will not be exceeded with a probability of 99 %.
Lightning flash parameters Current parameter Peak current Flash charge Specific energy Average steepness Symbol I Qshort W/R di/dt Unit kA C MJ/ kA/s 200 300 10 200 LPL I

According A di to t IEC 62305-1 62305 1 and d IEC 61400-24, 61400 24 LPL 1 goes from f 3 kA to t 200 kA. kA This Thi means that th t 1% of f all ll lightning li ht i has h a peak k current t lower that 3 kA and 1% higher than 200 kA. The IEC 62305-1 and IEC 61400-24 do not consider the lower levels of the other parameters such as Energy, Charge and di/dt. This also means that the wind turbine blades are not protected at the direct strike points against lightning flashes with a peak current lower that 3kA!

Blade damages & Performance criteria

Blade damages
Cosmetic Wind turbine can run until next scheduled maintenance Blade damages need to be repaired before next scheduled maintenance

Wind turbine performance criteria

Run with out any disturbance's R t t itself Restart it lf after ft Lightning Li ht i event t Can not restart itself after Lightning event Need repairment before it can run again

Lightning flashes to wind turbine

Ground flash property
90% downward 10% upward d

Wind turbine (>100m height) flash property

20% downward 80% upward
D Downward d li lightning ht i

Multiple p strokes
The four towers in the picture are separated with a distance of 2.9 km, ranging in height from 121 to 191 m, developed upward leaders following a nearby positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) flash on 7/16/09 UT in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA

+CG return stroke channel and self-propagating upward leaders developed from all four towers. Source: Observations of simultaneous multiple upward leaders from tall structures. Tom A. Warner -South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD, USA. ICLP 2010.

Attachment point point of stroke

By use of the rolling sphere model, Lightning attachment points to the wind turbine will be defined. Blades attachment Hub attachment Nacelle attachment

Lightning protection blades

Wearing of attachment point

The charge [C] or [As] of the lightning current wearing the attachment points. Blade receptors / attachment point can be particular exposed to charge wearing

Down conduction
Components and connections between different part of systems and main components is a part of the direct lightning protection system. system
Lightning current will be distribute in all electrical conducting parts through the entire Wind Turbine.

Requirements for protection of sub systems

Mechanical parts Blade and blade bearings Nacelle and other Structural components Mechanical drive train and yaw system Focus is particular on:
Main bearing(s) Gearbox DD Generator

Lightning protection zoning (LPZ)

LPZ can be divided into two categories LPZ for conducted surges
Ideal location and integration of SPDs

IEC 61400-24

LPZ for induced effects

Definition of equipment immunity levels Definition of required equipment shielding

Requirements for protection of sub systems

Electrical low low-voltage voltage systems and electronic systems and installations Surge protection Isolation withstand voltage level Induced effects
Cables (Installation technique) Cabinets ( (Shielding g technique) q )
Wires entering cabinet Electronic equipment

Electronic equipment needs to have a immunity corresponding to the present environment (As minimum to fulfil EMC requirements, recommend to follow TR 50373 wind turbine; Electromagnetic Compatibility )

Surge Protection Device (SPD)

IEC 61400-24 Figure F2.

IEC 62305-4 Figure C1.

Indirect d ect e effects ects

IEC 61400-24

Requirements for protection of sub systems

Electrical El t i l hi high-voltage h lt (HV) power systems t In configurations g operating p g on higher g voltage levels the fundamental protection principles must remain the same same.
Transformer Generator G Switchgear

Earthing systems and its integration with lightning protection

The purpose of a external earthing systems is the following:

Personal safety
Step and tough voltage

Functional safety
Short circuit clearance

Lightning Protection
Current dissipation to earth

Personal safety
Personal safety
Thunders storm warning Safe stay doing thunderstorms

Verification Of The Safe Locations In A Wind Turbine During Thunderstorms; ICOLSE 2009

Lightning Sensors
Electricon is designing measurement systems to measure and analyze y lightning g g events. Sensors can be integrated into wind turbine applications

Blade inspections

Test and verification methods blades

High-voltage strike attachment tests Initial leader attachment test Swept p channel attachment test

High-current physical damage tests

Arc entry test

High-current physical damage tests

High-voltage strike attachment tests

High-voltage strike attachment tests

Tak for opmrksomheden Sprgsml er meget velkommen!

Thank you for your attention! Questions are welcome!