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Lightning protection at generator tower...?
By rmunaretto, Section Wind Posted on Thu Mar 24, 2005 at 12:37:30 AM MST
Wind power generators

Is it common to have problems with lighting at the wind generator tower? Is it usual to have lighting protection installed at these towers? Thanks

Lightning protection at generator tower...? | 4 comments (4 topical)

Re: Lightning protection at generator tower...? (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by nanotech on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 08:03:05 PM MST

Personally I would think the metal tower for a wind generator would form its own lightning rod, but I may be wrong here....
__________________________________________
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru!

Re: Lightning protection at generator tower...? (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by billf on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 08:35:18 PM MST

Anything can get hit by lightning anytime. And unfortunately without a good ground at the tower lightning will travel to a good ground, usually at your house. Take a couple of 8' ground rods and drive them in next to the tower and attach #4 copper to the tower and the rods. Use a 3ph or dc surge protector as needed on the down leads and the lead in to the control unit or batteries. It's not a matter of "if" just "when". Even static electricity that builds up from the wind going by the tower needs to bleed off to ground, so go for the ground.

billf

Re: Lightning protection at generator tower...? (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by rmunaretto on Thu Mar 24, 2005 at 08:21:34 PM MST

I follow you... Thanks!!!

[ Parent ]

Re: Lightning protection at generator tower...? (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by ivandenisovich on Fri Mar 25, 2005 at 04:54:21 PM MST

I work as an engineer in the communication business, we deal with this all the time on broadcast and cell towers. All I can tell you is ground everything. A typical tower should have a minimum of one ground rod for each tower leg (e.g. triangular tower, 3 rods). More is better. These rods should be connected to the tower with solid #2 copper wire or bigger. The ground connection wire should be as short a possible with as few bends as possible (bends add inductance, at lightning strike frequencies, this increases impedence). One thing that most people don't realize; when lightning strikes, the ground around the object that is was hit becomes saturated with electrons. If your house is some distance away from the tower base, your house ground will become an attractive alternative for the electron flow, and current will be induced on your lead in wires, which may destroy anything connected to those wires. The safest method for grounding is to bond all ground rods together into a single ground system. This way the ground around the entire electrical system will be at the same potential and no current will flow.

When it comes to grounding, more is better. Surge protectors do not really protect equipment, only good grounds offer the most protection. A well grounded system is also safer for people/animals that are near the tower. Unfortunately, there is no 100 percent lightning protection system.

Paul
Paul, I'd rather spend my money on anything but oil.
[ Parent ]

Lightning protection at generator tower...? | 4 comments (4 topical)

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