Description
The height and location of wind turbines makes them especially prone to lightning strikes. The events generated by the lightning account 20% of claims on wind turbines and cause 30% production losses. One of the most important challenges for scientific community and engineering devoted to wind produced electricity is the understanding of mechanisms of lightning strike to turbine blades and protections design to prevent these losses. The project aim is the research and development of a high voltage impulse generator (Marx type) lightning type over 2.5 MV charging voltage, which allows testing 'in-situ' protection system against lightning impact on wind turbine blades and is a platform for new products and designs development. Project results represent an important synergy and tractor effect for European wind industry.
Summary of project results
One of the most important challenges for scientific community and engineering devoted to atmospheric electricity is the understanding of the mechanisms turbines lightning strike and protection design to avoid these losses. This need is actually limited by the existence of only two testing laboratories able to shovel ray pulses with negative polarity (required over 2MV generator), located at Denmark and U.S., this implies the need of significant transportation cost and time to perform the testing and certification of equipment and new developments. The objective of the project was the research and development of a voltage pulse generator lightning type over 2.5 MV, modular, that allows testing 'in-situ' protection system against lightning impact on wind turbine (blades, nacelle, etc.) and is a platform for new products and designs development. The objective was reached and now we have the prototype of the first 2.5 MV modular and portable generator.
Summary of bilateral results