The Lightning Key Data System is designed for natural integration into the harsh environment of the wind turbine hub and blade area. One sensor in each blade gives momentary measurements of the lightning behavior during a strike.
The Lightning Key Data System measures the key figures when a lightning strike hits a wind turbine and provides accurate and valuable data for making the best decisions right away.
Lightning Key Data System is a new monitoring system developed by the Danish company Global Lightning Protection Services A/S. The system is designed and tested for the harsh environmental conditions under which a wind turbine operates.
The system measures what the company defines as the four key data parameters: Peak current, specific energy, charge content and fastest rise time.
“Due to their individual impact on the exposed structure, these four parameters are important, useful and valuable information,” says CEO Kim Bertelsen. “Knowing this key data provides technicians with a unique and accurate basis to make the right decisions. For example, whether the turbine can continue to operate safely or immediately should be stopped for inspection.”
Besides avoiding unnecessary and expensive inspections and downtime, the accurate and secure measurements give the overview for timely and intelligent planning of service and maintenance. In addition, the system provides an incident documentation.
The Lightning Key Data System records the lightning strike in a time frame of 1.5 seconds on each of three channels simultaneously. This ensures a measurement of the entire lightning incidence. The data recording is instantly available by Ethernet connection and all data is saved on an industrial grade SD card.
“It’s all about making the right decisions for increasing the production,” says Bertelsen. “It is costly to stop the turbine, but it can also be fatal to overlook emerging and incipient vulnerabilities on electronics or attachment points that might lead to fatal consequences if not taken care of in time.”
The Lightning Key Data System is typically installed with a sensor for each blade and the central processing unit located in the wind turbine hub. The sensor installation is able safely to withstand the high-voltages associated with lightning strikes, and it can either be designed into new projects, or retrofitted to older turbines using the default sensor installation.
Global Lightning Protection Services A/S
global-lightning.com
Filed Under: News, Sensors, Turbines
