As we see temperatures rise, the threat of lightning is expected to increase in areas that become warmer and drier. One lightning strike can cost an Oil and Gas manufacturing company anywhere from $500,000 or more depending on the size and type of facility. While the cost of a lightning strike can be prohibitive, Fuel Tank Lightning protection costs a mere fraction of that. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you are in or how often lightning events happen in your area, it only takes one strike to destroy precious product. In a lightning strike that terminates on or near a floating roof tank (FRT), for example, the current will flow in all directions and will vary in proportion to the lowest path of impedance. One unexpected arc across the roof-shell interface could ignite the fumes that are almost always present and as a consequence put that tank and an entire facility in immediate danger. To combat the risk of rim fires, the industry has been using metal strips called “shunts” that electrically bond the shell and roof of the tank. Unfortunately, the bond that these shunts establish is unreliable and creates a greater risk of sustained arcs due to:
The Retractable Grounding Assembly (RGA) patented by Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc.
It’s a retractable bypass conductor made specifically for FRT’s. Installation of bypass conductors is inexpensive and can be done on in-service tanks. Installing RGA’s on FRT’s will eliminate the arcing at the shunts and other roof-shell interfaces caused by the slow components of the lightning stroke. Therefore, installing RGA’s will substantially reduce or eliminate the risk of lightning related tank fires on FRTs. As always, if you have any questions or require additional information on Fuel Tank Lightning Protection, feel free to call us.
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AuthorLightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC) serves its clients by installing and maintaining lightning protection systems (LPS), and prevention solutions. Equipped with over four decades of experience, LEC has provided successful support to over 90 countries and throughout the United States. Archives
December 2023
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