Each year a multitude of electric power facilities are knocked off-line due to lightning. Not only are there primary effects of a lightning strike (like fire) but secondary effects, such as transient surges and overvoltage, as well. Each time a bolt hits, the electrical current is carried through to ground, the ground potential rise (GPR) and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) can be coupled or transferred through the wires and into the equipment and sensitive electronics of the facility. If not immediately destroyed, every time this happens, degradation occurs and the life of that item is shortened. So why would you want to collect a strike into the ground by using a Franklin Rod? Many companies have found that traditional lightning protection design systems tend to create more issues than solutions and have opted to implement a solution based on charge transfer technology. DAS uses “charge transfer” technology, which prevents the termination of lightning within the area of desired protection altogether. The technology is so effective, the DAS has over a 99% success rate and is the only lightning protection product to offer a full no-strike warranty.
LEC’s Lightning protection design system performs an important and imperative function in the energy and electric power sectors helping companies avoid the downtime and restoration costs that come with outages. We recommend not only including lightning protection design systems but to implement a full and extensive lightning risk mitigation plan. This begins with risk assessment, testing, and a customized design unique to the facility, followed by proper installation, and ongoing maintenance and inspection. This approach can save energy providers and their customers millions of dollars in the long run. Lightning Eliminators has provided critical solutions for numerous electric power facilities over the past 50 plus years, such as:
It’s important for electric power companies to have a lightning protection design system, and to create a thorough and comprehensive solution which combines lightning protection, with grounding engineering, as well as appropriate surge solutions. If you are interested in additional information please contact us.
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Protection, identification and management of electrical power risks are of primary concern to any company associated with critical infrastructure such as in Water treatment plants. Any points of failure brings about large consequences at the operational level. Securing essential services is a unique challenge for organisations responsible for mission critical operations. Lightning protection design specific to water treatment plants Due to vast surface areas and exposure to their sites, water and wastewater treatment plants are particularly exposed to lightning risks. Lightning strikes are a major risk component, because of the direct effect of lightning on the structure (external lightning protection installation), and because of the over voltages on the facility (internal lightning surge protection). The consequences of lightning on treatment plants can have repercussions on all types of equipment. Overvoltage will directly affect instrumentation and remote management devices as well as PLCs. The Lightning protection design for these facilities involves all types of structures, i.e. pumping stations, treatment plants, storage, transportation and distribution. A functioning Lightning Protection System (LPS) is the prerequisite for protecting people from dangerously high voltages and for safe operations.
A 3 step solution for complete lightning protection design:
Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. has become one of the most highly regarded company of lightning protection design solutions. With extensive R&D, quality control manufacturing, sales network and distribution points, the company can easily service customers all over the country and beyond. Being pioneers and patent holders of DAS technology, we can customize a solution for any business and even help you choose from a number of products and services. Over the years we have become synonym for quality products, designed at par with international standards. Lightning events are on a rise and are predicted to strike with more frequency, more often and more forcefully all over the world. Offshore drilling companies are not immune to the potentially devastating effects. As a common misconception, offshore rigs are thought to be grounded to the ocean, therefore not in danger from lightning. Even though lightning is less likely to strike over the open and deep water, the risk affecting a rig or platform is still great – and growing. However, the truth is that the environment and even the design of the facility itself may lead to a compromise in bonding with rust and oil deposits that impede the energy’s path to ground. This leaves the advanced electrical and electronic systems and personnel susceptible to severe damage from direct strikes and from the dangerous secondary surge effects from lightning. Due to increased instances of bad weather, many companies are turning to Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (LEC) for the solution. Solution Attracting lightning is not ideal for facilities that have flammables and other sensitive materials, were using an attractor carries the risk of ignition or damage to electronic systems. Fortunately, there is an alternative – Lightning Eliminator’s dissipation array system (DAS), working on charge transfer technology to prevent direct lightning strikes within the protected area. The DAS system is usually installed on the top of a structure to be protected. This technology is based on producing positive space charges in the region around the DAS which reduces near-surface, electric field strength to levels below which lightning streamer formation is likely. With no streamer formation, the likelihood of a lightning strike is eliminated. Example:
Brown Ferry Nuclear Plant’s historical strike data (with traditional lightning protection system in place) showed that lightning was repeatedly striking the off-gas stack and equipment on the stack and around its base was routinely damaged. Post DAS installation, the data for the strike showed that although lightning frequency increased nearly 65% around the stack, in the three years after DAS implementation an 80% reduction in lightning strikes was realized within the protected area. Protecting a vessel from lightning strikes also protects the systems that would otherwise have lost a considerable part of their life span. With the uncertainty of the world economy, many companies like Transocean, Chevron, Texaco, and ExxonMobil look to LEC for its cost-effective lightning protection as a way to extend the lives of older vessels and become more risk averse with new constructions. A direct lightning strike can be a tremendous loss, costing millions of dollars. Mostly these strikes occur on or near residence, causing havoc on the home’s electrical system, appliances, and electronics. Fortunately, there are ways to help safeguard your property, family and yourself from lightning damage. Facts
The safest place to be during a lightning strike is your office or home. Still, some precautions needs to be taken to prevent any lightning damage. Try to stay away from anything that conducts electricity such as:
Invest Investing in the right lightning protection system is the best way to protect everyone from lightning damage. These systems create a pathway for lightning bolts to ground itself. Without a designated path; electrical wirings, metal plumbing pipes and even the metal gas system lines become potential pathways, thus causing damage to every device connected. A tailored system specifically for the home can safely guide the strike to the ground without harming anyone or anything. Surge Lightning strikes near power lines can cause huge power surges, thus a surge protection device should be installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system. These SPDs (point of use Surge Protection Device) do not suppress or arrest a surge; they divert it to the ground. This provides an extra layer of protection to your electrical and electronic appliances. Take action Lightning damage can cause irreparable damage. Take immediate action of getting your exterior and home systems checked and then installing the correct lightning protection device. Lightning Eliminators & Consultants Inc., are pioneers in this field since decades. Their name is synonymous with international standard protection and no strike warranty.
Did you know lightning causes more than $5 billion property damages each year? Lightning is a dangerous natural process. It is one of the leading cause of weather related deaths worldwide. A thunderstorm produced by lightning and thunder together can cause considerable damage. You can protect your business and home from lightning strikes by installing an effective and adequate lightning protection system. In an outdated lightning protection system, electrical charge is diverted to a less damaging path to ground and is stored through electrical rods. This old method can cause considerable damage to electrical appliance, downtime and loss of product to companies. The team of Lightning Eliminators came up with the latest technology of Charge Transfer System (CTS). It is a system planned to avoid a lightning strike from occurring within a protected zone or area. You must be wondering how this state of the art patented technology by Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC) works? Let us find out a basic layout of a lightning protection system. The Charge Transfer System (CTS) ismostly consists of these assemblies:
For the best Lightning protection solutions choose Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC). Their expert team has patented charge transfer technology, providing comprehensive and integral lightning protection consulting, assessment and design for over 40 years in more than 90 countries.
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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
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