Lightning Strike Electrostatics Analysis

Lightning strike accounts for 23.4% wind turbine insurance claims.

As larger rated power of wind turbines are pursed, longer blades will capture more lightning strikes.

Lightning strike causes rapid temperature rise, melting or burning, mechanical damage due to magnetic force and acoustic shock wave, and dielectric breakdown (for non-conductive GFRP composites).

Need computational models to better understand the physics, hence, come up with better designs of lightning strike protections or composite structures to mitigate lightning strike damage.

Presented a novel solution to estimate the interception efficiency for lightning strike protection (i.e., air terminations or copper receptors) based on the maximum static electric field induced by a lightning discharge.

A COMSOL FEA model of lightning electrostatic analysis was developed for the calculation of the static electric field for wind turbine blades.

Estimated the possibility of dielectric breakdown of the non-conductive glass fiber polymer (GFRP) composite wind turbine blades due to typical lightning strikes.

Y. Wang & W. Hu (2017). “Investigation of the Effects of Receptors on the Lightning Strike Protection of Wind Turbine Blades,” IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 59 (4), pp. 1-8.

Y. Wang & O. I. Zhupanska (2017). “Estimation of the Electric Fields and Dielectric Breakdown in Non-conductive Wind Turbine Blades Subjected to a Lightning Stepped Leader,” Wind Energy, Vol. 20 (5), pp. 927-942.