Upward Initiated Lightning Interactions with Wind Turbines using the Extended Vertical Tri-Pole Cloud Charge Distribution Model

Godson I. Ikhazuangbe; Osawaru N. Osarimwian; F.O. Phillip-Kpae; Wocha Chikagbum; Gibson B. Iware

Godson I. Ikhazuangbe Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Osawaru N. Osarimwian Institute for Energy Studies, Department of Energy Engineering, University of North Dakota, USA
F.O. Phillip-Kpae Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Rives State University Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Wocha Chikagbum Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Nigeria
Gibson B. Iware Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Nigeria

Keywords: Wind Turbine, Lightning Protection, FEM, Renewable Energy

Abstract

Lightning can either be downward initiated or upward initiated. In the presence of a thundercloud, tall wind turbines are increasingly subjected to upward lightning attachment triggered by the wind turbine itself. Lightning strike frequency, point of lightning attachment and lightning protection systems have been evaluated based on downward initiated lightning. However, these might not be effective for upward lightning. Research has shown that the maximum electric field strength distributed on the surface of the wind turbine and the surrounding air is very important in determining the point of inception of upward leader and would help in improving lightning protection systems. In contrast to static objects, maximum electric field strength required for the inception of upward leader from wind turbine changes majorly due to blade rotation and certain blade conditions such as polluted blade surface, varying receptor sizes, receptor positions on the wind turbine, types and shapes of protection methods. Maximum electric field variations due to these blade conditions have not been considered well in literature. Analysing the maximum electric field strength and conducting experimental tests on a full-scale wind turbine is presently very difficult due to height constraint and lack of suitable equipment. This paper extends the vertical tri-pole cloud charge distribution model for analysing lightning interactions with modern large wind turbines. The model is designed and analysed in Comsol Multiphysics software and then evaluated with high voltage strike attachment test experiment. The model is intended for testing various receptor sizes, discrete receptor positions, various lightning protection systems, effect of polluted blade surface, full scale blade length as well as scaled blade tip. The blade is rotated and tested in selected five positions to investigate the performance of wind turbine lightning protection systems to determine the complete successes and failures. The proposed model has shown lightning discharges initiated from the blade surface as well as the receptor, in this case, proficiency and failure of receptor are determined. The simulation results are in agreement with that of the experiment and can be extended for larger wind turbines and also for future work. The model is suggested as a replacement for the invalidated EGM in IEC 61400 standard. Manufacturers may look at the findings of this work when dealing with the design aspects of very large future wind turbine.

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