Second Wind - Solutions - Anemometry Lightning Protection

Anemometry Lightning Protection

Lightning strikes are a common problem in wind energy resource assessment, but the damage can be minimized with proper protection. There are two important components of lightning protection when installing towers and equipment: lightning rods to divert the strike to ground and protect the sensors, and surge-protection in the data logger.

A typical grounding kit consists of a lightning rod and a grounding stake. From the top of the lightning rod, an approximate 45 degree cone of protection from the rod to the ground will be formed, so it is important to make sure that the anemometers and wind vanes are installed within this cone of protection. The tower will act as the conductor between the lightning rod and the grounding stake. In some locations, the actual ground the tower is standing on is a sufficient "earth ground", however, it may be necessary to create a grid of galvanised steel rods driven vertically into the ground.

The NOMAD 2 has multiple levels of and strategies for protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD) transients and electrical noise. No supplemental lightning protection devices are needed or recommended for normal use, even if ESD is expected.

One important NOMAD 2 protection strategy is to route transient energy to earth. This requires that the NOMAD 2 enclosure be securely connected to an electrically sound earth (the grounding rod). Run the earthing wire as directly as possible to a good earth ground. (A straight run to earth will protect the NOMAD 2 better than a larger gauge wire.) The best ground may be to the tower the NOMAD 2 is mounted on, but in other cases it may be a ground grid that may or may not be part of the local electric distribution system. The enclosure tends to automatically connect to earth by simple conduction through mounting hardware to the mast or tower upon which it is secured. An earth-grounding lug on the lower enclosure flange is intended and recommended for a secure copper-conductor ground to either the tower or some other earthing point.

Another significant protection strategy is to keep transients from entering the signal wires in the first place. The NOMAD 2 fosters this strategy by electrically separating signal common "ground" from earth ground. The Gnd terminals on the interface board and the RS-232 local port ground are all electrically connected to each other, but kept semi-detached from earth ground by various devices.


	Remote Wind Data Collection
	Anemometry Lightning Protection
	Power Performance Testing
	Integrating Met Data into Windfarm SCADA
	Autopilot Windfarm Control
	Forecasting Windfarm Production
	Windfarm Substation Monitoring
	Windfarm FAA Lights Monitoring
	Windfarm Output Curtailment
	Turbine Control and Monitoring with the Phaser
	Paralleling Transformers with the Phaser
	Measure Electrode Usage with the Phaser
	Translate Legacy Protocol with the Phaser
	Encoderless Tap Position Reporting