Industrial installations that are utilized for businesses are constantly at risk for damage to equipment. This is primarily due to the exposed nature of an industrial installation, being located in a remote area or having structures that are taller than surrounding structures. This physical makeup is necessary for most businesses to properly function, yet the very makeup of the installation also exposes it to inclement weather patterns. The most damaging aspect of weather is lightning strikes, which produce large-scale damage both at the strike point as well as to the connected equipment.
Industrial installations like wind farms, solar farms, cellular tower systems and communications towers are all attractants for lightning strikes. While there is little that can be done to prevent damage at the actual point of the strike, which will almost always be completely destroyed or at least seriously damaged and rendered offline, there is a phenomenon that happens post-strike that will actually produce more damage costs than the destruction at the strike point. This involves the large surge of electricity that accompanies a lightning strike, and it;s ability to easily travel along power lines and data cables. The structure that is in the field is generally connected to control equipment of some kind, nearly always being made up of sensitive computerized equipment that cannot withstand a surge beyond a set point without having circuit damage. This equipment is directly tied to the structure that is in the field, and is the attractant for the lightning strike. Once the strike happens, the surge of electricity produced travels along the connection lines overloading every piece of equipment in its path, and creating a situation where this equipment must then be repaired or replaced before functionality can be restored. Only through adequate lightning protection can this damage be avoided, as surge protection devices are mounted along the power transfer lines and cables in order to immediately cut the flow if a surge is detected.
Through the integration of adequate surge protection within the critical paths that an electrical flow can travel, it is possible to isolate the damage of a lightning strike to the point of strike itself and no further. This isolation of predictable damage can reduce operating costs for almost any business that uses industrial equipment to perform its function. Without lightning protection, industrial operators risk large scale damage at any moment which ultimately could have been avoided.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
The Protection Of Wind Turbines
Wind power generation is accomplished using a process of harnessing the blowing wind to turn blades that are connected to a tower. These blades are positioned at the top of the tower and are connected directly to a system that uses the momentum of the blades to create electricity. This electricity is then stored and transported to customers for use within their homes and businesses. Essentially, wind turbines are simple generators that use motion to create electricity. That motion is the turning of blades by the wind, and as such the system benefits from the turbines themselves being positioned as the tallest structures in unobstructed areas that will gain the highest amount of wind flow. This physical proximity to other objects is beneficial to the process of generating more electricity, and at the same time detrimental to the process of extending the life span of the equipment used. This is due to the fact that the unobstructed and tall nature of the towers themselves make then attractants for lightning strikes.
Lightning striking the blades of wind turbines is common. As a matter of fact it is so common that specialized insurance policies are necessary to cover damage as a result of weather occurrences. Two things happen when blades are struck and rendered useless, damage at the point of the strike which must be repaired in order to restore the ability of the blade to harness the wind, and damage to the attached equipment as a result of the power surge that is produced by the strike. This surge travels along connected lines that supply data and power from the turbine itself to the collection mechanisms, basically overloading the circuitry of any component in between. While the lines themselves are able to transfer large amounts of electricity effectively, the components attached are limited in their capacities, and are therefore able to only withstand so much flow before damage occurs. This damage will create a situation where not only is the equipment itself necessary to be repaired, but also the system itself is taken offline and unable to produce power until it is repaired. This situation is especially damaging to the business because not only are costs associated with repairs and maintenance necessary to factor, but additionally the product that needs to be produced in order to pay for these repairs is not being produced for those time frames when the system is offline. This is why it is so critical for wind power producers to protect their investment with adequate surge protection for wind turbines. This is accomplished by outfitting the wind turbines and systems with surge protection devices which are not only technologically advanced, but are able to provide adequate protection in an industrial setting. Extra robust housings and components are necessary to provide the levels of protection necessary, and the extra bonus of Raycap's products needing no resetting can also reduce the downtimes associated with repair. It is nearly impossible to fully protect the blades to prevent strike damage, but Raycap's products can protect everything past the strike point. This is the way to ensure minimal damages and replacement costs over time, while maximizing the production levels that are seen when every minute of time that the wind is present is accomplished. Adequate surge protection is a key to effective power production using not only wind, but sun and any other sustainable fuel source as well. The future of power production is green energy, and surge protection can bring those production prices and effectiveness into line with fossil fuels, thus bringing forth a cleaner planet with more affordable energy for all.
Lightning striking the blades of wind turbines is common. As a matter of fact it is so common that specialized insurance policies are necessary to cover damage as a result of weather occurrences. Two things happen when blades are struck and rendered useless, damage at the point of the strike which must be repaired in order to restore the ability of the blade to harness the wind, and damage to the attached equipment as a result of the power surge that is produced by the strike. This surge travels along connected lines that supply data and power from the turbine itself to the collection mechanisms, basically overloading the circuitry of any component in between. While the lines themselves are able to transfer large amounts of electricity effectively, the components attached are limited in their capacities, and are therefore able to only withstand so much flow before damage occurs. This damage will create a situation where not only is the equipment itself necessary to be repaired, but also the system itself is taken offline and unable to produce power until it is repaired. This situation is especially damaging to the business because not only are costs associated with repairs and maintenance necessary to factor, but additionally the product that needs to be produced in order to pay for these repairs is not being produced for those time frames when the system is offline. This is why it is so critical for wind power producers to protect their investment with adequate surge protection for wind turbines. This is accomplished by outfitting the wind turbines and systems with surge protection devices which are not only technologically advanced, but are able to provide adequate protection in an industrial setting. Extra robust housings and components are necessary to provide the levels of protection necessary, and the extra bonus of Raycap's products needing no resetting can also reduce the downtimes associated with repair. It is nearly impossible to fully protect the blades to prevent strike damage, but Raycap's products can protect everything past the strike point. This is the way to ensure minimal damages and replacement costs over time, while maximizing the production levels that are seen when every minute of time that the wind is present is accomplished. Adequate surge protection is a key to effective power production using not only wind, but sun and any other sustainable fuel source as well. The future of power production is green energy, and surge protection can bring those production prices and effectiveness into line with fossil fuels, thus bringing forth a cleaner planet with more affordable energy for all.
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