The push towards green energy, and wind technology
in particular, continually causes additional wind farms to come online
throughout the world. As well, current wind farms are also being expanded. The
turbine manufacturers as well as the wind farm owners & operators have
become increasingly aware of the ability to reduce costs associated with inclement
weather conditions, and in particular lightning strikes. The damage that operations
can sustain from a lightning strike comes in multiple forms. The most obvious
damage that which is physically damaged by the lightning strike itself,
including replacements of machinery used in the process, but this is not the
major source of monetary loss. Wind
farms can operate continually as long as the wind is blowing, ultimately
producing power upwards of 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The costs
associated with systems being taken offline due to lightning strikes, and not able
to produce power, are less tangible but far more costly. The wind turbine electrical systems
continually face challenges because wind turbines are fixed to wind towers
which are almost always the tallest structure within a geographic region. When
they are exposed to a harsh weather, it must be expected that the turbines and the
blades that are affixed to them, will likely be at risk from lightning strikes.
These strikes of both an indirect and direct association create intense
electromagnetic fields as well as transient over voltages. These over voltages
are passed directly through the electrical system and to the sensitive
equipment within the turbine. The surges can propagate through the system and
produce latent as well as immediate damage to all circuitry and computer
equipment. Additional components like power converters and electronics,
transformers and generators are also easily damaged by surges created by
lightning. The latent damage that can occur as a result of multiple strikes to
the structures as well as repeated exposure to surges occurs within key power
components. Much of this damage is not covered by any warranty that is offered
by the manufacturer, ultimately forcing repair costs upon the operator.
The offline costs associated with power
surges and lightning strikes affect the business in a different way. When a
turbine is disabled, it must be repaired or have components replaced by a
service team. All of the costs
associated with purchase of new equipment as well as salaries for the team
itself must be absorbed from the profit pool. Combine this with the fact that
profits are being reduced due to the fact that the turbine is offline during
critical times where it could be producing power utilizing free fuel sources,
and you have a recipe for dwindling profits that can be easily bankrupt even
good businesses. The installation of the most advanced surge protection
technology available for wind turbines is not only suggested but necessary in
order to push green technology into the mix as a legitimate competitor with the
fossil fuel industry. Surge reduction or
elimination technologies are being continually improved, thus assisting this
emerging industry to gain a greater foothold.
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