Effect of Wind Turbine Blade Rotation on Triggering Lightning: An Experimental Study

Wen, Xishan; Qu, Lihua; Wang, Yu; Chen, Xiaoyue; Lan, Lei; Si, Tianjun; Xu, Jin-Hua

doi:10.3390/en9121029

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In this experiment, two models of typical 2‐MW wind turbines are designed at a scaled ratio of 1:30. The model mainly comprises the body, blade, and power transmission component …”

Section: Test Set Upmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the structural characteristics and rotation characteristic of the blades, the position when the discharge hits the wind turbine is different under each discharge So, to ensure that the distance from the blade tip to the high-voltage electrode is always the same when the blades are rotating, arc-shaped high-voltage electrodes suitable for 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-m gaps are designed and manufactured. [21][22][23][24] The length of the blade is 1.25 m. The dimensions of the arc-shaped high-voltage electrodes for different gaps are presented in Table 1.…”

Section: High-voltage Electrode Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model mainly comprises the body, blade, and power transmission component. [21][22][23][24] In the discharge test, the rotation direction of the wind turbine model is the same as that of an actual fan. To ensure that the linear speed of the blade tip of the fan model during operation is consistent with that of the blade tip of an actual fan, the rotation speed of the fan is determined using the relationship between blade length and linear speed:…”

Section: Design Of the Scaled Model Of A Typical Wind Turbinementioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of blade rotation on the lightning stroke characteristic of a wind turbine

Wang

Deng

et al. 2019

Wind Energy

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The blades of a wind turbine rotate during normal operation. To investigate the influence of blade rotation on the lightning‐attracting ability of a wind turbine, a discharge test platform is designed for scaled wind turbines. The 50% impulse voltages and flash probabilities of the scaled wind turbines with gap distances of 1 to 8 m in the static and rotary conditions are determined by using the discharge test and selective discharge test. The discharge test for a single wind turbine with a gap of 1 to 2 m indicates that the breakdown voltages of the gap between the scaled turbine and electrodes increases with an increase in the blade rotation speed. However, the discharge test with a gap distance of 4 to 8 m indicates that the breakdown voltage of the fan decreases with an increase in the blade rotation speed. The test results of the scaled dual wind turbines experiment have the same rules. To explain this phenomenon, the influence of wind speed on the space‐charge distribution and electrical field intensity of corona discharge is simulated in the background of a target thundercloud. The rotation of the fan reduces the space‐charge density near the area of the blade tip, which leads to an increase in the field strength near the blade tip of the wind turbine and a decrease in the field strength away from the blade tip. This influence varies in short and long air gap, resulting in opposite relationships between discharge voltage and distance from the tip of the turbine. The results can provide a reference for the lightning protection of wind turbines.

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“…In this experiment, two models of typical 2‐MW wind turbines are designed at a scaled ratio of 1:30. The model mainly comprises the body, blade, and power transmission component …”

Section: Test Set Upmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High-voltage Electrode Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Design Of the Scaled Model Of A Typical Wind Turbinementioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of blade rotation on the lightning stroke characteristic of a wind turbine

Wang

Deng

et al. 2019

Wind Energy

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“…As a supplementary means of protection in case of uncertainty in the behavior of such system with metal receptors and internal down‐conductors, low voltage surge arresters are proposed to reduce transient overvoltage in the low voltage network . Meanwhile, the fact that the rotation of the blades makes it easier to trigger lightning is verified . Although techniques for thundercloud approach prediction are proposed, they are not that accurate, or too expensive to be employed widely .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new method for spatial allocation of turbines in a wind farm based on lightning protection efficiency

et al. 2019

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Existing studies of the spatial allocation of wind farms are typically based on turbine power generation efficiency and rarely consider the damage caused by lightning strikes. However, lightning damage seriously affects the economic performance of wind farms because of the high cost of repairing or replacing damaged blades. This paper proposes a method for the spatial optimization of multiple turbines based on lightning protection dependability. Firstly, the lightning protection efficiency of turbine blade protection systems is analyzed by combining the physical mechanisms of lightning leader progression with a conventional electro-geometric model to develop an electro-geometric model of turbine blades (EGMTB). Then, the optimized spatial allocation of multiple turbines in a wind farm is investigated using the EGMTB. The results are illustrated from an example wind farm with 1.5 MW turbines, which shows that the optimal spacing between two turbines perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction L ⊥ is 4R-6R, where R is the length of a turbine blade. This spacing is shown to effectively shield turbine blades from lightning damage over a wide range of lightning currents (>26-60 kA). Note that, the suggested L ⊥ will be smaller considering the influence of lightning polarity as it takes more difficulty developing upward leader (UL) in the condition of positive lightning striking. Experiments verify the effectiveness and correctness of this method. KEYWORDS dynamic striking distance, lightning leader progression model, lightning protection, optimized spatial allocation, wind farm NOMENCLATURE: EGMTB, Electro-geometric model of turbine blades; R, Length of a turbine blade; Dw, Prevailing wind direction; L⊥, Spacing between two turbines in the perpendicular direction relative to the prevailing wind direction D w ; L // , Spacing between two turbines in the parallel direction relative to the prevailing wind direction D (assumed to be 0.55 × 10 8 ); R0, Electrode curvature radius; R1, Impact ionization area boundaries; Q, Free electrons; KQ, Environmental factor with a value of 3.5 × 10-11 C/(V m); qL, A constant that represents the charge necessary for per-unit length to achieve the thermal transition from a streamer to the leader channel; Rr, Striking distances of the receptor; Rb, Striking distances of the blade body; I max , Maximum lightning current at which the LPS may fail; I risk , Minimum lightning current that begins to damage the blade material when subjected to lightning; l MN , Exposed distance representing the horizontal distance between two endpoints of the exposed arc; l MO , Total distance of the vertical projection of the entire investigated blade on the ground; D, Spacing between two turbines in the perpendicular direction relative to the prevailing wind direction Dw; Dmax, The maximum shielding distance between two turbines considering EGMTB; Lf, Maximum horizontal distance of the striking distance envelope arc; keraunic level, Average annual thunderstorm days or thunderstorm hours per year

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“…Madsen [25] established a mathematical model for calculating the time and space distribution of the electric field around the blade under the excitation of the downward leader, and a 3-D model of the risk assessment for the blade lightning was established. Wen et al [26] studied the effect of wind turbine rotation on triggering lightning was via the high voltage discharge test method. The analysis showed that the blade rotation could be altering the charge distribution on the blade tip, resulting in varied ascending leader development on the blade tip, which affected the discharge development process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Effect of a New Lightning Protection System on Lightning Protection and Aerodynamic Noise Performance of Wind Turbine Blades

Guo

Chen

et al. 2019

Electronics

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In order to tackle the problem of the high failure rate of blades of large wind turbine units due to lightning damage, a new lightning protection system (NLPS) for wind turbine blades is proposed based on the lightning damage mechanism of blades. Firstly, 10 high-voltage discharge tests are performed for blades with and without the NLPS to study the effect of lightning protection. The results show that when the surface of the blade without the NLPS is struck by lightning 10 times, the damage rate of the blade is 100%; for the blade with the NLPS and the lightning attachment position is always on the NLPS in 10 discharge tests, the damage rate of blades is 0% and the lightning protection rate of blades is 100%, indicating that the lightning protection effect for blades with the NLPS is greatly improved. Moreover, the static electric fields of the blades with and without the NLPS are calculated. The results show that the NLPS can shield the electric field around the lower lead wire of the blade, thus effectively reducing the electric field intensity. The NLPS initiates the upward leader more easily than the lower lead wire; therefore, the lightning attachment point is located on the NLPS, thus protecting the blade. Secondly, the aerodynamic and aero-noise characteristics of the blade with and without the NLPS are calculated. The results indicate that the NLPS has little influence on the aerodynamic performance of the blade but has some influence on the aero-noise of the blade. The aero-noise of the airfoil can be reduced at angles of attack of 4°, 8°, 11°, and 15°, but the influence of different phase angles of the airfoil on the amplitude of the sound pressure level (SPL) varies. The aero-noise of the airfoil with the NLPS decreases by 16% and 8% at angles of attack of 4° and 8°, respectively. In general, the design of the NLPS reaches the desired requirements, but it still needs to be further optimized in combination with the blade manufacturing process.

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Effect of Wind Turbine Blade Rotation on Triggering Lightning: An Experimental Study

Cited by 16 publications

References 17 publications

Influence of blade rotation on the lightning stroke characteristic of a wind turbine

Influence of blade rotation on the lightning stroke characteristic of a wind turbine

A new method for spatial allocation of turbines in a wind farm based on lightning protection efficiency

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Effect of a New Lightning Protection System on Lightning Protection and Aerodynamic Noise Performance of Wind Turbine Blades

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