Exalted Surge Protection Devices for Overpriced Wind Turbines

Wind turbine is a source of generation of electrical energy from wind’s kinetic energy. It has achieved acceptance in various countries and produce electricity in wide range like 39% in Denmark, 18% in Portugal, 16% in Spain, 14% in Ireland and 9% in Germany. Approx 83 countries around the world are using wind power on commercial basis. A wind turbine is approx 100 meters long or more. The turbines are rarely situated in towns. It is generally located on smooth hilltop or some suppliers provide towers or poles, often several meters high to generate extra energy.

Due to their larger height, they are at high risk of lightning. The surges generated by lightning can damage it incurably. The lightning generates sudden over voltages in wind mills due to its direct or indirect effect. A single wind mill is highly expensive and surges results in tremendous financial damage. The main target is to avoid lightning effect on rotor blades, swiveling parts and bearings.


To protect from direct lightning strike, a lightning rod offers some protection when it is connected to the ground with the help of down conductor but it is not sufficient as it only protect from direct strikes. In order to provide complete protection, you also require a surge protection device. Erecting air terminal is good practice but you must not miss out the additional protection because after this power surges would not be a concern when you have this added coverage. So, prevention before damage is better than cure after damage. Surge arrester suppresses the incoming high voltage spikes or diverts its path towards ground. Carbon brush and brush holder are strong enough to detect few over voltages by offering low resistant grades of material to ensure easy path down to the ground. But in order to sidestep high surges, they are just incompetent.

The wind mills are located in open areas therefore, a risk assessment is necessary as per IS/IEC 62305-2 and SPDs must be installed accordingly. Wind turbine surge protection device is usually installed on the back side of the rotor. It must set up by experts in the same field because an incorrect choice of SPD and its inappropriate installation is meaningless.

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