Lightning Engineering: Physics, Computer-based Test-bed, Protection of Ground and Airborne Systems

314 Pages·2022·7.144 MB·English

by  Paul Hoole, Samuel Hoole

Paul Hoole
Samuel Hoole
Lightning
Engineering: Physics,
Computer-based
Test-bed, Protection
of Ground and
Airborne Systems
Lightning Engineering: Physics, Computer-based
Test-bed, Protection of Ground and Airborne
Systems
·
Paul Hoole Samuel Hoole
Lightning Engineering:
Physics, Computer-based
Test-bed, Protection
of Ground and Airborne
Systems
PaulHoole SamuelHoole
WessexInstituteofTechnology ElectricalandComputerEngineering
Southhampton,UK MichiganStateUniversity
Michigan,MI,USA
ISBN978-3-030-94727-9 ISBN978-3-030-94728-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94728-6
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Inlovingmemoryofouramazingparentsof
sevenchildren
RichardandJeevamanyHoole
TreasuredgiftsofGod’sgrace
Andoutofthethroneproceededlightning
andthunder….
(TheBookofRevelation)
Preface
Lightning is a naturally occurring phenomenon of the global atmospheric electric
circuit that evokes a sense of beauty, wonder, and grandeur. In its ability to cause
electricaldisruptionsanddamage,theengineerhastoplananddesignforlightning
protection.Thescientistseekstoexplorethephysicsbehindlightningandthedetails
of its interactions with earth systems such as electric power systems, and airborne
systemssuchasaircraftnavigationandsafetysystems,andtheimportantpartlight-
ningplaysintheecosystem,climatechange,andseverestorms.Alightningflashis
asuddenflowofelectricalchargeswithinacloud,fromonecloudtoanother,from
cloudtoair,fromacloudtoground,orfromgroundtocloud.Thedirectandindirect
effectsofthelightningflashcanadverselysevertheoperationsofgroundedinstalla-
tionsandstructuresaswellasungroundedstructuresasinthecaseofaircraftinflight
systems.Manhasbeenadaptingtotheseenigmasandthreatsindevisingprotection
measurestoalleviatetheseverityoftheseeffectsonstructuresandelectricsystems.
Thesearewhatthisbookisabout.
AnOutlineoftheContentsoftheBook
This book gives a contemporary and comprehensive overview of the physics of
lightning and of lightning protection systems. It is based on close to 40 years of
research,teaching,andconsultancyworkbytheauthors,inUK,USA,Asia,andthe
Pacific. The book is organized into various chapters to give the readers a compre-
hensive view of the physics of lightning and lightning protection measures. Each
chapterofthisbookisdesignedtobeastandalonechapter.Assuch,theintroductory
chapter gives a broad and we believe a helpful preview of the thunderstorm, the
differentcomponentsofthelightningflash,andthelightningprotectionprinciples
based on the basic science of the lightning flash. Chapter 2 gives an overview of
theclimatologyoflightningandelectricstorms.Further,itprovidesanoverviewof
thelightningdischarge,beginningwiththepreliminarydischargesorprocessessuch
as corona, stepped leader, streamers, and inter-stroke process, moving to the dart
vii
viii Preface
(ordartstepped)leader,firstandsubsequentreturnstrokes,includingtheimportant
sub-microsecondthreats,andcontinuouscurrent.
Chapter2alsodelvesintotheveryimportantaspectofpre-lightningelectrostatics,
whichiscriticalinbuildingstructures(whetheraircraftorasmartcity)andsystems
thatarelesssusceptibletobothlightninginducedElectrostaticDischarges(ESD)and
lightningstrikes.Chapter2alsoprovidesin-depthinsightsintopre-lightningstrike
and electrostatics. It discusses the subject in the context of the complex lightning-
aircraft electrodynamics. The chapters also provide a topical section on the three-
dimensionalsoftwaremodelingofdipolestodeterminetheelectricfieldbuildupon
thesurfaceofanystructureundertheelectricthundercloud.Usingtheknowledgeof
boththeelectricchargesandtheelectricfields,itispossibletoformzonesoverthe
aircraftbodytoindicateareasofhighrisktolightningstrike.Further,thispowerful
softwaretoolcanbeusedtodesignelectricsubstations,groundstructures,andaircraft
tominimizethelightningstrikethreat.Thesearetheareasinwhichmicroelectronic,
navigation,andinstrumentationequipmentwillbesubjecttohighelectrostaticstress,
possiblyleadingtoelectrostaticdischarges.Althoughthetechniquefordetermining
thepre-lightning,thundercloudelectricchargegeneratedelectrostaticfields,electric
charges,andvoltagesmaybeappliedtogroundstructuresandsystems,aswellas
toairbornestructuresandsystems,theapplicationofthetechniqueisillustratedfor
anaircraft,consideredasafloatingelectrode,enteringintothesevereelectricfield
environmentofathundercloud.
Chapter 3 builds on the initial chapters to present basic and effective measures
to protect against lightning threat to ground and airborne structures and systems,
protectionmeasurestobeusedinhighvoltagetolowvoltagecomputerandcommu-
nication systems, as well as in commercial and domestic buildings. The chapter
helpsthereadertogatherlightningprotectionknow-howinanunderstandableway
byfocusingonlightningprotectionofdomestichouses,includingtheair-termination
system,groundingsystemandinternalprotectionofelectricalandelectronicequip-
ment from lightning surges. Chapter 3 also helps the reader to move into broader
thinkingandappreciationoflightningprotectionprinciplesbylookingatthelight-
ningprotectionofboats,historicbuildings,Photovoltaic(PV)systems,andthewind
turbine.
Chapter 4 moves from Chap. 3 into other associated protection techniques and
is devoted to protection detailed measures in key installations and infrastructures
that are the lifeblood of any nation’s economy. These installations and infrastruc-
turesincludeenergy,communication,andtransportsystemsandbuildingstructures.
Lightningriskanalysisispresented,aswellasprotectionbasicsusedinalmostall
electronicsystems,frommedicalsystemstotelecommunicationssystems:shielding,
grounding,andbonding.
Chapters 3 and 4 on lightning protection of communication systems discuss
the need to heighten the protection system against the direct and indirect effects
of lightning, Lightning Electromagnetic Pulses, or LEMP. The impact of indirect
lightning effects becomes increasingly important with the advent of digital micro-
electronic technology in electrical/electronic systems. The evolution of Internet of
Thingsthroughradiofrequencyidentificationdevices,barcodes,smartphones,and
Preface ix
theconvergenceofsmarttechnologiesinsmarthomes,smartindustries,smartcities,
smartenvironment,andsmartecosysteminsmartpeoplewithmicro-chipsimplanted
makesnewdemandsonprotectionmeasures.Theseformthesmartplanetanddemand
more extensive, interconnected, and highly sensitive lightning protection of future
systems.Smarttechnologiesutilizingmoderncommunicationandinformationtech-
nologiesandapplicationsofwirelesssensornetworksareineverydayuse.Thus,the
discussionsonprotectionmeasuresappliedinadvancedtechnologieswillheighten
theneedforaprofessionalapproachtolightningprotection.Theprotectionmeasures
appliedincommunicationinfrastructuresandinstallationsincludedueconsideration
ofmasts,air-terminationrods,earthscreeningandgrounding,andsurgeprotection
devices.
Further discussions on lightning threats associated with radio frequency inter-
ferences and Lightning Electromagnetic Pulses (LEMPs) that can impinge on the
surfaceofacontainingsensitiveelectronicequipmentaredescribed.Withtheadvent
ofdigitalelectronictechnologyinflybywireandtheevolutionofaircraftfunction
automation,LEMPsthreatscanhaveseverelydamagingeffects.Theincreasinguse
ofmicroelectronicdevicesandsystemsmakesmoderntechnologymorevulnerable
tolightning-producedvoltagespikesandLEMP.
In Chap. 5 we take an in-depth look into the lightning flash, its science and
theuseofmathematicalmodelingtosimulatelightningusingcomputercodes.The
chapterdevelopsthedistributedtransmissionlinemodelofthelightningflash.More-
over,itpresentsaverygeneralmethodforcomputingtheLightningRadiatedElec-
tromagnetic Fields (LEMP) from the lightning currents and electric charges. The
techniques presented in Chap. 5 provide a self-consistent computer-based testbed
forcomputinglightningflashsimulationandinteractionwithengineeringsystems.
It presents a powerful tool to get a handle on both the direct and indirect effects
oflightning.Thetechniques relatedtolightningcurrentsandradiatedelectromag-
netic fields are crucial for the development of future lightning simulation, under-
standing,andtesting.ThelightningelectrodynamicsmaterialpresentedinChap.5,
combinedwiththecomputer-basedelectrostaticstoolpresentedinChap.2,provides
an all-encompassing and highly versatile testbed for pre-lightning and lightning
electrodynamics study and design for both structures and electrical and electronic
systems.
In Chap. 6 we look into the localization of lightning from two kinds of waves
thelightningflashproduces.Theseare,namely,theacousticwaveassociatedwith
thunder and the electromagnetic wave associated with LEMP. New techniques are
introduced for finding where lightning actually occurred, using either the acoustic
wavemeasuredorbyusingthemeasuredLEMP.Thedevelopmentofthesetechniques
usedwithartificialintelligencehelpsustolocalizelightningaswellastorecognize
thelightninggeneratedwave.
InChap.7wegointodetailsoftwospecial,butdifferenttypesoflightningprotec-
tionscenario.Thesearetheprotectionofelectricpowersystemsandtheprotection
ofaircraft.Thechapterfocusesonmodelingandcomputer-basedanalysistoinves-
tigateaspectsoflightninginteractionnormallynotaccessibletomeasurements.As
the aerospace industry expands into both manned and unmanned commercial and
x Preface
militaryvehiclesusingmaterialssuchascarbonfibercomposites,preventingelec-
tricfieldenhancedaircraftinitiatedlightningstrikesbecomesamajorconcern.The
aircraft-lightning environment threat is heightened further with the latest state-of-
the-artdigitalelectronicsincommand,controlandautomation,andcommunication
systems.Foranaircrafttobeairworthy,aircraftmanufacturersneedtoprovidethe
overall assurance of adequate lightning protection. This process requires certifica-
tionplansfortestsdoneoncomponentsorsystemsofcomponents.Theprotectionof
aircraftagainstlightningstrikecanbecategorizedintothefollowingsteps(i)deter-
minelightningattachmentzone;(ii)determinesystemsandcomponentswhichare
likelytobedamagedbylightning;(iii)setlightningprotectionstandardsforsystems
andcomponents;and(iv)confirmtherationalityoftheprotectiondesignbytheuse
oflaboratorytests.
Chapters3,4,and7onstructurallightningprotectiondiscussprotectionsystems
for building infrastructures against direct and indirect lightning effects. Lightning
threatscanbecontainedthroughproperprotectionmeasuressuchassurgeprotection
devices,andpropershieldingandgroundingpracticesasdefinedinvariousstandards
onlightningprotections.Withclimatechangechangesinlightningactivityintensity
and pattern, new electric storm environments that will be encountered by electric
powerandelectronicsystems,andbothgroundandairbornestructures.
TheUniqueContributionofthisBook
Thereisincreasingthreatposedbylightninganditseffectsonelectricalandelec-
tronicsystemsaswellasstructures.Although,foralmostacentury,protectiveequip-
menthasbeendevelopedforlightning,itstilldoessomuchdamagethatinsurance
claims on lightning damage figure very high in developed countries. Electric grid
andelectronicsystemsareregularlydestabilizedordamagedbylightningandelec-
tric corrosion associated with several lightning surge hits to a given equipment or
system.Thisbookseekstobringoutthebestinsightsofalmostacenturyoflightning
researchanddevelopmentoflightningprotectionsystems,gatheringtheimportant
understanding,ideas,andprotectionmethodsfrompublishedresearchersandengi-
neers in several lightning hot spots. We are in particular debt to advanced work,
volumesofwork,doneintheUSA,Sweden,UK,Japan,andSwitzerland.Moreover,
this book provides several important details and aspects missing in the literature,
including:
(a) Afocusedpresentationoflightningprotectionofgroundandairbornesystems
andstructures,ratherthanproducinglengthydescriptionsoflightningthreat
andprotection.Thisbookalsohighlightsthesub-microsecondchangesinthe
returnstrokeandtheirthreatstobothUltraHighFrequency(UHF)communi-
cationandelectronicsystemsaswellasthesteeprateofriseofcurrentsdueto
these changes which pose a severe threat to high voltage and low voltage
electric systems. These need to be incorporated into our understanding of
Preface xi
lightning-caused disruption and damage, in high voltage testing, protection,
andstandards.
(b) Aself-containedelectricchargeandelectromagneticsbasedmodelofthelight-
ning channel and return stroke, where computation of currents and voltages
noteasilyaccessibletodirectmeasurementsarecalculated fromthecompu-
tationaltestbedwhichmaybeusedfordesignandprotectionofbothground
systemssuchaspowersystems,aswellasairbornestructuressuchasaircraft.
In contrast the focus of the past decades has been on field measurements to
getahandleonlightningreturnstrokecurrentsbycurvefittingratherthanby
self-containedscientificmodels.
(c) Lightning models that are well-attested by physics, together with a detailed
studyofthephysicsofbothelectricgasdischargeandelectromagneticfields.
Insteadofusingcurvefittingmodels,thebookpresentsascientificmodelthat
exactly follows what happens in real time, by first determining the lightning
currentsandvoltageshockwaves,thendeterminingthelightningelectromag-
neticpulseradiatedbythefastmovinghigh-currentpulse.Aneasytoemploy
andaccurateelectromagneticcomputationtechniqueispresented.
(d) Adetailedandself-containedanalyticaltooltodeterminetheelectricstressand
electricpotentialinducedbylightninginbothairborneandgroundstructures
closetoathundercloud.Thiscomputationalanalysisanddesignapplicationis
essentialforhardeningstructuresagainsttheelectrostaticstressinathunder-
stormenvironment,designingstructureswithclearlyidentifiedzonesthatare
mostpronetogeneratelightningorbehitbylightning.Thistoolhelpsreduce
theprobabilityoflightningstrikes.
(e) The details of studying the sub-microsecond changes in lightning generated
currentsandLEMPareinrelationtolightningdamage,testing,protectionand
shielding.
(f) The development of a well-tested physics/computer based tool to test for a
lightningwithstandandprotectivesystem,basedontheauthors’work.nisto.
Theneedforthisisobvioussincemanyimportantaspectsoflightningcannot
betestedforintheHighVoltageLaboratory(e.g.wheelingintoanyHVLabora-
toryalargePowerSubstationTransformer,FighterAircraftorAirbusCommer-
cialAircraft.).NorisitpossibleinanHVlaboratorytogeneratetheimportant
sub-microsecondchangesandthreatstostructureandtoperformance-critical
microelectronicequipment,floatingstructureshitbylightning,etc.Inthisbook
wepresentseveralresults,notaccessibletomeasurementsorbyHVLabora-
tory testing. If there should be a companion volume to this book, we expect
todiscussthecomprehensivestudiesonpre-lightningstrikethreat,designand
protection,directlightningstrikeeffects,andcrucialdataoncurrentsandvolt-
ages that are not accessible to measurements, as well as radiated LEMP and
indirecteffects.
Thisbookseekstocovereveryimportantareaanddetailoflightningprotection,
includingtheprotectionofelectricpowersystems,electronicequipment,lowvoltage
systems,structures,andgrounding.Theaboveareafewoftheimportantpoints,ina