Useful And Essential Facts About Oilfield Lightning Protection

الجمعة، 21 يونيو 2019

By George Rogers


Lightning can cause complete destruction to structures and buildings that they strike because they carry thousands of ohms of current. The huge amount of current discharged when a strike occurs destroys buildings and plants. It can also injure and kill human beings and animals. To avoid these effects, protection systems have been designed for installation on buildings. The installation is done at the highest point on the building. The system them runs along the height of the structure all the way into the ground. This is worth knowing about Oilfield lightning protection.

Lightning protection systems look like metal rods that points upwards on buildings. A path with least resistance to flow of electric current is provided by these systems for the lightning to flow through. Protection systems work based on this principle. There are four main parts that make up a typical protection system. Each part performs a specific function. They include surge suppressor, copper air terminals, copper clad ground rod and copper cable.

Copper is the most preferred material used to make these systems because it is offers the highest level of electrical conductivity. It is however possible for other materials to be used too. In fact, there are cases where aluminum must be used to build the system. Air terminals are the protrusions that can be seen on structures installed with these systems. Air terminals act as discharge for the current from a strike.

Air terminals lead to ground rods through connecting cables. Installation of ground rods is done ten feet into the ground. The system is grounded to the ground of the plumbing or circuit box of the building. The entire electric system is covered by surge suppressors linked to circuit breakers. Surge suppressors may be placed at individual appliances in the house.

Most companies do their best to ensure that the system is concealed and unnoticeable to people. The only noticeable part of the system is usually the air terminals that unavoidably have to protrude above the building. The copper cable tends to weather and change color from the conspicuous orange color to a dull patina.

Any kind of building or structure can have the arresters. Homes, aircraft, trees, boats, water tanks, businesses and farm buildings are some of the structures where these systems are installed. There are three main organizations responsible for setting standards that have to be observed when designing and installing these systems. NFPA, UL and LPI are the three organizations.

Electric current from strikes follows a designated path until it reaches the ground. The current will follow through any available conductor in case a designated path is not present. Water pipes, rooftops, phone cables, gas pipes and electrical lines are some of the conductors through which the current can flow. Before reaching the ground, the current can follow through one or multiple paths.

Sometimes side flashes may occur so that the current can reach a better grounded conductor on the same house or surrounding homes and structures. As this happens, the current can ignite fuel in their way to cause fires. For instance, they may ignite materials such as gasoline, wood, and paper. Electric wires can be vaporized by the huge current, causing a serious electrical problem.




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