How important is Lightning Protection for PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS?

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PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS

VERY SENSIBLE COMPONENTS LIKE PANELS NEED TO BE PROTECTED; VERY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTING STRIKES AND CAN BE DAMAGED SERIOUSLY AFTER A TONS OF INVESTMENT! 

ORBITAL is always looking for the future. One of our main business area is for renewable energy facilities and buildings around it.

ORBITAL is developing lightning protection tools for photovoltaic power plants in the world's renewable facilities. They may have huge surfaces which are exposed to high rates of lightning strikes during a year due they are found in isolated or open areas, requires specific treatment of protection.

Increasingly, any kind of loss in the service for such facilities can cause a loss in huge numbers of customers as well. In this field, we are developing innovative and creative lightning protection tools to provide perfect quality safety for photovoltaic and any kind of renewable energy power plants.

External Direct Lightning Protection for Sensible Facilities

A set of external lightning protection system consists of an ESE air termination system, a proper down connection to the ground and a complementary grounding system.

The external protection system mostly protects the PV solar panels, the supports, masts, buildings and all items included inside; such as equipment or persons located outdoors may also be the subject to direct lightning strikes.

The numbers, quality, form and models of lightning terminals may vary for a particular projects. It needs to be selected true in order to correctly protect a PV system are determined from a estimation of the level of protection-which can be found at www.orbitaltechs.com- relying the risk assessment calculations published in NF C 17-102 2011 Annex A.

External protection can provided by ORBITAL ESE Lightning Protection Systems any kind of model as Comet, Zeru, Helia and Contra types differing to their protection DeltaT levels.

Transient Overvoltages Protection

The transient over-voltages (sudden over surges) which may appear in PV plant installations can be produced by different phenomenas as following:

  • Direct lightning strikes on the external protection system
  • Direct strikes and their projected currents spreading over the power grid.
  • Transmitted from the power grid, derived from atmospheric causes.
  • Reasoned by some kind of surges in the electrical field as a result of direct lightning strikes.

The heart of a PV solar panel system is its inverter tool, and that's because it ought to be the focus of the protection project against direct lightning and voltage surges. To properly protect such items, surge protection devices (SPDs) needs to be fitted on both the DC and AC sides as well. Such devices must be accordance with the standard of EN 61643-11 and should be installed according to technical specification CLC/TS 50539-12:2010. These standards are a very proper guides for a proper lighting protection in the fields.

Currently, service and possible personnel losses may affect a larger number of customers and investment in the long term. In this aspect, we innovate and develop a perfect solutions in lightning protection systems to provide A to Z assistance for the safety and wellness of photovoltaic plants.

Please refer www.orbitaltechs.com for further guidance for full control and assistance for ESE Lightning Protection Systems.