Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NOTE
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ii
FOREWORD
The Co-ordinator
Committee on Lightning Protection
OIL INDUSTRY SAFETY DIRECTORATE
TH
7 FLOOR, NEW DELHI HOUSE
27, BARAKHAMBA ROAD
NEW DELHI - 110 001
(iii)
iii
COMMITTEE
ON
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
LIST OF MEMBERS
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Sl.No. Name Organisation Position in
the Committee
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S/Shri
03. S.C. Tyagi Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Member
In addition to the above, various other experts in the industry contributed in the preparation,
review, and finalisation of this document.
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iv
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
CONTENTS
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SECTION DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
2.0 SCOPE 1
3.0 DEFINITIONS 1
10.0 REFERENCES 20
11.0 APPENDIX 22
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v
1.0 INTRODUCTION terminals to earth terminations are called
Down Conductors
Lightning is a natural phenomenon
considered as Atmospheric Electricity iv) Earth Terminations
which develops as a result of natural build-
up of electrical charge separation in the Earthing conductors embedded in
storm clouds. Lightning strikes cause the soil and designed for the Safe
enormous loss of life and property all over discharge of lightning currents into the soil
the world. Hydrocarbon Industry suffers are called Earth Terminations
crippling damage, disruption and loss
because of this. v) Flame Protection
2.0 SCOPE
vi) Grounded Terminal:
This document explains the
lightning discharge phenomena, various The portion of a lightning
lightning concepts and control of fugitive protection system such as ground rod,
emissions and deals with lightning ground plate, or ground conductor that is
protection for plant building and structures installed for the purpose of providing
and Storage associated with an Oil/Gas electrical contact with the earth.
nstallation as per prevalent national and
international standards on the subject and vii) Grounded:
analyses their stipulations and provides
minimum requirements to be followed in A structure is supposed to be
the Oil Industry. This standard, however, adequately grounded if it is connected to
does not include guidelines for protection earth or to some conducting body that is
of electric equipment within or on connected to earth.
structures against lightning.
viii) Hazardous Area
3.0 DEFINITIONS
In accordance with the Petroleum
For the purpose of this standard, Rules, an area shall be deemed to be a
the following definitions shall apply. hazardous area, where:
o
I) Air Terminal a) Petroleum having flash point below 65
C or any flammable gas or vapour in a
An air terminal is that component concentration capable of ignition is
of a lightning protection system that is likely to be present.
intended to intercept lightning flashes.
b) Petroleum or any flammable liquid
o
ii) Bonding having flash point above 65 C is likely
to be refined, blended, handled or
An electrical connection between stored at or above its flash point .
an electrically conductive object and a
component of a lightning protection system For details, refer OISD Standard 113 on
that is intended to significantly reduce Electrical Area Classification.
potential differences created by lightning
current. ix) Shall
vi
x) Should distributed as to give rise to a negative
charge build-up at the base of the cloud.
Should indicates a requirement
which is recommendatory in nature. The negative charge at the cloud-
base gives rise to a positive build-up of
xi) Side Flash: charge on the earth. The build-up
continues till the potential difference
An electric spark, caused by between the earth and the cloud base
differences of potential, occurring between becomes so large that it causes a
conductive metal bodies or between such breakdown of the resistance of air
metal bodies and a component of the medium, thereby creating a lightning
lightning protection system or ground. discharge.
2
-
FIGURE 1
1
Wave Shape Rise time 2 to 10 micro Sec As the current is discharged
Total discharge time to 50% 10-250 through the resistance of the earth
micro sec. electrode of the lightning protection
system, it produces a resistive voltage
o
- Channel Temperature 30,000 K drop which may momentarily raise the
potential of the protective system to high
(For more details on Lightning value relative to the true earth. It may also
Phenomenon , reference may be made to produce around the earth electrode a high
the book on Lightning by R.H. Golde) potential gradient dangerous to persons
and animals.
The frequency of lightning differs
from region to region. Statistical data for 4.3.2 Side Flashing
the number of thunderstorms in a given
place is compiled and the yearly average is The point of strike on the
termed as Ceraunic number. The higher protective system may be raised to a high
this number, the larger is probability of a potential with respect to adjacent metal.
lightning stroke. There is, therefore a risk of flash over from
the protective system to any other metal
It is estimated that about 2,000 on or in the structure.
storms exist at any one time in the world,
bombarding the earth each year with over 4.3.3 Thermal
3 billion lightning strokes.
Although the lightning discharge
Lightning strokes could result in current is high, its duration is short, its
direct strikes or indirect strikes. thermal effect on the protective system is
usually negligible. In general the cross
4.1 Direct Strikes section area of lightning conductors is
chosen primarily to satisfy the requirement
Direct-stroke of lightning can of mechanical strength.
cause severe damage to objects that
come in its path. The damage is largely 4.3.4 Mechanical
caused by heat, mechanical forces and
ignition of flammable materials. Typically a Where a high current is
direct-stroke on a tree generates so much discharged along parallel conductor at
heat and mechanical force that it tears the close proximity or along a single conductor
limbs off the tree and scatters the bark with sharp bends, considerable
over a wide area. Humans can suffer mechanical forces are produced.
heart failure, brain damage, suspension of
breathing or paralysis, burns etc., 5.0 LIGHTNING PROTECTION
CONCEPTS
4.2 Indirect Strikes
Based on the understanding of the
In addition to the direct-stroke, the lightning discharge phenomenon, following
abrupt change in the electrical field, important points need to be noted.
caused by a lightning stroke, can cause
the lightning conductors to have potentials a) The down leader is self triggering and
of mega volts with respect to the true erratic in its downward movement. Its
earth, instantaneously. Any nearby metal initiation, progress and direction is
work which is earthed offers a low currently beyond the power of man to
impedance path to the stroke and the control.
discharge can flash over to this nearby
metal work, when the magnitude of the b) The final earth strike point is
potential is adequate to breakdown the determined by the nature and location
gap. of ground points which compete to
create upward intercepting leaders.
4.3 EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING
STROKE c) The first upward leader to intercept the
downward leader completes the path
4.3.1 Electrical for the main lightning discharge and
2
usually causes all other down leader
branches to collapse. Double The down conductor coveys the
discharges can occur when two down lightning energy to the earth in a safe
leaders approach earth with same time and well defined path thereby
and distance parameters. It is not preventing damage to the protected
necessary that all up leaders shall structure and avoiding side flashing.
intercept a down leader.
Earth Connection.
5.1
The connection to the earth mass
Lightning protection concepts are shall have a low impedance to prevent
based on either: the rise of potential of surrounding
earth mass and maximize the rate of
Delaying the release of upward fall of potential away from the
streamer for the area to be protected connection point. The earth mass with
the earth conductors embedded in the
(or) soil provides safe discharge of
lightning current into the soil.
Release of upward streamer from a
pre-defined point of the protected structure The remedial approach to lightning
to divert upon itself the stroke channel and protection has four options:
neutralize all the secondary effects.
- Conventional air terminal
The first approach is the preventive (Franklin Rod)
approach while the second is the remedial - Faraday Cage
or control approach. - Ionizing air terminal
- Laser Beam
5.2 Remedial Approach
The Franklin rod is a sharp
a) The remedial approach consists of pointed rod designed to intercept the
providing safety against lightning leader of lightning stroke and to transfer
strokes by employing means to the electric charge to the earth.
capture the lightning stroke leader.
Protection means in remedial The Faraday cage consists of
approach are designed: metallic material completely surrounding
the protected structure and resulting in its
- To convey the lightning energy to electrostatic shielding. For lightning
earth via a defined route. protection purpose, conductors are spaced
in a criss-crossed fashion across the roof
- To ensure low impedance structure and sides.
connection to the earth mass.
The early streamer emission
- To eliminate the secondary effects. system employs either a terminal of
specific shape (Sphere as in the case of
b) The basic components of a lightning Dynasphere) or enhanced ionizing
protection system in the remedial radioactive air terminal for the generation
approach are: of ions. Air terminal is connected to a
special down conductor attached to an
Air Terminal:- earthing system.
The air terminal captures the stepped The use of Lasers was proposed
leader of a lightning stroke by in 1974 to discharge thunder storms. The
launching an upward interception laser beam would produce multi-photon
streamer. ionization. The laser beam could thus
intercept a leader as it developed towards
Down Conductor:- the earth, and act as a conductor from
the cloud to the ground and then be
The conductor which connect air terminated to a down conductor and the
termination to earth termination is earth mass.
called down conductor.
The disadvantages of the Faraday
3
cage are related to its high cost and the standards/practice on lightning protection.
fact that it has no impact on the
electromagnetic pulse related to a close 6.0 LIGHTNING PROTECTION
lightning stroke. The major drawbacks to SYSTEM
the laser beam are high cost, state of
development and the problems of diverting 6.1 Need For Protection
stroke energy to earth without damage to
the laser itself.
6.1.1 The necessity of providing lightning
protection for structures located in
5.3 Preventive Approach
non-hazardous areas shall be
assessed by calculating overall risk
The preventive approach employs factor. However, for hazardous
method to prevent build-up of charge in the areas lightning protection is
area to be protected. The system shall be essential considering the serious
able to reduce the potential between the consequences of fire/damage due to
protected area and the charged clouds, so lightning strokes and shall be
that the potential difference is not high provided irrespective of the value of
enough to enable the generation of a risk factor.
leader to the earth within the protected
area. 6.1.2 Indian Standard IS:2309
recommends following factors as a
When a thunder cloud passes
basis of calculating the overall risk
overhead and the field strength is greater
2 factor for assessing the requirement
than 2 KV/M , point discharge currents are
of lightning protection.
generated. Any natural occurring sharp
point, such as trees, blades of grass on flat
a. Type of Construction.
planes or pointed rocks on mountain tops
b. Contents of the building and
will generate corona discharge. Point
consequential effects due to
discharge currents act to limit the electric
lightning stroke.
strength. Multipoint discharge system
c. Degree of isolation.
consist of three elements as shown in Fig.
d. Type of terrain where the structure is
2
located.
e. Height of the Structure.
a) the dissipator or ionizer
f. Lightning prevalence.
b) the ground current collector
g. Usage of the building.
c) the conductors connecting the
dissipator and the ground current
Depending upon the characteristic
collect.
features of above factors, overall risk
factor shall be calculated as per procedure
The configuration depends on the
given in IS-2309.
size and height of the structure to the
protected, soil conditions, prevailing wind
If the value of risk factor is less
condition, storm patterns, altitude and --5
than 10 (One in Hundred Thousand),
keraunic number. The basic configuration
then in the absence of any other overriding
consists of a conductor with two sharp
consideration, protection may not be
pointed rods connected at right angles to
provided.
each other and the right angle rods or
spaced along the conductor. The
If the risk factor is greater than
configuration looks like barbed wire. This --5
10 (One in Hundred Thousand), then
conductor with multiple sets of rods
sound reasons shall be necessary to
spaced periodically along the length of
support the decision of not providing the
conductor is referred to as the dissipating
lightning protection.
medium. Using this dissipating medium
several array configurations can be
formed. 6.2 Zone Of Protection
4
FIGURE 2
5
system. The path between air termination and earth shall be such that the lightning
current is discharged to earth without passing through non-conducting parts of the building
and also without causing fire, flashover and dangerous potential difference in and around the
structure.
In this concept, the zone of protection includes the space not intruded by a rolling
sphere having radius equal to the stroking distance when tangent to earth and resting against
a lightning protection air termination, all space between the two points of contact and under
the sphere are in the zone of protection. A zone of protection is also formed when such a
sphere is resting on two or more air terminals and includes the space under the sphere
between those terminals. Fig.3 provides a graphic representation of rolling sphere concept
of zone of protection.
Zone of protection for a single mast using 30 meters striking distance is shown in Fig.4
and that for Overhead Ground Wire( Suspended Air Terminals) is shown in Fig 5.
Protection Concept of storage tanks and vessels have been dealt in detail in attached
Appendix-I for guidance in designing lightning protection system.
For any fire to take place, three basic conditions i.e presence of oxygen, flammable
material and source of ignition must simultaneously exist. The lightning stroke i.e. the return
o
stroke may involve temperatures as high as 30,000 K in the discharge channel. Therefore, if
a direct strike of lightning or sparking due to a side flash takes place on a vent of a cone roof
tank while a flammable mixture is present, fire is bound to take place. it is therefore, essential
that measures to control of fugitive emission from storage tanks are given special
consideration.
Control of fugitive emissions is important from the view point of prevention of fire, in
addition to the benefits of environmental protection and product loss.
2
3
SINGLE MAST
Figure 4
4
ONE OF PROTECTION USING
OVERHEAD GROUND WIRES
FIGURE 5
2
8.0 PLANT BUILDING AND All the vertical air terminations
STRUCTURES provided on the same structure shall be
interconnected.
The need for the protection of
plant buildings such as substation, control Where a structure has two
room office buildings, work shop, elevations; out of which lower is projecting
warehouse etc., and cooling towers shall outside and the higher elevation does not
be assessed taking into consideration the protect the lower elevation, separate
exposure risk and the following factors: network shall be provided for lower
elevation. Both networks shall be
a) Use to which structure is put. interconnected by connecting the higher
b) Nature of its construction. elevation down conductor to the lower
c) Value of its contents or network.
consequential effects.
d) The location of the structure and All the metal piping, railing etc., on
e) The height and the effective the roof shall be bonded to the protective
collection area of the structure. network.
2
structure on any building services having
Vertical Air - 25mm dia., metallic parts which by design or by
Termination 1000mm chance are in contact with the general
long GI mass of the earth should be either isolated
Pipe from or bonded to the down conductor.
3
4
A network of horizontal conductors
(air termination system) should be fixed to
the roof of structure as per the guidelines
of IS-2309.
5
c) Structures and all accessories e.g.
Ventilators and other roof dip-gauge hatches, vent valves shall
projections of non-metallic construction be maintained in good and sound
shall be protected by means of air terminal operating conditions.
system and connected to the steel frame
of structure. d) Flammable air-vapour mixtures shall
be prevented to the greatest possible
major metal forming part of the structure, extent from accumulating outside
including continuous metal reinforcement such structures.
and services, should be bonded together
and connected to the lightning protective e) Potential spark-gaps between
system. Such connections should be made metallic conductors shall be avoided
in atleast two places and should, wherever at points where flammable vapours
possible, be equally spaced around the may escape or accumulate.
perimeter of the structure at intervals not
exceeding 15 m. For further details refer f) Sheet steel of thickness less than 4.8
IS-2309. mm shall not be used as a material
of construction for the tanks and
Metal inside the structure should vessels.
be bonded to the lightning protective
system. A properly designed / constructed gas
tight storage tanks considered to be self-
Vents and exhaust stacks from protected against lightning, provided it is
process plants emitting flammable vapours properly earthed and bonded. Such a
or dusts should be fitted with flame traps. structure may not require any additional
means of lightning protection.
8.4 Protection of Stacks.
9.2 Normally in hydrocarbon industry two
Non-conducting chimneys whose types of above ground storage tanks
overall width or diameter at top is upto are in use for storage of flammable
1.5m shall be provided with one down liquids at atmospheric pressure:
conductor, and chimneys with overall 1) Fixed roof type tanks
width or diameter at top more than 1.5m
shall be provided with 2 no. down 2) Floating roof type tanks
conductors as shown in Fig.8.
Protection against lightning for
Metal stacks shall be properly these two types of storage tanks are
earthed at the bottom. No air illustrated below:
terminal/down conductors are required if
the thickness of sheet steel is more than Fixed roof type tanks:
4.8 mm.
The contents of metallic tanks with
9.0 PROTECTION OF STORAGE steel roofs of riveted, bolted or welded
TANKS construction with or without supporting
members, used for the storage of
flammable liquids at atmospheric pressure
9.1 Following fundamental principles
are considered to be inherently self-
of lightning protection of the structures and
protecting against lightning if the following
their contents shall be adhered to:-
requirements are met:
a) Flammable liquids shall be stored a) All joints between metallic plates shall
in essentially gastight structures. be fully riveted, bolted or welded.
b) Openings where flammable b) All pipes entering or connected with the
concentrations of vapour or gas can tank shall be metallically connected and
escape to the atmosphere shall be properly bonded with the tank at the
closed or otherwise protected against point of entrance.
the entrance of flame.
6
Figure 8 : Lightning protection of RCC Chimneys
1
FIGURE 9 EARTHING OF THE TANKS
NOTE: No of earth connections shall be decided based on tank diameter considering that the
spacing between any two earth connections shall not exceed thirty meters along the tank
perimeter.
1
FIGURE 10 TYPICAL EARTH CONNECTION
2
c) All vapour or gas openings shall be closed seal must be maintained to prevent
or provided with flame protection devices accumulation of vapours. Where metallic
when the stored stock may produce a weather shields cover the seals they shall
flammable air-vapour mixture under maintain contact with the shell.
storage conditions.
c) Where a floating roof tank is equipped
d) The roof shall have a minimum thickness of with both primary and secondary seals in
4.8mm. compliance with environmental
regulations, shunts shall be installed so
e) The roof shall be welded, fully bolted or that they directly contact the tank shell
riveted to the tank shell. above the secondary seal as in case of
primary seals explained in a above.
Tanks shall be grounded to conduct
away the current of direct strokes and to avoid d) All conductive parts of internal floating
the buildup and potential that may cause covers or the floating portions of covered
sparks to ground. A metal tank shall be floating roof tanks, ladders should be
grounded by one of the following methods: electrically interconnected and bonded to
the tank roof/shell.
a) A tank is connected without insulated joints
to a grounded metallic piping system. 10.0 REFERENCES:
b) A vertical cylindrical tank rests on earth The following codes, standards and
or concrete and is at least 6m in diameter publications have either been referred to or
or rests on bituminous pavements and is used in the preparation of this document and
at least 15 M in diameter. the same shall be read in conjunction with this
document:
c) By bonding the tank to ground through a
minimum of two ground terminals as 1) OISD Standards/ Recommended Practices
shown in Fig.9 at maximum 30 M such as:
intervals along the perimeter of tank.
This also applies to tanks with an a) OISD- 149; Design Aspects for Safety in
insulting membrane beneath the tank. Electrical System.
3
A1. PROTECTION CONCEPTS OF STORAGE TANKS AND VESSELS
The need for the Protection against Lightning for Storage Tanks, Spheres, Bullets containing
flammable materials is self evident.
A properly bonded and earthed metallic storage tank of adequate shell/roof thickness is self
protected against lightning, provided these are tightly sealed to prevent the escape of liquid, vapour,
or gas.
It is to be noted that, pressure vessels such as spheres and bullets are gas tight by the
design of its construction. Hence, properly earthed spheres and bullets are self protected and do
not need additional measures against lightning protection.
Where the probability of flammable atmosphere around the rim of a floating roof tank and
around the vent of a fixed roof tank is relatively high as compared to other locations around the
tankages, augmentation of lightning protection system may be considered. It may however be borne
in mind that the only effective defence against ignition by a direct strike is a tight seal.
The underlying principle for augmenting lightning protection to hydrocarbon storage tanks, is
therefore based on shifting the point of strike of lightning stroke to a safe area above the vapour
space (or above the classified zones for hazardous atmosphere) so that ignition of vapours probably
present above the roof does not take place.
A1.1 Accordingly the following options are available for the augmentation of the lightning protection
system.
While designing the above options following important aspects need to be kept in mind:
a) Striking distance of 30 m is to be considered for applying the rolling sphere concept of protected
zone.
b) Increasing the height of lightning masts above the striking distance (30 m) will not increase the
zone of protection. Zones of protection for varying mast height and a striking distance of 30 m
are shown in Fig.A1..
c) To prevent side flashes, the minimum distance between a mast or overhead ground wire and the
structure to be protected shall be not less than the bonding distance or sideflash distance.
D = h
6
4
Figure A1
5
Sideflash distance from a catenary may be calculated as:
D = I_
6n
Where I = Length of lightning protection cable between its grounded point and the point under
consideration.
n = Between 1 to 2.25 depending upon the number of down conductors and their spacing.
Protection zone provided by air terminals installed on the tank shall depend upon the tank
dia, height of air terminal and spacing of air terminals around the tank perimeter. A conventional 6 m
high air terminal, spaced about 20 m around the periphery protects an area upto 15 to 18 m from the
tank shell. This implies that lightning protection using air terminals installed on the tank walls can
completely protect a storage tank upto 30 M dia whereas the center portion of the roof remains
unprotected for tank diameters more than 30m as shown in Fig.A2
The use of air terminals can be applied to floating roof tanks for reducing the probability of
rim fires due to lightning strikes since the space around the rim has relatively higher possibility of
flammable atmosphere being present due to leakage from improper sealing.
Where the tanks walls are of thickness more than 4.8 mm, separate down conductors, are
not required and tank wall itself can be used as down conductor with the proper connection of air
terminals to the tank shell. Typical details are given in Fig.A3.
Number of 6 m high air terminals (spaced about 20 m around the perimeter) required for
various tank diameters are tabulated below:
Upto 12M 3
13 - 21M 4
22 - 32M 5
33 - 38M 6
39 - 45M 7
46 - 51M 8
52 - 57M 9
58 - 63M 10
64 - 71M 11
72 - 79M 12
For a lightning mast to prevent fires due to lightning, following basic factors need to be borne
in mind:
a) Lightning mast located more than 30m away from the tank irrespective of the height of the mast
does not provide any improvement to the self protected storage tank.
b) Lightning mast should be located close to the tank and the minimum distance is dictated by the
side flash distance and the practical considerations for mast installation.
In view of above, lightning mast is required to be located at around 5 to 6 m from the tank
shell.
Protection zone of a system of lightning masts with mast height equal to 15 m more than
6
AIR TERMINALS ON TANK WALLS
FIGURE A2
7
DETAILS OF AIR TERMINALS ON TANKS
FIGURE A3
8
the tank height and spacing of about 24 m around the tank is almost same as that provided with the
use of lightning conductors installed on the tank shell, the number of lightning masts and the
lightening conductors on shell being the same. Protection zone for a 50 m dia tank using lightning
masts is illustrated in Fig.A4.
It is thus obvious that both a system of lightning masts around the tank or lightning
conductors provided on the tank wall provide similar protection to the tank for preventing fires due to
lightning. Lightning masts are much more expensive as compared to the air terminals on the shell
while the lightning masts would be easier to install as a retrofit in an operating plant in comparison to
the air terminals, since the latter would require welding work on the tank wall.
Lightning mast can be of tubular design or a lattice structure of angle irons. Earthing
system of the lightning mast shall have to be bonded to the earthing system of the associated
storage tank.
Protection zones using a system overhead earth wires are shown in Fig.A5.
Supporting structures for the overhead earth wires can be either of tubular design or a lattice
structure. Height of the structure shall be decided based on the height of the topmost point on the
tank roof and the side flash distance. The supporting structure shall also have to be located
sufficiently away from the tank so as to prevent any side flash. The earth-wire shall be bonded to the
steel supporting structure which can serve as a down conductor. Earthing system of the supporting
structure shall be bonded with the tank earthing system.
A1.5
With regard to protection for structures containing flammbale vapours, gases or liquids that can
give off flammable vapours, the following principles should be followed:
a) Liquids that can give off flammable vapours shall be stored in essentially gastight structures.
b) Openings where flammable concentrations of vapour or gas can escape to the atmosphere shall
be closed or otherwise protected against the entrance of flame.
c) Structures and all appurtenances (e.g. dip-gauge hatches, vent valves) shall be maintained in
good operating conditions.
d) Flammable air-vapour mixtures shall be prevented to the greatest possible extent from
accumulating outside such structures.
e) Potential spark-gaps between metallic conductors shall be avoided at points where flammable
vapours may escape or accumulate.
9
FIGURE A4
10
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