Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In Article " Design Process for Lightning Protection Systems ", I indicated the (3) phases of the Design
Process for Lightning Protection Systems as follows:
The design process of lightning protection systems is commonly broken into discrete phases,
allowing the lightning protection designer to present an integrated design package. These phases
can be listed as follows:
1. Planning phase,
2. Consultation phase,
3. Detailed Design phase.
Also, in Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems Part One ", I explained an
Introduction to design calculations of lightning protection systems as follows:
It is very important before explaining the design calculations of lightning protection systems to
highlight some important topics or expressions that will be used in these calculations. These
topics can be listed as follows:
And in Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems Part Two ", I explained the
following:
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems Continued
Third: Detailed Design Phase
The lightning protection design process involves a number of design steps as in Fig.1.
The risk assessment study can be done by (4) different methods as follows:
2-Software Method,
3- Excel Sheets Method,
4-Online Calculators Method
First: Manual Method (Equations And Tables Method) as per IEC 62305-2
Procedure for performing the risk assessment study includes three parts as
follows:
To evaluate the need for lightning protection, the following steps need to be
carried out a follows:
Step#2-3: For each loss to be considered, identify the tolerable level of risk
RT (tolerable means still acceptable).
Step#2-4: For each type of loss to be considered , identify and calculate the
risk components Rx that make up risk Rn which are: RA, RB, RC, RM, RU, RV,
RW, RZ.
Step#2-5: Calculate Rn = Rx
Case#1: If the calculated risk Rn is equal or less than the respective tolerable
risk RT i.e. Rn RT , then Structure is adequately protected for this type of
loss and no lightning protection is required for this type of loss,
Case#2: If the calculated risk Rn is higher than the tolerable risk RT i.e. Rn >
RT, then Install lightning protection measures in order to reduce Rn.
In cases where the risk cannot be reduced to a tolerable level, the site owner
should be informed and the highest level of protection provided to the
installation.
The following flow diagram in Fig.2 shows this procedure for evaluating Need
for lightning protection.
Fig.2: Procedure For Evaluating Need For Lightning Protection
And In Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems Part Three ", I explained the
following:
Step#2-1: Identify the structure to be protected,
Step#2-2: Identify the types of loss relevant to the structure to be protected Rn,
Step#2-3: For each loss to be considered, identify the tolerable level of risk RT,
Step#2-4 First Part: Identification of the Risk Components Rx.
Today, I will explain Step#2-4 Second Part: Calculations of the Risk Components Rx.
Step#2-4: For each type of loss to be considered , identify and calculate
the risk components Rx that make up Primary risk Rn
Fig.3: Types Of Loss And Corresponding Primary Risks And Risk Components
Each of the risk components Rx ( see Fig.3) is obtained using further calculations, sub-
calculations and reference tables based on the general equation:
RX = NX x PX x LX
Where
It is primarily based upon lightning ground flash density (NG) and by the physical
characteristics of the structure to be protected, dimensions, length and type of
service, its surroundings, connected lines and the soil. The physical dimensions of the
structure and service are used to calculate the effective lightning capture area, and the
ground flash density is used to determine the probable number of events per year.
So, The task of the risk assessment therefore involves the determination of the three
parameters N, P and L for all relevant risk components. This involves establishing and
determining of many Other individual parameters for each Risk Components and this will
be done in next Articles.
NX = NG x AD x Correction Factors
Where:
NG: The lightning ground flash density which is the number of lightning flashes per km2
per year.
AD: An equivalent collection area of the structure, taking into account correction factors
for the structures physical characteristics.
The value of NG is available from ground flash location networks Map in many areas of
the world (see Fig.4).
NG = 0,1 TD
Where TD is the thunderstorm days per year (which can be obtained from isokeraunic
maps in Fig.5).
Note:
The NG Map and isokeraunic maps may vary each year and you must get the most recent
one as possible for better results.
The collection area AD is the area defined by the intersection between the ground
surface and a straight line with 1/3 slope which passes from the upper parts of the
structure (touching it there) and rotating around it. Determination of the value of AD
may be performed graphically or mathematically as will be seen in sub-cases A and B.
A- Rectangular structure
For an isolated rectangular structure with length L, width W, and height H on flat ground,
the collection area is then equal to:
AD = L x W + 2 x (3 x H) x (L + W) + x (3 x H)2
If the structure has a complex shape such as elevated roof protrusions (see Fig.7), a
graphical method should be used to evaluate AD (see Fig.8).
An acceptable approximate value of the collection area is the greater between the
collection area ADMIN evaluated with above Equation (in case of Rectangular
structure)taking the minimum height HMIN of the structure, and the collection area
attributed to the elevated roof protrusion AD. AD may be calculated by:
AD = x (3 HP)2
Note:
Where these conditions are not fulfilled, the dimensions of the whole building B should
be used.
Relative location CD
Structure surrounded by higher objects 0,25
Structure surrounded by objects of the same height or
0,5
smaller
Isolated structure: no other objects in the vicinity 1
Isolated structure on a hilltop or a knoll 2
Table-2: Structure location factor CD
Routing CI
Aerial 1
Buried 0,5
Buried cables running entirely within a meshed earth
0,01
termination
Table-3: Line Installation Factor CI
Installation CT
LV power, telecommunication or data line 1
HV power (with HV/LV transformer) 0,2
Table-4: Line Type Factor CT
D- Line Environmental Factor CE (see Table-5)
Environment CE
Rural 1
Suburban 0,5
Urban 0,1
a
Urban with tall buildings 0,01
a
Buildings higher than 20 m.
Table-5: Line Environmental Factor CE
ND = NG x AD x CD x 106
Where:
NM = NG x AM x 10-6
Where:
AM = 2 x 500 x (L + W) + x 5002
A line may consist of several sections. For each section of line, the value of NL may
be evaluated by:
NL = NG x AL x CI x CE x CT x 106
Where:
AL = 40 x LL
A line may consist of several sections. For each section of line, the value of NI
may be evaluated by
NI = NG x AI x CI x CE x CT x 106
Where:
AI = 4 000 x LL
Notes: