Open AccessOptimal layout of wind farm for lightning protection based on lightning leader development model
Author(s) -
Zhang Wenfang,
Zhang Li,
Cui Jingxian,
Wang Guozheng,
Zhao Tong,
Zou Liang,
Wang Xinghua
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the journal of engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2051-3305
DOI - 10.1049/joe.2017.0733
Subject(s) - wind power , turbine , lightning (connector) , turbine blade , marine engineering , wind speed , lightning strike , meteorology , scale (ratio) , environmental science , engineering , power (physics) , aerospace engineering , electrical engineering , lightning arrester , physics , quantum mechanics
Wind turbine blades suffering from lightning strikes has been an urgent problem to be solved for large‐scale wind farms. However, the existing analysis method for lightning protection is inapplicable to the complex mechanical structure and rotation characteristics of the blade. In addition, research on lightning protection of large‐scale wind farm is insufficient. In this study, the electrical geometric analysis model for wind turbine blade is proposed based on the traditional electrical geometric method and the physical process of lightning leader development. The meaning of striking distance is clarified by introducing the concept of dynamic striking distance of wind turbine blade. The lightning shielding between wind turbines in a large‐scale wind farm is studied based on the new electrical geometric model of wind turbine blade. Reference for the layout distance between two wind turbines is given from the perspective of lightning protection. The layout distance in the vertical direction of prevailing wind for the 1.5 MW typical wind turbine shall be 4–6 times the length of the blade. The proposed method of lightning protection for wind turbine blades can be applied to a large‐scale wind farm, which provides theoretical guidance for the optimal layout of wind farm and has a certain guiding significance for large scale development of wind power industry in China.