Lightning is random and can strike at any moment during a thunderstorm, posing a significant threat to mine sites. Mining trucks and vehicles in open areas may even attract lightning, whether they are stationary or not.
Lightning strikes at mining sites can be catastrophic to machinery and electrical equipment and, more importantly, to personnel working in the field. Whether it's vehicles, blast areas, or power lines, lightning protection systems and safety procedures must be in place to keep your workers safe from potential lightning damage.
Types of lightning damage at mining sites:
- If lightning were to strike a truck or vehicle, this might cause pyrolysis within the tires. Pyrolysis is caused when the lightning strike heats the tire rubber and releases volatile gas and organic compounds into the air section of the tire.
- The combination of the air and gases can become explosive and ignite under specific temperatures, pressure, and concentrations.
- Although lightning predominantly influences above-ground structures and equipment, underground mining operations are not exempt from risk. Lightning-induced power surges and electromagnetic fields have the capability to propagate through utility lines and communication systems, potentially affecting subterranean equipment and introducing safety hazards for personnel working in these environments.
By dissipating lightning strikes, LEC engineers can help protect your mining facilities from lightning damage.
The Dissipation Array System (DAS), generically known as a charge transfer system (CTS), is the only lightning strike prevention system. The system prevents the termination of lightning strikes within any area defined as “protected.” Since the objective of DAS is to prevent lightning strikes in a protected area, the system design accomplishes three sub-objectives. These are (1) preventing any protected site or structure from generating an upward-moving leader, (2) delaying the progress of the descending lightning leaders into the protected area, and (3) suppressing any upward-rising streamers from the protected site or structure.
Lightning Eliminators provides various services.
The necessary services are dependent on your company’s requirement against lightning damage. They can be as simple as a technical review or as extensive as a site survey. An LEC sales associate will be able to help you determine what your needs are. Connect today.