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Lightning Protection Systems

How Does DAS Protect the Oil And Gas Industry From Lightning Damage?

Lightning is a discharge of electricity. A single stroke of lightning can heat the air around it to 30,000°C (54,000°F)! This extreme heating causes the air to expand explosively fast. The expansion creates a shock wave that turns into a booming sound wave, known as thunder.

Lightning strikes can damage equipment and instrumentation, disrupt service, and cause injuries. While estimates vary, lightning damage is generally considered responsible for up to 20% of all power outages in the U.S. each year and causes more than $1 billion of property damage annually.

A direct lightning strike delivers damaging energy, which even the most robust electrical devices and systems cannot withstand if protection measures are not correctly taken. Reduce the risk of lightning damage, direct or nearby, with the installation of a lightning protection system.

The lightning rod has been the primary means of protecting assets from lightning damage for over two centuries. However, attracting lightning is not something that owners of multi-billion dollar oil and gas facilities want. Instead, LEC uses charge transfer technology to prevent direct strikes by lightning and protect energy assets whose electronic components can be knocked out by lightning in the blink of an eye.

Lightning Damage

How does it protect the oil and gas industry from lightning damage?

We call our lightning damage prevention system the Dissipation Array System (DAS), which is intended to prevent a lightning strike from occurring within a protected zone or area. The system prevents lightning strikes by collecting the induced charge developed by thunderstorm clouds from a protected area of the earth and transferring this charge through the ionizer into the surrounding air.

The system involves one or more ionizers, a down conductor, and a charge collector. The latter is an interconnected system of grounding electrodes and conductors designed to collect and funnel electrical charge to the ionizers. The down conductor provides the electrical connection between the charge collection and the ionizers, which provides a means for point discharge to take place.

The charges transferred to the air can act in one of two modes – collection, which establishes a preferred conductive path for the lightning leader, and prevention mode, which reduces the electric field intensity to the level that delays the formation of an upward streamer from the protected area.

Do you worry about how lightning damage can affect your facility or property?

Connect with us for a worry-free solution.

 Posted in Lightning Damage

Protect Your Facility From Lightning Damage With DAS

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.

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Your Partner In Choosing The Best Lightning Rod Protection – Lightning Eliminators

Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that originates in clouds or air. The dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes happen when the negative electricity originating in the atmosphere connects with the positive charge of an object below. When this atmospheric electrical charge is less than a hundred yards from the ground, objects such as trees or buildings send sparks to meet it. When those sparks connect, the resulting channel creates a huge electric current surge that rapidly travels downward, producing the flashing bolt we call lightning. 

Lightning rod protection is used to protect buildings by rerouting lightning strikes away from the structure and channelling the electricity down to the ground. Some people are under the misconception that the Franklin lightning rod protection is the only way to protect against lightning strikes, and others are confused by other products developed over the past 50 years, believing them to be similar to the lightning rod, such as Early Streamer Emission systems (ESE) and Charge Transfer System (CTS).

The CTS collects the induced charge developed by thunderstorm clouds from a designated protected area of the earth and transfers this charge through the ionizer or lightning rod protection into the surrounding air, creating a “space charge” that forms a shield between the storm cell and the protected area.

 

The charges transferred to the air can act in one of two modes – collection, which establishes a preferred conductive path for the lightning leader, and prevention mode, which reduces the electric field intensity to the level that delays the formation of an upward streamer from the protected area.

The fact is lightning is common and unpredictable on every continent except Antarctica. Lightning is almost sure to be even more of a concern in the future because of changing warm weather patterns.

Now is the time for all decision-makers to begin to look at the lightning issue. Choose whatever lightning rod protection system works best. Every structure is unique and requires a different level of protection. But failing to think about it or plan for it could mean getting caught unprotected one day. And the cost-benefit analysis will not be just a number to look past.

Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. is your partner in choosing the best lightning rod protection.

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Everything You Need To Know About Lightning Protection Design Process

The purpose of lightning protection design is to safeguard valuable equipment and assets from the hazards arising from exposure to lightning. Benjamin Franklin invented the earliest lightning safety instrument, the lightning rod, in 1752. It still represents a viable solution to lightning strikes.

Other more modern lightning protection systems, like our patented Dissipation Array System (D.A.S.) from LEC, provide additional lightning safety solutions. If you are considering lightning protection design, it’s recommended that you seek out a professional, experienced lightning protection design team.

With LEC’s unique combination of experienced consultants, engineers, and integrated services, you can rely on expert advice backed by over 50 years of experience. LEC's services provide lightning protection, grounding, and surge protection solutions throughout multiple industries with greater lightning safety, savings, and efficiency using a proprietary approach to risk reduction.

After the initial technical review and site evaluation, we enter the lightning protection design stage. Here, we provide a more detailed and scientific evaluation of your site’s lightning safety exposure and options for lightning protection. You will receive a formal report, a lightning strike probability analysis, and a transient analysis, as well as a risk assessment as per IEC and IEEE. Sometimes, this report will include site-specific drawings of recommended designs.

Along with the lightning protection design system, we can provide:

  • Technical and engineering expertise
  • Lightning protection design consulting
  • Cost control
  • Lightning safety
  • Enhance functionality
  • Labour hire
  • Crew supervisor
  • Subcontract for equipment
  • Turnkey pricing (insurance, permits, project management)
  • Overcome installation obstacles
  • Inspect new installations done by customer-provided contractors
  • Maintain existing systems with yearly recertification visits

Do you know that our company is a member of many safety organizations now required by the industry, including ISNetworld, DISA, PICS, and Safeland?  Our supervisors are trained in antenna and tower climbing, Offshore HUET and water Safety Survival, and CPR and first Aid.

Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. offers a complete solution for lightning protection design and installation complying with international standards and a ‘no strike’ warranty.

It ensures complete protection on all Lightning Eliminators supervised installations and annually maintained Dissipation Array Systems.

Let’s get connected.

The purpose of lightning protection design is to safeguard valuable equipment and assets from the hazards arising from exposure to lightning. Benjamin Franklin invented the earliest lightning safety instrument, the lightning rod, in 1752. It still represents a viable solution to lightning strikes.

Other more modern lightning protection systems, like our patented Dissipation Array System (D.A.S.) from LEC, provide additional lightning safety solutions. If you are considering lightning protection design, it’s recommended that you seek out a professional, experienced lightning protection design team.

With LEC’s unique combination of experienced consultants, engineers, and integrated services, you can rely on expert advice backed by over 50 years of experience. LEC's services provide lightning protection, grounding, and surge protection solutions throughout multiple industries with greater lightning safety, savings, and efficiency using a proprietary approach to risk reduction.

After the initial technical review and site evaluation, we enter the lightning protection design stage. Here, we provide a more detailed and scientific evaluation of your site’s lightning safety exposure and options for lightning protection. You will receive a formal report, a lightning strike probability analysis, and a transient analysis, as well as a risk assessment as per IEC and IEEE. Sometimes, this report will include site-specific drawings of recommended designs.

Along with the lightning protection design system, we can provide:

  • Technical and engineering expertise
  • Lightning protection design consulting
  • Cost control
  • Lightning safety
  • Enhance functionality
  • Labour hire
  • Crew supervisor
  • Subcontract for equipment
  • Turnkey pricing (insurance, permits, project management)
  • Overcome installation obstacles
  • Inspect new installations done by customer-provided contractors
  • Maintain existing systems with yearly recertification visits

Do you know that our company is a member of many safety organizations now required by the industry, including ISNetworld, DISA, PICS, and Safeland?  Our supervisors are trained in antenna and tower climbing, Offshore HUET and water Safety Survival, and CPR and first Aid.

Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. offers a complete solution for lightning protection design and installation complying with international standards and a ‘no strike’ warranty.

It ensures complete protection on all Lightning Eliminators supervised installations and annually maintained Dissipation Array Systems.

Let’s get connected.

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 Posted in Lightning Protection Design
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Lightning Rod Protection – To Avoid The Formation And Discharge Of Lightning In The Protection Zone

Lightning rods generally do not avoid direct lightning strikes but instead “arrest” them. They attract lightning strikes and transfer the energy discharges to the ground rather than passing it to the building. Conventional lightning rod protection technically can re-route the direct lightning strikes away from the buildings, because direct lightning strikes can/may cause huge fires and damage both to the buildings and people as well. 

The lightning rod protection solution by LEC is the charge transfer system.

Active lightning protection systems use various technologies to increase their potential to deter lightning strikes, while passive lightning protection systems only protect a limited number of specific objects, such as building roofs, chimneys, and lightning poles, provided they are installed correctly for their intended position.

The concept behind CTS (Charge Transfer System) lightning rod protection is air deionization. Their primary goal is to prevent electrostatic charge saturation between the earth installation and the surrounding atmosphere, thereby gently offsetting the local electric potential differential during the initial stages of lightning formation.

During the storm process, a high tension field on earth proportional to the cloud’s charge and its gap’s distance to the floor is generated. The installation’s electrostatic charge is progressively compensated to earth as the potential difference between cloud and earth increases, neutralizing the effect ground point in 100% of all cases (Tracer or Leader). The lightning rod protection by LEC does not incorporate any radioactive source.

This Lightning Rod has two aluminum electrodes separated by a dielectric isolator. A small stainless steel mast supports it. Its shape is spherical, and the system is connected in series between the earth and the surrounding atmosphere.

The main goal is to avoid the formation and discharge of lightning in the protection zone.

Traditional lightning rod protection falls short of completely addressing the risks associated with lightning, which are real. We are a full-service manufacturing company equipped to handle your trickiest surge suppression, grounding, and lightning rod protection problems.

We design internal and external lightning protection systems that range from simple office and administration buildings to large industrial plants for all types of industry sectors, such as photovoltaic plants and the petrochemical industry.

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One Solution To All Traditional Lightning Protection Design System Problems

“Struck by lightning” is a metaphor for sudden, unpredictable disaster. A large thunderstorm can produce over 100 lightning flashes a minute, and even a modest storm cloud can generate the energy of a small nuclear power plant (a few hundred megawatts). Not all lightning strikes the ground, but that energy can be devastating when it does.

Problem:

None of the traditional lightning protection design systems are 100 percent effective, and all suffer from secondary effects related to the close proximity of the electrostatic and electromagnetic fields. They are dangerous to flammables, explosives, and electronics.

Solution

The Charge Transfer System (CTS) has proven effective in preventing lightning from striking protected areas, such as chemical plants, nuclear power plants, oil and petroleum facilities, offshore drilling rigs, and many others.

Lightning is the process of neutralizing the potential between the cloud base and the earth. Any strike prevention system must facilitate this process slowly and continuously. The Dissipation Array System (DAS) is one of the most common configurations of a Charge Transfer System (CTS) and has been designed to prevent a lightning strike to both the protected area and the array itself.

When eliminating the strike to the protected zone and the associated structure, the secondary effects of lightning are reduced if not completely eliminated. If a lightning strike could put a facility out of business, or even out of action for a few hours, consider whether the cost of preventing all future risks from lightning would not easily offset the cost of installing a CTS lightning elimination system. It is inexpensive insurance

Since 1971, LEC has developed specialized expertise in the field of lightning protection. While traditional lightning strike protection methods may be adequate for some installations, custom lightning protection design systems meet more exacting requirements when more complete protection is needed. Engineering an appropriate solution is more complex than simply putting up a lightning rod. Each site is evaluated for risk factors, geography, soil type, and many other parameters before implementing a protection plan.

For many reasons, there can be no “one size fits all” solution to lightning strikes. We are devoted to offering a truly effective lightning protection design system, providing the highest level of safety and effectiveness.

Connect with us for an advanced lightning protection design system and solution.

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The Lightning Rod Protection You Require For Your Sensitive Electronics

In order to protect a structure against lightning, a protection system must be designed in accordance with lightning rod protection international and national standards.

Lightning protection is a system designed to mitigate the potential damage caused by lightning strikes on buildings. In a lightning protection system, lightning rods are placed at regular intervals on the highest portions of a structure. These rods are connected to high-voltage cables running down the outer walls, ultimately leading to a ground rod buried underneath the ground.

Lightning rod collects a strike and grounds it along with a preferred path, whereas CTS does not allow a strike to form in a protected area.’

Our patented Charge Transfer System (CTS) technology revolutionized the lightning rod protection industry by offering a proactive approach to lightning prevention. Unlike traditional lightning rods that attract lightning, CTS technology stops lightning from forming entirely by reducing the electrical field in the area being protected. Our lightning rod also called the ionizer, is the CTS (Charge Transfer System) that harnesses the induced current created by storm clouds to gather the charge from the protected area and transfer it to the surrounding air via the ionizer. The ionizer acts as a point discharge medium to reduce the risk of a lightning strike. Many traditional lightning protection products do not adequately address all the risks that lightning can present. LEC’s lightning rod Protection takes lightning protection to a whole new level. The entire protection system includes a wide range of external and internal lightning protection products and elements, all working together to achieve a single goal: protecting your facility. The importance of the lightning rod protection system lies in the protection of human lives, physical structures, and equipment,

It is designed to be integrated with any structure, including buildings, rigs, towers, tanks, tanks, stacks, etc. Since 1971, our lightning rod protection has been installed on thousands of sites and has maintained a success rate of more than 99%.

By installing our charge transfer system with surge protection devices, industrial plants can eliminate the risk of lightning strikes and ensure continuity of operations at all times. Connect with us to get a quote.

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 Posted in Lightning Rod Protection
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5 Reasons To Invest In Lightning Protection System For Your Facility

Lightning is a beautiful thing; nature’s own light show that flickers across the sky. However, lightning can also cause damage and disruption to both internal and external structures. It’s easy to overlook the damage and disruption that lightning can cause until it’s too late. The best way to reduce the risk of lightning damage and disruption is to implement a complete facility lightning protection system (FLPS). An FLPS protects not only roofs, walls, and other structural elements from direct lightning but also protects electrical circuits and communications, and process control systems from indirect or lightning-induced strikes.

Did you know that a lightning protection system that has been designed and installed according to accepted industry standards can last for two to three generations with little to no maintenance? Furthermore, when a structure is remodelled to meet new requirements, the majority of the components of a lightning protection system will remain usable when reconfigured. Or if a structure is torn down, the aluminium components and copper components can be easily recycled without deterioration.

The lightning protection system is a necessity for all facilities, and here are five reasons:

  1. Climate change has increased the number of lightning strikes each year; every part of the country is at risk for lightning. 
  2. The devices that operate your facility and keep you, your investment, and your personnel safe — including security systems, heating and cooling equipment, and electronic appliances — can be knocked out by lightning surges, even if the lightning does not directly strike your facility.
  3. Ordinary grounding and surge protection products do not protect against lightning; only systems complying with UL and Lightning Protection Institute standards provide reliable protection.
  4. Lightning protection systems are custom designed and installed by our professional and experienced engineers, keeping the aesthetics of the building in mind.
  5. Lightning protection is affordable, may reduce insurance premiums, and can enhance the value of your facility by providing peace of mind.

An innovative solution to lightning protection has emerged in the form of charge transfer technology, which acts as a shield from lightning strikes over the protected area. DAS lightning protection reduces operational costs and is our most reliable product. We also offer a “no strike” warranty, ensuring protection on all our installations.

Contact our Lightning Eliminator & Consultant Inc. team for more information.

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How To Protect Your Facility From Lightning Damage?

Wildfires in open fields and forests across the USA capture the news for their widespread devastation, but fires in the facility may be your biggest concern. Over the years 18% of lightning fires occurred in facilities, but these accounted for 70% of the direct property damage, which equated to $407 million.

In addition to human safety from lightning damage, you must also consider facility protection to safeguard company investments, such as building structures and valuable electronic equipment. Death or injury is the most extreme danger associated with lightning. This natural phenomenon causes many other issues, including:

  • Facility downtime
  • Damaged electrical and technological equipment
  • Lost revenue
  • Data loss due to equipment downtime

While fires caused by lightning strikes aren’t considered human-created, available technology can decrease the number of fire disasters caused by lightning. The general factors to consider include the level of risk lightning poses to personnel, equipment, structural damage, and the consequential problems of a lightning-produced failure. Ask these questions to assess your need for a lightning protection system to minimize lightning damage. Assessment of these factors is one of judgment in comparing risks, economics, and aesthetics.

  1. What is the risk to personnel? 
  2. What is the risk of equipment or structural damage? 
  3. What are the consequential problems of such failure? 
  4. Is the equipment associated with an essential or public service? 
  5. Is there likely to be substantial revenue loss in the time required to restore services? 
  6. Is the structure of historical importance? 
  7. What are the legal implications of providing inadequate protection?
  8. Can the passage of a discharge in the structure or building give rise to side flashing or simple sparks in an explosive or flammable environment?
  9. Can side flashing between metallic structures cause lightning damage to essential electronics?
  10. Will the discharge give rise to corona phenomena causing disastrous surges on the phase wires of electric lines or a breakdown in transformer stations?

Consider the safety issues, costs, and potential lightning damage if you do not have a proper protection system. These ten questions should help you get started evaluating your potential need for lightning protection. 

Lightning protection systems require a systematic and comprehensive approach to minimizing threats. Ask us how.

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What Can The Best Lightning Protection Products Do For Your Facility?

Did you know lightning causes more than $5 billion in property damages each year? Lightning is a dangerous natural process and is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths worldwide. Many complications can arise from a lightning strike:

  • Safety risk to personnel
  • Damage to equipment
  • Operational downtime
  • Wiped out data
  • Death

Fortunately, investing in the right lightning protection products is the best way to protect everyone from lightning damage.

​Being a leader in the field of effective lightning protection systems, Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. has spent many years developing and testing superior lightning protection products. Due to our efforts, we have patented some ground breaking engineering products, such as our Dissipation Array System, which is engineered to prevent a lightning strike.

Based on Charge Transfer System (CTS) technology, it mostly consists of these assemblies:

  • One or more ionizers: The CTS gathers the induced current developed by thunderstorm clouds from a selected threatened area on the ground and then transfers this charge through the ionizer into the nearby air. The ionizers offer a medium for point discharge to occur.
  • Down Conductors: At least two down conductors are placed in a structure. The down conductors provide the electrical connection between the charge collector and the ionizers.
  • Charge Collectors: The charge collector is an interconnected network of grounding electrodes and conductors developed to collect and conduit electrical charge to the ionizers. 

The risks from lightning are real, and traditional lightning protection products do not adequately cover all the risks. The secondary effects which cause much of the damage are, in fact increased by collecting strikes. Implementation of the Charge Transfer System (CTS) offers a wide range of protection against direct lightning strokes, from the enhancement of the strike collection ability to the total prevention of strokes into the protected premise.

A lightning protection system encompasses a wide range of external and internal lightning protection products, elements, and components that work in tandem to achieve a singular purpose. From air termination to earthing and everything else in between, LEC is always ready to assist you in finding the best solution that fits your needs.

If you have any questions regarding the above information or would like to know more about our lightning protection products, reach out to us at 303-447-2828 today.

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Lightning Protectors

Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC) serves its clients by installing and maintaining lightning protection systems (LPS), and prevention solutions. Equipped with over four decades of experience, LEC has provided successful support to over 90 countries and throughout the United States.