560results about "Discharge by conduction/dissipation" patented technology

A lightning protection appliqué incorporates a plurality of conductive plies adhesively affixed to a composite surface, at least a first one of the plies providing conductive characteristics sufficient to divert electrical energy from a lightning strike and at least a second one of the plies comprising operational circuitry. A dielectric ply is fixed to the composite surface over and completely covering at least one metal surface feature between the plurality of conductive plies and the composite surface.

An appliqué for forming a surface coating to a substrate is disclosed. The appliqué contains a sectioned metal foil that provides a large area electrical circuit for connecting electrical devices. The appliqué may provide additional functions including lightning strike protection. The substrate may be an aircraft surface.

A lightning protection system for a wind turbine including an internal lightning conducting means, an external lightning conducting means mounted on the surface or in immediate proximity of the surface of the wind turbine, and a connection means for connecting the internal and external lightning conducting means is provided. A method of manufacturing a lightning protection system for a wind turbine is also provided.

The invention concerns a wind power installation. Such wind power installations of modern type, for example one of type E-40 or E-66 from Enercon are usually equipped with a lightning protection system which is known for example from DE 44 36 197.The present invention assists to minimise the number of interference with the electronic system by virtue of the flash-over effects at the spark path. A wind power installation comprising an arrangement for continuously discharging electrostatic charging of at least one rotor blade of a wind power installation.

A wind turbine rotor including a rotor hub (3) and a plurality of blades (4), and where each blade root (16) is connected to said rotor hub through a pitch bearing (5) in such a manner that the pitch angle of the blade is adjustable by a turning of the blade about its longitudinal axis relative to the rotor hub. The blade is provided with at least one electrically conducting lightening down-conductor (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade to the blade root and being electrically isolated from the pitch bearing (5). A spark gap (15) is provided between the lightning down-conductor and the rotor hub, said spark gap (15) being adapted to conduct a lightning current passing through the lightning down-conductor. A sliding contact connection (7, 12) is provided parallel to the spark gap (15) between the lightning down-conductor (6) and the rotor hub (3), said sliding contact connection ensuring electrical contact between said lightening down-conductor (6) and said rotor hub (3) irrespective of the pitch angle of the blade. The invention also relates to a wind turbine including such a rotor.

The invention discloses a thunder-lightening induced solid-phase arc-extinguishing lightning arrester. The thunder-lightening induced solid-phase arc-extinguishing lightning arrester mainly consists of a lightning arrester shell, an arc-extinguishing rotary table, an electric conduction metal plate, a starting rod, a clamping rod, an induction coil, an arc-extinguishing barrel and a counting pointer; the arc-extinguishing rotary table is arranged inside the lightning arrester shell, and a flat spiral spring for pushing the arc-extinguishing rotary table to rotate is arranged at the central position of the arc-extinguishing rotary table; the electric conduction metal plate is arranged at the upper part of the arc-extinguishing rotary table; the arc-extinguishing rotary table is provided with a plurality of arc-extinguishing gas pills in the peripheral direction; one side of each arc-extinguishing gas pill is provided with a trigger electrode and a groove respectively, one end of each trigger electrode is connected with one of trigger ends of the corresponding arc-extinguishing gas pill through a lead, and the other ends of the trigger electrodes extend out of the edge of the arc-extinguishing rotary table; and the other of the trigger ends of the corresponding arc-extinguishing gas pill is connected with the electric conduction metal plate through a lead. The thunder-lightening induced solid-phase arc-extinguishing lightning arrester is simple in structure, reasonable in design, high in arc-extinguishing ability and stable and reliable to work, and the arc-extinguishing gas pills are changed quickly and conveniently.

A wind turbine rotor including a rotor hub (3) and a plurality of blades (4), and where each blade root (16) is connected to said rotor hub through a pitch bearing (5) in such a manner that the pitch angle of the blade is adjustable by a turning of the blade about its longitudinal axis relative to the rotor hub. The blade is provided with at least one electrically conducting lightening down-conductor (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade to the blade root and being electrically isolated from the pitch bearing (5). A spark gap (15) is provided between the lightning down-conductor and the rotor hub, said spark gap (15) being adapted to conduct a lightning current passing through the lightning down-conductor. A sliding contact connection (7, 12) is provided parallel to the spark gap (15) between the lightning down-conductor (6) and the rotor hub (3), said sliding contact connection ensuring electrical contact between said lightening down-conductor (6) and said rotor hub (3) irrespective of the pitch angle of the blade. The invention also relates to a wind turbine including such a rotor.

PCT No. PCT / RU96 / 00251 Sec. 371 Date May 18, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date May 18, 1998 PCT Filed Sep. 5, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 19456 PCT Pub. Date May 29, 1997An electric power transmission line with protection devices against lightening overvoltages in the form of a lighting arrester with a surface discharge. Having a relatively long discharge path, the impulse lightening flashover does not lap over a power arc of operational frequency and, after passing of the lightening overvoltage impulse current, the line will continue a trouble-free operation without being disconnected. Simple and reliable arrester designs are disclosed among which are fittings with dielectric covers and insulators, integrating their direct functions with the lightening arrester's functions.

A method and apparatus for implementing a return current network that is external to a composite structure, which directs a current along a known path to the aircraft grounding system using appliqués. The appliqués have a dielectric polymer to isolate the return current from the structure, and a metal foil for conducting the current

A method and apparatus for implementing a return current network that is external to a composite structure, which directs a current along a known path to the aircraft grounding system using appliqués. The appliqués have a dielectric polymer to isolate the return current from the structure, and a metal foil for conducting the current

A lightning protection appliqué incorporates a plurality of conductive plies adhesively affixed to a composite surface, at least a first one of the plies providing conductive characteristics sufficient to divert electrical energy from a lightning strike and at least a second one of the plies comprising operational circuitry. A dielectric ply is fixed to the composite surface over and completely covering at least one metal surface feature between the plurality of conductive plies and the composite surface.

A lightning protection system is provided, typically for use on an outer surface of an aircraft, which includes the use of a lightning protection sheet that includes an electrically conductive film and at least one patterned, electrically non-conductive discriminator layer.

An appliqué for forming a surface coating to a substrate is disclosed. The appliqué contains a sectioned metal foil that provides a large area electrical circuit for connecting electrical devices. The appliqué may provide additional functions including lightning strike protection. The substrate may be an aircraft surface.

The invention relates to a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a blade tip and a lightning protection system. The rotor blade includes at least one lightning receptor at the surface of the blade in an external distance (Lex) from the distal end of the blade tip, and a lightning receptor base inside the rotor blade arranged at an first internal distance (Li1) from the distal end of the blade tip. The rotor blade further includes means for changing at least one electric property of the rotor blade at the lightning receptor base, as compared to the electric properties of the ambient air by increasing the electric field supported between the lightning receptor base and the inner surface of the rotor blade. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade.

The present disclosure provides a lightning protection system and a composite structure comprising such a lightning protection system, wherein the lightning protection system comprises a metal foil layer, a plastic layer, and a matrix material.

The invention relates to a wind turbine (1) comprising stationary means such as a nacelle (3) and a tower (2) comprising stationary lightning protection means (46), and rotating means such as a rotor including at least one wind turbine blade (5) and shaft means (14), each of said at least one wind turbine blade (5) comprising rotating lightning protection means (47). The stationary and rotating lightning protection means (46, 47) comprise contact surfaces (17, 18) connected by lightning connection means (15). The lightning connection means (15) comprises at least two contact means (19, 19a, 19b) adapted for connecting said rotating and stationary lightning protection means (46, 47). Further, it comprises at least one electric conductor (30) establishing a dedicated connection between said at least two contact means (19, 19a, 19b) and force transferring means (26, 27) for said at least two contact means (19, 19a, 19b) establishing a continuous connection between said at least two contact means (19, 19a, 19b) and the contact surfaces (17, 18) of said stationary and rotating lightning protection means (46, 47). The invention also relates to lightning connection means (15) for a wind turbine (1), a method and use hereof.

Disclosed therein is an electric dipole streamer discharge type lightning conductor, which can gather electric charges in the atmospheric air at one side thereof and generate an electric discharge due to a dielectric breakdown when a potential difference is formed between the electric charges gathered by an electric dipole and the electric charges of the earth so as to emit a great deal of electric charges of the earth toward thunderclouds to thereby induce a thunderbolt.

An air terminal for lightning protection includes a central rod and a curved conductive surface around the central rod. The central rod includes a tip mount for receiving a tip from a tip set that includes a plurality of tips that impart different electrical characteristics to the air terminal. For example, the tips of the tip set may have a variety of radii of curvature, and may provide different gap sizes between the various tips and the curved conductive surface. The curved conductive surface and the grounded central rod may be electrically coupled together via an electrical connection. The electrical connection may include a fixed impedance or resistance, or may include a variable impedance unit that automatically varies impedance based on a voltage difference between the curved conductive surface and the grounded central rod.

A lightning protection system is provided, typically for use on an outer surface of an aircraft, which includes the use of a lightning protection sheet that includes an electrically conductive film patterned into a plurality of hill features. The lightning protection sheet may additionally include an electrically non-conductive discriminator layer over the electrically conductive film.

Disclosed is a lightning arrester. The lightning arrester safely discharges earth charge of a main electrode section and an auxiliary electrode section regardless of a variation of charge contained in air, so charge charged in a thundercloud is safely discharged into the earth even if the thundercloud is located far-remote from the earth. The lightning arrester has a fixing base fixedly installed on an object to be protected by grounding a lightning circuit connected to a ground electrode grounded to an earth, a fixing bar vertically installed at one side of an upper surface of the fixing base and made of conductive material, a main electrode section making contact with an upper portion of the fixing bar and made of conductive material, an upper polymer insulator including an elongated column member formed at a center thereof with a hollow section for receiving the fixing bar therein, and upper and lower disc-shaped plates integrally formed at an upper end of the elongated column member for ensuring an insulation distance, and an auxiliary electrode section aligned below the main electrode section without making contact with the main electrode section and made of conductive material. The elongated column member of the upper polymer insulator passes through a center of the auxiliary electrode section in order to fill space charge in the auxiliary electrode section.

A substrate processing system has a housing that defines a process chamber. A substrate holder is disposed within the process chamber and configured to support a substrate within a substrate plane during substrate processing. A gas-delivery system is configured to introduce a gas into the process chamber. A pressure-control system maintains a selected pressure within the process chamber. A high-density-plasma generating system is operatively coupled with the process chamber. A magnetic confinement ring with magnetic dipoles is disposed circumferentially around a symmetry axis orthogonal to the substrate plane and provides a magnetic field with a net dipole moment substantially nonparallel with the substrate plane. A controller controls the gas-delivery system, the pressure-control system, and the high-density plasma system.

The invention relates to a method of lightning-proofing a blade (1) on a wind-energy plant, which blade comprises a blade shell (2) configured essentially as a fibre-reinforced laminate, which laminate comprises electrically conductive fibres, wherein the blade comprises at least one lightning arrester (9) configured for conducting lightning current, including preferably to ground. The method comprises that the electrically conductive fibres are connected to each other, and that at least one metallic receptor (4, 24, 25) is arranged for capturing lightning current at or in proximity of the external face of the blade; and that the receptor and the fibres are connected to the lightning arrester for equalising the difference in potential between the lightning arrester and the electrically conductive fibres. When the electrically conductive fibres are connected to each other, the fibres will cooperate on the conduction of a possible lightning current to prevent the current from running in individual fibres. Simultaneously the metallic receptor will serve as the primary lightning capturing device and reduce the risk of lightning striking the laminate. The receptor being connected to the lightning arrester, the current will predominately be conducted to ground, while the risk of transfer to the laminate is minimised in that a possible difference in potential between fibres and lightning arrester has been equalised.

A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided. The rotor blade includes a rotor blade body, at least one receptor adapted to be a location for lightning impact, and at least one down conductor connected to the receptor and located within the rotor blade body. The down conductor includes a first conductor connected to the receptor and a ground connection of the wind turbine, and a second insulated conductor connected to the receptor and a non-grounded location of the wind turbine. A path is formed from the ground connection of the first conductor to the non-grounded location of the second insulated conductor. This path facilitates a continuity test used to evaluate a condition of the lightning protection system.

A method for directing a current generated by a lightning striking a wind turbine is described. The method includes directing the current from a main shaft of the wind turbine to a brake disc attached to the shaft, and directing the current from the brake disc to one of a spark gap and a roller mechanism coupled to a down-conductor at a ground voltage.

A blade tip assembly for a wind turbine blade, comprising a conductive blade tip module, a receptor arrangement spaced from the conductive blade tip module, a coupler that electrically couples the conductive blade tip module to the receptor arrangement and an insulating member that insulates the coupler. The invention also can be expressed as a method for assembling a blade tip assembly for a wind turbine blade, the method comprising providing a blade tip module; providing the blade tip module with a coupler for electrically coupling the blade tip module to a down conductor of a lightning protection system; and encasing the coupler with an insulating member.

A receptor arrangement for a wind turbine blade, the arrangement comprising a receptor component connectable to a down conductor of a lightning protection system wherein the receptor component is encapsulated by an insulating member. The invention extends to apparatus for lightning protection in a wind turbine blade including such a receptor arrangement connected to a down conductor, and also to a method of assembling lightning protection apparatus for a wind turbine blade.

A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector.

The present invention relates to a Bipolar Discharge-Dissipation Lightning Air-Terminals, and an object of the present invention is to disperse and discharge an earth charge following a thundercloud approach in a space according to electric dipole, bipolar and electric double layer principle. The above object of the present invention is achieved by providing the bipolar discharge-dissipation lightning air-terminals comprising: a base member fixed and installed in a top region of a protected object, including a coupling projection on whose inner periphery surface coupling screw grooves are formed, the coupling projection protruded and formed at a side of an upper surface of the base member, and a grounding piece formed at a side opposite to the coupling projection in order to earth a ground electrode and a grounded lightning wire; a discharge member coupled releasably to the base member, for focusing an earth charge following a thundercloud approach on the upper surface of the base member; and a potential modifying unit attached releasably on the discharge member so that the potential modifying unit is charged with different charges by electric dipole, bipolar and electric double layer principle according to the thundercloud approach to disperse and discharge the earth charge in a space separated from the discharge member.

A structure for installing a lightning arrester between the cross arm mounted to the upper end of an electric pole and a power line is disclosed. A dead end clamp, the lightning arrester and an insulation reinforcing insulator are connected in series, an end of the insulation reinforcing insulator is connected to the cross arm by a shackle, a disconnector is connected to the voltage outlet portion of the lightning arrester, a grounding wire for diverting abnormal voltage to the ground is connected to the disconnector, and an insulation cover surrounds the dead end clamp and the voltage inlet portion of the lightning arrester.

A method of making a wind turbine blade component incorporating a lightning protection system, the method comprising: providing a mould surface; arranging a forming element on the mould surface; providing an electrically conductive layer; reinforcing the electrically conductive layer in a predetermined region to create a reinforced zone; arranging the electrically conductive layer over the forming element so that the reinforced zone is superimposed on the forming element; arranging one or more structural components on the electrically conductive layer; consolidating the structural components under vacuum to form a blade shell having an integrated electrically conductive layer adjacent an outer surface of the shell; removing at least part of the forming element from the blade shell to define a recess in the outer surface of the shell so as to expose the reinforced zone of the electrically conductive layer; electrically connecting the electrically conductive layer at the reinforced zones to a respective electrical component located adjacent an inner surface of the blade shell. The invention also extends to a preformed component for use in fabricating a wind turbine blade.