Lightning Strike Protection via Localized Flash-Repellent Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lightning strike protection systems for objects like aircraft and wind turbines often result in randomly distributed damages, which are costly and complex to repair due to the high electrical currents flowing through non-conductive composite materials.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies high-priority and low-priority areas on an object's surface based on repair complexity and cost, applying a flash-repellent layer to protect critical areas while leaving less important regions bare or with a weaker covering to direct lightning strikes, thereby reducing damage to critical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uniform flash-repellent layer is applied across the entire object surface, then all areas are protected against lightning damage, but the complexity and cost of repairs increase when damages occur on critical hard-to-reach spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different qualities of protection to different locations on the object surface. Critical spots that are hard to reach receive a flash-repellent layer for protection, while non-critical areas that are easily accessible are left uncovered. This local differentiation ensures that if lightning strikes occur, they will happen on easily accessible areas rather than critical hard-to-reach spots, thereby maintaining both reliability and ease of repair.
2Strength
If a continuous Faraday cage is implemented on the object surface, then catastrophic damage is prevented, but repair complexity increases for damages on complex structural areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protection function from being uniformly distributed and concentrates it only where absolutely necessary. Instead of implementing a continuous Faraday cage across the entire surface, the flash-repellent layer is applied selectively only to critical spots identified through complexity analysis. This extraction approach maintains catastrophic damage resistance while minimizing the overall complexity of the protection system.
3Reliability
If the entire object surface is covered with flash-repellent material, then all areas are protected from lightning strikes, but repair costs increase when damages occur on complex areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by differentiating between critical and non-critical areas based on repair cost considerations. Flash-repellent material is applied only to critical spots where damage would be costly to repair, while non-critical areas are left uncovered. This selective application ensures protection where needed while minimizing overall repair costs, as any lightning strikes will occur on the uncovered non-critical areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach controls where lightning strikes occur, minimizing damage to critical components and shifting repair costs and complexity to less important areas, ensuring efficient and cost-effective maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
covering the at least one spot with a portion of a flash-repellent layer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of providing an optimised lightning strike protection 20 on an object 10. The method comprises identifying, on a surface of the object 10, at least one spot 14 and one or more region/s 13, wherein the region/s has/have a lower damage avoidance priority than the at least one spot 14. The method further comprises covering the at least one spot 14 with a flash-repellent layer 22 which extends to at least one of the one or more region/s 13. Therein, the at least one region 13 is at least partially left bare of any cover, and/or at least partially covered with a further portion of the flash-repellent layer which has a lower breakdown voltage (e.g. reduced layer thickness) than the portion covering the at least one spot, and/or the at least one region 13 is at least partially provided with an electrically conductive covering. Further disclosed is an arrangement 1 comprising an object 10 and a lightning strike protection 20.