Parallel Insulated Conductors for Lightning Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lightning protection systems for buildings face challenges in maintaining the required separation distance between conductors and buildings to prevent voltage breakdowns during lightning strikes, especially due to structural and aesthetic constraints, and existing insulated down-conductor solutions do not effectively manage induced voltages within the technically relevant time range.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple insulated electrical conductors connected in parallel, arranged at a specific distance from each other to reduce induced voltage through mutual inductance, with each conductor connected to a grounding system at a sufficient distance from the building, and featuring a conductive and high-voltage-resistant insulation sheath to enhance dielectric strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single insulated down-conductor is used, then the installation is simple and cost-effective, but the induced voltage during lightning strikes exceeds the dielectric strength of the insulation, causing voltage breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The single down-conductor is segmented into multiple parallel conductors (at least two). This segmentation reduces the induced voltage in each individual conductor by distributing the lightning current across multiple paths, preventing voltage breakdown while maintaining installation feasibility through standardized multi-conductor cable assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary magnetic shielding layer (ferromagnetic material) between the down-conductors and the building structure. This intermediary absorbs and redirects magnetic flux, reducing the induced voltage in the conductors and preventing breakdown without requiring increased separation distances.
2Reliability
If the separation distance between down-conductor and building is increased, then voltage breakdown is prevented, but structural and aesthetic constraints cannot be satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
A ferromagnetic shielding layer is introduced as an intermediary between the down-conductor and the building structure. This layer attracts and channels magnetic flux away from the insulation, enabling safe operation at reduced separation distances while satisfying architectural and structural requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining non-magnetic insulating materials with ferromagnetic shielding layers. This composite approach provides both electrical insulation and magnetic flux management in a single integrated solution, allowing close proximity to building structures without voltage breakdown.
3Reliability
If multiple insulated conductors connected in parallel are used, then induced voltage is reduced through mutual inductance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conductors are nested within a common insulating sheath or conduit, with ferromagnetic shielding layers positioned between them. This nested arrangement reduces mutual inductance effects while simplifying installation compared to separate conductor routes, and the shielding layers are integrated into the same structural assembly.
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 configuration effectively reduces induced voltage and enhances the dielectric strength of the discharge device, ensuring reliable lightning current distribution and preventing voltage breakdowns, while maintaining structural and aesthetic integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The use of multiple insulated electrical conductors connected in parallel, arranged at a specific distance from each other to reduce induced voltage through mutual inductance
Implementation Method 2
featuring a conductive and high-voltage-resistant insulation sheath to enhance dielectric strength
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a lightning conductor device for the outer lightning protection, consisting of a collecting device (1) and an earthing installation (10) which are connected to each other by an electrical conducting device, wherein the electrical conducting device comprises at least two insulated electrical conductors (7) that are connected in parallel to each other.