Lightning Suppressor Operation
Passive Capturing System
The technological innovation of the CMCE Multiple Electric Field Compensator, creates and maintains a balanced electric environment within its protective three-dimensional radius.
As an electrostatic current PASSIVE CAPTURING SYSTEM, the CMCE:
- Absorbs charges that appear in the surrounding electromagnetic field,
- Arranges charges internally based on their natural form,
- Creates a controlled flow of leakage current in harmless milliamperes – between 50a and 350mA in fair weather and 700a to 1,800mA in storm phase – through the ground wire to the earth take.
When the electric field changes, provoked by variations in the surrounding environment, the CMCE reacts by absorbing and draining excess charges into the ground. This process eliminates upward streamers and prevents the
development of lightning within the devices coverage radius.
Coverage Radius Calculations
Provided calculation methods, using the CMCE100 equivalent lightning suppressor, were validated through the study and observation of actual installations throughout the world on different types of structures, at different heights, in the high seas, in mountains, and areas with high levels of activity.
The calculation of the coverage radius is based on the requirements of standard UNE-EN-IEC 62305 part 1.
According to laboratory impulse tests of short and long currents (10/350), mandatory for devices used to protect against lightning, results show that in the first impulse of short current of 103KA, that the device did not suffer any flaw.
According to standard UNE-EN-IEC 623051(part 1) page 40, point A4, the efficiency of capture of a Lightning Protection System (LPS) depends on the minimum values of the lightning current and the radius of coverage of the corresponding theoretical sphere. The geometrical boundaries of protected areas against direct discharges can be determined by the Rolling Sphere Method. Following the electromagnetic model, the radius of the theoretical sphere is correlated with the current crest value of the first short impact.
- The CMCE100, in high voltage laboratory tests (640KV), the beam does not appear.
- On a conventional tip (variable data) the beam appears at ± 540KV (medium).
- We can ensure that with a minimum of 20% more electric field is needed for it to saturate (greater ionization surface).
- Taking into account that at 103KA of short impulse, the CMCE100 passes without defects.
Rolling Sphere Method
When we apply the Rolling Sphere Method the value yields a radius of 101.5m.
This is the radius of coverage (101.5) in the worst possible conditions, that is, counting a saturation field value similar to that of a conventional tip and taking into account a compensating power of the CMCE field electricity limited to average operating conditions (medium earth resistance conditions and average absorption capacity).
Calculation of the coverage radius using the Rolling Sphere Method according to UNE 21186 and NFC 17.102. Because there is no defined standard for deionizing devices like ours, we theoretically short- circuited a CMCE Device to emulate a conventional Franklin-type system.
The UNE 21186 Standard explains how the protection radius (Rp) of a lightning arrester is calculated according to its height. This equation can be used for h≥5m.
Taking into account the CMCE100 priming advance time (∆t=32μs), according to tests carried out in several high voltage laboratories and applying the corresponding equation:
