Problems of Recording the State of Lightning Protection Systems and Protection from Static Electricity when Assessing the Fire Risk Magnitude at Production Facilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
A.G. Markov ◽  
◽  
A.S. Kharlamenkov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Technological Process ◽  
Fire Safety ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
Static Electricity ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Combustible Gas ◽  
Production Facilities

In paragraph 10 of Chapter 2 of the Methodology for determining the calculated values of fire risk at the production facilities, the list of the most likely events that may be the causes of fire-hazardous situations is presented. This list contains the phrase «the appearance of ignition sources in the places of formation of combustible gas-air mixtures». There are no more specific mentions about the probability of a fire from static electricity discharges and lightning strikes, as well as any other sources. This situation, at first glance, does not pose any problem, since it is assumed that the specialist performing the calculation will have to consider the likelihood of ignition sources appearing in places of the formation of combustible gas-air mixtures, which, obviously, will include both a lightning strike and its secondary manifestations, as well as a discharge of static electricity. However, lightning protection is not a part of the technological process of a production facility, but only ensures its safety. Also, lightning protection may not provide protection for an object with an explosive and fire hazardous technological process (for example, it does not correspond in parameters) or be absent altogether, which in practice will not in any way affect the procedure for calculating fire risk according to the specified methodology, in which the presence (absence) of a lightning protection system is not considered in any way. At the same time, fire statistics indicate the large number of fires from lightning and from discharges of static electricity. The 1st place in the world among large countries in the number of people killed in fires is an important indicator testifying the need for systemic changes in the approach to ensuring fire safety in Russia. Nowadays, it is often easier for an owner or tenant to obtain a document on the safety of an object than to ensure this safety in real practice. This cannot be achieved only by control — it is required to motivate all the participants for safety (for example, through compulsory insurance), which would become profitable to ensure fire safety.

PLACE OF PROTECTION SYSTEM AGAINST LIGHTNING AND STATIC ELECTRICITY IN FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY AT PRODUCTION FACILITIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Markov A. ◽  
◽  
Kharlamenkov A. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Static Electricity ◽  
Electrostatic Discharges ◽  
Safety Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oriented Approach ◽  
Production Facilities

Purpose. The authors of the article draw attention to the explicit lack of such probable sources of combustible medium ignition as static electricity discharges, a direct lightning strike, as well as the impact of secondary factors of lightning (electrostatic and electromagnetic induction) in the Methodology for determining the estimated fire risk values at production facilities of. Methods. Statistical analysis methods: data assembling and grouping statistical observation materials; sampling; correlation and regression analysis, etc. have been used in the study. Findings. The article considers the established practice of determining the fire risk values and contradictions have been found between the Methodology for determining fire risk values at production facilities and the Technical regulations on safety of buildings and structures. The statistics analysis of fires caused by lightning and electrostatic discharges and the experience of other countries have made it possible to conclude that an additional coefficient should be introduced when calculating fire or explosion probability from the degree of compliance with lightning protection requirements. The authors draw attention to the problem of a risk-oriented approach – focus on the calculation result, which has an impact on ensuring fire safety. Research application field. It is advisable to include the results of the study in the scientific-research and development work of scientific-research organizations of EMERCOM of Russia and other ministries and departments. The materials can also be used when discussing the procedure for applying the risk-oriented approach to the control and supervisory activities in the Russian Federation. Conclusions. Failure of taking into account the state of protection against lightning and static electricity when calculating the fire risk of the facility reduces the reliability of the assessment for participants in the fire safety provision system.

scholarly journals Earth-termination system for onshore wind Turbines.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7-2020) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Liubov A. Belova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Grounding System ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Wind Turbine Towers ◽  
Surge Protection

The earth-termination system for towers of ground-based wind turbines in addition to protective and functional grounding provides lightning protection grounding, which is especially important since the wind turbine is susceptible to lightning strikes. If insufficient protective measures are taken, the risk of damage to a wind turbine due to a lightning strike increases. Therefore, a well-thought-out built-in grounding system for wind turbine towers is needed, which would function as necessary and guarantee long-term mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. The configuration of grounding systems for wind turbines is discussed in IEC 61400-24, which deals with the topic of lightning protection for wind turbines, including detailed information on the choice of lightning protection measures and surge protection. It is advisable to create a lightning protection concept at the initial stage of planning a wind turbine in order to avoid later costly repairs and retrofitting.

Economic Impact of a Lightning Strike–Induced Outage of Air Traffic Control Tower

2015 ◽  
Vol 2501 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenzhe Ding ◽  
Jasenka Rakas
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
National Airspace System ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Atc Tower

This research investigates how lightning strike–induced outages of airport infrastructure and facilities affect airport performance from an economic perspective, using Baltimore (Maryland)–Washington (D.C.) Thurgood Marshall International (BWI) Airport as a case study. On September 12, 2013, lightning struck within 300 m of the air traffic control (ATC) tower at BWI, causing injury and ATC tower and airport closures. The study findings reveal that the economic losses of the outage-related delays from that single event were almost five times higher than the ATC tower refurbishment that was planned, but unimplemented, in support of lightning protection, grounding, bonding, and shielding (LPGBS). The aim of this research is to support FAA's mission to better understand and quantify consequences of lightning strike–induced outages on airport performance. The research methodology and results can assist FAA in making sound decisions in support of LPGBS, and thereby help protect the National Airspace System infrastructure from lightning strikes and extreme weather and related delays.

scholarly journals Lightning Protection Methods for Wind Turbine Blades: An Alternative Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2130
Author(s):  
Viktor Mucsi ◽  
Ahmad Syahrir Ayub ◽  
Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki ◽  
Muhammad Zulkipli ◽  
Mohd Nabil Muhtazaruddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
Wind Turbine Blades ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Tall Structures ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Hybrid Conductor

Lightning strikes happens in a fraction of time, where they can transfer huge amounts of charge and high currents in a single strike. The chances for a structure to be struck by lightning increases as the height increases; thus, tall structures are more prone to lightning. Despite the existing lightning protection systems available for wind turbine blades, there are still many cases reported due to the fact of damage caused by lightning strike. Owing to that, the present work introduces a new approach for a lightning protection system for wind turbine blades where preliminary investigations were done using Analysis Systems (ANSYS) Workbench. Two models were developed: one with a conventional type down conductor system and the other with a hybrid conductor system. The recorded findings have been compared and discussed, where it was found that the hybrid conductor system may provide alternative protection from lightning for wind turbine blades.

scholarly journals ENSURING THE PERMISSIBLE VALUE OF FIRE RISK IN OPEN WAREHOUSES PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Fire Safety ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Ye. Hulida ◽  
V. Sharii
Keyword(s):  
Fire Protection ◽  
Fire Safety ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Alarm Systems ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
Material Values ◽  
True Values ◽  
Production Facilities

Formulation of the problem. In the field of fire safety, the term "fire risk" is used, ie it is a measure of the possibility of realizing the fire danger of the objects of protection and its consequences for people and material values. Safeguarding the fire safety of security objects consists of identifying, analyzing and evaluating fire risk, which allows the development and implementation of appropriate measures to reduce it to an acceptable level. The most dangerous fires are fires in open warehouses of production facilities. In most cases, such fires, if not detected early, have time to spread over large areas and cause material damage. In most cases, fire protection at the open warehouses of production facilities, taking into account the fire risk, is practically non-existent. Therefore, investigating the issue of fire safety at these sites, taking into account the fire risk and the use of automatic fire alarms and fire alarm systems, is an urgent and timely task.The goal of the work. Develop a methodology for providing fire safety for open warehouses of manufacturing facili-ties, taking into account fire risk and using automatic fire alarms and alerts.Fire Safety, №36, 2020 39Formulation of the problem and its solution. The task of determining the area of service for fire detectors and detec-tors in open warehouses of production facilities was set and solved. In addition, dependencies were obtained to determine the components of fire risk. An example of determining fire risk for open timber composition was then considered. The results of the calculations performed for the above example confirmed the reliability of the developed methodology of en-suring fire safety for open warehouses of production facilities.Conclusions and specific suggestions:1. A methodology for ensuring fire safety for open warehouses of production facilities was developed, taking into account the fire risk and thereby ensuring the inadmissibility of serious consequences from the fire for the working warehouse.2. The following set of fire protection systems and systems provides acceptable fire risk for the object of protection for up to 10 years of their operation. Therefore, the arrangement of open warehouses with such fire-fighting equipment and systems is mandatory.3. The dependencies developed to determine the components of fire risk were based on the basic principles of the theory of reliability and showed high reliability and adequacy with the true values considered in the example.

scholarly journals Lightning Protection of Photovoltaic Systems: Computation of the Developed Potentials

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Katerina Damianaki ◽  
Christos A. Christodoulou ◽  
Christos-Christodoulos A. Kokalis ◽  
Anastasios Kyritsis ◽  
Emmanouil D. Ellinas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Software Tool ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
Photovoltaic Systems ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Soil Structures

In this paper, the performance of a lightning protection system (LPS) on a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) park is studied by simulating different scenarios with the use of an appropriate software tool. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of an LPS and optimize its design for the protection of equipment and personnel in case of a direct lightning strike. In particular, developed potential due to lightning strikes is examined considering isolated and non-isolated external LPS. Moreover, the effect of the separation distance on the lightning performance of the PV installation is investigated for different soil structures and grounding systems. The extracted results are expected to support the design and implementation of a secure PV park and endorse its uninterrupted operation considering techno-economically balanced protection measures.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analyses of Human and Organizational Risks in Fire Safety Systems for High-Rise Residential Buildings with Probabilistic T-H-O-Risk Methodology

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2590
Author(s):  
Samson Tan ◽  
Darryl Weinert ◽  
Paul Joseph ◽  
Khalid Moinuddin
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Fire Engineering ◽  
Verification Methods ◽  
Uncertainty Analyses ◽  
Risk Methodology ◽  
Probabilistic Risk

Given that existing fire risk models often ignore human and organizational errors (HOEs) ultimately leading to underestimation of risks by as much as 80%, this study employs a technical-human-organizational risk (T-H-O-Risk) methodology to address knowledge gaps in current state-of-the-art probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) for high-rise residential buildings with the following goals: (1) Develop an improved PRA methodology to address concerns that deterministic, fire engineering approaches significantly underestimate safety levels that lead to inaccurate fire safety levels. (2) Enhance existing fire safety verification methods by incorporating probabilistic risk approach and HOEs for (i) a more inclusive view of risk, and (ii) to overcome the deterministic nature of current verification methods. (3) Perform comprehensive sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to address uncertainties in numerical estimates used in fault tree/event trees, Bayesian network and system dynamics and their propagation in a probabilistic model. (4) Quantification of human and organizational risks for high-rise residential buildings which contributes towards a policy agenda in the direction of a sustainable, risk-based regulatory regime. This research contributes to the development of the next-generation building codes and risk assessment methodologies.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Legal Framework for Building Fire Safety Regulations in Spain

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Amaya Osácar ◽  
Juan Bautista Echeverria Trueba ◽  
Brian Meacham
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Building Fire ◽  
Safety Regulations ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Ideal

There is a trend in Europe towards increasing the quality and performance of regulations. At the same time, regulatory failure has been observed in the area of building fire safety regulation in England and elsewhere. As a result, an analysis of the appropriateness of fire safety regulations in Spain is warranted, with the objective being to assess whether a suitable level of fire safety is currently being delivered. Three basic elements must be considered in such analysis: the legal and regulatory framework, the level of fire risk/safety of buildings that is expected and the level which actually results, and a suitable method of analysis. The focus of this paper is creating a legal and regulatory framework, in particular with respect to fire safety in buildings. Components of an ”ideal” building regulatory framework to adequately control fire risk are presented, the existing building regulatory framework is summarized, and an analysis of the gaps between the ideal and the existing systems is presented. It is concluded that the gaps between the ideal and the existing framework are significant, and that the current fire safety regulations are not appropriate for assuring delivery of the intended level of fire risk mitigation.

Lightning protection of the object located on the slope

2021 ◽  
pp. 93-103
Author(s):  
A. A. Kosyakov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Voltage ◽  
Lightning Protection ◽  
Engineering Practice ◽  
Protection Device ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Protection Zones ◽  
Pulse Voltage Generator ◽  
Voltage Generator ◽  
Protected Object

The article points out the drawback of all the current instructions for the lightning protection device: the lack of instructions for calculating the lightning protection zones of an object located on a slope. The methods of applying the current instructions for the lightning protection device when placing an object on a slope are given, based on the assumption that lightning strikes the lightning rods vertically and perpendicular to the slope. The features of the choice of lightning protection characteristics (calculated points of the protected object, calculated heights of lightning rods, methods of constructing lightning protection zones) are described. A method for calculating the lightning protection zones of an object located on a slope is proposed, based on the assumption that lightning strikes lightning rods perpendicular to the slope, in particular, the concept of the axis of a conditional lightning rod shifted on the object plan for calculating lightning protection zones is introduced. The consequences of the application in engineering practice of the methodology for calculating the lightning protection zones of an object located on a slope, based on the assumption that lightning strikes the lightning rods perpendicular to the slope, are indicated. Using a pulse voltage generator, tests were performed on a model of a lightning rod located on a slope in order to determine the direction of lightning strikes-vertical or perpendicular to the slope. It was determined experimentally that the proposed method for calculating the lightning protection zones of an object located on a slope, based on the assumption that lightning strikes lightning rods perpendicular to the slope, should be used in cases where the protected objects are located on slopes with an angle of more than 25°.

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