Investigation of lightning strike effects

on wind turbine critical components

S. A. Pastromas, K. Sandros, K. . Koutras, E. C. Pyrgioti
High Voltage Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Patras
University Campus, Rio-Patras, Greece
pastromas@ece.upatras.gr

Abstract: Wind energy is a renewable, pure form of energy
that does not contribute on the environment pollution and in CO2
emissions and is inexhaustible. Wind turbines are usually located
at high altitude areas as well as in flat terrains, where there is
usually increased number of lightning strikes that could cause
operational problems in a power plant. Lightning can be
considered as current source and its main parameters are the
peak current, lightning current steepness, charge transferred and
specific energy which are linked with thermal, mechanical and
electromagnetic effects on the affected structure or even live
beings. In the current paper is simulated a large-scale wind
turbine and is investigated the impact of a lightning strike on its
critical components focusing on the blades, the nacelle, the tower
and the base. The simulation is executed on a software platform
that can extend conventional models of physics into models that
solve simultaneously coupled physics phenomena. With the use of
COMSOL software it is simulated a lightning strike which hits
the surface of a wind turbine and is investigated its effect on many
other critical points to understand the risk to which these are
exposed and to prove the necessity of the design of a reliable
lightning protection. It is presented the wind turbine model and
the definition of physical and mathematical models in the
simulated lightning simulation program environment. The
assessment is based on specific and realistic scenarios and the
simulation results are presented. The extracts are demonstrated
either in 2D or 3D on the geometry of the wind turbine and at
predetermined times. These will drive the proposal of a reliable
lightning protection system for the wind turbine focusing on the
most vulnerable points which are blade tips and the back of the
nacelle. The simulation results show the importance of material
continuity and limited changes in the conductors’ direction in
order the reliable protection of the wind turbine to be ensured.
investigated the effects of such hit in the wind turbine key
components.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL
Wind turbine under investigation is imported in the software
platform. Since COMSOL architecture design capabilities have
specific limitations the wind turbine model was used based on
available models in Solidworks platform. The technical data
have been adapted in COMSOL in order simulations to be run.
The focus of the current paper is not to design the wind turbine
in detail but to reflect the main components in the software in
simplified geometry without affecting the accuracy of the
extracted results.
A. Blades design
The design of the blades is very complicated since
incorporate aerodynamic rules while the software that is used
does not provide the specific capability. For that purpose, it
was used a generic model of wind turbine blades mounted on
the hub. The blades and hub are depicted in Fig.1 hereto. The
length of the blade was considered 24 m. The blade material is
glass reinforced plastic (GRP) with conductivity () 0.004 S/m.
At the blade tip the lightning receptors are made by aluminum
(= 3.77*107 S/m).

I. INTRODUCTION
The continuous development of wind energy has led to an
increase of the size of the wind turbines and rotor diameters.
Consequently, wind turbines become taller while these are
operating in areas where the geographical and the
environmental conditions, are such which cause them
vulnerable to lightning strikes. According to [1-2] the high
probability point of attack is the blade and follows nacelle and
tower (side flash). The wind turbine lightning protection
system shall be protected against lightning strikes via lightning Figure 1. Wind turbine blades and hub imported in COMSOL.
protection level I as per [3-5]. In the current paper are
investigated the lightning strike effects on wind turbine basic B. Nacelle design (including hub)
components focusing mainly on the blades and nacelle. For the
investigation, COMSOL Multiphysics software is used based The wind turbine nacelle is designed considering a nacelle of
on Finite Element Method (FEM). It will be simulated a 6-meter length, 6-meter width and 6-meter height constructed
lightning strike that hits a wind turbine blade and will be by three layers. The external layer is constructed from glass
978-1-5386-5086-8/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
reinforced plastic (GRP) and is of 12 cm thickness. The middle
layer represents the electromagnetic shield of the wind turbine,
is made by iron with = 1.12*107 S/m and is of 2 cm thickness
and the last one is considered the air. Apart from these, the
nacelle is reinforced with a metallic frame for supporting
purposes.
C. Tower design
The wind turbine tower was designed as a hollow cone
consisting of two steel parts. This has led to a tower with total
height 38 m and thickness of 10 cm. The tower base is of 4 m
diameter and the upper part on which is mounted the nacelle is
of 2 m diameter.
Figure 2. Wind turbine tower modelled in COMSOL.
D. Physics
To simulate the generation and propagation of the lightning
strike on the surface of the wind turbine, we need the AC / DC
Module, from which we select the Electric Currents interface.
Since we have a phenomenon that unfolds over time, we
choose Time Dependent Study. Then, we select the algorithm
with which the problem will be solved. There are two general
categories of resolution methods, direct and iterative. The
preferred algorithm was PARDISO, a direct type of solver,
which works on generally linear systems of form A * x = b and
uses LU derivatization in table A to calculate the solution.
E. Model considerations
The wind turbine nacelle model does include some metallic
support parts which are inside. There are also excluded from
the model the nacelle internal parts gearbox (if such exist),
generator, Low Voltage/ Medium Voltage (LV/MV)
transformer, LV panels, etc. These are excluded since it is
considered that both the internal lightning protection system
and surge protection devices are operating while the focus of
the investigation is on the electric field that passes through the
nacelle. As regards the wind turbine earthing system, this was
not designed in detail but modeled as rectangular
parallelepiped considering that its resistance is of 10  which
is compliant with [6-7]. This approach does not affect the
simulated values and extracted results inside the wind turbine
but leads to not so accurate results at the tower base since it is
Figure 3. Wind turbine modelled in COMSOL
missing the equipotential design that is ensured with extended
earthing grid and electrodes. The final wind turbine model in
the software is depicted in Fig.3 hereto.
The wind turbine lightning withstand capability and its
possible effects is studied with the finite element method by
discriminating the model in several segments on which the
basic mathematical formulas are applied. The more the
discrimination, the more accurate the extracted results. The
simulation will use as lightning current Ip=100 kA with
waveform 10/350s which is aligned with international
standards for test and measurements of high voltages. The
lightning strike and its effects will be simulated for 1000 s
while the sampling rate will be 3 s. With the use of software
will be investigated the electric field intensity and current
density at specific points of the wind turbine.
III. SIMULATION RESULTS
The wind turbine under investigation is of 44 m total height
and blade radius of 24 m. The lightning that hits the tip of one
blade has parameters Ip=100 kA with waveform 10/350 s.
The simulation will investigate two main topics, the electrical
field density and the current density.
A. Measurement of simulated electrical field density
The density of the electrical field will be calculated via
simulations at four points in the wind turbine: a) soil close to
the wind turbine tower base for step voltage investigation, b) in
the nacelle close to the hub for investigation of electric field
inside, c) inside the blade for investigation of possible arc
development and d) in the yaw system of the nacelle for the
investigation of possible electric field between the rotational
and steady parts. The simulation results appear in Fig.4 hereto.
Soil at WT tower base
Electric field (V/m)
Close to nacelle
Inside the blade
WT yaw system
Figure 4. Electrical field in WT specific points.
The results are summarized in Table I hereto:
TABLE I
ELECTRICAL FIELD
Ip=100kA (10/350s)
Point
Position V/m
Tower base – surrounding
A 8600
soil
B Yaw system 6000
C Inside blade 500
D Nacelle 0,0001
From the simulation results it is extracted that at the tower base
and outside the wind turbine in the surrounding soil it is
accumulated a high electrical field which could be dangerous
for the live beings and the equipment of the wind turbine
which is placed at the bottom. For that purpose, it is crucial the
design and construction of an extended earthing system
following as minimum the international standards [3,6,7]. High
electrical field is noticed also in the yaw system which consists
of bearing which due to the different materials that this system
is manufactured. Inside the blade the electrical field is relative
low compared to the tower base and this has a low risk for
material failure since the lightning will be led via the ionized
path to the lightning receptor and via the blade internal wiring
to the rest wind turbine lightning protection system. This is
based on the fact that the lightning is of high amplitude and
will be attracted by the blade receptor. The results confirm also
the expectation that inside the nacelle there is not developed
any electrical field due to its design that acts as
electromagnetic shield. The 3D simulation measurements are
depicted in Fig.5 and Fig.6 hereto. For the specific figures it is
shown that at the first sample (9 s) the electric field is
9540V/m and in 384s is reduced to 5610 V/m (~40%
reduction).
Figure 5. Electrical field in WT tip (9μs, 96μs).
Figure 6. Electrical field in WT tip (243μs, 384μs).
B. Simulated current density measurement
The purpose of this specific simulation is to compare the
currents along the lightning path and basically in the down
conductors and to estimate the magnetic field at wind turbine
specific points. The selected points of the simulation
measurements are: a) attachment point between foundation and
Result
tower, b) joint of the down conductor and the tower, c) joint of
Ground potential rise
Ground and tower base
High field – risk
Low field – low risk
No field – no risk
Current density (A/m3)
Down conductor
and tower
Blade conductor and
main down conductor
Blade tip
Figure 7. Current density in WT specific points.
blade down conductor with the main down conductor and d)
blade tip, lightning attachment point. The simulated
measurements are depicted in Fig.7 hereto and summarized in
Table II. The increased values noticed in the current density at
the point of contact with the tower are noticed due to the
change of direction of the current vector at that point. As the
current vector changes direction, the current is not flowing
quickly and thus appears as increased density. The current
density at the base of the tower is significantly below the other
values. The current density decreases significantly close to
earth due to the increase in the dimensions of the tower at that
 TABLE II
CURRENT DENSITY
Ip=100kA (10/350s)
Point
Position MA/m2
Tower base – surrounding
A
soil
55
B Down conductor-Tower 30
C
Blade and main down
22
conductor
D Blade tip 0,140
level and hence a larger volume exists in which the current
diffuses. The 3D simulation measurements are depicted in
Fig.7 and Fig.8 hereto.
Figure 7. Current density in 3D (9μs, 21μs).
Figure 8. Current density in 3D (114μs, 216μs).
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Wind turbines due to their design, are tall structures which
are exposed to environmental conditions and thus lightning
strikes. It is of high importance the wind turbine lightning
protection system to be designed and constructed following as
minimum the international standards [3,6,7]. This will provide
a high probability that the lightning current will be attracted by
the receptor and thus will pass the blade down-conductor and
finally will be led to the earthing system [9-12]. Once the
wind turbine lightning protection system is constructed as per
standards, it is possible to avoid the serious consequences. For
that purpose, additional measures can be taken optimizing the
design of LPS. The proper sizing of the down-conductors, the
equipotential bonding of the all the parts and the choice of the
surge protection devices can ensure a reliable protection of the
wind turbine. During the current investigation the selected tip
receptor has shown a very satisfactory performance leading
effectively the lightning current to the down-conductor and to
prevent the development of dangerous fields within the blade
which could lead to its failure. These results prove that a
properly designed and manufactured blade LPS can protect the
blade against failures. Simulation results have additionally
shown that high electric field at the wind turbine tower base
causes risk for high step and touch voltages which is critical
for the safety of life beings. Thus, the earthing system of the
wind turbine must be designed according to the standards
following as minimum [6] and in a way, that creates safe
conditions onsite and the ground potential rise is within the
limits [5]. In conclusion, a properly-designed wind turbine LPS
and especially the protection of blades is crucial for wind
turbines reliable operation since lightning is the main
environmental risk for the wind turbine.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Authors would like to express their gratitude to Professor
Ricardo Albarracín, Dept. of Electrical, Electronic and
Automation Engineering and Applied Physics, Universidad
Politécnica de Madrid, for granting access to department’s
COMSOL Multiphysics platform in order the current paper to
be accomplished.
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