Lightning protection system for a wind turbine and wind turbine with a lightning protection system
View Patent ↗A lightning protection system is provided for a wind turbine. The wind turbine has an electrically grounded structure part, a main shaft electrically and mechanically connected to the grounded structure part, a blade hub rotationally connected via a main bearing to the main shaft and blades connected to the blade hub. The lightning protection system includes a down-conductor attachable inside one of the blades and a high voltage conductor for guiding lightning current, wherein a first end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the down-conductor. The lightning protection system also includes a high voltage contact attachable inside the main shaft, wherein a second end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the high voltage contact. Lightning current is guided from the down-conductor via the high voltage conductor to the high voltage contact.
1. A lightning protection system for a wind turbine, the wind turbine having an electrically grounded structure part, a main shaft electrically and mechanically connected therewith, a blade hub rotationally connected via a main bearing to the main shaft and a plurality of blades connected to the blade hub, the lightning protection system comprising:
a down-conductor able to be attached inside one of the blades;
a high voltage conductor for guiding lightning current, wherein a first end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the down-conductor;
a high voltage contact attached inside the main shaft behind the main bearing at a side opposite to the blade hub, wherein a second end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the high voltage contact;
wherein the high voltage conductor follows a path away from the front end of the blade hub; and
wherein a lightning current is guided from the down-conductor via the high voltage conductor to the high voltage contact.
2. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage conductor is disposed inside the blade hub.
3. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage conductor contacts the down-conductor positioned inside the blade.
4. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage conductor comprises at least part of the down-conductor.
5. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage conductor comprises a high voltage cable.
6. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the high voltage conductor is surrounded by a shielding hose.
7. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage contact comprises a slip ring attached to an inner surface of the main shaft.
8. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage contact comprises a carbon/metal brush.
9. The lightning protection system according to claim 1 , wherein holding brackets for the high voltage conductor are able to be attached inside the blade hub and/or the main shaft.
10. A wind turbine, comprising:
an electrically grounded structure part;
a main shaft electrically and mechanically connected therewith;
a blade hub rotationally connected via a main bearing to the main shaft;
a plurality of blades connected to the blade hub; and
a lightning protection system, comprising
a down-conductor able to be attached inside one of the blades;
a high voltage conductor for guiding lightning current, wherein a first end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the down-conductor;
a high voltage contact attached inside the main shaft behind a main bearing at a side opposite to the blade hub, wherein a second end of the high voltage conductor is in electrical communication with the high voltage contact; and
wherein a lightning current is guided from the down-conductor via the high voltage conductor to the high voltage contact.
11. The wind turbine according to claim 10 , wherein the main shaft is an inner shaft carrying a stator of a generator and wherein an outer shaft carrying a rotor of the generator is connected with the blade hub.
12. The wind turbine according to claim 10 , wherein the main shaft is an outer shaft carrying a stator of a generator and wherein an inner shaft carrying a rotor of the generator is connected with the blade hub.
13. The wind turbine according to claim 10 , wherein a generator is connected directly to the blade hub.