IP Library Granted Patent US 10,852,339
Granted Patent B2
US 10,852,339 · App. 15/754,446 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Method for sensing lightning-current parameters at installations having one or more capturing devices and lightning-current diversion paths

Inventors: Josef Birkl (Berching, DE); Bernhard Eichler (Koesslarn, DE); Thomas Böhm (Hohenfels, DE); Franz Schork (Nuremberg, DE)
Assignee: DEHN SE + CO KG
G01R29/0842F03D17/00F03D80/30G01R15/181F05B2260/83G01R19/0092Y02B10/30Y02E10/72
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,852,339
App. No.
15/754,446
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sensing lightning-current parameters at installations comprising a plurality of capturing devices and lightning-current diversion paths, in particular for exposed and/or tall buildings, including wind turbines, by using a plurality of sensors on the lightning-current diversion paths to identify a lightning-current event, and comprising subsequent evaluation of the lightning-current event and the effect of the lightning-current event on the particular installation. According to the invention, a lightning-current detection sensor is formed on each of the capturing devices or each lightning-current diversion path, which lightning-current detection sensor provides a yes/no statement concerning a lightning-current event with respect to the particular capturing device or the particular lightning-current diversion path. Furthermore, at least one lightning-current measurement sensor is provided at a central point of the merging of the lightning-current diversion paths toward the ground, which at least one lightning-current measurement sensor detects both surge currents having a duration of less than 5 ms and long-term currents having a duration of more than 5 ms, wherein furthermore the magnitude of the charge of the particular long-term current that has occurred is determined and is used to determine possible effects on the installation.

Claims (22)

1. Method for sensing lightning-current parameters at installations comprising a plurality of capturing devices and lightning-current diversion paths, in particular for exposed and/or tall buildings, including wind turbines, by using a plurality of sensors on the lightning-current diversion paths to identify a lightning-current event, and comprising

subsequent evaluation of the lightning-current event and the effect of the lightning-current event on the particular installation,

characterized in that

a lightning-current detection sensor is arranged at each of the capturing devices or at each lightning-current diversion path, which lightning-current detection sensor provides a yes/no statement concerning a lightning-current event in relation to the respective capturing device of the respective lightning-current diversion path, wherein at least one lightning-current measurement sensor is provided at a central point of the merging of the lightning-current diversion paths toward the ground, which lightning-current measurement sensor detects both surge currents having a duration of less than 5 ms and long-term currents having a duration of more than 5 ms, wherein furthermore the magnitude of the charge of the particular long-term current that has occurred is determined and used to determine possible effects on the installation, wherein the installation is a wind turbine having rotor blades, a rotor shaft and a hub, and wherein the at least one lightning-current measurement sensor is provided at the rotor shaft.

2. Method according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

when possible effects of lightning currents are determined, the obtained lightning-current parameters are allocated to the respective lightning-current diversion path, and the spatial allocation of the lightning-current detection sensors to the parts of the installation is referred to for this purpose.

3. Method according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the obtained charge values due to the lightning current are used to analyze the expected lifetime of in particular mechanical, energized components of the installation.

4. Method according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the at least one lightning-current measurement sensor comprises two Rogowski coils, wherein a first Rogowski coil detects single pulses of a high current level with up to about 200 kA and a short pulse duration of up to 5 ms, and a further Rogowski coil detects long-term current of lower currents at a pulse duration of up to 1 s.

5. Method according to claim 1 ,

characterized by

the lightning-current detection sensors are provided at a respective connection point between at least one rotor blade of the rotor blades and the hub.

6. Method according to claim 5 ,

characterized in that

the signal transmission for the yes/no decision is performed in a wireless manner between the lightning-current detection sensors and an evaluating unit.

7. Method according to claim 6 ,

characterized in that

the electrical operating power required for operating the lightning-current detection sensors is obtained from the kinetic energy of the rotor blades.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: DEHN SE + CO KG
To: DEHN SE
Reel/Frame 060546/0572 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 21, 2020
From: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG
To: DEHN SE + CO KG
Reel/Frame 051651/0078 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2018
From: BIRKL, JOSEF; EICHLER, BERNHARD; BÖHM, THOMAS; SCHORK, FRANZ
To: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG
Reel/Frame 046372/0103 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2015 011 739 · Sep 4, 2015 · national
DE 10 2016 000 930 · Jan 28, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180238947A1 · Aug 23, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,253,432