Objective
Objectives
A Joule II project, commenced in 1996, investigated ways in which wind turbines may be protected against the effects of lightning. That project identified a number of important new issues as needing further study. This I year project of further work in this area will investigate five particular topics.
- To investigate why wood-epoxy laminate and GRIP wind turbine blades do not suffer the same frequency of damage. This study should assist in identifying an inherently lightning protected blade design for wind turbines.
- To investigate the use of high-receptivity strips on wind turbine blades to provide effective lightning protection without increasing elector-magnetic interference. Such strips could be used with new blades and as a retro-fit means of protection to unprotected blades.
- To evaluate the ability of a wind turbine blade de-icing system to also be used as a blade lightning protection system, the combination of which would lead to lower overall manufacturing costs for such a blade.
To investigate the response of wind farm earthing systems to lightning by performing pulse injection tests on buried earth conductors. The results of the tests will be used to validate computer models developed during the Joule II project.
- To model the response of large wind farm SCADA systems to lightning and to propose effective lightning threat levels and lightning protection techniques for such systems.
Technical approach
The project phases examining the response of wind turbine blades and lightning protection systems to a lightning strike will be undertaken using a combination of finite element computer modelling and high voltage testing. The high voltage laboratory at UMIST containing a 2MV impulse generator and 750kV DC generator will be extensively used.
Windfarm SCADA and grounding systems will be modelled using computer codes that are commercially available. The response of a real earthing system during pulse injection tests will be contrasted with the response predicted by these computer codes.
Expected achievements
The achievement of these objectives should result in the following benefits:
- Improved and more cost-effective means of protecting wind turbine blades from the effects of lightning.
- Confidence that the models which have been developed for the design of wind farm earthing systems represent their behaviour under lightning conditions correctly.
- Improved methods for the earthing and protection of wind farm SCADA systems.
The results of the research will be made available to the European wind turbine industry at the end of the project. Publication will be by conference papers and by an appendix to the "Designers Guide" which will be produced at the end of the Joule II project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
M60 1QD MANCHESTER
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.