Lightning can cause complete destruction to structures and buildings that they strike because they carry thousands of ohms of current. The huge amount of current discharged when a strike occurs destroys buildings and plants. It can also injure and kill human beings and animals. To avoid these effects, protection systems have been designed for installation on buildings. The installation is done at the highest point on the building. The system them runs along the height of the structure all the way into the ground. This is worth knowing about Oilfield lightning protection.
The systems appear as metal rods that point into the sky. The metal rod provides lightning with the path of least resistance to the flow of electric current. In fact, this is the whole principle on which lightning protection systems are based. A typical system usually contains four major parts, with each serving a specific purpose. These four parts are copper clad ground rod, surge suppressor, copper cable, and copper air terminals.
The fact that copper offers the best electrical conductivity makes it an ideal metal to be used. However, other metals can also be used too. Other systems in fact can only be built using aluminum. The protrusions visible on the building where the system is installed are air terminals. When a strike occurs, the terminals discharge the current.
Air terminals lead to ground rods through connecting cables. Installation of ground rods is done ten feet into the ground. The system is grounded to the ground of the plumbing or circuit box of the building. The entire electric system is covered by surge suppressors linked to circuit breakers. Surge suppressors may be placed at individual appliances in the house.
Most companies do their best to ensure that the system is concealed and unnoticeable to people. The only noticeable part of the system is usually the air terminals that unavoidably have to protrude above the building. The copper cable tends to weather and change color from the conspicuous orange color to a dull patina.
Any kind of building or structure can have the arresters. Homes, aircraft, trees, boats, water tanks, businesses and farm buildings are some of the structures where these systems are installed. There are three main organizations responsible for setting standards that have to be observed when designing and installing these systems. NFPA, UL and LPI are the three organizations.
The work of arresters is to ensure that the current that comes from strikes find a safe path into the ground. The current will go through any conductor in their path if arresters are not present. Examples of conductors that provide a good path for the current include gas pipes, rooftops, water pipes, phone cables, and electrical lines. The current travels through one or multiple conductors.
Sometimes side flashes may occur so that the current can reach a better grounded conductor on the same house or surrounding homes and structures. As this happens, the current can ignite fuel in their way to cause fires. For instance, they may ignite materials such as gasoline, wood, and paper. Electric wires can be vaporized by the huge current, causing a serious electrical problem.
The systems appear as metal rods that point into the sky. The metal rod provides lightning with the path of least resistance to the flow of electric current. In fact, this is the whole principle on which lightning protection systems are based. A typical system usually contains four major parts, with each serving a specific purpose. These four parts are copper clad ground rod, surge suppressor, copper cable, and copper air terminals.
The fact that copper offers the best electrical conductivity makes it an ideal metal to be used. However, other metals can also be used too. Other systems in fact can only be built using aluminum. The protrusions visible on the building where the system is installed are air terminals. When a strike occurs, the terminals discharge the current.
Air terminals lead to ground rods through connecting cables. Installation of ground rods is done ten feet into the ground. The system is grounded to the ground of the plumbing or circuit box of the building. The entire electric system is covered by surge suppressors linked to circuit breakers. Surge suppressors may be placed at individual appliances in the house.
Most companies do their best to ensure that the system is concealed and unnoticeable to people. The only noticeable part of the system is usually the air terminals that unavoidably have to protrude above the building. The copper cable tends to weather and change color from the conspicuous orange color to a dull patina.
Any kind of building or structure can have the arresters. Homes, aircraft, trees, boats, water tanks, businesses and farm buildings are some of the structures where these systems are installed. There are three main organizations responsible for setting standards that have to be observed when designing and installing these systems. NFPA, UL and LPI are the three organizations.
The work of arresters is to ensure that the current that comes from strikes find a safe path into the ground. The current will go through any conductor in their path if arresters are not present. Examples of conductors that provide a good path for the current include gas pipes, rooftops, water pipes, phone cables, and electrical lines. The current travels through one or multiple conductors.
Sometimes side flashes may occur so that the current can reach a better grounded conductor on the same house or surrounding homes and structures. As this happens, the current can ignite fuel in their way to cause fires. For instance, they may ignite materials such as gasoline, wood, and paper. Electric wires can be vaporized by the huge current, causing a serious electrical problem.
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