Surge Protection

Energy power plant installations, production facilities, solar systems, wind power plants, shopping centers and investments worth millions can suffer major damages within nanoseconds as a result of insufficient surge protection. Sudden surge impulses, especially lightning, are directly part of our daily lives. Many unexplained malfunctions, fires and system shutdowns are caused by sudden overvoltage events. Lightning strike is the most powerful of these impulses. However, switching impulses, harmonics and coupling effects constitute other types of surges. According to statistics, sudden overvoltage impulses account for 80% of device and system failures. Especially automation and control systems, SCADA and PLCs, camera systems, telecommunication systems and solar system components become inoperative and cause PCB burnouts as a result of these impulses.

Electronic systems suffer serious damage as a result of surge impulses.

In addition, the source of electrical short circuits, which are accepted as the cause of fires at a rate of 90%, is also sudden surge impulses. A lightning strike is the most powerful of these impulses with a maximum peak value of 200 kA. However, even a 5 kA impulse can disable entire systems. Surge protection products are therefore extremely important at this point. Lightning impulses are slower but more powerful compared to other impulse types. A lightning impulse is directed to systems within approximately 100 nanoseconds on a 10/350 ms curve. Grid impulses are directed to systems within approximately 25 nanoseconds on an 8/20 ms curve. For this reason, we must pay attention to product characteristics when selecting surge protection products. There are approximately 3,500 types of surge protection products. These products are classified to protect main panels, sub-panels and sensitive systems; surge protection products are diversified according to voltage and protection levels.

How Does Surge Protection Work?

Especially for the protection of data lines and systems operating at low voltage levels, it is very important that a site survey is conducted by an expert engineer and suitable products are selected for the system. If the correct product is not selected and staged protection is not applied, a lightning strike will continue to damage the entire system. Therefore, surge protection products are divided into main classes such as Class B SPDs, Class C SPDs, Class B+C SPDs and Class D SPDs. Within these classes, DC-AC surge protection products are diversified according to Uc values such as 5, 12, 24, 48, 60, 75, 120, 230,…1000V.

Your main and sub panels must absolutely be protected with internal lightning protection systems.

In addition, products are listed according to installation types such as TT, TNC and TNS depending on the system grounding structure. Depending on system characteristics, single-phase, three-phase, 2-pole and 5-pole products are included in product ranges. In summary, just like diagnosing a patient, we must select the correct low voltage surge arrester to protect against lightning and surges. Application is just as important as product selection. Cable cross-sections, parallel and series connections, fuse usage are all extremely important for protecting the system against lightning. Therefore, implementation by an expert team familiar with the products is essential for surge protection and lightning protection systems.

PV Power Plants Surge Protection

For example, protecting solar systems against lightning is a very important issue. In these systems, AC, DC and data line protections are implemented. The total voltage of the system, inverter type and grounding value are very important for surge protection selection. If we cannot correctly select and apply surge protection products, the entire system becomes inoperative. At this point, we cannot ignore the four-level protection that we always emphasize. While surge protection products protect systems electrically, external lightning protection systems such as air terminals and lightning rods protect the facility against physical impacts.

External lightning protection systems for solar power plants

In addition, equipotential bonding and grounding systems are also extremely important. Therefore, within the scope of lightning protection engineering, it is necessary to evaluate the facility with a broad perspective and achieve the most accurate result through measurement, inspection and project design. As Lightning Protection Center, we provide services with our expert engineers and application team in site surveys, project design, product selection and design, and implementation. You can always contact us regarding the selection and application of LV SPDs and surge protection products.