Yılkomer Interview

Subject: Lightning-Overvoltage Protection LV Surge Arrester and Grounding

Serdar AKSOY, Coordinator of YILKOMER (Lightning Protection Center)

“External Lightning Protection Systems Cannot Protect Electrical Systems; LV SURGE ARRESTER SYSTEM MUST BE USED”

Providing services in lightning and overvoltage protection, YILKOMER prioritizes engineering in the systems it installs. Serdar Aksoy, who also carries out the Turkey marketing and technical consultancy of 2 international companies, states that the belief that the external lightning protection system will protect all systems is wrong and indicates that surge arrester, grounding, equipotential, and external lightning protection systems must be installed in an integrated manner.

Can you give information about the establishment purpose of YILKOMER?

Lightning Protection Center (YILKOMER) aims to eliminate technical deficiencies in the field of lightning and overvoltage. While doing this, it approaches the subject entirely from an engineering perspective. In summary, the primary goal of the company is not material sales. YILKOMER is a center that performs risk analyzes and aims for system installation according to IEC62305 standards. The company, which employs expert engineers and applicators, strives to protect all areas by using internal lightning protection, external lightning protection, grounding, and equipotential systems in a combined manner. Solar power plants, wind power plants, and flammable-explosive facilities are within our fields of activity. Yılkomer follows the new technologies of international companies and uses these products in system designs; all design, project, and application are carried out by us with the most correct products. Additionally, we aim to increase social awareness by constantly keeping the website www.yilkomer.com fresh with up-to-date information. We also provide free survey services. As Yılkomer, we use the products of German and French companies in our designs.

Was the acceptance of internal lightning protection systems a bit late in Turkey?  

There is a perception in Turkey that “the lightning rod system protects against everything”. In the specifications of the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, now the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the expression “lightning rod installation” is included under the heading of lightning protection. This expression has passed into all special specifications regardless of its content and has created a wrong opinion over time. Protection systems made using only lightning rods do not protect electronic devices. Why electronic devices malfunctioned even though there was a lightning rod could not be understood in Turkey for a long time. One of the reasons for this situation is that industry stakeholders do not explain the internal lightning protection system to their customers. As the Lightning Protection Center, we also make the LV Surge Arrester system mandatory, and at this point, we conduct many market-developing seminar studies. Companies working in the field of internal lightning protection systems entered the Turkish market in the last 3-5 years. Consequently, the application of the system was delayed. There are 3,500 types of surge arresters, which are among the components of the system that can be summarized as internal lightning protection. Selecting them suitable for the system to be applied is a separate expertise.

You mentioned that you prefer the Faraday Cage instead of the Lightning Rod. Should we understand from this that you believe the lightning rod does not provide protection?

It is not possible to say that the lightning rod does not provide protection; at least I cannot say a clear sentence like it provides protection or not on this matter. However, since we work intensively with German companies and perform installations within the scope of the IEC 62305 standard, we do not use lightning rod (ESE) systems. We think that systems forming a protection angle with air terminals are more prone to engineering calculations. We offer integrated designs with special systems in projects where lightning rods are requested. Integrated systems offer more accurate results in terms of protecting corner points. In the integration of the Mesh Method and Rolling Sphere Method, since there are multiple air terminals, the probability of catching lightning from corners increases.

What kind of developments are happening in LV Surge Arrester technology recently?

We are involved in studies where 4 systems are integrated. One of these four systems is internal lightning protection. When a lightning strike heads towards the panel, it burns the cartridges and disables the surge arrester. Changing the cartridge means time and cost. Iskra Zascite RAYCAP, whose Turkey responsibility we carry out, developed a technology called Safetec. Products using this technology do not contain varistors. Thus, the product can absorb an unlimited number of impulses. Surge arresters are also used in grounding systems. Insulated conductors and clips are among the new technologies in our sector. Lightning detection systems are also quite popular recently. Lightning detection systems notify in advance that an impulse is coming. This way, the user has time to shut down the installation. Special external lightning protection systems have been developed for the protection of solar energy systems. Design and application are as important as product features. No matter how advanced the device technology is, a wrong application can leave all devices unprotected. YILKOMER aims to establish a complete system instead of selling products by quantity. In other words, we prefer to be on the engineering side of the business. Application, design, and product selection constitute the basic steps of engineering.

Internal lightning protection LV Surge Arrester is a new subject for Turkey. Does this situation create company inflation in the sector?

No new players are entering our sector. The main factor increasing the number of players here is the division of companies among themselves. These divisions do not reduce the quality in the sector. However, it is not possible to say this specifically for product quality. Low-quality products from China enter the market, or these products brought from China are launched as if they were Turkish brands. It should not be forgotten that this issue is for safety purposes rather than commercial concerns. Surge arresters must be tested in the 10/350ms waveform to provide protection against lightning impulses. Products not subjected to the said test are sold in the market as protection against lightning. Thus, systems are not protected. We have dismantled products from many installed systems and realized redesigns. There are companies in the market claiming that a single product provides all protection. Such a thing is not possible. Customers are aware of their needs and demand the right product. This is proof that bad companies will lose their already small market shares in the future.

What are your short and medium-term goals?

I can say spreading the correct protection methods in IEC 62305 Standards in the market and changing the technical perspective so that not even a single device burns out as a result of impulses. For Yılkomer, it is to support our country in the field of sustainable production by protecting more facilities every year. We aim to increase the number of 2 international companies for which we provide consultancy. Each brand has features that distinguish it from others. By combining these different brands, it is possible to design ideal systems. We present the work with its engineering. We want to maintain this structure. We are on the way to becoming a project and application firm in Lightning Protection and Grounding. Additionally, as per our mission, we aim to accelerate our training activities for correct system designs all over Turkey.

What should we consider when choosing the company to install the internal lightning protection LV Surge Arrester system?

Attention should be paid to the qualifications of the engineers within the company. The work experience of the said engineers in their field is very important. The certificates of the products used must be complete. Again, products must meet the requirements of basic standards such as IEC 62305, IEC 61643. The company should be able to present the project of the system it will install and report it. There should be documents showing that the devices are calibrated. Offering a quote over the phone is out of the question. The place where the system will be installed must be seen. The technology of the offered products must be up-to-date.  

Anything you want to add…

The sector needs to correct specifications and regulations. Internal lightning protection is still not mentioned in specifications. At the point where it is mentioned, technically correct systems will start to be installed. Sector players should strip themselves of commercial concerns and prioritize quality. Our country needs to rapidly attack in engineering as in every subject. Instead of rote systems, we must take our steps quickly to establish creative and correct systems.