The successful 200-year-old method of using a (Franklin) rod to collect, control, and convey to earth the awesome and destructive power of lightning has produced other alternative methods.
To properly select a lightning protection systems to protect buildings and structure from lightning damage, one needs to know the types of interaction that occur between clouds and earth.
As a thunderstorm builds, a break down point is reached and the cloud begins sending down charges called ‘stepped leaders’ through ionized paths in the atmosphere. Multiple stepped leaders begin propagating towards the ground in three dimensions looking for the highest accumulation of ground charges in the area. The charges move in steps of approximately 50 meters, stop & look for the best potential, then move again. These steps & redirections give lightning its appearance.
Which is the best lightning protection system for your facility?
LEC’s lightning protection system is based on Charge Dissipation Principle. This technology uses the point discharge principle to facilitate the dissipation, or the reduction, of a buildup of static electrical charges.
The sole purpose of Dissipation Array System, our patented product, is to reduce the accumulation of electrical charges and thereby prevent an electrical arc or an electrical current flow through the area of protection that can cause damage.
How does DAS work?
When a pointed grounded conductor is placed in a high electric field (such as on a structure located in a thunderstorm) voltage effects at the point are increased greatly. Electron from the atmospheric atoms and molecules are stripped away and flow to ground through the grounded conductor leaving behind positive atmospheric ions around the point. This process is referred to as the ‘CORONA EFFECT”.
This corona effect begins long before charge accumulation reaches a critical level when step leaders begin forming in the storm cloud. The result is an accumulation of ions around the point which disperse/dissipate in all directions away from the point. Electrons left behind from this dissipation of ions flow to ground and neutralize the positive charges accumulated on the ground and on the structure. This is an ongoing process as the thunderstorm builds and passes over the facility.
DAS lightning protection system was introduced in 1971. Since that time, over 3,000 systems have been installed worldwide, accruing over 40,000 system years. Throughout this time, the DAS has maintained a success rate over 99%.
Contact us to discuss your requirement for lightning protection system.