Due to wind turbines natural geometry, they are directly exposed to lightning and its effect on the structure and its equipment. As manufacturers want to design larger wind turbines to get better performances, the lightning exposure rises. Acting as the entry point, the rotor blades will undertake several strikes during its life and the structure must be designed accordingly.

The department of high current impulses of the LCOE-HV Technological Center has been collaborating since 2021 with a leading wind turbine blade manufacturer to study the performance of its latest advanced-technology blades.

Two major tests have been carried out in 2022 on a section of the blade:

• High Voltage tests to evaluate the attachment points of the blade oriented at different angles form the cloud. With this purpose, the blade was placed facing a 12×4 meters electrode and subjected to high voltage impulses.
• High Current tests to evaluate the current distribution and voltage drop between elements of the blade. With this purpose, current impulses representative of the first return stroke and the subsequent strikes were injected to the blade.

For more information: angel.ramirez@ffii.es