Wind turbines are impressive monuments on the horizon, harnessing the power of the wind to produce clean and sustainable energy. However, beyond their imposing presence and their crucial role in the transition towards renewable energy sources, they face an invisible but formidable challenge: lightning strikes.
Until recently, wind turbine blades were largely composed of fiberglass and insulating materials, leading engineers of the time to believe that they were unlikely to be struck by lightning. However, reality demonstrated the opposite when these colossal structures began to be impacted by the atmospheric phenomenon, revealing a serious error in the perception of risk.
To counter this threat, conventional lightning rods were installed on wind turbines, in the hope that they would provide effective protection. However, even with these measures, several structures remained vulnerable to the impact of the storms. In recent years, damage caused by lightning strikes to wind turbines has increased at a worrying rate.
This problem has been exacerbated by the growth in size of wind turbines over the years. Some of these structures reach heights well over 100 meters, while the blades, made of carbon fiber to increase their rigidity, represent a new challenge. Contrary to what one might think, the blades become electrically charged and this increases the possibility of lightning strikes and complicates protection.
Under this scenario, one might think that the battle of wind turbines against lightning strikes is a loss. However, there is a definitive solution on the horizon: the Multiple Electric Field Compensator (CMCE).
The CMCE is a passive collector system designed to balance and deionize the effects of atmospheric phenomena. Its operating principle is based on the compensation and stabilization of the electric field existing in its surroundings, canceling the formation of the ascending tracer and neutralizing the lightning. In short, it prevents the sudden increase or saturation of electrical charge in its protection area, preventing the formation of lightning.
Unlike conventional lightning rods that attract lightning, the CMCE goes a step further by completely preventing lightning formation, offering more effective and reliable protection for wind turbines.
CMCE represents the ultimate solution when it comes to lightning protection, and some wind farms have already started to rely on this innovative technology to take care of their valuable wind turbines.
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