Lightning protection of steel water tank
Lightning protection of steel water tank
(OP)
Hi all.
Steel tank for potable water is on the top of steel supporting structure. Early streamer emission device is planned to be installed on the top of it, in order to protect other facilities. Steel supporting structure can be used as natural down conductor. My question is should I use non insulated or insulated protection system, since steel structure as well as tank itself is directly connected to well pumps via steel pipes and water. Is there a potential danger to water users or pumps during lightning discharge?
On the other hand, even if I use a insulated system (which will be far more difficult to install because it will require insulated distance holders) earth termination electrode will still be in touch with pipes and water via surrounding soil and steel structure.
Hope that someone can give me an advice what is a good solution in this case.
Steel tank for potable water is on the top of steel supporting structure. Early streamer emission device is planned to be installed on the top of it, in order to protect other facilities. Steel supporting structure can be used as natural down conductor. My question is should I use non insulated or insulated protection system, since steel structure as well as tank itself is directly connected to well pumps via steel pipes and water. Is there a potential danger to water users or pumps during lightning discharge?
On the other hand, even if I use a insulated system (which will be far more difficult to install because it will require insulated distance holders) earth termination electrode will still be in touch with pipes and water via surrounding soil and steel structure.
Hope that someone can give me an advice what is a good solution in this case.






RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
If you're interested in more details, check out a paper by Bill Rison from New Mexico Tech on this subject.
If the down conductor is of adequate size, the pumps should be protected. I favor bare conductor for down leads in addition to the steel supporting structure.
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_lhm/magic.pdf
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
IEC standard doesn't recognize ESE as a variant of air termination system either, but as I told it's a previously approved solution.
RE: Lightning protection of steel water tank
Regarding the down conductors if they need to be insulated or not. I would run the unisulated. I do not see a safety problem even if for the few milliseconds the lighting current is flowing through the down conductors. If there is proper bonding an following the rules of the NFPA 780 you should be safe with uninsulated down conductors.