Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
(OP)
According to the article "Pipeline Failure Results from Lightning Strike: Act of Mother Nature?" , a through hole in a 4.8 mm wall thickness, underground pipe, can be attributed to lightning strike.
Is it only me who finds this explanation groundless?
If a lightning hits a metallic object, it will cause only surface marks to the paint or the coating, since the current will spread to the whole surface of the object. It is well known than when lightning hits a car (auto steel sheet is about 1 mm) or metallic poles, there will be no penetrating of the steel. And if the underground pipe was hit by lightning, it would receive only a fraction of the total current.
Is there a way that a lighting could make this hole to a buried pipe?
Is it only me who finds this explanation groundless?
If a lightning hits a metallic object, it will cause only surface marks to the paint or the coating, since the current will spread to the whole surface of the object. It is well known than when lightning hits a car (auto steel sheet is about 1 mm) or metallic poles, there will be no penetrating of the steel. And if the underground pipe was hit by lightning, it would receive only a fraction of the total current.
Is there a way that a lighting could make this hole to a buried pipe?





RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
Nah, I'd say it's shocking.
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
This article in Pipelines OZ appears to substantiate the possibility,
https://pipelinesoz.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/light...
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
Compositepro: The article says that the hole in the steel pipe was not due to corrosion. The crater formation was an indication or proof that lightning, or other electrical discharge caused it. Which I doubt it.
Gator:
BigInch: Yes, I have read it...
blacksmith37: Yes, this makes sense.
When electric transmission cables are hit by lightning, do they melt? Anyone knows?
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
flight instructor
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
When a lighting bolt strikes the ground there is clearly some voltage gradient existing there, hence the reason they tell you not to stand with your legs apart next to tree in a thunderstorm.
I've seen a simple graph saying it could be 3kV/m at some distance (5m) from the strike.
If the strike is directly above a buried line 1m deep, this implies the ground around it is possibly at 10 - 100kV or more for a short duration.
Assuming you have a good quality coating, then it shouldn't affect the pipe - even a thin FBE coating can withstand 10,000V during holiday testing so with PE it's probably a lot more.
However a small existing hole in an otherwise well coated pipe will concentrate that current into a small point before it dissipates in the rest of the pipe. The pipe will conduct electricity much better than the ground so will become the lightning rod in effect for the local ground within 5m or os from direct strike.
I still think you've got to be quite unlucky and I would like to guess that all the failures are in pipes <5mm, though one article did not that they found depressions in thicker pipes from intelligent pig runs.
So groundless - no. Likely, also no. Possible - Yes
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
...if a fraction of the total lightning current is concentrated because of a hole in the coating, and this concentration is able to melt the 5 mm wall, then the 100% of the lightning current that hits electrical cables, cars and air terminals should also melt at least 5mm around the hitting point. Which, as far as I know, does not happen.
The skin effect applies to all metallic objects hit by high frequency current, isn't it?
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
It's pretty rare and I would hazard a guess only happens in fairly dry sandy soils where the ground conductivity isn't as good as it is in a lot of other places and hence the voltage gradient is much higher by the time it gets to the pipe.
Still kind of heats up the car a bit though... http://justonemorequestion.net/?p=59
skin effect and high frequency current are different things to lightning strikes I think.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
Saw a structural column nearly cut off by lightening once. It struck an adjacent tower, when it got to about 6' above ground the building was close enough to offer a better ground path. It was melted, twisted, and a lot of metal was missing.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
I have trouble with a melted hole in a buried pipeline. Before I'd expect the pipe to melt, with its superior electrical and thermal conductivity, verse the 'dirt's lousy conductivity', you should probably see melted dirt and glass-like fingers near any pipe insulation holes.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
I agree it seems a bit fantastical, but is feasible IMHO.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Pipeline failure (through hole) due to lightning