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LIGHTNING
Lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge between
the electrically charged regions within clouds or between
a cloud and the surface of a planet.

Types Of Lightning

Scientists recognize four basic types of lightning

discharges as follows:-

1. Intra-cloud flashes (within clouds).

2. Inter-cloud flashes (between clouds).

3. Cloud-to-air flashes (between cloud and ionosphere).

4. Cloud-to-ground flashes (between cloud and ground)

Types Of Lightning

Facts Of Lightning

- Unidirectional (DC) current flow

- Voltage potential 100 to 1,000 million volts
- Current range 10,000 to 200,000 amperes
- Duration from 1 microsecond to 1 second
- Can generate 6,000 oC

Mechanism Of Lightning

With the development of very large storm clouds the lower part of the
cloud consists mainly of water droplets and the upper altitudes are
composed of ice crystals.

These Clouds can range in height from 2 to 16 kM.

Strong upward currents within the cloud cause the water droplets to be
separated resulting in high levels of positive charge at the top and
levels of negative charge at the bottom of the cloud.

The storm cloud thus creates a dipole with the ground.

Initially a discharge originating from the cloud known as a downward

leader is formed at the cloud center.

At the same time the electrical charge in the atmosphere at ground level
increases as the downward leader gets closer.

Mechanism Of Lightning

Natural ionization begins to occur at points on the ground in the

vicinity and eventually turns into an upward discharge, the upward
leader.

The upward leader develops toward the cloud .

When one of these upward leaders comes into contact with the
downward leader a conductive path is created and a powerful current
flows.

It is important to note that the lightning strike may be made up of a

number of successive return strokes.

Anatomy of a Lightning Stroke

Electrons begin
zigzagging
downward in a
forked pattern.
This is the
stepped
leader.

As the stepped leader

nears the ground, it
draws a streamer of
positive charge
upward.

As the leader and

streamer come
together, a powerful
electrical current
begins flowing.

Current begins
the return
stroke, an
intense wave of
positive charge
traveling
upward about
60,000 miles per
second.

Effects Of Lightning

There are two main effects of lightning strikes.

Direct strikes can cause damage to buildings equipment and property, injury or death to people
and animals.
Because of the high levels of electrical current discharged during strikes in addition to the above
electrical surges can result which can cause damage to electrical and electronic equipments.

Relevant Standards For Lightning Protection

NFPA 780
- Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection
Systems.

IS: 2309
- Protection of buildings and allied structures against
Lightning

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Document

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NFPA 780

NFPA 780 defines a Lightning Protection System as A

complete system of strike termination devices,
conductors (which could include conductive structural
members), grounding electrodes, interconnecting
conductors, surge protective devices and other
connectors or fittings required to complete the system.

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IS: 2309

This Code outlines the general technical aspects of lightning,

illustrating its principal electrical, thermal and mechanical effects.
Guidance is given on how to assess the risk of being struck and it
offers a method of compiling an index figure as an aid in deciding if a
particular structure is in need of protection.

The Code also offers guidance on good engineering practice and the

selection of suitable materials.

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Risk Assessment Of Lightning

There is no law which requires that a building must be protected

with a lightning protection system but the first consideration is
life safety in buildings and therefore the risk of having no (or
inadequate) protection needs to be assessed. Architects and
design engineers have to consider lightning protection systems
as part of their designs. To assess if lightning protection is
required, a risk assessment should be undertaken.

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Risk Assessment Of Lightning

Risk assessment can be made taking account of the exposure risk

( that is the risk of the structure being struck) and the following
factors:

Use to which the structure is put (A)

Nature of its construction (B)

Value of its contents or consequential effects (C)

The location of the structure (D) and

The height of the structure ( in the case of composite structures
the overall height) (E)
Total Weightage Factor = A x B x C x D x E

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Risk Assessment Of Lightning

Exposure Risk:-The probable number of strikes ( risk) to the structure per year is
P = Ac x Ng x 10-6
Ac= Effective Collection Area .
Ng= Number of flashes to ground / km2 / year.

Overall Risk Factor, Nd = P x Total Weightage Factor .

Acceptable Risk, Nc = 10-5 (1 in 100,000 per year).

If Nd < Nc, then Lightning Protection is optional but if Nd >

Nc, then Lightning Protection is compulsory

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Lightning Protection Scheme at TCL Babrala

The equipment throughout the TCL, Babrala plant can be categorized as

under on the basis of lightning protection system:
1.

Metallic structures having self protection system used at urea plant,

ammonia plant and pipe rack.

2.

Non metallic structure having angle protection system used at prilling

tower, comp. house lawn, CO2 comp., H101(ammonia), SILO, BCR top

3.

Faraday Cage protection system used at cooling tower.

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Metallic Structure
The metallic
structures, pipe
structures or tower
in the location of
plant process area
comes under the
system of self
protection as these
are totally metallic
in structure.

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Angle Of Protection
Air Terminal , Conductors and Grounding Rod

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Angle Of Protection

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Faraday Cage Protection

For protection with the Faraday

Cage, the building that is to be
protected is going to be wrapped
around together with all its
collateral sections from the
highest places of the building to
the ground in a way that will
form a constant and continuous
conductive path. This cage
which possesses many catching
ends made up of conductors
completed
with
horizontal
connections, is going to be
connected to an earthing system.

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Status Of Existing Lightning Protection System

SL.N
O

LOCATION

LIGHTNING
ARRESTOR
TAG NO.

CONNECTED PIT
NO.

TYPE OF LIGHTNING
PROTECTION SYSTEM

Prilling Tower
(Urea)

LA 1

37,39,41

Conventional type, Cone of

protection

21C1 (Urea)

LA 2

46,47

Structural Earthing

21 R1(Urea)

LA 3

43,45

Structural Earthing

21 C3(Urea)

LA 4

48,49

Structural Earthing

11 C1(Urea)

LA 5

31,32

Structural Earthing

11 R1 (Urea)

LA 6

27,30

Structural Earthing

11 C5 (Urea)

LA 7

33,34

Structural Earthing

11 C2(Urea)

LA 8

25,26

Structural Earthing

Comp. House
Lawn (Ammonia)

LA9

73,75,76

Angle Of Protection

10

Pipe Rack

LA9

82,93,95,96,98,99

Structural Earthing

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Status Of Existing Lightning Protection System

SL.N
O

LOCATION

LIGHTNING
ARRESTOR
TAG NO.

CONNECTED
PIT NO.

TYPE OF LIGHTNING
PROTECTION SYSTEM

11

CO2 Comp.
(Ammonia)

LA10

79,80,100

Angle Of Protection

12

R501 (Ammonia)

LA11

101,102,103,107

Structural Earthing

13

F303 & Pipe Rack

N.F303

LA12

104,105,87,88

Structural Earthing

14

H101 (Ammonia)

LA13

1,2,3

Angle Of Protection

15

Silo (PPP)

LA14, LA15

Angle Of Protection

16

BCR Top (PPP)

LA16-18

Angle Of Protection

17

Cooling Tower
(O&U)

LA19-30

Faraday Cage Method of Protection

18

Naptha Storage Tank

(O&U)

Overhead ground wire type

protection

19

HRU1 (O&U)

Angle Of Protection

20

HRU2 (O&U)

Angle Of Protection
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Analysis of Lightning & its consequences event on

29th March at TCL, Babrala

Due to severe lightning surge 6 Voltage Transmitters (0 -5V) --

3 Intervalve Pressure (IVP) Transmitters

3 Compressor Discharge (CPD) Transmitters were damaged.

For that reason the gas flow control to the GTG2 was lost which
could have resulted in plant tripping.

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Effect of lightning on Electronic Equipment

The lightning that affects electronic equipment enters through power supply
lines, network and communication lines, grounding and space (electromagnetic
waves).Lightning strikes can damage transmitters, electronic equipment or
signal cabling. Damage to a transmitter varies depending on the access route of
the lightning strike. A direct hit generally destroys a transmitter. Even nearby
strikes can induce damaging currents in wiring.
A lightning strike on process piping will usually damage the sensor module and
may damage the electronics of a transmitter. A strike on signal or power leads
will cause damage to the sensor module and electronic components on printed
circuit boards.
The lightning transient is usually powerful enough to damage electronically
based equipment.
The cost of this damage is process downtime, reduced throughput, increased
maintenance, strained inventories, and headaches.
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Minimizing Transients Effects On Electronic Equipments

Three strategies are effective in minimizing lightning-induced transients
on industrial electronics:
Diversion: Grounded metallic structures form cone of protection to
protect equipment and cabling.
Attenuation: Judicious wiring practices, such as metallic raceways,
cable shields, twisted pairs, and extensive grounding and earthing reduce
the magnitude of transients.
Suppression: Add-on devices limit the magnitude of the transient
appearing at the instrument. Transient suppressor devices are Gas
Discharge Tubes (GDT), Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) & Transient Zener
Diodes (TZD)

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Periodic Maintenance Programme for Lightning Protection

Inspection of all the conductors and surge protection devices.

Continuity checking of lightening protection system.

Measurement of resistance of ground terminals.

Refastening and tightening of all clamps, splicers and other

components, if required .

Changes in structure, if required.

Lightning protection system inspection & above periodic

maintenance to be done once in a year.

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Thank You

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