Simulation Research on Lightning Protection Design of Wind Turbine Blades in Ultra-high Altitude Environments

YANG Huaiyu; LIU Zhengshu; WU Wenlong; MAO Yujiao; CHEN Chuan; XIANG Li

doi:10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.08.017

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (8) : 137-147. DOI: 10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.08.017

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Simulation Research on Lightning Protection Design of Wind Turbine Blades in Ultra-high Altitude Environments

YANG Huaiyu¹, LIU Zhengshu², WU Wenlong¹, MAO Yujiao², CHEN Chuan³, XIANG Li^3,*

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Abstract

The work aims to carry out lightning protection design of wind turbine blades, to make them adapt to the ultra-high altitude environment and achieve safe and stable operation effects. In this paper, simulation technology was used to conduct design research on the blade body lightning arrester and the tip lightning arrester of the wind turbine blades. The main research focused on the surface electric field, current distribution after the lightning was introduced into the lightning arrester, as well as the temperature distribution in the weak structural areas such as the inflection points or tips. The key areas of concern were marked, and the temperature distribution was studied, thus the rationality of structural design could be evaluated. Furthermore, performance test research on the designed blade structure was carried out through the initial leader attachment test, subsequent impulse attachment test, arc introduction test, and conduction current test methods. Through simulation and data analysis, it was found that the tip lightning arrester had more lightning attachment points, especially the tip region inside the blade. The arc introduction test found that the current discharge did not cause obvious damage to the lightning protection system, the connection of the air-termination was not loose, and the current discharge did not cause obvious damage to the blade structure. In the conduction current test, the current discharge did not cause structural damage to the lightning protection system and the root connection. There was no spark at the connection point during the discharge moment, and the connection point was not damaged. Analysis through simulation and experimental testing indicates that the layout structure of the designed high-altitude wind turbine blade lightning receptors is reasonable, and both the tip lightning receptors and the blade body lightning receptors can effectively reduce the impact of lightning strikes. But performance can be further improved. For example, when installing lightning receptors on the blade body, the tips inside should be rounded to reduce the probability of lightning strikes on internal tips. It is recommended to thicken the edges of the blade receptors, increase the radius of curvature, and expand the lightning-receiving area to minimize local damage as much as possible. At the same time, design adjustments should be made based on service environment characteristics to meet the requirements for high-altitude blades, ensuring long-term safe operation of wind turbine blades.

Key words

ultra-high altitude / wind turbine blade / lightning protection design / simulation / lightning arrester / lightning protection measure

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YANG Huaiyu, LIU Zhengshu, WU Wenlong, MAO Yujiao, CHEN Chuan, XIANG Li. Simulation Research on Lightning Protection Design of Wind Turbine Blades in Ultra-high Altitude Environments[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2025, 22(8): 137-147 https://doi.org/10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.08.017

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