While EUROLAB provides basic analytical modeling and testing services for Lightning Incident Problems in Wind Turbine Systems and Structures, the project lifecycle helps reduce testing costs and provides valuable information for basic design decisions.
Our long-standing involvement in the Wind Energy industry offers practical participation to the IEC TC-88 PT 24 committee (responsible for launching the wind industry test standard IEC 61400-24) and the development of our analytical modeling capabilities. This enables our engineers to perform the design evaluation and testing services that wind power products require.
Our turbine and blade manufacturer partners know very well: Wind turbines are ducks sitting for air strikes. Lightning strikes can cause significant damage, which can be extremely expensive to repair or make a turbine completely inoperable.
Combined with your task of increasing the longevity and reliability of your product without sacrificing performance or costs, these challenges require a reliable and experienced industry partner. For the electromagnetic phenomenon services required by your successful wind energy application, EUROLAB offers:
Protection Design:
Digital Simulation Services
Exposure Assessments - Zoning (LPX) according to IEC 61400-24
Protection Verification Services
Certificate Test Planning and Documentation for:
Working with our engineering services team, EUROLAB modeling and analytical teams guide the selection of the most robust materials and connection methods. In order to maintain the effects of multiple strokes, we thoroughly evaluate the protection design materials and connections, such as SPL and ETH pads.
COMSOL is the modeling environment preferred by EUROLAB. Our fully validated, industry-standard modeling package solves differential and partial differential equation systems that contain the materials and boundary conditions specified in the model.
The EUROLAB modeling approach supports physics connections such as heat transfer and currents, and offers countless options to customize and develop models for almost any situation.
EUROLAB has developed electromagnetic models for wind turbine blades, we analyze the distributions between structural carbon and surface protection layers, we determine transient voltages and currents to optimize lightning conductor positions, tolerances and more. We can accurately simulate the IEC 62305 waveforms required for all lightning protection levels (LPL).
In general, models are created by decomposing CAD-level data into COMSOL local shapes. This allows the determination of electromagnetic significance, such as currents or currents induced through the blade, including CFRP pultrusions, heater elements, surface protection layers, and down conductors. Models capture critical design details such as material thicknesses, conductor orientation, and receptor locations. The assessment reveals performance risks, such as the arc between conductive materials and blade elements, the arc between structures and transient currents induced to control systems.
EUROLAB models are produced to simulate physics and replicate test setup (i.e. generator return paths) through Maxwell's equations. These are critical for initial model development. Replicated test setup results are compared to measurements taken unchanged to “match” the measurements.
EUROLAB engineers conduct analyzes to evaluate existing distributions for one or more candidate protection designs aimed at transmitting the lightning current with the lowest damage or repair potential. In order for this model data to be considered truly high accuracy, it must be verified by replicating exact measurements taken during laboratory tests and comparing them with analytical data to determine correlation. These tests typically include:
If the model sufficiently reconciles with the measured data, it can be considered an appropriate representation of the actual test item. If the model does not agree, alternative modeling approaches may be applied or the project may pause to reduce program risk. Experience to date has shown a good correlation between the model and measured data.
After the model is approved, it is returned to a general purpose layout. Boundary returns are used to remove artifacts specific to the test setup that may be included, and physics and boundary conditions are not changed. The model can then be manipulated without further testing; to allow the review of defined design changes guaranteed by initial model calculations / data validation tests and to understand transient levels on conductors and electronics.
While early life cycle data is being collected, fully developed models allow the study of areas where measurements are taken or not, so better design decisions can be made. Early life cycle modeling reduces certification risks, validates design methods for future (similar) designs, and allows similarity analyzes in future designs to reduce testing needs.
To get an appointment, to get more detailed information or to request an evaluation, you can ask us to fill in our form and reach you.
EUROLABreporting and certification activities, United Accreditation Foundation (UAF), Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) ve Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) based on the accreditation provided by the accreditation body. The Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) accreditation body is also a signatory of the United Nations (UN GLOBAL COMPACT) organization.
