Simulation of Electric Field Distributions Caused by the Lightning Leader
Based on the lightning leader model of Cooray et al., the electric field distribution on a wind turbine induced by the leader has been simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Because of its dimensions and complexity, the wind turbine has been simplified to its lightning protection system and by simulating only one blade. The derived electric field distribution has then been used as input for a detailed blade-tip model. The detailed model can be used to analyse the influence of the down-conductor shape on the electric breakdown emergence.
By Bastian Lewke and Josef Kindersberger, Technische Universität München, Germany