해상풍력발전기 직격뢰 보호용 1등급 바리스터 개발

Abstract

With the abnormal weather phenomena caused by global warming, the frequency and intensity of lightning strikes are increasing, and lightning accidents are becoming one of the biggest causes of failures and accidents in offshore wind turbines. In order to secure generator operation reliability, effective and practical measures are needed to reduce lightning damage. Because offshore wind turbines are tall structures installed at sea, the possibility of direct lightning strikes is very high compared to other structures, and the role of surge protection devices to minimize damage to the electrical and electronic circuits inside the wind turbine is very important. In this study, a varistor, which is a key element for a class 1 surge protection device for direct lightning protection, was developed. The current density was improved by changing the varistor composition, and the distance between the electrode located on the varistor surface and the edge of the varistor was optimized through a simulation program to improve the fabrication process. Considering the combined effects of heat distribution, electric field distribution, and current density on the optimized varistor surface, silver electrodes were formed with a gap of 0.5 mm. The varistor developed in this study was confirmed to have an energy tolerance of 10/350 ㎲, 50kA, which is a representative direct lightning current waveform, and good protection characteristics with a limiting voltage of 2 kV or less.