Wind energy is a clean and renewable form of energy, which is also drought-resistant and almost emission-free. However, as South Africa’s renewable energy industry continues to explore wind energy as a potential resource, considerations around possible lightning strikes need to be factored in. Across the globe, whether on- or offshore, DEHN protects wind turbines against disturbances resulting from lightning currents and surges, and provides components and solutions relating to safety equipment.
The cost of constructing and operating wind power plants must be amortised within the timeframe of an average 20 years of operation. Constant monitoring and foresighted maintenance are essential. DEHNdetect, available from lightning and surge protection expert, DEHN Africa, is designed to measure lightning currents and detects not only impulse currents but also the dangerous long stroke currents.
Damage resulting from a lightning strike does not necessarily lead to the immediate failure of the turbine, and so lightning events often remain undetected. Especially in the case of upward flashes, the initial long stroke current flowing is only a few hundred amps, and this can be the main cause of melting, for example on the receptors of rotor blades. The resulting subsequent damage can be severe.
DEHN detect allows the operator to assess the situation and ask the following important questions: “Was the lightning strike harmless or does the turbine need to be switched off and inspected in order to rule out damage to the rotor blades or other components?” As well as the total current in the system, DEHNdetect registers individual partial currents in the rotor blades. The provision and management of data is simple and convenient via web applications in the cloud. DEHNdetect allows for the monitoring of several plants or even entire wind parks. DEHNdetect can be installed directly by the wind turbine manufacturer or retro-fitted in existing plants. Installation is quick and easy and can be adjusted to the specifications of the individual turbine.
Power supply with scalability optimised Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.
Read more...Prioritising arc flash safety Comtest
Electrical Power & Protection
Comtest has developed a range of thermal imaging and wireless testing tools from Fluke, designed to ensure safety is the top priority for engineers working in potentially dangerous arc flash zones.
Read more...Monitoring the voltage drop in cables Turck Banner Southern Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
With its new M12Plus connectors, Turck Banner is directly shifting the condition monitoring of cables subject to severe stress to the connection technology. The connectors, which come with voltage and current monitoring and a Bluetooth chip, enable measured voltage and current values to be sent wirelessly to a controller.
Read more...Mesh networks: a multidirectional electrical superhighway Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Today, many power industry stakeholders are faced with mounting requirements for improved grid reliability, resilience and distribution efficiency. It’s a challenge which requires power service providers to rethink their infrastructure. Enter mesh networks, which can overcome the limitations of traditional star networks.
Read more...Versatile flexible copper busbar
Electrical Power & Protection
Referro Systems specialises in the supply and support of industrial electrical, automation and global software and hardware brands, and is now able to offer the Cubic range of Cu-Flex flexible copper busbars.
Read more...Trafo Power Solutions upgrades DRC mine transformers
Electrical Power & Protection
With its experience in Africa and its agility in executing projects rapidly, Trafo Power Solutions is supplying three mini-substations and two transformers to a copper-zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Read more...Acquiring locally-manufactured transformers ACTOM Electrical Machines
Electrical Power & Protection
Speed and efficiency are of the essence in the fast-evolving power generation and distribution space; but a significant challenge is the prolonged lead times associated with acquiring transformers – key components in any electrical infrastructure.
Read more...Seaward testers power PV specialists Comtest
Electrical Power & Protection
One of Asia’s leading clean energy specialists, Solarvest, uses the latest electrical safety test equipment to ensure the solar photovoltaic (PV) installations it services and maintains operate at peak performance levels.
Read more...Multi-purpose contact block
Electrical Power & Protection
The TME catalogue has been expanded to include products from Schlegel. This German, family-owned company has been specialising in the production of high-quality electromechanical components for almost 80 years.
Read more...ACTOM supplies transformer units to Kamoa Copper Mine ACTOM Electrical Machines
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM Distribution Transformers, recently secured an order for the supply of its neutral electromagnetic couplers, with earthing resistors, and an auxiliary transformer) to Kamoa Copper Mine in the DRC.
printer friendly version