Smart technology has changed the way lightning strikes are repelled on petrochemical sites – and that is great news for the safety of workers and businesses.
Devastating lightning storms are becoming more common and more damaging, with storage tanks on petrochemical sites being right in the firing line. The upshot is that workers on these important sites are potentially facing greater dangers from lightning, while downtime from the impact of fires when the plants are hit can be costly. In an effort to mitigate such risks, site operators are adapting their response to major storms.
Traditionally, lightning rods and what is commonly known as early streamer emission (ESE) technology have been used for lightning protection. In effect, they ‘collect’ a lightning strike, inviting it on to a site that owners are trying to protect.
Such devices are now being superseded by Charge Transfer Technology that actually deters the strike from hitting a site in the first place, avoiding any risks altogether.
World-class technology
American company Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (LEC) is a leading player in the lightning-strike avoidance space. Its lightning eliminators have proven successful for many years in lightning-prone areas, protecting storage tanks in the petrochemical sector, as well as telecommunications and power generation industries around the world. Delta Fire is the Australian and New Zealand distributor of LEC’s solutions.
The systems rely on grounding and earthing plus surge suppression to create an ‘isolation zone’ that inhibits direct strikes to a protected site and minimises the effects of any strikes nearby. Grounding is critical for personal safety, sustainability and uninterrupted operations, while the surge-protection is a safeguard against lightning that can damage or destroy sensitive electronics and IT equipment.
Significantly, LEC’s custom-engineered Dissipation Array Systems have already been installed on thousands of sites internationally, maintaining a success rate of more than 99 per cent.
Helping Australia
The lightning-strike avoidance technology has important implications for Australia, given that the Northern Territory is one of the most lightning-prone areas on earth, while other areas of the nation are also increasingly experiencing major lightning storms.
Petrochemical sites are among those turning to the smart solutions. Given that a single strike of lightning releases up to 500 million volts and generates a temperature of about 27,000ºC – three times hotter than the surface of the sun – it is obvious that petrochemical sites need to protect storage tanks from the potentially catastrophic (and expensive) consequences of lightning.
Experienced fire-protection specialists can advise site managers on the most appropriate lightning-avoidance solutions and guide them through the design, procurement and commissioning process. Companies should not entrust such an important business safeguard to anyone other than experts.
With the right ongoing and sustainable solutions, petrochemical companies can safeguard their facilities from lightning strikes and avoid the potential loss of millions of dollars from fire events.
Delta Fire specialises in the fire protection of high-risk, high-hazard environments such as petrochemical and industrial sites. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.