Lightning protection measures for automatic weather stations

Automatic weather stations, which are important equipment for monitoring and collecting meteorological data, usually consist of a variety of sensors and are installed outdoors, making them highly susceptible to natural disasters such as lightning. Lightning strikes on automatic weather stations may lead to equipment damage, data loss, and may even pose a safety hazard to maintenance personnel.

First, the causes of lightning strikes on automatic weather stations

1. Direct lightning: Automatic weather stations are usually installed in open fields, such as mountain tops, plains or open fields, which are easy targets for lightning strikes. Therefore, during thunderstorms, lightning may act directly on the equipment of the automatic weather station as well as the building, producing great destructive power. Such direct lightning strikes can generate high voltage electricity in a short time and even trigger electric sparks, causing devastating damage to automatic weather stations.

2. Electromagnetic induction produced by lightning: after a lightning strike, the surrounding environment will produce a certain amount of electricity and form a strong magnetic field in an instant. This magnetic field will interfere with the connection of the relevant equipment of the automatic weather station, and then destroy the automatic weather equipment. At the same time, the electromagnetic induction generated by lightning will also produce powerful electrical energy, which will be transmitted along the wire into the ends of the conductor, causing damage to the equipment.

3. Lightning wave intrusion: In the process of lightning strikes, powerful voltage and current waves are generated. Although lightning does not act directly on the automatic weather station equipment, it can act directly on the meteorological equipment as a conductor through the connected wires and signal lines, etc., causing damage to the equipment.

4. Ground potential counterstrike: If the meteorological equipment related to automatic weather stations is not operated in accordance with the relevant regulations, for example, the ground network of the equipment does not comply with the regulations, it will lead to excessive resistance of the connection. Once there is a lightning strike, it will not be able to release the strong current to the earth promptly and quickly, but cause damage to the equipment.

5. equipment height: automatic weather station sensors and antennas and other equipment are often installed in a high position, increasing the risk of lightning strikes.

6. Conductor materials: metal parts inside automatic weather stations and external antennas, etc., may become good conductors of lightning and attract lightning.

The specific implementation method of lightning protection measures for automatic weather stations can be carried out according to the following steps to ensure the safe operation of weather station equipment:

1, the installation of lightning protection devices

Lightning rod: set up lightning rods at high places of automatic weather stations, and make sure that the lightning rods are connected to the grounding devices so that the lightning can be safely guided to the ground through the lightning rods.

Lightning belt: set up lightning belt around the buildings and equipment around the automatic weather station, which is a kind of conductive material that can effectively disperse the lightning energy and guide it to the underground or other safe areas.

2、Improve the grounding system

Grounding resistance: Ensure that the grounding resistance of the automatic weather station meets the specification requirements, generally should be less than 10 ohms, in order to ensure that lightning energy can be quickly and effectively released to the ground.

Grounding conductor connection: Ensure that the grounding conductor is closely connected to the metal casing and all metal components of the automatic weather station to ensure that all metal parts have the same potential and reduce the impact of lightning impact on the equipment.

3、Lightning protection equipment selection

Lightning protector: install lightning protector on the power and signal lines of the automatic weather station, and choose suitable types and specifications to ensure that it can effectively protect the automatic weather station from the impact of lightning strikes.

Lightning protection equipment: Select materials with lightning protection function, such as metal casing and grounding device, as well as adopt the circuit and components inside the equipment, such as lightning-resistant high-voltage capacitors and lightning diodes, in order to improve the lightning resistance of the equipment.

4、 power supply and line lightning protection

Lightning protection for power supply system: In the power supply system of automatic weather station, install relevant lightning protection devices for cables, metal pipelines and data lines in the protected area, and make equipotential connection to avoid lightning damage to the power supply system.

Lightning protection for power supply lines: multi-level power protection is adopted in the power supply lines, the power supply main distribution cabinet into the office building should be installed with surge protectors with large through-current energy, and SPDs with amplitude current ≥25kA should be used for each phase line and neutral line to ensure the safety of the power supply system.

Signal line lightning: connecting the automatic weather station each sensor signal transmission line should be connected to the observation site network, the entire line should be shielded through the metal trunking along the cable trench laying, in the signal line into the duty room interface should also be installed at the surge protector, to ensure the safety of the signal transmission line.

5、 lightning protection facilities maintenance

Regular Inspection: Regularly check the lightning protection facilities of the automatic weather station to ensure that it is in good condition.

Maintenance: necessary maintenance of lightning protection facilities, such as cleaning dust, check whether the connection is tight, etc., to ensure its normal operation.

In summary, the specific implementation of automatic weather station lightning protection measures include the installation of lightning protection devices, improve the ground grounding system, the selection of suitable lightning protection equipment, lightning protection of power supplies and lines and regular maintenance of lightning protection facilities and other steps. Through the implementation of these measures, the risk of lightning strikes on automatic weather stations can be effectively reduced to ensure the accuracy of meteorological data and the safe operation of equipment.