STAR Early Streamer Emission Advanced External Lightning Protection System - Bangalore

Lightning Energy

Lightning is a capricious, random and unpredictable event. Its physical characteristics
include current levels sometimes in excess of 200 kA and speeds approaching one-third the speed
of light. Globally, some 2000 on-going thunderstorms cause about 100 lightning strikes to earth
each second.

Because of its heavy investment in equipment (towers, electronic equipment, and satellite
dishes), lightning is a major concern for the industry. A broadcast tower, typically the tallest
structure in its area, is a prime target of lightning. If your tower or other facilities are a target of
lightning strikes, the lightning will destroy your tower as well as the electronic system inside the
tower. To avoid these unwanted effects, you should evaluate your lightning protection system.

Lightning is a product of electrically charged storm clouds. The charged clouds induce an
opposite charge (ground charge) on the surface of the earth beneath it as they travel through the
atmosphere. When the ground charge reaches a structure, the cloud charge pulls it up onto the
structure, concentrating the ground charge on and around it. I the ground charge build to a level
exceeding the dielectric (insulation resistance) of the intervening air, an arc or lightning strike will
occur. The process begins with stepped leaders branching down from the clouds. When they come
within close proximity to the ground, approximately 500 feet, the electric field intensity at ground
level becomes so strong that objects and structures begin to break down electronically, shooting
steamers up toward the stepped leaders. When a streamer and a stepped leader connect, a path is
created for a lightning strike.

The phenomenology of lightning strikes to earth, as presently understood, follows an
approximate behavior:

1. The downward Leaders from a thundercloud pulse towards earth seeking out active
electrical ground targets.

2. Ground-based objects (fences, trees, blades of grass, corners of buildings, Towers, lightning
rods, etc., etc.,) emit varying degrees of electric activity during this event. Upward Streamers
are launched from some of these objects. A few tens of meters off the ground, a “collection
Zone” is established according to the intensified local electrical field.

3. Some Leader(s) likely will connect with some Structure(s). Then the “switch” is closed and
the current flows, we see lightning.

Lightning effects can be direct and/or indirect. Direct effects are from resistive (ohmic)
heating, arcing and burning. Indirect effects are more probable. They include capacitive,
inductive and magnetic behavior. To protect the structures or Telecommunication towers
against lightning a lightning protection system is needed which collects the lightning energy and
discharge the lightning currents to the earth through down conductors.

Early Streamer Emission Lightning Arrester

Early Streamer Emitting air terminals are designed to emit a streamer early in the streamer-
formation phase of a lightning strike, thereby becoming the preferred lightning attachment point.

As the ground charge builds immediately before the lightning strike, the ESE air terminal
accumulates ground charge. ln the instant before the strike, when the stepped leaders are
branching down from the cloud, the ESE terminal emits a series of pulses of ground charge,
forming a streamer from itself before streamers emit from other structures. lts streamer reaches the
stepped leaders before competing streamers, thereby winning the competition.

FOUDRETECH Early Streamer Emission Air Terminal - STAR

Foudretech offers a high end ESE air terminals “STAR”. Foudretech ESE Air Terminal STAR
contains a central part and covered by the capturing petals electrically isolated with an earthed
central zone. The insulation material used to electrically isolate the panels are comprised of a base
polymer which provides high ozone and UV resistance with high di-electric strength. The capturing
petals are designed in such a way that it emits a flow of ions directed at the cloud, channeling the
lightning discharge to a determined point. This way the system achieves to attract the lightning flash
and raise the strike point to an altitude higher than the structure to be protected. The effect is that a
larger protection area is created.

Advantage

• 100% discharge efficiency.
• Level of protection classified as very high.
• Guarantees electrical continuity and continued function after repetitive lightning discharges.
• Non-electronic: Guarantees long duration.
• External power supply not necessary.
• Insulation guarantee.
• No wear.

Lightning Counter

Detect and register lightning impacts with occur over an external lightning protection system.

Grounding

The grounding systems must address low earth impedance as well as low resistance. A
spectral study of lightning’s typical impulse reveals both a high and low frequency content. The
high frequency component resides in the long, high energy “tail” in the impulse.

A single point grounding systems is achieved when all equipment within the structure(s) are
connected to a master bus bar which in turn is bonded to the external grounding system at one
point only. Earth loops and differential rise times must be avoided. The grounding system
should be designed to reduce a.c. impedance and d.c. resistance. The shape and dimension of
the earth termination system is more important than a specific value of the earth electrode.
Ground rings around structures are useful.

Man-made earth additives and backfills are useful in difficult soils circumstances: they
should be considered on a case-by-case basis where lowering grounding impedances are
difficult an/or expensive by traditional means. Regular physical inspections and testing should
be a part of an established preventive maintenance program.

Advance Chemical Gel Earthing

By utilizing the metal alloys and natural compounds, is able to provide a multifaceted
proactive highly conductive and corrosion free earthing. The electrode is manufactured from
custom-made G.I. Tube with adequate galvanization (i.e., more than 80-100 microns) to ensure
maximum conductivity and prolonged service life. The earth electrode contains a highly
conductive metallic compound that protects the main earth electrode from corrosion in the soil.

Chemical earth electrode is the innovative method of Dual Pipe system having a
compartment of outer shell, inner shell with the terminal on the top, fabricated in high quality MS
material and subsequent hot dip galvanization to maximum of 80-100 microns in outer shell and
250-300 microns in the inner shell to strengthen the flow/ dissipation of fault/ static current to its
maximum safetyness.

Along with an earth electrode, an illustrious compound called as “Reslow grounding
minerals” which will be used around the earth electrodes at the time of installation. Reslow
grounding minerals is a combination of graphite, natural earth minerals, etc which is of
hygroscopic property to retain the moisture for a long time. During installation with proper water
pouring, the Reslow grounding minerals will convert into the gel formation and its quality to
retain the moisture upto twenty times its dry volume as well as it create a gel layer surrounding
of our electrode. Reslow grounding minerals is a combination of totally corrosion free and highly
conductive & non-corrosive minerals.

Reslow grounding minerals maintains the moisture surrounding the CHEMRODE, which
helps to create the balance & consistence ohmic value within the safe limit without any
fluctuation of results, as a safeguard of equipment. As well as its layer works as a highly
conductive path to pass the fault current, noise filtrations, resolve the problem of earth to neutral
voltage difference and supported to active/ passive lightning protection device too. It also helps
to give the life to our earth electrode through its layer between electrode & direct soil, so
minimize the chances of corrosion.