Lightning protection of a pharmaceutical plant, measurements and modelling

The lightning protection of a pharmaceutical plant has been tested by current-injection on the structure. The study aims at two goals: 1) proof of safety by scaling the currents and voltage to lightning realistic values and 2) a comparison between measurements and a Method of Moments calculation. We measured the current distribution near the source and the induced currents and voltages in test cables. The cables and their 100 m long path were representative for the actual installation. By necessity the model is simplified, because of the large number of conductors, intended and unintended, and the uncertainty of their interconnection. The calculated currents are a factor of 3 larger than measured. © 2009 IEEE