LIGHTNING SHIELDING ADVANCED

SHIELD_A can be can be used for the lightning shielding design using the Rolling Sphere method and can be used for the evaluation of the protection against direct lightning strokes of structures of any height and shape.

SHIELD_A is highly appreciated for its power and accuracy.

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

SHIELD_A is a powerful full 3D graphical application for the evaluation of the protection of structures from direct lightning strokes using the Rolling Sphere method. SHIELD is based on analytical model that consider vertical and lateral direct lightning strokes, and is then suitable for structures of any height and shape.

Unlike SHIELD, SHIELD_A can also consider structures with significant protrusions, for instance wind towers, and has been developed mainly for lightning specialists. In essence, SHIELD_A was developed for all applications where SHIELD cannot be used, and is intended to be complementary to SHIELD.

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SHIELD can be can be used for the lightning shielding design using the Rolling Sphere or Eriksson methods and can be used for the evaluation of the protection against direct lightning strokes of structures of any height or up to 60 m height in case of relevant protrusions.
SHIELD is highly appreciated for its power, accuracy and flexibility.

 

 

 

 

{tab GENERAL DESCRIPTION}

SHIELD is a powerful full 3D graphical application for the evaluation of the protection of structures from direct lightning strokes using the Rolling Sphere and the Eriksson methods. SHIELD is based on a numerical model that consider vertical direct lightning strokes, and is then suitable for structures of any height or up to 60 m height in case of relevant protrusions.

The Rolling Sphere Method is considered by many standards (EN, IEEE, NFPA, AS …) and is an universal method for shielding design, and particularly recommended for complex geometry.
Alternative methods like the protection angle or mesh method are suitable for simple-shaped buildings or for buildings where plane surfaces are to be protected.
The Rolling Sphere Method can be applied to the structure to be protected. In such case, SHIELD can identify the parts of the structure exposed to a direct lightning stroke, that are the points where is more effective to install the air termination system.
Then the Rolling Sphere Method can be applied to air termination + down conductor system. In such case SHIELD generates a 3D surface corresponding to the protected volume.
The protected volume is then superposed to the structure to be protected. The parts of the structure to be protected that protrudes over this surface are not protected.
The Rolling Sphere Method has been implemented taking into account a numerical models based on a geometrical scan over a calculation grid, suitable for structures of any height or up to 60 m height in case of relevant protrusions.
The numerical model will consider essentially vertical lightning strokes.
When the Eriksson Method is set, SHIELD generates the collection area of air termination + down conductor system and structure to be protected.
The lightning protection system is effective when collection area of air termination + down conductor system includes collection area of structure to be protected.
The User can modify the lightning protection system and generate again the protected volume or collection areas. This iterative process allows to get an effective shield.

The lightning protection system is effective when collection area of air termination + down conductor system includes collection area of structure to be protected.
The User can modify the lightning protection system and generate again the protected volume or collection areas. This iterative process allows to get an effective shield.

Lightning shielding is an increasing important topics. In many areas the flash density is growing and on the other side the values to be protected (people, buildings, systems …), are also increasing. A good lightning shielding design is the first step for a good lightning protection system installation.

{tab INPUT DATA}

• The input data interface has been designed in order to require a minimum and simple set of information
• Layout of the structure to be protected
• Layout of air termination + down conductor system
• Calculation Method (Rolling Sphere or Eriksson)
• Calculation model for Rolling Sphere method (basic or advanced)
• Data for calculation of the surge impedance and peak of the return stroke current
• Striking distance (entered or calculated)

{tab OUTPUT RESULTS}

• Surge impedance
• Peak of the return stroke current
• Striking distance
• Failure rate
• Parts of the structure to be protected exposed to a direct lightning stroke 
• Protected volume (calculated with the Rolling Sphere method) 
• Collection area (calculated with the Eriksson method) 
• Results are available in numerical ad graphical form

Protected Volume calculated with the Rolling Sphere method

 

Protected Volume calculated with the Rolling Sphere method (vector graphic)

Protected Volume calculated with the Rolling Sphere method

Collection areas calculated with the Eriksson method

 

{tab MAIN FEATURES}

• Calculation method based on Rolling Sphere and Eriksson methods
• Rolling Sphere method implemented using numerical model that consider vertical direct lightning strokes, and is then suitable for structures of any height or up to 60 m height in case of relevant protrusions
• Possibility to consider International (IEC 62305-3:2012), European (EN 62305-3:2012) and American (IEEE Std 998-2012) standards
• Possibility to import grid layout from “dxf” files
• Surge impedance calculation (according to IEEE Std 998-2012)
• Possibility to import grid layout from “dxf” files (2D or 3D segments)
• Automatic debug of data before calculation
• Analysis of lightning protection systems of any shape (masts, horizontal wires, catenary wires …)
• Possibility to represent results using OpenGL vector graphics 
• Possibility to export layout data and results in .dxf file
• Possibility to export graphic outputs to other WINDOWS® applications
• Possibility to choose the language (English, German. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)

 

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NETS can be used for analysis of multi-conductor and multi-phase full meshed networks also in cases of multiple connection to earth (when the sequence components method cannot be applied) and is commonly used for the evaluation of current distribution in fault and steady state conditions in cables and power lines, including the evaluation of current along screens, armors and overhead earth wires.
NETS can be used also for the evaluation of fault current distribution and and is commonly used for the split factor calculation in general conditions.
NETS can be used also for electromagnetic interference analysis of aboveground and underground systems at power frequency, and is commonly used for the evaluation of interference between power lines or cables or railways and pipelines.
NETS is highly appreciated for its power, accuracy and flexibility.

 

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{tab GENERAL DESCRIPTION}

NETS is a computation code for the solution of full meshed multi-conductor and multi-phase underground and/or overhead networks in the frequency domain. The application range is limited to the model accuracy of transformers (up to 1 kHz) cables (up to 1 kHz) and lines (up to 10 kHz).

NETS is based on the phase components method (and then on Kirchhoff laws) and graphs theory for multi-conductor and multi-phase systems. The phase components method is general and overcomes the limits of the classic sequence components method and can be used to represent power systems as multi-conductor networks enabling the consideration of non-symmetrical systems also in presence of multiple grounding circuits. The maximum number of conductors (and so of ports for a single cell side) is 26, so enough to represent most network components (the simulation of 6 cables with core, screen and armour requires 18 conductors).
The network components (sources, ideal voltage generators, ideal current generators, loads, transformers, lines, single core and multicores cables, hybrid links, impedances, switches, faults …) are represented with multi-port cells and the connection between cells is obtained by means of multi-port buses. The grounding systems (substation grids, tower footings …) can be specified in an arbitrary way.
NETS calculates parameters of lines and cables starting on data normally available in commercial data sheet. NETS calculates self and mutual impedances and admittance for all conductors using accurate formulas and taking into account the earth resistivity and permittivity.
NETS calculates parameters of single-phase or three-phase two or three-winding transformers starting on data usually available in commercial data sheet.
NETS includes a converter from the sequence domain to the phase domain. This tool can converts a sequence impedances matrix to a phase impedance matrix.
NETS can be used to solve symmetrical or non-symmetric, balanced or unbalanced transmission and distribution networks in steady state or fault conditions.
In particular, NETS can be used for the calculation of the fault current distribution in power networks and between power circuits and earth.
Moreover, NETS is a powerful tool for the evaluation of current distribution and electromagnetic interference in case of railways corridors.
An accurate knowledge of the fault current distribution is crucial in grounding, mitigation to reduce interference on communication circuits and pipelines, power system protections calibration and coordination, neutral grounding resistor sizing and many others applications.

{tab INPUT DATA}

• The input data interface has been designed in order to require a minimum and simple set of information
• Circuit Layout (buses and cells distribution and connection)
• Data for generic cells (e.g. cell class, cell type, ports numbers, and for each port, phase from A to Z and parameters like voltages, currents and impedances)
• Data for line and/or cable cells (as a generic cell and in addition, line or cable length, earth resistivity, operative temperature and, for each port, library code and cross section layout information). Line library and cable library include all additional data required by line and cable cells
• Data for transformer cells (as a generic cell and in addition, library code, neutral impedances, and for each port, longitudinal impedances). Transformers libraries include all additional data required by a cell two or three-windings transformer

{tab OUTPUT RESULTS}

• Current on each port of each cell
• Current to earth in each connection to earth
• Potential on each port of each cell.
• Potential in each connection to earth
• Power flow on each port of each cell.
• Current distribution along lines and cables
• Potential distribution along lines and cables
• EMF distribution along lines and cables
• Results are available in numerical ad graphical form.

{tab MAIN FEATURES}

• Calculation model based on the phase components method and graphs theory for multi-conductor and multi-phase systems
• Automatic debug of data before calculation
• Automatic recognition of the connections between cells and buses and automatic definition of linkage (or boundary) equations
• Arbitrary number of buses and cells (the number is limited only by the hardware constraints)
• Cells class 1: multi-port cells with only a group of ports (input) used to represent sources, ideal voltages or currents sources, transverse impedances or faults
• Cells class 2: multi-port cells with two group of ports (input and output) used to represent overhead lines, overhead or underground single core and multicores cables, hybrid links, two-windings transformers, longitudinal impedances or switches
• Cells class 3: multi-port cells with three group of ports (input and two output) used to represent three-windings transformers
• Buses: multi-port buses with an arbitrary number of group of ports
• Automatic calculation of cables, lines and transformers parameters
• Cable cells can represent single core or pipe type cables. Each single cable can includes core, screen and armour
• A single cell can represent a long line or a long cable or a single span or part of it. The detail level in the model can be decided by the User
• Two-winding transformer cells can represents single-phase or three-phase two-winding transformers. Three-phase transformers can have connections Y, D or Z, any group number (0 to 11), any kind of neutral state (insulated, grounded, and generally grounded with an impedance to earth) and neutral distributed or not
• Three-winding transformer cells can represents single-phase or three-phase three-winding transformers. Three-phase transformers can have connections Y or D, any group number (0 to 11), any kind of neutral state (insulated, grounded, and generally grounded with an impedance to earth) and neutral distributed or not
• Longitudinal impedance cells can represent interruptions of all or single phases
• Transversal impedances cells can represent any kind of short circuit between phases and/or to earth
• The phase impedances necessary to represent components like sources, longitudinal or transverse impedances can be calculated starting from the corresponding sequence impedances matrix using the sequence to phase converter tool
• Libraries with commercial data for lines, single core and multicores cables, conductors and transformers
• Possibility to choose the language (English, German. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)

{/tabs}

Gallery 

{gallery}sint/nets{/gallery}

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English

• Grounding System Design
• Earthing System Design
• Grounding Design Software
• Cathodic Protection Design
• Electromagnetic Simulation
• Electromagnetic Interference
• Electromagnetic Field
• Lightning Protection Design
• Multilayer Soil Model
• Multiconductors Network Solver
• EN 50522
• IEEE 80
• IEC 60479
• Power Network Analysis
• Multi-conductors Systems
• Multi-phases Systems
• Corona effects evaluation

Français

• Dimensionnement des réseaux de terre
• Logiciel de dimensionnement des réseaux de terre
• Dimensionnement des protections cathodiques
• Simulation électromagnétique
• Interférence électromagnétique
• Champs électromagnétique
• Dimensionnement des protections foudre
• Modèle de sol multicouche
• Corona effects evaluation

Español

• Diseño del Sistema de puesta a tierra
• Software de diseño de puesta a tierra
• Diseño de protección catódica
• Simulación electromagnética
• Interferencia electromagnética
• Campo electromagnético
• Diseño de sistemas contra descargas atmosféricas
• Modelo de suelo multicapa
• Evaluación de efectos corona

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