Lightning is a powerful atmospheric discharge of electricity that occurs during thunderstorms. With speeds comparable to the speed of light and temperatures reaching up to 30,000°C, lightning poses serious risks to life and infrastructure. Each year, lightning strikes cause thousands of fatalities and immense damage to electrical systems, buildings, and industrial plants.
Lightning protection systems are crucial for safeguarding industrial buildings, food processing factories, HT substations, electrical panels, and commercial infrastructures. A direct lightning strike can deliver currents of tens of kilo-amperes within milliseconds, resulting in:
- Equipment failure
- Structural fires
- Power outages
- Risk to human life
Components of lightning protection devices
Air terminal
The air terminal intercepts lightning strikes by providing a low-resistance path. It connects to a down conductor, which further connects to an earthing electrode embedded in the soil. This system ensures the electrical discharge flows directly into the earth rather than through the building structure.
Down conductor
The down conductor carries the intercepted current safely to the ground. To maintain low inductance, the conductor must be:
- Installed vertically and straight
- Free from sharp bends
- Sized appropriately to handle high surge currents
Grounding
Proper grounding is the backbone of any effective lightning protection setup. According to standard electrical practices:
- Soil resistivity should be below 10 ohms
- Copper alloy electrodes are driven vertically into the earth
- Charcoal and salt are mixed into the soil pit to reduce resistivity
Lightning Arrestor
Lightning arrestors are specially designed devices that protect:
- Transmission lines
- Switchgears
- Transformers
- Telecommunication systems
They function by diverting surge voltage directly to the earth grounding system, preventing spikes from reaching sensitive electrical equipment.
Applications:
- Installed at power substations and distribution systems
- Placed at building entry points in telecom setups
- Prevent damage to industrial automation systems and food control instrumentation
Small version of light arrestor is called surge arrestor. That are generally used for protection from surges produced in transient condition and they are not used directly to protect from lightning. The most common surge arrestor is non linear metal oxide resistor type in porcelin or silicon rubber housing that are fitted parellel to circuit and connected to earth griding.
Types of Lightening Arrestors
Conclusion
Whether you're designing a food processing facility, installing electrical systems, or managing project safety protocols, integrating lightning and surge protection is non-negotiable. The right class of lightning arrestor, its location, and grounding effectiveness play a vital role in safeguarding assets and ensuring operational continuity.
For high-risk environments like food factories, HT substations, and engineering control rooms, always consult with a food industry consultant or electrical systems expert to ensure compliance with industry standards.
References
1.https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2020/03/surge-arrester-suppressor-lightning-arrester-rod.html
PMG stands for Projects Management Group. We provide state-of-the-art Engineering Services to build world-class food processing factories. 
Engineering is the difference between Chaos and Excellence. If you are going to do it, do it right. 
Explore the diverse range of Products in the Food Processing Industry. 
Explore the technologies at the heart of the the Food Processing Industry. 
Filter
