Shielding design study for a large plant using a 3-D graphics-based lightning interception surface rendering and intersection method

This article shows how a lighting shielding study of a large plant can be completed based on limited available data, such as 3D screen shots, plan view drawings and elevations of the tallest structures. The shielding study was carried out using a highly efficient 3-D graphics-based lightning interception surface rendering method [4], based on the Electro-geometric Model (EGM) defined in IEC 62305 [1], with a strike radius of 45.0 m, which corresponds to a Class III lightning protection system. Calculations and design of the shielding system were carried out with the SESShield-3D module of the CDEGS software package [2]. A number of zones, some separated by large distances, required lightning shielding designs. The design of one such zone is discussed in this article.