Lightning Protection Design Methodology for a Very Large Non-Rigid Airship

Document Number: 2001-01-2931

Date Published: September 2001

Author(s):
Martin Eberle - Cargolifter AG
Dieter Jaeger - EADS Germany
Rodney A. Perala - Electro Magnetic Applications
J. A. Plumer - Lightning Technologies, Inc.
Ralf Marcordes - Cargolifter AG
Harald Schwarz - Univ. of Cottbus

Abstract:
Successful lightning protection design is important for the CargoLifter CL 160 large non-rigid transport airship. Non-rigid airships, like balloons, have few hard structures so alternative means need to be designed to collect and conduct lightning currents. The helium lifting gas ionizes at one-third the field intensity required for air so spark formation in ambient electric fields is more likely to originate inside a helium-filled envelope than in the air outside of it. Protection development is being accomplished by a combination of high voltage strike attachment tests on scale models, and numerical analyses of electric fields.

File Size: 592K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity, September 2001, Seattle, WA, USA, Session: Lightning Protection for Airships and Wind Turbines

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