Lightning Strike and Protection of Smart Meters

Abstract: Industrial control computers, various communication modules, security devices, and on-site measurement instruments in smart meter control systems mostly use integrated circuit combinations of electronic devices. They often suffer lightning strikes during thunderstorms, causing some unavoidable losses. Introduced a necessary way to prevent these losses, as a reference for everyone.

I. Overview of the intelligent instrument control system in the industrial computer, a variety of communication modules, security devices and field measurement instruments mostly use electronic components of the integrated circuit portfolio, these microelectronic devices are generally low insulation strength, low surge immunity and other fatal Weaknesses are often caused by lightning strikes during the thunderstorm season. At worst, some instrumentation computer input and output modules are partially destroyed, while the entire device control system is paralyzed. It is forced to stop work and overhaul, causing huge losses. Therefore, it is very necessary to add lightning protection devices to these control and production devices.

Second, lightning intrusion methods Thunder intrusion led to computer and communication failure, when the surge exceeds the computer's ability to withstand, there will be data garbled, the chip was damaged, or even damage the software system, resulting in receiving / transmission data interruption.

Studying the lightning protection of the intelligent instrument control system should start with the external system lightning protection and the internal system lightning protection. The external lightning protection measures mainly solve the hazard of the induced lightning strike on the measuring instrument. Surge intrusion methods mainly include the introduction of signal cables into the induction surge to enter the side of the instrument circuit to destroy the insulation, breakdown micro-electric components, causing instrument failure and direct-inductive lightning through the watch body into the instrument circuit, breakdown circuit module causes failure. The solution is to review the overall lightning protection measures of the device and the grounding of the signal communication cable, as well as the proper wiring and grounding of the metal meter box, in accordance with the lightning protection requirements. For the key interlock signal protection system should set the surge; internal lightning protection system mainly refers to the smart instrument control system power supply lightning protection, control display unit, operating system, engineer station and other data processing equipment grounding, and access to the computer Signal channel lightning and local area network associated switches, network cards and other signals, power supply lightning protection measures.

Third, the prevention of lightning strikes 3.1 Improve the grounding system (l) Safety ground, control cabinets, consoles, engineer stations, power cabinets and other chassis ground should be connected together with flat steel.

(2) The instrument signal ground and the computer input/output signal ground are the reference points for the instrument measurement. All the instrument working power supply, such as the 24V negative terminal and the ground, are connected to form an equal potential.

(3) Intrinsically safe, safety barriers, isolation barriers, safety devices, etc. must also be connected to the instrument signal reference point to form an equipotential system. The grounding is concentrated at one point, and the resistance cannot be greater than 1Ω.

3.2 The power source of the anti-surge smart meter control system is from the power distribution system to the computer main control room. The power system is from the power plant through the transformer and the power distribution system is finally used by the instrument system. In the thunderstorm weather, the power is fed into the system due to the long distance of the Ringway, and is likely to suffer a lightning strike. Therefore, the power supply at this time is not 380V or 220V, 50Hz AC , but mixed with a variety of surge voltage surge, if you do not set the surge protection system, the electrical equipment in use will exceed the pressure limit and accident. Connect the A, B, C, and D three-phase four-phase lines of the total power distribution to the A, B, C, and D terminals of the power surge. In thunderstorms, induced lightning surges are protected by surge protectors and the overload current is conducted to the earth. The output voltage is clamped in a safe working area to ensure safe operation of the power supply. Power surge protection system shown in Figure 1.

3.3 Signal path Surge signal channel The surge should ensure that all types of test information are transmitted accurately, stably, and flexibly under normal conditions, and that over-voltage surges can be placed on the ground during thunderstorms to clamp the output voltage in a safe area. Ensure the safety of signal transmission. From the use of effects, the installation of lightning surge protectors greatly improves the safety factor of smart meter devices under thunderstorms. Signal lightning protection system is shown in Figure 2.

Application of lightning protection products should pay attention to the following factors:

(l) Periodically inspect and maintain the power supply system grounding, bus bar, grounding body rust, breakage, etc. of the intelligent instrument control system. Repair in a timely manner so that it can return to normal. Periodically check the resistance (the resistance should be kept at one). If it is found that the resistance value increases, the cause should be ascertained and the resistance should be reduced.

(2) Proportionally conduct annual inspection on the surge arrester. Because of long-term use of the surge arrester, the electronic equipment will cause the operating voltage to drop due to aging, resulting in substandard lightning protection parameters.

(3) Power lightning protection grids are generally used in power distribution systems. Many products have alarm devices. Once the lightning protection grid overheats, the device will be automatically disconnected and emit an electro-optical sound and other alarm signals. The appearance and leakage of ground leakage should be checked regularly. When selecting the power surge, pay attention to the size of the load and select the appropriate surge protector.

3.4 Maintenance Examples Fasteners purchased by Adhesive Industries Co., Ltd. The SKT-H5 fully automatic flexible packaging machine manufactured by Profil-Clip GmbH of Germany is a Siemens 420 inverter. The wiring diagram is shown in Figure 3. In the June 2009 thunderstorm, the "F002" fault was displayed, indicating that it was caused by overvoltage and three inverters were burned. The reason was that the power supply system was not equipped with lightning protection technology. After adopting the power surge prevention system shown in Fig. 1, no similar faults have occurred.

IV. Conclusion In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of industrial production intelligent instrumentation control systems, it is imperative to learn and use advanced lightning protection measures and select high-quality lightning protection products.

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