Polarized lightning arrestors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018205203-A1
Application number	US-201815918768-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2018
Priority date	Jul 17, 2009
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically defending a site from lightning strikes are provided. The systems and methods involve dynamically altering electrostatic fields above the site and/or dynamically intervening in lightning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a controller configured to control a biasing device to alter a potential of a lightning arrestor in response to a sensor detecting at least one of a lightning step leader and an upward earth streamer approaching an atmospheric charge accumulation, wherein altering the potential of the lighting arrestor is based on the overhead atmospheric charge accumulation and wherein the lightning arrestor is configured to intercept a lightning strike; wherein the lightning arrestor is a first lighting arrestor of a plurality of lighting arrestors.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each lighting arrestor of the plurality of lighting arrestors is coupled with a corresponding biasing device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor based on a spatial distribution of the first lightning arrestor and a second lighting arrestor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor based on a spatial distribution of the plurality of lighting arrestors.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing device comprises a power supply configured to be energized by a solar photovoltaic array.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the biasing device to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor by altering a voltage.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the biasing device to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor by injecting a current to a ground.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the biasing device to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor by creating a polarizing field above the lighting arrestor.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the biasing device to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor by discharging a capacitor.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the biasing device to alter the potential of the lighting arrestor by injecting charges at about a selected ground termination location for the lighting strike.

11 . A system comprising:
a device coupled with a sensor arranged to detect at least one of a lightning step leader descending from and an upward earth streamer ascending toward an atmospheric charge accumulation, the device arranged to prepare a charge conductive path through the atmosphere in response to the at least one of the detected step leader and the upward earth streamer.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the charge conductive path comprises at least one of excited molecules and ionized molecules.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device is arranged to create a charge conductive path which allows charges in the atmospheric charge accumulation to dissipate.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device is arranged to prepare a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground in response to the at least one of the detected step leader and an upward earth streamer.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device is arranged to prepare a charge conductive path whose at least one of position and direction is responsive to at least one of a location and a direction of the at least one of the detected step leader and the detected upward earth streamer.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect a start of a main or a return lightning stroke.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device is arranged to create the charge conductive path in response to a detected start of a main or a return lightning stroke.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises a laser, and wherein the laser is arranged to emit a light beam through the atmosphere.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device comprises a charge-emitting device configured to inject charges in the atmosphere, and wherein the charge-emitting device is configured to emit charges substantially directionally.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device comprises a charge-emitting device configured to inject charges in the ground, wherein the device arranged to inject charge at about a ground termination location of the charge conductive path.

21 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises a capacitor, and wherein the device arranged to create a charge conductive path through the atmosphere further comprises a circuit configured to fire a capacitor.

22 . A method comprising:
preparing, by a lightning arrestor device, a charge conductive path through the atmosphere in response to at least one of sensing, by a lightning sensor, a lightning step leader leaving an atmospheric charge accumulation and sensing, by the lightning sensor, an upward earth streamer.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the charge conductive path comprises at least one of an excited molecule and an ionized molecule.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing a charge conductive path to ground in response to the at least one of the sensed step leader and the upward earth streamer.

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises allowing charges in the atmospheric charge accumulation to dissipate through the charge conductive path.

26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing the charge conductive path with a sufficiently remote ground termination point to avoid a direct lightning stroke at a site.

27 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising sensing a start of a main or return lightning stroke, and wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises preparing the charge conductive path in response to the start of the main or lightning return stroke.

28 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground comprises injecting charges in the atmosphere, and wherein injecting charges in the atmosphere comprises injecting charges substantially directionally.

29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere to ground comprises injecting charges in the ground, and wherein injecting charges in the ground comprises injecting charges substantially about a ground termination location of the charge conductive path.

30 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises firing a capacitor.

31 . The method of claim 22 , wherein preparing a charge conductive path through the atmosphere comprises injecting charge into ground.

Assignees

• Deep Science Llc

Inventors

• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• H02G13/00

  Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure · CPC title

• H02G13/20

  Active discharge triggering · CPC title

• H02G13/60

  Detecting; Measuring; Sensing; Testing; Simulating · CPC title

• H01T1/15 Primary

  for protection against excessive pressure · CPC title