Developing of lightning research center in south east part of Poland

Abstract

A short description of developed open-air laboratory and new test equipment for lightning investigations in south east part of Poland is presented. Experience in the field achieved until now was the basis to build the site for testing of lightning and overvoltage protection of residential buildings, low and medium voltage electrical networks, and electrical and electronic devices. For the experiments two new lightning current generators with energy 50 kJ and 100 kJ, and measuring system based on fiber optic technology were constructed and built in Poland. Additionally, a lightning observation station for investigation of natural lightning is implemented at the Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland. The system is based on electric and magnetic field antennas and fast video camera.