Experiments lifting vertical wires with drones to study wind turbines current induction and charging

Abstract

A series of experiments lifting vertical wires with drones under fair weather conditions have been performed in order to study induced currents on tall structures such as wind turbines and charging phenomena on floating conductors like wind turbines with spark-gap isolated blades. Results show that blade tips altitude change at certain speed along with point discharge are key factors for the current induction on wind turbines. Additionally, deployment of vertical conductors in an electrified environment shares some similarities with bidirectional lightning leaders and the return stroke processes when they contact ground.