Abstract: A smart wind turbine blade and lightning protection system for smart wind turbine blades thereof is provided. More in particular, it relates to a smart wind turbine blade including a lightning protection system including active components such as the type for de-icing systems, sensors and/or flaps among others wherein the path of the lightning current is guided to avoid the hub preventing currents to flow through the bearings which may causes significant damage to them and also to the metallic cabinet from where active components are electrically fed.

Abstract: A method for warning about lightning activity in wind farms which is suitable for predicting the generation of upward lightning originating from the wind-driven power generators the wind farm and for warning about the possible generation is provided. To that end, in the method the presence or absence of a storm cell in the wind farm and/or in the vicinity thereof, within a radius of less than 400 km, is detected; the local electric field in the wind farm is measured, at least one atmospheric condition is identified or measured under given premises, and the probabilities of the generation of upward lightning originating from the wind-driven power generators of the wind farm are determined depending on the result of the measurements, identifications and detections, a warning signal being transmitted in the event that the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value.

Abstract: A method for warning about lightning activity in wind farms which is suitable for predicting the generation of upward lightning originating from the wind-driven power generators the wind farm and for warning about the possible generation is provided. To that end, in the method the presence or absence of a storm cell in the wind farm and/or in the vicinity thereof, within a radius of less than 400 km, is detected; the local electric field in the wind farm is measured, at least one atmospheric condition is identified or measured under given premises, and the probabilities of the generation of upward lightning originating from the wind-driven power generators of the wind farm are determined depending on the result of the measurements, identifications and detections, a warning signal being transmitted in the event that the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value.

Abstract: A smart wind turbine blade and lightning protection system for smart wind turbine blades thereof is provided. More in particular, it relates to a smart wind turbine blade including a lightning protection system including active components such as the type for de-icing systems, sensors and/or flaps among others wherein the path of the lightning current is guided to avoid the hub preventing currents to flow through the bearings which may causes significant damage to them and also to the metallic cabinet from where active components are electrically fed.

Abstract: Evaluation method and system for a lightning protection system of a wind turbine with blades, the lightning protection system including a down conductor connected to earth and to each blade by conductor plates embedded in the corresponding blade. The method is configured for determining the quality of the connections between the conductor plates and the blade thereof and includes injecting direct current between two conductor plates of one and the same blade, a flow of current being generated through the segment of the blade comprised between both conductor plates, measuring the voltage at measurement points of the segment, comparing the voltages to one another, and determining the quality of the connections between the conductor plates and the blade depending on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade with one or two carbon fiber laminates and one or more down conductors equipotentialized with them by one or more auxiliary cables comprising at least one local lightning current injection area in the carbon fiber laminates associated with one auxiliary cable having secondary cables derived from the auxiliary cable and connected to conductive devices embedded in the carbon fiber laminates which are configured for avoiding overcurrents in the carbon fiber laminates. The invention also provides a lightning protection system for achieving a balanced distribution of currents and voltages between the down conductors and the carbon fiber laminates.

Abstract: Evaluation method for a lightning protection system of a wind turbine with blades (P), the lightning protection system comprising a down conductor connected to earth and to each blade (P) by means of conductor plates (1, 2) embedded in the corresponding blade (P). The method is configured for determining the quality of the connections between the conductor plates (1, 2) and the blade (P) thereof and comprises injecting direct current (I) between two conductor plates (1, 2) of one and the same blade (P), a flow of current being generated through the segment of the blade (P) comprised between both conductor plates (1, 2), measuring the voltage (V) at measurement points (Pm) of said segment, comparing the voltages (V) to one another, and determining the quality of the connections between said conductor plates (1, 2) and said blade (P) depending on the result of said comparison. Associated evaluation system.

Abstract: A lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade with one or two carbon fiber laminates and one or more down conductors equipotentialized with them by one or more auxiliary cables comprising at least one local lightning current injection area in the carbon fiber laminates associated with one auxiliary cable having secondary cables derived from the auxiliary cable and connected to conductive devices embedded in the carbon fiber laminates which are configured for avoiding overcurrents in the carbon fiber laminates. The invention also provides a lightning protection system for achieving a balanced distribution of currents and voltages between the down conductors and the carbon fiber laminates.