LPD -100/1000 Spark Gap Protector - Insulated Joint Protection Device for Buried Petroleum Pipelines

Advantages:

Fast Response: The spark gap protector responds at the nanosecond level, capable of reacting to overvoltage and generating spark discharge in an extremely short time.

High Current-Carrying Capacity: It can withstand large lightning currents or overcurrents, performing well in energy dissipation.

High Stability and Long Lifespan: The protector typically has a long service life and excellent stability, enabling long-term reliable operation in harsh electrical environments.

Explosion-Proof and Waterproof: Featuring a sealed enclosure design, it effectively prevents arc leakage and offers outstanding explosion-proof and waterproof functionality.

Corrosion-Resistant Material: The enclosure material is corrosion-resistant, adaptable to various usage scenarios, and widely suitable for diverse environments.

Main Functions

Lightning Overvoltage Protection: When lightning strikes a line or equipment, the protector responds quickly, diverting the lightning current to the ground to protect electrical equipment from lightning impact.

Operational Overvoltage Protection: In power systems, operational overvoltages caused by switching operations, fault clearing, etc., can also damage electrical equipment. The spark gap protector can rapidly generate spark discharge when these overvoltages reach a certain level, limiting voltage rise and ensuring the safe operation of electrical equipment.

Overvoltage Limiting and Energy Absorption: The protector can quickly limit overvoltage to a lower amplitude range and effectively absorb the energy generated by overvoltage.

Equipotential Bonding: In systems such as buildings, railways, and petrochemical plants, the spark gap protector can be used for equipotential bonding between two independent grounding bodies, ensuring that all parts of the system maintain the same potential during overvoltage events to prevent damage caused by potential differences.

Application Areas

Power Systems: Suitable for protecting various high-voltage electrical equipment in power systems, such as transformers, switchgear, surge arresters, and circuit breakers. It prevents damage from lightning or operational overvoltages, ensuring stable operation of the power system.

Oil and Gas Pipelines: Installed across the insulating flanges of oil and gas pipelines to prevent lightning or operational overvoltages from breaking down the insulating flanges. It limits overvoltage on the pipeline to a lower amplitude, avoiding potential harm to personnel in contact.

Buildings: Used in lightning protection grounding systems for buildings, connecting lightning protection devices and grounding bodies to achieve equipotential bonding. This prevents damage to personnel and equipment inside buildings due to excessive potential differences during lightning strikes.

Communication and Railway Systems: Protects communication equipment in base stations and communication rooms, as well as electrical equipment in railway systems, from damage caused by lightning and operational overvoltages.

Petrochemical and Steel Industries: Protects electrical equipment such as motors, distribution cabinets, and automated control systems in chemical plants, refineries, and steel mills, preventing equipment damage, fires, explosions, and other accidents caused by overvoltages.

Installation and Maintenance

Installation: The spark gap protector should be correctly installed in the circuit connected to the electrical equipment it protects, with good grounding ensured. The installation site should have a solid foundation to support stable operation. Additionally, ensure the protector is well-grounded, and the grounding resistance meets relevant standard requirements.

Maintenance: Although the spark gap protector has high stability and a long lifespan, regular inspection and maintenance are still necessary. During inspections, check for intact appearance, secure connections, and any looseness or poor contact. Regularly measure key parameters such as breakdown voltage and current-carrying capacity to ensure performance meets requirements.

Insulated Joint Protection for Storage Tanks

1. Protecting Insulated Joints of Storage Tanks

When storage tanks are struck by direct or induced lightning, the lightning current may be blocked at the insulated joint after diverting through the connected oil pipelines. The voltage of the lightning current far exceeds the withstand voltage of the insulated joint, causing it to break down and lose its insulating function. Installing a spark gap-type equipotential bonder across the insulated joint protects it from damage during lightning strikes.

2. Protecting Storage Tank Grounding

Due to the implementation of cathodic protection on the inner and outer walls of storage tanks, grounding becomes a current fault point for cathodic protection. While grounding materials (typically galvanized) have minimal impact on cathodic protection initially, the galvanization wears off within one to two years of underground use, leading to cathodic protection current loss and affecting the system's normal operation.

By connecting a spark gap-type equipotential bonder in series within the grounding line, the product remains fully insulated under normal conditions, preventing cathodic protection current loss through the grounding line. During lightning events, the product instantly conducts, discharging the lightning current to the ground via the grounding line.

Technical Parameters

Model: BX-D/EX-L100

Lightning Impulse Current (10/350μS): Iimp 100kA   

Voltage Protection Level (In): Up ≤ 4kV

Response Time: tA ≤ 100ns

Short-Circuit Capacity: 50kA/50Hz

Insulation Resistance: Risol 103 MΩ

Temperature Range: -40℃…+80℃

Electrode: Tungsten Copper

Enclosure Material: Reinforced Steel Plastic

Dimensions: 101xΦ36.5mm

Terminals: Φ11mm Stainless Steel Studs