Questionable superiority of alternative air terminals

Abstract

Recently, there has been great pressure from manufacturers and sellers of non-classical (active) lightning protection systems to have their systems widely used. These are, first of all, CTS / DAS systems whose operating principle is based on preventing lightning from occurring and ESE systems whose operating principle is a preliminary upward discharge. These systems, especially the ESE system, are increasingly offered on the domestic market, and when advertising their features, it is emphasized that they are superior to the classic Franklin lightning protection system. The paper briefly describes the features of each system and concludes that there is no experimental evidence that active lightning rods are more effective than the classic Franklin rod lightning rod of the same height. The problem of replacing radioactive lightning rods is also discussed.

Slavko Vujević

Professor Emeritus

An expert in electrical engineering, particularly known for his contributions to numerical modeling of electromagnetic phenomena, lightning protection, and grounding. Throughout his career, he was a key member of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture in Split, where he taught, mentored students, and actively participated in scientific research and international professional organizations.

Rino Lucić

Full Professor

Dr. sc. Rino Lucić is a retired professor from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture in Split. Throughout his career, he taught courses at all study levels and actively participated in the realization of numerous scientific-research projects. As an author or co-author, he has published 41 scientific papers and 16 professional articles, with research interests spanning numerical modeling, transmission lines, finite element method, and power system transient analysis.

Dino Lovrić

Associate Professor | Department of Theoretical Electrical Engineering and Modelling

Associate professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split, with reserch focused on the development of numerical models of grounding systems in various types of soil, particularly in scenarios involving the dissipation of alternating current and transient currents caused by lightning strikes or switching overvoltages, also involved in developing models of dynamic and transient processes in power systems using modern numerical methods.