The weather forecast says that we are supposed to get lots of lightning tonite so I was wondering do the grid operators and DNO do any special changes or preparations for it?
The preparations are done the day the line route is planned - the protection, such as it is, is in from day one. Both on pylons and on the 11kV system there are arc horns across the insulators, and when they flash over, that line is briefly almost shorted to the tower/ HV ground.
There are automatic arrangements for reconnection if the power is thrown off in this way, but there are normally a limited number of retries - as an endless restart into a fault would be a good idea.
Lines at lower high voltages often have metal oxide surge arrestors at intervals, though as these can fail short circuit, they are often combined with an expulsion fuse type of arrangement to throw it clear if it faults.
The preparations are done the day the line route is planned - the protection, such as it is, is in from day one. Both on pylons and on the 11kV system there are arc horns across the insulators, and when they flash over, that line is briefly almost shorted to the tower/ HV ground.
There are automatic arrangements for reconnection if the power is thrown off in this way, but there are normally a limited number of retries - as an endless restart into a fault would be a good idea.
Lines at lower high voltages often have metal oxide surge arrestors at intervals, though as these can fail short circuit, they are often combined with an expulsion fuse type of arrangement to throw it clear if it faults.
