PREVISTORM Thunderstorm warning system

Precision electric field sensor for thunderstorms prediction, detection and early alerts generation.

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Atmospheric electrical discharges during thunderstorms are responsible for a considerable number of loses. Some statistics count these accidents in tens of thousands each year. Material damages caused by lightning bolts are also costly and sometimes lead to a partial or total shutdown of essential activities.

The definition and application of preventive action protocols when there’s risk of lightning strikes, as well as the increasing use of thunderstorm warning systems, are helping to significantly reduce the number of accidents related to this natural phenomenon.

PREVISTORM® Thunderstorm Warning System (TWS) is a high-performance storm detection system. It continuously monitors the electrification processes of storm clouds and, based on the collected data, generates early warnings that allow the user to know about the risk of lightning strikes. The data provided by this system informs as well about the occurrence of lightning strikes within a radius of up to 20km.

The information and alarms provided by PREVISTORM® provide a valuable time advantage for timely activation of security and protection measures for individuals and property.

Characteristics

PREVISTORM® Thunderstorm Warning System allows information from electric field strength sensors to be integrated with information from lightning bolts detection and location networks. The sensor used by this system, PREVISTORM® E-Field Sensor, operates under the principle of the "electric field mill" to continuously measure the intensity of the atmospheric electric field. The real-time processing methods and algorithms included in this system allow the user to determine when the risk of lightning strikes occurrence increases or decreases. The operating parameters that control the generation of alarms, as well as the calibration of the sensor according to the installation site, are fully customizable.

PREVISTORM® has an unmatched degree of adaptability in terms of performance, components and operational characteristics, and can be used both as an autonomous system and as part of other more complex integrative systems.

PREVISTORM® Thunderstorm Warning System also supports two to five isolated relay outputs (depending on the configuration) that allow, among other actions, for the activation of light and acoustic signals. The software included in the system allows for the configuration of several independent signaling patterns that enable to differentiate the start and end moments from the periods of high risk of lightning strike occurrence.

Advantages:

  • Provides information about the existence of risk of lightning strike before the first discharge occurs.
  • Helps determine the time of completion of the thunderstorm based on the risk of lightning strike occurrence.
  • Contributes to ensure the protection of lives and material goods by generating reliable decision-making support information in the implementation of preventive measures.
  • Provides more accurate measurements than those provided by other storm detectors.
  • Detects atmospheric discharges within its detection radius.
  • Counts with a mechanical design that guarantees greater immunity to rain noise and facilitates its installation.
  • A model of the sensor with heating system to prevent freezing and facilitate thaw is available, which is highly suitable to use in locations where snow accumulation makes it impossible to work with other types of system.
  • Designed in accordance with the international standard IEC 62793:2020, Protection against lightning – Thunderstorm warning systems.
  • A set of accessories and elements to facilitate its adaptation to the requirements and needs of virtually any project is available.
  • Allows for the control of other external devices such as signalers, alarms and automations through the relay outputs of the electric field sensor and the display console.
  • Sensor relay outputs are programmable, making it possible to generate sequential activation and deactivation patterns for controlled external devices.
  • Supplied with PREVISTORM® Viewer software, which integrates information from multiple ray detection and location networks, simultaneously controls multiple sensors, integrates and controls various auxiliary devices for the integration of more complex and complete systems. This software also facilitates the storage of data in log files for auditing and the creation of lightning alarm data distribution networks.
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Application examples

The incorporation and use of a PREVISTORM® Thunderstorm Warning System as part of a preventive protection strategy is recommended for sites, facilities, buildings, and locations where lightning strikes represent a risk to people, animals, and property.

The information and alerts provided by this system offer valuable lead time for the timely activation of safety and protection measures for people and assets in sectors such as:

  • Industrial areas and facilities: Generation of alerts to prevent accidents caused by lightning strikes that may affect personnel operating in open or exposed areas.

  • Airports: Due to the nature of airport operations, it is important not only to alert ground personnel and aircraft moving along runways and taxiways, but also to have reliable information that helps determine when it is safe to resume operations.

  • Wind farms: Wind turbines are tall structures with a high incidence of lightning strikes, often requiring detailed inspections by maintenance personnel. Early warning and strike detection greatly improve the safety of maintenance and installation teams.

  • Mining operations: Reducing outdoor activities and isolating part of the electrical installations when there is a high risk of lightning are highly effective preventive measures. This helps minimize the risk of accidents during the use of heavy machinery, cranes, and other tall equipment.

  • Theme parks, artistic and sports events: Having advance information about the risk of lightning strikes provides a considerable advantage for organizing the orderly evacuation of crowded areas. Theme parks, with their tall attractions, are especially prone to lightning impacts, reinforcing the need for storm warning systems.

  • Communication towers: Telecommunications towers are often located in elevated, isolated areas and are usually the tallest elements in their surroundings. Early alerts for technicians and maintenance operators working on these structures provide an effective method for reducing lightning-related accidents.

  • Telecommunication centers and observatories: One of the main causes of lightning-related faults in these centers is the appearance of overvoltages transmitted through power lines. Using lightning risk alerts enables effective implementation of preventive disconnection strategies, significantly reducing damage from overvoltages and direct lightning impacts.

  • Operations involving hazardous substances: Reducing lightning-related accident risks in facilities handling hazardous materials is vital not only for human safety but also for environmental protection. Lightning risk alarms help determine the right moment to activate safety protocols during thunderstorms.

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