LIGHTING PROTECTION AND GROUNDING OF A DATA PROCESSING CENTER IN MOSCOW

The ZANDZ Technical Center made the calculation of lightning protection and grounding of the data processing center in Moscow. The peculiarity of the object was that it is located in an existing building, which previously had a different purpose.

Data Center Lightning Protection Project

A variant of lightning protection of the data center roof in the form of a mesh was agreed with the customer. The required resistance for the grounding of computing equipment, due to its large number, is determined up to 2 Ohms. To ensure this value, only one contour around the building was enough, which is also used to ground lightning protection.

Find out about data processing center lightning protection and grounding solutions from the news.

Task

Calculate lightning protection and grounding of a data processing center.

Solution

Calculations of lightning protection and grounding are made in accordance with the following documents:

  1. "Electric Installation Code" EIC 7th ed. (hereinafter - EIC).
  2. "Instructions for organization of lightning protection of buildings, structures and industrial communications" IS 153-34.21.122-2003 (hereinafter IS).
  3. "Instructions for lightning protection of buildings and structures" AD 34.21.122-87 (hereinafter - AD).

Lightning arresters are used for protection of structures from lightning strikes. A lightning arrester usually consists of a lightning rod, intercepting the lightning strike, a down conductor and a ground electrode. All these elements allow to safely drain the lightning current into the ground without a damage for the protected object.

A data processing center refers to traditional objects from the point of view of lightning protection in accordance with IS and to the third category of lightning protection in accordance with AD.

Description of the external lightning protection system and grounding of the data processing center

The set of measures to provide the required lightning protection is offered by the following solutions:

  1. Lightning protection of the object is made in the form of a lightning protection mesh with a mesh size of not more than 6x6 m from steel galvanized wire with a diameter of 8 mm. The mesh is designed so that the current has at least two different paths to the ground electrode.
  2. Down conductors are laid to ground conductors no less than 25 m along the perimeter of the building.
  3. Fixation of down conductors is performed (installation distance 0.6-1 m):
  4. To connect rolled metal over the length and in the mesh nodes, a universal clamp GL-11551A is used.

The set of measures on the provision of the necessary requirements to the grounding device is presented by the following solutions:

  1. Laying a horizontal contour around the data center building. The contour is made of corrosion-resistant copper-bonded stainless steel tape with the cross- section 4x30 mm, laying depth 0.5 m, distance to the wall of the building- at least 1 m.
  2. Every 6-12 m along the perimeter of the circuit, vertical electrodes of galvanized steel with a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 3 m are installed.
  3. At the four corners of the ground loop, inspection wells GL-11404 are provided.
  4. Connection of vertical and horizontal electrodes to each other is carried out using clamps ZZ-005-064. The number of clamps is taken with a margin for connecting the tape along the length.
  5. The down conductor is connected to the galvanized tape protruding from the ground with the help of GL-11562M clamp.

lightning protection and grounding of the data center

Figure 1. Plan with the layout of lightning protection elements and grounding device

Calculation of the grounding device resistance of a data processing center

Upon the request of the customer, the resistance of the grounding device must not exceed 2 ohms.

As the calculated value, the soil resistivity is 100 Ohm ∙ m

Warning. In case of a mistake or ground data limitation presented from the customer the given calculation of the grounding device is considered incorrect. In case of difference between the ground resistivity from the calculated grounding, it is necessary to carry out calculation with a real value. If the normalized resistance of the grounding device exceeds, it is necessary to introduce modifications into the structure.

Calculation of the grounding device

The calculation is performed using software developed

OJSC “Energy Institute named after G.M. Krzhizhanovksy" (OJSC "ENIN").

Horizontal electrode resistance

Grounding resistance of the horizontal electrode

where p  - soil resistivity, Ohm*m;

b - width of the horizontal electrode tape, m;

h - horizontal electrode laying depth, m;

L - horizontal electrode length, m.

Vertical electrode resistance

Vertical electrode resistance

where p  - soil resistivity, Ohm*m;

L - vertical electrode length, m;

d - vertical electrode diameter, m;

T - deepening - the distance from the ground surface to the ground electrode system, m;

T=L/2+t;

where t - is the depth of the electrode top, m.

Impedance of the grounding device

Impedance of the grounding device

where n - number of kits;

kисп гр - utilization ratio.

The design resistance of the grounding device is 1.44 ohms, which is less than the required value of 2 ohms.

The design resistance of the grounding device is 1.44 ohms, which is less than the required value of 2 ohms.

Components for lightning protection and grounding of a data processing center

Table 1 - List of material needs

Fig.

Product item

Product

Quantity

Lightning protection system
1. ZANDZ steel galvanized wire  (D 8 mm / S 50 mm²; coil of 125 m ZZ-502-008-125 ZANDZ steel galvanized wire (D 8 mm / S 50 mm²; coil of 125 m 11
2. ZANDZ steel galvanized wire  (D 8 mm/ S 50 mm²; coil of 62,5 m ZZ-502-008-62 ZANDZ steel galvanized wire (D 8 mm/ S 50 mm²; coil of 62,5 m 1
3. GALMAR Clamp to the facade / wall for a down conductor with elevation (15 mm high; painted galvanized steel) GL-11703A GALMAR Clamp to the facade / wall for a down conductor with elevation (15 mm high; painted galvanized steel) 170
4. GALMAR Clamp on the roof covered with metal profiles / corrugated sheets, for down conductor (painted galvanized steel) GL-11747A GALMAR Clamp on the roof covered with metal profiles / corrugated sheets, for down conductor (painted galvanized steel) 1250
5. GALMAR Control clamp for connecting down conductors, wire + tape (painted galvanized steel) GL-11562A GALMAR Control clamp for connecting down conductors, wire + tape (painted galvanized steel) 15
6. GALMAR Clamp for connecting down conductors (painted galvanized steel) GL-11551A GALMAR Clamp for connecting down conductors (painted galvanized steel) 110
Grounding device
7. ZZ-005-064 ZANDZ Clamp for connecting conductor (up to 40 mm) 50
8.  ZANDZ steel galvanized tape  (30*4 mm; coil of 52 m) ZZ-502-304-52 ZANDZ steel galvanized tape (30*4 mm; coil of 52 m) 8
9. ZANDZ Copper-bonded threaded grounding rod (D14; 1.5 m) ZZ-001-065 ZANDZ Copper-bonded threaded grounding rod (D14; 1.5 m) 60
10. ZANDZ Threaded coupler ZZ-002-061 ZANDZ Threaded coupler 31
11. ZANDZ Starting tip ZZ-003-061 ZANDZ Starting tip 30
12. ZANDZ Driving head for a jackhammer ZZ-004-060 ZANDZ Driving head for a jackhammer 12
13. ZANDZ Conductive grease ZZ-006-000 ZANDZ Conductive grease 4
14. ZANDZ Waterproof tape ZZ-007-030 ZANDZ Waterproof tape 17
15. ZANDZ Header for a jackhammer (SDS max) ZZ-008-000 ZANDZ Header for a jackhammer (SDS max) 1
16. GALMAR inspection pit for all soil types (plastic) GL-11404 GALMAR inspection pit for all soil types (plastic) 4

 

Do you have any questions on calculation of lightning protection for a data processing center? Please contact our ZANDZ Technical center!

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