A lightning early warning system for large oil and gas storage bases utilizes MEMS technology with a detection radius of 15 kilometers

This system is a fully digital electric field detection and lightning early warning platform. Its core electric field detection structure is based on the principle of charge induction and developed using MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology. It eliminates easily worn moving mechanical parts such as motors, offering advantages such as small size, low power consumption, high reliability, and ease of integration. The electric field measurement range is -100kV/m to 100kV/m, with a detection radius of 15 kilometers. By collecting lightning-related information in real time, it enables real-time monitoring, comprehensive perception, and near-term early warning of lightning activity in and around large oil and gas storage bases.

Large oil and gas storage bases store large quantities of flammable and explosive oil and gas resources. Lightning activity that triggers a fire or explosion could cause incalculable losses. The fully digital electric field detection and lightning early warning platform is a specialized device developed specifically to address this need. Its core electric field detection structure is based on the principle of charge induction and manufactured using MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology. It has no easily worn moving mechanical parts such as motors, and boasts significant advantages including small size, low power consumption, high reliability, and ease of integration. It primarily targets atmospheric electric field detection and localized short-term lightning early warning applications in aerospace, defense, meteorology, oil and petrochemical, power grid, scenic areas, mines, oil depots, and military fields. The system employs an electric field differentiation combined with threshold optimization to optimize the lightning early warning algorithm. Compared to conventional threshold methods, it significantly reduces the likelihood of false alarms caused by environmental factors such as rain, strong winds, snow, and dust storms, further improving the accuracy of the early warning.

In terms of technical parameters, the lightning warning system has an electric field measurement range of -100kV/m to 100kV/m, a resolution of 0.1V/m, an accuracy of ±0.001%F.S, a detection radius of up to 15 kilometers, a total weight of 36KG, a sensor weight of 710g, and an input voltage of DC12V. The system employs a three-level lightning warning classification mechanism: Level 1 warning indicates that the ground flashback point is located more than 10 kilometers from the base, with a possibility of a lightning strike; Level 2 warning indicates that the ground flashback point is located in the 5-10 km range, with an increased possibility of a lightning strike; Level 3 warning indicates that the ground flashback point is located in the 0-5 km range, with a high probability of a lightning strike. The warning lead time is no less than 10 minutes, and the average effective alarm rate is no less than 80%.

In practical applications, Zhejiang Petroleum has deployed lightning warning systems and meteorological monitoring instruments at the Huzhou Sutaishan Oil Depot and Taizhou Linhai Oil Depot, constructing a comprehensive and three-dimensional safety prevention and control system. This system can issue graded warning signals 10 to 30 minutes in advance, providing valuable time for personnel evacuation and equipment protection. The first station of Guangzhou Petrochemical's crude oil terminal, relying on a lightning warning system, can receive precise lightning warnings 30 minutes in advance, providing accurate trigger points for activating and deactivating emergency plans. During trial operation at a large oil depot, a project jointly constructed by the Henan Provincial Meteorological Bureau and Sinopec Henan Branch successfully monitored over 2,000 lightning strikes within a 15km radius during severe convective weather, with a maximum warning lead time of 39 minutes and an accuracy rate exceeding 90%. The system of China Petroleum Jilin Sales Company, with three levels of warning functionality from low to high hazard, has been put into use in oil depot safety protection.