METHOD FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICAL SURGE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: electrical engineering, in particular, prevention against lightning damage. SUBSTANCE: method involves driving forced discharge of lightning region by means of excitation of electric spark leader stroke with stable development. Goal of invention is achieved by excitation of electric spark leader stroke using at least one circuit of air electric discharge with overlapping jackets of low-temperature plasma. Forced total or at least partial removal of charge from lightning cloud is combined with standard protection methods. Preliminary discharge of lightning cloud on safe distance from protected object decreases probability of discharge over it. This results in possibility to decrease electric surge damage due to decreased power of electromagnetic emission. EFFECT: increased protection. 5 cl, 1 dwg