Lightning Protection of Refineries and Petrochemical Plants

Lightning is a natural phenomenon that can have major effect on environment, production, and workers in the petrochemical industries. Protective and preventative measures are required in order to reduce such effects. Proper lightning protection can provide mitigation of those consequences. In petrochemical industries, large quantities of flammable liquids and gasses are produced and stored in outdoor tanks and process units. These products generate an explosive environment. In presence of an ignition source, an explosion may happen. Lightning can strike storage tanks, process units, or pipes not only directly but also indirectly by causing power surges on the electrical system inside or near these hazardous zones or even penetrating the tanks. In this paper, the implications of the external lightning protection of refineries and petrochemical plants in terms of each type of structure is analyzed as well as on the process and workers safety. International standards, local legislations and reputable articles have been reviewed and essential requirements for lightning protection of petrochemical industries have been demonstrated.