Journal of Microwaves, Optoelectronics and Electromagnetic Applications (Jun 2021)

Lightning Protection Design for Small Riverboats Using the FDTD Method

  • Adonis F. R. Leal,
  • Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira,
  • Nathan M. Lopes,
  • Thiago S. de Lima,
  • Eduardo R. Ferreira,
  • Nilton Rodolfo N. M. Rodrigues

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-10742021v20i21074
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 2
pp. 307 – 319

Abstract

Read online

Abstract The Amazon region has high lightning occurrence rates, with many lightning hot spots. Different rivers cross the Amazon rainforests and the people that live there use these rivers as roads to go from one place to another. Every year, lightning deaths are reported in the Brazilian Amazon region. In 2018, a lightning discharge struck a small riverboat, which killed 4 people and injured 5 in the North region of Brazil. In this study, we investigate lightning fatalities in Amazon rivers and compute electric field distribution in a small riverboat due to a lightning strike using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results show that the electric field produced inside the boat is large enough to cause air breakdown. Additionally, we propose a cost-effective method to improve lightning safety for people that use small boats in the Amazon region.

Keywords