Analysis of polarity characteristics of lightning attachment and protection to wind turbine blades

•Introduces a new receptor design for wind turbine blade lightning protection.•Enhances protection against positive-polarity lightning strikes on wind turbines.•Identifies vulnerability of existing receptors with 80 % failure in critical conditions.•Simulations confirm improved positive-ion shielding with the new edge receptor.•Findings applicable to high-rise structures and renewable energy systems. This study investigated the attachment of lightning polarity and protection to wind turbine blades. Positive-polarity switching impulse lightning exhibits a shielding effect on the wind turbine blade receptor, whereas negative-polarity switching impulse lightning exhibits a typical lightning attachment to the tip receptor. A wind turbine blade made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic material with a 60° blade rotation and a needle-shaped discharging electrode position at the inner section of the blade has the most vulnerable lightning protection; its failure increased to 80 % when lightning attached to areas without receptors installed. Edge receptors were proposed to supplement vulnerability in lightning protection. The space charge distribution was simulated, and a highly concentrated positive-ion space cloud was produced far away from the rod surface using a positively biased top electrode. © 2024 Elsevier Science. All rights reserved