Patent attributes
A lightning current transfer unit (100) for a wind turbine, the lightning current transfer unit (100) comprising a first portion (20a) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a blade of a wind turbine electrically connected to a down conductor of the blade and a second portion (20b) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a nacelle of the wind turbine connected to a down conductor connected to earth. The first portion (20a) and the second portion (20b) are both independently movable to maintain electrical coupling to the electrically conducting portion of the blade and nacelle respectively. A lightning current transfer portion (104) is provided that comprises a spark gap (106) formed between an electrical connection (108) to the first portion (20a) and an electrical connection (110) to the second portion (20b). The electrical connections (108, 110) are moveable with their respective first or second portion (20a, 20b). The spark gap (106) has a spark gap distance (111) and the lightning current transfer portion (104) is configured such that the distance is substantially constant during movement of the first portion (20a), second portion (20b) and electrical connections and such that lightning current is transferred from the first portion (20a) to the second portion (20b).
