A University of Queensland researcher has developed a portable lightning protection device aimed at saving lives and equipment.
And as part its development, he was the first person to test the device, subjecting it to a simulated lightning strike of one million volts.
Professor Mat Darveniza of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department said the device, which has been granted a provisional patent through the University's technology-transfer company UniQuest who will soon start looking for commercial partners to manufacture and distribute the product, was both 'simple and effective'.
It consists of three aluminium pipes joined together to create an triangular frame large enough to allow a person to stand under it. The pipes could be designed to telescope down for easy transport.
Professor Darveniza said development of the frame was carried out in the University's high voltage laboratory.
As a start a dummy was placed in it and a simulated lightning strike of one million volts was directed through from above. The lightning current struck the A-frame and passed harmlessly through to the ground without touching the dummy.
Professor Darveniza said the next step had been positioning the dummy in different places under the frame to discover 'the safe conditions which did not cause current flow'.
'For the laboratory test conditions we were able to bring the dummy within three centimetres of the frame and so I was able to satisfy myself that it was safe for a human,' he said.
For the most severe real lightning strike, a clearance of about 25 centimetres would be required.
Professor Darveniza then placed himself in the frame and started with 'a relatively low' 60,000 volts.
'Some years ago I had subjected myself to a short duration lightning-like impulse of 60,000 volts so I knew that if anything went wrong, and I was certain it wouldn't, then I would be all right.
'We then increased the voltage in steps until we had one million volts applied to the frame with me feeling absolutely no sensation - and nor should I have.'
Professor Darveniza, who has worked on lightning research for many years and is chair of EL24, the Standards Australia committee responsible for lightning protection, said he had been aware of the need for a simple system for protecting people caught in the open during thunderstorms for some time.
The current research on the lightning protection device was triggered by a visit by Singapore's Ministry of Defence.
'Predicting the weather in Singapore is a fairly straightforward task. They have up to 200 days of thunderstorms every year, compared to Brisbane which has just 35,' Professor Darveniza said.
'With troops out in the field taking part in exercises or even on parade where it is often not practical or desirable to evacuate, the risk of lightning strike is very real.
'The Singaporeans were looking for simple and portable protection for both troops and expensive electronic equipment.
'But the device I have developed also has unlimited potential in most countries, particularly in Australia with our many sporting ovals and golfing events. It's very simple, but like many simple ideas, it's effective.'
Professor Darveniza said larger models, while still simple in design, could provide protection for small groups of people or equipment.
For information contact Professor Darveniza on (07) 3365 3775 (wk), (07) 3378 4610 (hm) or 0411 474 486.
