Lightning Protection Design for the Ultra Large Truncated Spherical Radome Based on Deployment of Multiple Wave Transparent Lightning Rods

The super-large truncated spherical radome, with a radius of over 25m, is almost at the limit of the rolling sphere method radius (30 m) prescribed for lightning protection requirements for Class I buildings. The traditional tower-type or rod-type radome lightning protection design often results in incomplete protection coverage and degrade radar performance due to reflected radar waves caused by its metal tower rod. To address these issues, this paper proposes a radome protection design scheme that employs multiple plasma wave-transparent lightning rods deployed along the diameter ray direction like a “hedgehog-type” deployment. Using COMSOL following the quasi-electrostatic field method, both plate and rod electrode lightning strike attachment simulations are carried out to evaluate the protection effectiveness of the proposed design scheme. The simulation results demonstrate that this hedgehog-type design scheme provides effective protection for the super-large radome.