In the modern world, the reliability of critical infrastructure—especially water and wastewater treatment facilities—cannot be compromised. A single lightning strike is enough to bring operations to a halt, destroying sensitive equipment and causing costly downtime. This is where IGS Water Solutions steps in with the WX Line, a revolutionary Lightning Protection System (WxLine) designed not just to defend against strikes, but to guarantee continuous operation and safety even during the most severe weather events.
The WxLine isn’t just a surge suppressor; it is a meticulously engineered safety system built for the strictest standards of lightning safety and equipment security.
Guaranteed Reliability in the Face of the Storm
The core philosophy behind the WxLine is absolute dependability. When crucial safety gear is needed most, it must work flawlessly. Unlike typical systems that can be rendered useless by related outages, the WxLine is created to operate autonomously and effectively under virtually any condition.
Crucially, these systems are immune to common failure points:
- Power Loss: The sensors are battery-powered, boasting a minimum 5-year battery lifespan that allows for easy installation and essential electrical isolation from the main power grid.
- Communication Failure: By employing Fiber-Optic communication from the Sensor, the system ensures completely isolated integration, meaning no electrical conductors enter the protected structure. This fiber-optic link prevents a lightning-induced surge from ever traveling back into the facility via communication lines.
- False Alarms: Utilizing patented technology, the WxLine systems deliver precise alerts, ensuring no false alarms that would otherwise lead to unnecessary operational shutdowns.
Precision Monitoring and Operational Control
The intelligence of the WxLine system comes from its core components, which work together to not only detect threats but also manage operations safely.
The central component is the Lightning Detection System (Strike Guard). This powerful sensor actively monitors both cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. When activity reaches a critical level, it provides a crucial contact-closure signaling based on user-set lightning activity thresholds, allowing automated equipment response.
Complementing the hardware is the Strike View Software. This analytical tool is essential for risk management, allowing users to:
- Analyze the progression and intensity of storms.
- Categorize lightning information quickly and accurately.
- Most importantly, estimate the precise, safe time to resume operations after a storm has passed, minimizing unnecessary delays.
Integrated Protection for Critical Assets
The WxLine doesn’t stop at detection; it provides comprehensive protection and control over your physical equipment. The WAVE Sequencer is the system’s operational brain, receiving messages from the RF Transmitter and providing three distinct outputs. These outputs are used to control relays and contactors, effectively managing the loads represented by critical equipment like pumps, irrigation systems, and motor controls. This allows for the automatic, safe shutdown of sensitive equipment when a strike is imminent.
For equipment housing and streamlined installation, IGS offers the WxEIB (Wxline Equipment Indoor Bulkhead). This bulkhead allows for equipment to be factory-installed in a protected enclosure, simplifying on-site integration and ensuring a robust, secure setup.
Furthermore, the system includes the CAPB (Critical Asset Protection Bulkhead), which features specialized protection systems such as the Toro CAPB and Rain Bird CAPB—active lighting protection specifically designed to safeguard high-value, specialized assets in the water and irrigation sectors.
In summary, the IGS WxLine is more than just a product; it’s a mission-critical safety guarantee. It ensures that while the storm rages outside, your operations remain protected, functional, and ready to resume the moment the danger passes, minimizing risk, damage, and costly service interruptions.
