 Theory of grounding system analysis

 Return electrodes and buried structures

 Horizontal, vertical, hemispherical, cylindrical
soil layering and finite volume soils
 Design optimization to reduce GPR, touch and
step voltages
 Computer workshop
2-1
GROUNDING SYSTEM ANALYSIS
1. Objectives
2. Soil Structures
3. Grounding Networks
4. Methods of Analysis
5. Example 1: Grounding Networks in Multilayer Soils
6. Example 2: Grounding Networks in Hemispherical Soils

2-2
2-3
 Ireland Is a uniform or 2-layer Soil Model
Representative of the Prevalent Earth
Resistivity Structure on this Planet?

Soil Layer Number Percentage

2%

• This is an example text

• Go ahead and place
your own text 19% 2-Layer
• Example text
•This is an example text 38% 3-Layer
•This is an example text
4-Layer
5-Layer
Location of 41%
Soil Resistivity Measurements

Obviously, not in Ireland where a comprehensive

measurement program was carried out by ESBI…
 British/Logarithmic X and Y LEGEND

10 3
Measured Data
Computed Results Curve
Soil Model

Measurement Method..: Wenner

RMS error...........: 5.81%

Layer Resistivity Thickness

Number (Ohm-m) (Feet )
====== ============== ==============
Air Infinite Infinite
2 272.9100 2.265126
Apparent Resistivity (Ohm-meters)

3 781.1339 116.2552
4 267.2532 infinite

10 2
10 -1 10 0 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 RESAP <MULTILAYER-3 >

Inter-Electrode Spacing (feet)

 British/Logarithmic X and Y LEGEND

10 3
Measured Data
Computed Results Curve
Soil Model

Measurement Method..: Wenner

RMS error...........: 5.81%

Layer Resistivity Thickness

Number (Ohm-m) (Feet )
====== ============== ==============
Air Infinite Infinite
2 272.9100 2.265126
Apparent Resistivity (Ohm-meters)

3 781.1339 116.2552
4 267.2532 infinite

10 2
10 -1 10 0 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 RESAP <MULTILAYER-3 >

Inter-Electrode Spacing (feet)

 British/Logarithmic X and Y LEGEND

10 3
Measured Data
Computed Results Curve
Soil Model

Measurement Method..: Wenner

RMS error...........: 7.765%

Layer Resistivity Thickness

Number (Ohm-m) (Feet )
====== ============== ==============
Air Infinite Infinite
2 155.8997 0.8488176
Apparent Resistivity (Ohm-meters)

3 58.02483 13.23873
4 537.6384 infinite
10 2

10 1
10 -1 10 0 10 1 10 2 10 3 RESAP <3Layer_InvertedBell >

Inter-Electrode Spacing (feet)

 British/Logarithmic X and Y LEGEND

10 3
Measured Data
Computed Results Curve
Soil Model

Measurement Method..: Wenner

RMS error...........: 7.765%

Layer Resistivity Thickness

Number (Ohm-m) (Feet )
====== ============== ==============
Air Infinite Infinite
2 155.8997 0.8488176
Apparent Resistivity (Ohm-meters)

3 58.02483 13.23873
4 537.6384 infinite
10 2

10 1
10 -1 10 0 10 1 10 2 10 3 RESAP <3Layer_InvertedBell >

Inter-Electrode Spacing (feet)

Two-Layer Soil

Air Earth
Surface
1
I

2

Multilayer Soil

Air Earth
Surface
1

2

K:\Seminar\cdr\Session2\Point_src_multi.cdr
3
4
2-4
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2-6
 P1 P3
I

SEGMENTS 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
r1 r2
r2 r4
dx r3
A B r1
r4 r5
i=Idx
b C
r
a
P

All segment are assumed to be buried at a great depth. The potential at point P due to the current
leaking from a short segment of length dx is given by :

Idx
dVp = a r
where, “a” is a constant and “r” is the distance between P and the segment center.
Several (i.e., n) of these infinitesimal current source segments will create a total potential :
n
ik dx
VP  a 
k 1 rk
Now if we assume that:

All the segments have an equal length l

P is now a point on the surface of a conductor segment

ik = Constant = i (uniform current density)

Then: n
1
VP  ail 
k 1 rk

The potential Vp must be a constant because we assumed a perfectly conducting conductor. Therefore
if we compute the potential at a point P at the center of Segment 1 ( VP1 ) and at a point P at the center
V V
K:\Seminar\CDR\Session2\Formula_1.cdr
of segment 3 ( VP 3 ) we should have
P1 P3
Let’s verify:

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
VP1            VP 3 2.08          3.0
Radius 1 2 3 4 Radius 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 2

The answer is no. Therefore our assumption of equal current density k i i

is invalid.
Generally, the leakage currents at the ends of a conductor are larger than at its center.

2-7
 20 1 20
20 A Calculated (B)
Tota l Current 1 20 B Measured (B)
E 500 A 28

Linear Current density (A/m)

20 (E or B) 1 1
D E Calculated (A)
B Calculated Measured (A)

Linear Current density (A/m)

24 1 20
Measured 24
1 1 20
20 A 20 Tota l Current
Calculated 1025 A
20 D F Measured 20
1 C 1 (Average A
1 20 C,D or F)
16 Tota l Current 16 A
600 A

12 12

8 8
B

4 4
Uniform Soil (K = 0)
Grid Depth = 1.0m Uniform Soil (K = 0)
Grid Depth = 1.0m

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Conductor Element Number (meters) Conductor Element Number (meters)

20 20 Calculated (D)
Measured (D)
1 1 20 B
Calculated (E) Calculated (A)
28 20
1 20
A Measured (A)
1 Measured (E) 20
Linear Current density (A/m)

D E 1 20 B Calculated (B)
Linear Current density (A/m)

24 Calculated (B) 24 Measured (B)

1 1 20
Measured (B) D E
C
Calculated (E)
Measured (E)
20 D 20 Calculated (D)
Measured (D)

16 16
E A

12 12 D
E

8 B Tota l Current 8
910 A
B

4 4 Tota l Current
Uniform Soil (K = 0) 1015 A
Grid Depth = 1.0m Uniform Soil (K = 0)
Grid Depth = 1.0m

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Conductor Element Number (meters) Conductor Element Number (meters)

Figure 4.8 Incomplete T-Shaped Grid Figure 4.10 Open Grid

K:\seminar\c dr\session2\MeasuredComputedCurrents.cdr

2-8 14
2-9 15
2-10
GPR of S1 = 18.2 kV

GPR of S4

GPR of S16

GPR of S64

Observation Profile

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Patch Charges Display with SESSystemViewer

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