Numerical computation of grounding grids
View/ Open
Use this link to cite
http://hdl.handle.net/2183/346Collections
Metadata
Show full item recordTitle
Numerical computation of grounding gridsDate
1995Citation
Applied mechanics in the Americas: fourth Pan-American Congress of Applied Mechanics : PACAM IV : Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3-6 January 1995, edited by Luis A. Godoy...et al., vol. 1, p. 449-454
Abstract
[Abstract] Grounding systems are designed to preserve human safety and grant the integrity
of equipments under fault conditions. To achieve these goals, the equivalent electrical
resistance of the system must be low enough to ensure that fault currents dissipate
(mainly) through the grounding electrode into the earth, while maximum potential
gradients between close points on the earth surface must be kept under certain
tolerances (step and touch voltages) [1,2].
In this paper we present a Boundary Element approach for the numerical computation of grounding systems. In this general framework, former intuitive widespread
techniques (such as the Average Potential Method) can be identified as the result
of specific choices for the test and trial functions, as well as suitable assumptions
introduced in the BEM formulation to reduce computational cost. Linear and higher
order elements can be used in order to increase accuracy avoiding excessive segmen-
tation. On the other hand, computing time is kept under acceptable levels by means
of analytical integration techniques and semi-iterative methods for solving linear
equations systems. Finally, an application to a real problem is presented.