2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Vienna, Austria

Computational Model of Grounding Systems

Moussa. Lefouili
1
, Zoubida. Belli
1
LAMEL Laboratory, University of Jijel,
BP 98 Ouled Aissa 18000 Jijel, Algeria
Email: Lefouili_moussa@yahoo.fr

Kamal Kerroum, El Khamlichi. Drissi K.
Vesna Arnautovski-Toshera
Institut Pascal, Blaise Pascal University,
24 Avenue des Landais, 63177 Aubire, France
Email: Kamal.KERROUM@lasmea.univ-bpclermont.fr,


AbstractThe response of grounding systems is calculated under
fault conditions or when they are hit by lightning directly in time
domain. The current distribution and potential along the
structure are determined using transmission line theory. The
electromagnetic fields in the surrounding soil are determined
from the previously calculated current distribution using dipoles
theory with analytical formulas in infinite conductive medium.
Modified images theory is used for taking in account the interface
in the half space instead Summerfield integrals. The model can
be used to predict the E.M environment of grounding systems
because; it can calculate electromagnetic fields in any points of
interest.
Keywords-compatibility electromagnetic; grounding systems;
hybrid method; transmission line and dipoles theory.
I. INTRODUCTION
Since the early eighties modeling methods for grounding
systems might be classified in only four groups:
Transmission line theory method;
Electromagnetic field theory method;
Circuit theory method;
Hybrid methods.
A Transmission line theory method
The transmission line approach was the first method that
was used for simulating transient behavior of grounding
system. The loss transmission line concept was applied on the
horizontal grounding wire, which was described by
telegrapher's equations [1]. Recently the conventional
transmission line approach has been extended from simple
grounding wire to grounding grid, and has been improved
from uniform per-unit parameters to non uniform per-unit
parameters [2].This approach can be either in time and in
frequency domain, it can include all the mutual coupling
between the grounding wires; it can also include the soil
ionization. Moreover this approach can predict surge
propagation delay. Further the computation time require by
transmission line approach is extremely less compared with
the electromagnetic approach.
B Circuit theory method
The circuit approach for the transient analysis of grounding
systems was developed by Meliopoulos et al. [3]. The main
steps involved in this method are as follows:
-Divide the grounding system into many finite segments;
-Create the equivalent lumped circuit for each segment and
calculate its parameters
-Solve the nodal equation of the equivalent circuit that
represents the whole grounding system based on Kirchhoffs
laws. Even though this model neglected the capacitive
coupling and internal resistance, it is still reasonably accurate
in low resistivity soils. Circuit approach is easy to understand,
can easy incorporate the non-linear soil ionization phenomena,
can include all the mutual coupling between the grounding
wires. The main drawback of this approach is that it cannot
predict the surge propagation delay.
C Electromagnetic field theory method
Electromagnetic field approach is the most rigorous
method for modeling the transient behavior of grounding
systems, because it solves full Maxwells equations with
minimum approximations [4]. This approach can be
implemented either by: Method of Moment (MoM); and Finite
Elements Method (FEM).
This model aims to transform the associated electric field
Maxwells equations to a system of linear algebraic equations
with minimum assumptions. The difficulty in this approach is
to transform the open boundaries of both air and earth
environment into a closed boundary problem using spatial
transformation and is too complex to be implemented [5], [6].
Further, when the grounding structure is large, the
computation time is very large. Another disadvantage of
electromagnetic field approach is that, because of its
frequency domain solution procedure, it cannot be easily
modified to include non-linearity due to soil ionization.
D Hybrid method
Hybrid approach for the transient analysis of grounding
system was first initiated by Dawalibi [7]. This model is the
combination of both electromagnetic field approach and
circuit approach. This method includes the frequency
influence on series internal impedances, inductive components
and capacitive-inductive components which makes this
method more accurate than the conventional circuit approach,
especially when the injection source frequency is high.
E Our approach
In this work, we propose a new hybrid approach where
three methods are combined [8, 9]. The transmission line
theory is used for determining the potential and current
distribution along the structure. The electromagnetic fields
theory with analytical formulas is used for determining the
E.M fields radiated by electrical dipole in infinite conductive
medium [8]. The total EM fields is the sum of the contribution
from each dipole and modified images theory for taking in
account the interface in the half space instead Summerfield
integrals
II. EXPRESSIONS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN
FREQUENCY DOMAIN
The rigorous expressions for electromagnetic fields in
the conducting medium are developed. Consider an electric
dipole of length (dl) immersed in a conducting medium
characterized by constitutive constants: conductivity (),
permeability ( ), and permittivity ( ), and excited by an
impulse current.
When the dipole is located in the origin of a Cartesian
coordinate system, and oriented in the z direction, the vector
potential in the frequency domain is as follows:


= k e
4
) , (
r -
0

r
Idl
s r A (1)
where:
( ) and , j s s s = + =

r = distance between the
observation and source points.
Using s) (r, A
1
) , (
0

= rot s r H

(2)
We take the magnetic field components in the frequency
domain:

( ) ( ) r 1
4
s ,

3
r
x
e
r
yIdl
r dH

= (3)

( ) ( )
r
y
e
r
xIdl
r dH

3
r 1
4
s ,

+ = (4)

( ) 0 , = s r dHz (5)

And using Maxwell equations;

|
|

\
|
+
=

A
1
j
1
E
0
rot rot

(6)
we take the electric field components in the frequency domain:

( )
( )
r
x
r
r s
dl I z x
r E
-
2 2
5
e
3
r 1
4
3
s ,

|
|

\
|
+ +
+
=

(7)

( )
( )
r -
2 2
5
e
3
r 1
s 4
dl I z y 3
,

|
|

\
|
+ +
+
=
r
r
s r E
y
(8)

( )
( )
( )
r
z
e
r r
r
r
r
z
r s
Idl
s r E

2 2
2 2
2
2
3
1
3
1
3
4
,

|
|
|
|

\
|
+ +
|
|

\
|
+ +
+
=
(9)

III. EXPRESSIONS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN TIME
DOMAIN
From the tables of Laplace transforms [10], we have:

( ) ( )
( )
2 2 2
0
2
2
1
2

.
v r t
v r t u
m I e
r
v r t e
r
e
t
r

(10)
where
0
2 2 2
2
v r t
m

=
( ) v r t Is the Dirac function ,
( ) v r t u is the Heaviside step function, and
I
1
(m) is the first order modified Bessel function.

We also define the attenuation constant, the wave velocity and
the relaxation time, respectively:
= = =
0
and 1 , v
Using equation (1), we take the expression of potential
vector in time domain:

( )
( )

(
(

k
v r t
v r t u
m I
t
e
r
v r t e
r
dl I
t r A
r
2 2 2
1
0
2
) (
2

2


) (
4

,

(11)
Using: t) (r, A
1
) , (

=

t r H (12)
we take the magnetic field components in the time domain,
and using equation (6) with sum mathematic manipulation
taken in [11] and [9] we take the electric field components in
the time domain.
IV. SEMI-INFINITE MEDIUM
In the half space the interface soil-air is taken into account
using modified images theory. The electric field radiated by a
current element placed above or below the earths surface can
be evaluated by the modified method of images [12]. The
following cases can be considered for the position of the
current element and the observation point.

A Current source and observation point in soil
The electric field can be evaluated as a sum of the field of
the current source and its image I as follows:

(13) I ) R(
) ( ) (
) ( ) (
'
2 2 1 1
1 1 2 2

=
+ + +
+ +
= I
j j
j j
I


h
(b)
(a)
I
I
h
Medium2 (
2

2
)
Medium1 (
1

1
)
(
2

2
)
(
2

2
) h
I


Figure1 a) Configuration of media and source.
b) Images representing the field in media 2

B Current source in soil and observation point in air
The electric field can be evaluated as the field due to the
modified current source (I):
I ) (
) ( ) (
) ( 2
2 2 1 1
1 1 ' '

T I
j j
j
I =
+ + +
+
= (14)

h
(b)
(a)
Medium1 (
1

1
)
Medium2 (
2

2
)
I
h
(
1

1
)
(
1

1
)
I

Figure.2 a) Configuration of media and source.
b) Images representing the field in media

V. VOLTAGE AND CURRENT DISTRIBUTION
To determine the voltage and current distribution along
the excited buried electrode, we propose the direct resolution
of the transmission lines equations in the time domain by the
finite differences time domain method (FDTD). The basic idea
is to consider the buried conductor like a transmission line;
this will be characterized therefore by per unit length
parameters R, L, G and C. Latter, as deducted from the
E.D.Sunde work [13].
The limits of validity of our formalism are those of the
transmission line theory, ie, the right section dimensions of the
electrode are sufficiently less than the smallest wavelength of
the incident wave.
Our electrode is a conductor subject to a thin wire
approximation, assuming that conductor radius (a) is much
smaller than its length "l", buried at "h" depth in soil which is
supposed homogeneous. In the literature different models have
been proposed to represent this structure.











Figure3. Physical situation

For this analysis we consider the application see figure.3 that
consists in one electrode with 20 meters length 1.4 cm
diameter, which is buried at 1 meter depth in homogenous
earth, excited with a double exponential lightning wave as
shown below.
( ) ( )
1 - 1 -
m

s 883 . 1 ; s 0.0146
; k 938 . 20 I ;


= =
= =

A e e I t I
t t
m


Figure4. Transient voltage at different points

0 1 2 3 4
0
10
0
10
20
30
Time (S)
i(x=0 m)
V(x=0.25 m)
V(x=5 m)
V(x=10 m)
V(x=15 m)
Voltage (kV)
Current (kA)
5
15


20 m

X

h =1 m
Soil (=100 m r=1
r
=1)
Air
1 m
Interface soil-air
M
Figure 4 shows the computational result of recorded current
impulse injected at the end point of 20 m long horizontal wire
and transient voltage at four points along the electrode.
VI. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
The electromagnetic fields in the surrounding soil are
determined from the previously calculated current distribution
using dipoles theory with analytical formulas. The total EM
fields is the sum of the contribution from each dipole and
modified images theory for taking in account the interface in
the half space instead Summerfield integrals.
A. E.M field radiated by simple electrode
When a lightning current mentioned above is injected in a
grounding electrode, severe transient electromagnetic fields
will occur in air. Figure 5 and figure 6 shows the transient
magnitude of electric and magnetic fields at point M in air.


Figure5. Magnitude of electric field at point M


Figure6. Magnitude of magnetic field at point M
B. Electric field radiated by two electrodes

Figure 7 sows the configuration of wind turbine grounding
systems, which consist on two electrodes buried at 1 meter
depth in homogenous earth, excited by the double exponential
current pulse with parameters I0=1.0167 A , =0.0142 10
6
.s
-1

=5.073 10
6
.s
-1
.















Figure7. Configuration of wind turbine grounding

Figure 8 show the magnitude of electric field at the
interface soil-air along a profile parallel to the buried
electrodes.


Figure8. Electric field at the interface

C. Magnetic field radiated by buried grid
For this analysis we take the same example treated by
Xiong et al.[14], a 60 m by 60 m square ground grid with 10
m by 10 m meshes, made of copper conductor with 1.4 cm
diameter, and buried at a depth of 0.5 m under the earths
surface figure 9. The soil is assumed to be homogenous with a
resistivity 100 m, a relative permittivity 9 and a relative
permeability 1.
0 4 60
0
5
Time (S)
Magnetic field (A/m)
2
0
10
20
30
Current (kA)
Magnetic field
Current injection
0
Time (S)
0 20
4 60

0
10
20
Electric field
Current injection
Electric field (KV/m) Current (kA)
30 12
6

Air
Soil
15
10
Figure 10 show the cartography (70mx70m) of magnetic
field at the interface, radiated by buried grid (60mx60m)
excited at center by the same double exponential current pulse
with parameters I0=1.0635 KA , =0.0142 10
6
.s
-1

=1.07310
6
.s
-1
.















Fig.9. Buried grid




Figure10. Cartography of Magnetic field radiated at
interface by buried grid (60mx60m)

Presented results show large differences of the magnetic
field to remote ground between points at the interface. High
values of the magnetic field occur near the injecting point and
are further spreading toward the rest of the ground surface
while the values are decreasing. The computation results were
successfully compared to those obtained in reference [14].

CONCLUSION
In this work, a new computational approach for
characterizing the transient electromagnetic fields generated
by large earthing systems is proposed. The theoretical
expressions in the time domain of electromagnetic fields
generated by an electric dipole immersed in an infinite
conductive medium are developed. For a semi-infinite
dissipative medium, the interface soil-air is taken into account
using a modified image theory, where the total radiated field is
the sum of the contributions of each dipole. The computation
results are based on a general formulation, in time domain,
which permits the observation point in air or soil. Our
approach its very easy to understand, reasonably accurate and
time efficient.
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Air :

0
,
0

soil :


h