Authors : S.A. Taher and A. Shemshadi
Abstract: A new design method for earthing system electrode arrangement and analyzing process using finite element method (FEM) to estimate the solution of the second order laplace type differential equation forced on the proposed system is explained. The surge or earth unbalance current flow in electric power system leads to increased touch and step voltages. Insulating the upper part of earthing system electrodes, proposed in this paper as a new method, causes reduction of touch and step voltages when current flows through the earth as a result of unbalance/surge currents. This is an important safety factor which must be considered for those who work on such electrical sites. Because of independence of the unbalance earth current from the total earth resistance, in high values of it will result in increased touch and step voltages to dangerous values. This research specially refers to the power plants and high voltage substations which have been installed in high resistance soil like rocky earth sites.
S.A. Taher and A. Shemshadi , 2008. Analysis and Design of a New Method for Reduction of Touch and Step Voltages for Earthing Systems Using FEM Approach. International Journal of Electrical and Power Engineering, 2: 409-414.