CAD of Earthing Grids of Electric Power Substations

Abstract

The paper describes the CAD of a high-voltage electrical installation grounding system, developed by the authors of this article. The CAD consists of three different software packages. The first of them, the GEOS software package, is used for automatic interpretation of geoelectrical sounding results. By interpreting the data obtained for the Schlumberger, Wenner or general symmetrical arrangement of four electrodes, the optimal soil model is determined. The second software package, UZEM, is intended for the calculation of mesh grounding systems laid in a multilayer horizontally complex soil model. The procedure is very effective and general: the total number of layers, the total number of metallically separated grounding systems, as well as the position of the grounding systems in relation to the soil model layers are completely arbitrary. The procedure is based on the mean potential method, and its effectiveness and generality are achieved by using the exponential approximation of two kernel functions. The third program package, SAMUZ, is intended for the calculation of mesh earthing devices laid in very complex soil that cannot be well approximated by a unique horizontally complex multi-layered soil model. This software package is based on the application of the finite element technique to a combination of differential and integral formulation of the problem.

Slavko Vujević

Professor Emeritus

An expert in electrical engineering, particularly known for his contributions to numerical modeling of electromagnetic phenomena, lightning protection, and grounding. Throughout his career, he was a key member of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture in Split, where he taught, mentored students, and actively participated in scientific research and international professional organizations.