Numerical Investigation of the Use of Electrically Conductive Concrete-Encased Electrodes as Potential Replacement for Substation Grounding Systems

Mouna Daadaa, Stephan Brettschneider, Christophe Volat () and Guy Simard
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Mouna Daadaa: University Research Center on Aluminium, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Stephan Brettschneider: Laboratory of Modelling and Diagnostic of Electrical Power Network Equipment (MODELE), University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Christophe Volat: Laboratory of Modelling and Diagnostic of Electrical Power Network Equipment (MODELE), University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Guy Simard: University Research Center on Aluminium, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: This paper presents a numerical investigation regarding the possibility of using electrically conductive concrete (ECON) combined with concrete-encased electrode (CEE) technology to develop new substation grounding systems (SGSs) called ECON-EE as a replacement for conventional copper or galvanized steel grounding grids. In the first step, the validation of the commercial FEM software used to perform grounding system analysis was performed in terms of the grid resistance ( R G ), ground potential rise (GPR), and step and touch voltages, using a symmetrical 70 m × 70 m conventional copper SGS. Next, several numerical simulations of an ECON-EE grounding system with the same dimensions as the conventional copper grid used for FEM software validation were performed. Thus, several parameters of the ECON-EE grounding system were studied, such as the geometry, dimensions, and resistivity of ECON and the diameter of the rebar. The numerical results obtained permit us to demonstrate that ECON-EE grounding systems can perform better than conventional SGSs equipped with vertical rods, particularly in the case of high ground resistivity. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the two main ECON-EE parameters affecting the grounding resistance and the touch and step voltages are the section area and the resistivity of the ECON. As discussed in detail in this paper, the proposed ECON-EE grounding system can offer several advantages compared to conventional SGSs in terms of efficiency and durability, as well as in terms of simplicity of conception and implementation.

Keywords: grid resistance; substation grounding systems; electrically conductive concrete-encased electrode; FEM simulations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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