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A new design of grounding grid based on multi-concentric rings with lower step and touch voltages compared to traditional grids

Research Abstract

This paper introduces a new design of a grounding grid composed of multi-concentric rings (MCRG) tied together by conductors and provided with rods uniformly distributed around the periphery of the outer ring. The methodology for evaluating ground resistance and ground surface potential for predicting the step and touch voltages is based on the current simulation technique. Current spheres simulate the grid components of rings, conductors, and rods, the number of which is well-defined. In a two-layer soil, the interface plane between the layers is simulated by two sets of an equal number of current spheres. Satisfaction of pertinent boundary conditions at the surface of grid components and interface plane formulates a set of equations, whose solution determines the current values of the simulation spheres. With known sphere currents simulating the grid, the ground resistance and the distribution of ground surface potential are evaluated. The proposed MCRG outperforms square and rectangular grid designs reported in the literature, being safer with lower step, touch voltages, and ground resistance for the same grid area and fault current.

Research Authors
Ahmad Eid, Mazen Abdel-Salam, Hadeer H El-Hawary
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Electric Power Systems Research
Research Pages
112121
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
international
Research Vol
250
Research Year
2026