Features and Capabilities of Grounding System Designs

Abstract

The selection of a grounding configuration and design of a grounding impedance are of vital importance for the stability and functionality of power systems, including industrial and commercial power systems. These key aspects of grounding systems have been the subject of various standards, industrial codes, and recommended practices. In this paper, a review is provided for the methods and procedures developed for selecting a grounding configuration and designing a grounding impedance in industrial and commercial power systems. The reviewed methods and procedures are compared in terms of the ground potential, ground currents (during fault and non-fault conditions), overvoltage during asymmetrical faults, and phase inversion. Several tests are also conducted to draw conclusions and suggest recommendations for the adequate selection of a grounding configuration and design of a grounding impedance.