new equations

The Ground ROD 2006 spreadsheet contains a set of new equations which calculate:

the surface voltage immediately above each conductor of the grid

the surface voltage immediately above the centre of each mesh, diagonally from the grid centre to the
corner

constants for intermediate surface positions between the points above the grid centre and the conductor

the surface voltage at each metre distance from the grid corner diagonally outwards

corrections for mesh size and shape

correction factor for 2-layer ground model resistivity

mutual effects of adjacent grids, allowing for calculations of multi-grids

correction for non-average size meshes, defining the voltage above each mesh

   

The concept behind these new equations is to use, as a model, known basic equations and to multiply them by
correction factors to obtain values consistent with the EPRI EL-3099 test results

For the corner mesh voltage E m, the basic equation for the surface voltage at a distance from a conductor has
been utilised:

The surface voltage above the grid conductors is a special case of the basic formula

The voltage at a distance X outside a corner is another special case:

where S K is a 2-layer model correction factor.

The geometric factors are functions of n, D and grid plate radius and include a shape factor S s. Their complexity,
to be consistent with the test results, is less that of the equations in the new edition of IEEE Std 80. S K is a 2-
layer factor which, when combined with the unique method of providing an apparent resistivity value from
Wenner test results, provides consistency with the EPRI EL-3099 test results.

The consistency of the above formulae with the test results can be judged from the following table, which
indicates the percentage difference to the test results.
That such a close consistency occurs is in itself an indicator that the EPRI EL-3099 test results and the test
techniques are representative of actual conditions. The tests reported in EPRI EL3099 span grids with areas
differing by 9:1, conductor spacing from 6m to 90m, burial depth from 0 .5m to 2m and includes square,
rectangular and L-shaped grids, square and rectangular meshes and 2-layer ground. Yet, as the above table
shows, the test results can be so well predicted by equations representing the basic parameters that, in our
understanding, effect the changes in surface voltage

graph comparisons between new equation values and test results

In the graphs presented below, the results from model grid tests reported in EPRI EL3099 are plotted with dots.
The continuous curve derives from the new E m equation and the dotted curve by the E m equation in IEEE STD
80 1986.

fig 1 fig 2
upper curve - 90m x 90m grid 90m x 45m grid
lower curve - 30m x 30m grid

fig 3 fig 3
30m x 30m grid with rods 90m x 90m grid.  Conductors from top down - 2,3,4,5,9
and 13.  IEEE std 80 1986 range is dotted

The graphs demonstrate the consistency of the new E m equation with the EPRI EL- 3099 test results. Of
particular interest may be Figure 2, which shows an irregular curve pattern of the test results when a mixture of
square and rectangular meshes are included. The 2nd, 4th , 6th and 7th plotted values along the X-axis are
rectangular meshes, the others being square meshes. Due to the inclusion of the shape factor in the new E m
equation, the irregularity is depicted.