The transient characteristics of lightning and its associated rapid rise time and large current mean that good grounding must be considered in order to make lightning protection effective. Many factors such as changes in soil resistivity, ease of installation, layout, and existing physical characteristics are site-specific and often affect the determination of the grounding method used.

Low impedance is the key to lightning protection. All ground connections should be as short and direct as possible to reduce inductance and reduce the peak voltage induced in the connection. The ground electrode system must effectively couple the lightning surge to the ground by coupling to the soil. The resistance of the ground itself to lightning current must also be reduced. Only when all these factors are taken into consideration can the lightning protection effect be achieved.

Ground impedance

Soil resistivity is an important design consideration. For different soil types, moisture content and temperature, it will change significantly and will cause changes in ground impedance.

Short and direct ground connection

The voltage generated by lightning discharge mainly depends on the rise time of the current and the impedance of the ground path (mainly inductance).

Due to long distances, indirect paths or any series inductance caused by sharp bends in the ground conductor wiring, extremely fast rise times will cause the voltage to rise significantly. This is why a short and direct ground connection is important.

Coupling from the electrode system to the ground

The efficiency of the ground electrode system to couple the lightning current to the ground depends on many factors, including the geometry of the ground electrode system, the shape of the conductor, and the factors that effectively couple to the soil.

Characteristics of a good grounding system

1. Good conductivity

2. A conductor that can withstand the available electrical fault current

3. Long service life-at least 40 years

4. Low ground resistance and impedance

The basic principle of any grounding device should be to try to increase the surface area of the electrode or conductor and the surrounding soil. This not only helps to reduce the grounding resistance of the grounding system, but also greatly improves the impedance of the grounding system under lightning impulse conditions.

Equipotential bonding

Equipotential bonding helps to ensure that there are no dangerous potential differences between different input conductors (such as metal water services, power systems, telecommunications systems and local ground), and can also reduce stepping and contact potential.

Good corrosion resistance

The ground electrode system should be corrosion resistant and compatible with other conductors buried in the ground.

So far, copper is a common material used for grounding conductors. Generally, the maintenance or inspection procedures of a grounding resistance measuring instrument (or grounding resistance measuring device) should be used to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the grounding system.

Ground resistance

When current flows from the ground electrode into the surrounding soil, it is usually said to flow through a series of concentric shells of increasing diameter. Each successive case has a larger current flow area and therefore lower resistance.

At some point far away from the grounded conductor, the current dissipation becomes large, and the current density is so small that the resistance is negligible.

In theory, the grounding resistance can be derived from the following general formula:

R = P × L / A resistance = resistivity × length / area

This formula explains why the farther the shell of the concentric earth is from the ground rod, the resistance will decrease:

R = soil resistivity × shell thickness/area

In the case of grounding resistance, it is assumed that the soil (or soil) resistivity in the entire volume is uniform, although in reality it is rare. The equations of the electrode system are very complex and are usually expressed only as approximations.

The commonly used formula for single ground electrode system is as follows:

R =ρ/2πL

parameter:

R = resistance of the ground rod to the earth (or soil) (in ohms)

L = length of ground electrode

r = radius of ground electrode

ρ = average resistivity in ohm-cm.