INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION, COMPUTER AND POWER (ICCCP'09)

MUSCAT, FEBRUARY 15-18, 2009

Review of Closed Form Expressions for Self and Mutual Ground Transient Impedances
L. Boukelkoul1, S. Leulmi2, H. Benalla3

Abstract Electromagnetic interference calculations in the

case of overhead lines and underground cables require the determination of the self and mutual impedances of all conductors. In this paper, a review of closed form expressions to compute the ground transient impedances is presented. Based on transmission line theory, in view of the frequency contents that characterise lightning or switching transients, the behaviour of the ground impedance is investigated for a wide band of frequency up to 10 MHz. the analysis of the proposed approximations provide very similar results for the considered range. Most of the approximations neglect the displacement current which leads to high values of the impedance at high frequencies (tends to infinity). These values correspond in time domain to a singularity of the ground transients at t = 0. Low frequency approximation is not always appropriate for transient analysis. It is also shown that the ground conductivity affects sensibly the ground impedance.

of overhead lines. They include highly oscillatory functions and therefore are time consuming and not easy to solve. II. CONDUCTOR INTERNAL IMPEDANCE The The telegraphers equation governing a transmission line is as follows [2]:

v( x, j ) = Zi (x, j ) x i ( x, j ) = Yv( x, j ) x

(1)

Where

v is the voltage i is the current x is the longitudinal distance.

Z is the longitudinal impedance (x and dependent) Y is the transversal admittance (x and dependent). is the frequency

Index Terms Ground impedance; closed form; transient;

low frequency .

I. INTRODUCTION lectromagnetic transient simulations are very important for the design of insulation levels of power and communication systems; therefore detailed transmission line modeling is required. In the case of underground cables, the model parameters are considerably influenced by the ground. The influence of the lossy ground on the conductor impedance has been investigated since 1920 [1], [3]-[4]. The return path of the current through the ground demands a special explanation. The difficulty in determination of the earth return impedance is that it is strongly dependent of the ground resistance and the frequency of the magnetic field. Some theories of determining the earth return impedance are existing; such as Carsons formulas for the case of overhead lines and Pollaczeks for overhead lines and underground cables [1]-[4]. The existing methods used for estimation of the earth return path is to consider the ground as a homogeneous conductor which is located parallel to the respective current carrying conductor in a depth dependent of frequency and ground resistance. The contribution of the earth leads to infinite integrals for the self and mutual earth return impedance, which differ from the corresponding ones
Laboratory of Electronics, Faculty of Sciences & Sciences of Engineering, University of Skikda, Route Elhadaik 21000 Algeria (phone: 213-38704293; fax: 213-387016671; e-mail: l_boukel@yahoo.co.uk) 2 Department of Electrotechnique, Faculty of Sciences & Sciences of Engineering, University of Skikda, Route Elhadaik 21000 Algeria (phone: 213-38704293; fax: 213-387016671; e-mail: leulmi_salah@yahoo.fr)
1

j is 1 For insulated wires the impedance Z can be written in the following form: Z = j L + Z i + Z g (2)
Where L is the per-unit length longitudinal inductance of the cable.

L=

0 re ln 2 ri

(3)

Zi is the per-unit length internal impedance of the conductor. Zg is the per-unit length ground impedance. re and ri are the outer and the inner radius of the cable. The derivation of the internal impedance can be done through the knowledge of the distribution of the current in a cylindrical conductor with radius r, conductivity and relative permeability c . The current can be calculated by solving the Bessel differential equation given by the following relation:

2 I 1 I + j c 0I = 0 r 2 r r
The general solution of (4) is:

(4)

I (r ) = AJ 0 (r ) + BN 0 (r )

(5)

Where: J0 (r ) is the Bessel function of 1st kind of zero order.

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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION, COMPUTER AND POWER (ICCCP'09)

MUSCAT, FEBRUARY 15-18, 2009

N0 (r ) is the Bessel function of 2nd kind of zero order. A and B are constants to be determined. Since the current in the conductor is finite when the radius is zero; so the constant B is taken to be zero. The solution then for the internal impedance is given by the following formula [2]:

Zi =

J 0 ( ri ) 2 riJ 1 ( ri )

(6)

In alternating current Zi is the sum of a resistance R and an internal inductance as follows: Z i = R + jL' (7) An approximation of (6) for low frequency will give [2]:

R + jL' ri J0 ri j j / 4 e R0 2 J1 ri j
If ri

( (

) )

generalized wave equation in the ground and in the air. The parameter in (11) and (12) is the transformed space variable and mathematically represents the frequency of the Fourier spectrum [6]. The Pollaczek integral is highly oscillatory, that it does not possess analytic closed form solutions. There have been several proposals for the approximation of such integral based on logarithmic formula. Although the accuracy obtained from these proposals is acceptable, so far there is no general criterion for the validation of such formulation in a broad range of frequency, conductivity and separation between conductors [7]. Alternatively, one can use the asymptotic expressions. However, those expressions are valid for specific frequency ranges, in addition to the presence of the well-known discontinuities [6]. REVIEW OF GROUND IMPEDANCE All complexities associated with the integral of pollaczek have led researchers to develop closed form approximations. For a wide range of frequencies as long as the transmission line approximation is valid, Sunde [4,7] proposed an expression for the mutual inductance of two buried cables located at the same depth h and separated by a distance x, which is given by:

(8)

This will give a good approximation for numerical solution.

we can obtain:
4

R 1 r 1+ i R0 12 2 L' 1 ri R0 2 2
If ri
2

(9)

(10)

we can obtain:

ri R = R0 2
III.

N ( x) N x2 + 4h2 0 g 0 g 2 2 Sunde j 2h + g Zg = ( d cosx) e 2 + 2 2 + 2 0 g

(13)

GROUND IMPEDANCE FORMULATION

The best known model for the ground impedance self and mutual was proposed by Pollaczek [5]:

Zg self =
Zg mut =
Where: J s =

2D j0 re N0 N0 + Js p p 2
j0 d 2D N0 N0 + Jm p p 2
+

(11)

One of the difficulties with equation (13) is that, as the frequency is increased, the integral term converges slowly leading to longer computation time and possible truncation errors. Further, it was found that the first two Bessel terms in (13) are oscillatory when frequencies approach 1 MHz. However, one can say Sundes expression for ground impedance is more valid in the sense that it uses the full expressions for propagation constants.

(12)

IV. CLOSED FORM EXPRESSIONS a- Infinite earth impedance formula: The infinite earth model consists in considering the earth as a lossy dielectric cylinder whose external radius tends to infinite and its internal radius is the one for the buried conductor. In this context Vance developed the following formula for the self and mutual ground impedance:

e 2h

2 +1 / p 2
2 2

+ 1/ p
2 +1 / p 2
2

e jx d

Jm =

e ( h + y )

+ 1/ p

e jx d

Z gs =

and p = 1 /

j is the complex depth of the

skin effect layer. The Pollaczek expression is a low approximation in the sense that it can be used when frequency of incident pulse satisfies g / g . Because of the low frequency approximation, (11) and (12) dont include the permittivity of the ground. The integral form of (11) and (12) results from the application of the Fourier integral transform on the SQU-2009 ISSN: 1813-419X
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H 0 ( g ri ) 2 ri g H 1 ( g ri ) H0(g x) Zgm = 2 rjri g H1(gri ).H(grj )

(14a)

(15b)

b- Semlyen and Wedepohl formula: The self component of the cable ground impedance was conjectured by Wedepohl and reported by Semlyen [4].

Z gs =

j [ln(1 + p / r )] 2

(16a)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION, COMPUTER AND POWER (ICCCP'09)

MUSCAT, FEBRUARY 15-18, 2009

The counterpart of the mutual impedance is expressed by Wedepohl as:

Z gm

log( g x / 2 p) j = 4h 2 + 0.5 3p

(16b)

In the closed form approximation (14), one can observe the dependence only on the wire radius and the burial depth, unlike Sundes (13) and Waits (19) expressions. It can be shown that Bridgess expression (18) is equivalent to Sundes expression (13). Wait shows if h

2 << 1 ,

his expression is valid for all

c- Saad-Gaabba-Giroux formula: Saad, Gabba and Giroux obtained the following expressions by approximating the Pollaczek integrals:

N0 (r / p) j Zgs = 2 + e2h/ p 2 4 + r 2 / p2

(17a)

frequencies below this limit. Quasi-static and hence transmission line approximations are valid. This limiting condition is about 5MHz for wires at depths between 0.5m 1m and for different ground conditions [8]. Neglecting wire depth may not be a good approximation. Theethayi [10] proposed a modified empirical logarithmic-exponential expression which is similar to (20):

Zgm=

j 2 2h/ p N0(r/ p) + 2 2 e 2 4+x / p

(17b)

d- Bridges formula: Starting from the rigorous scattering solution for a buried cable, Bridges mentions that his expression for ground impedance has two modes, namely, transmission line modes and radiation mode. He derived a general expression using the transmission line approximation and neglecting the displacement current Bridges obtained the following expressions:

1 + g .r + ln j g .r Z gs = 2 2 h 2 e g 2 2 4 + r g

(22)

Expression (22) is proposed to take into account the depth term as a correction term of the expression (21).

j r ln 2 2 p Where = 1.7811 Z gs =
e-

(18)

Wait formula: Developed a more complex expression derived from electromagnetic theory considering only transmission line theory.

Z gs =
Where:

j (1 + ) ln 1.12 .r 2 g

(19)

1 1 N0 (2 g h) + 2 2h2 g = N0 ( g r) 2 j gh (12 g h) e
fPetrache formula: In his expression, he proposed a logarithmic approximation and claims that it is the simplest expressions for the ground impedance that is available in literature.

(a)

Z gs =

j 1 + g .r ln 2 g .r

(20)

As it is known, in buried cables, the wave propagates and returns mostly within the soil medium. The knowledge of the ground impedance is of interest, several researchers developed the above expressions for the ground impedance starting from fundamentals of electromagnetic theory or modification of expressions developed earlier. SQU-2009 ISSN: 1813-419X
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(b)
Fig.1 Comparison between different closed form expressions for self ground impedance, for b)

d = 0.5m, (a) g = 0.01S / m

g = 0.001 / m S

and external radius 2cm.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION, COMPUTER AND POWER (ICCCP'09)

MUSCAT, FEBRUARY 15-18, 2009

REFERENCES
[1] N. Theetayi, R. Thottppillil, M. Paolone, C.A. Nucci, F. Rachidi, External Impedance and Admittance of Buried Horizontal Wires for Transient Studies Using Transmission Line Analysis IEEE. Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, .vol. 14 No. 3, June. 2007, pp.751-761

[2] J. A. Stratton. Thorie de lElectromagnetisme. Paris, Dunod 1961. [3] E. Petrache, F. Rachidi, C. A. Nucci, V. A. Rakov, M. A. Uman. Lightning Induced Disturbances in Buried Cables-Part I: Theory IEEE. Transaction on Electromagnetic compatibility .vol. 47 No. 3, August. 2005, pp.498-508. A.C. Siqueira, C. Portela. Inclusion of Frequency-Dependante Soil Parameters in Transmission-Line Modeling IEEE. Transaction on Power Delivery. Vol. 22. No. 1, January. 2007, pp.498-508. N. Theethayi, R. Thotapillil. Simple Expressions for External Wire Impedance and Admittance for Lightning Current Pulse Propagation in Buried Cables CEEM2006 Dalian. F. A. U. Compos Algorithmic Evaluation of Pollaczeck Integral and its Application to Electromagnetic Transient Analysis of Underground Transmission Systems. Thesis, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Nov. 2002 G.K.Papagiannis, D.A.Tsiametos, D.P. Labridis, P.S. Dokopolous. Direct Numerical Evaluation of Earth Return Path Impedances of Underground Cables IEEE. Proc. Gener. Trans. Distrib. .vol. 152 No. 3, May. 2005, pp.321-327.

[4]

(a)
[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

(b)
Fig.2 Comparison between different closed form expressions for mutual ground impedance, for b)

d = 0.5m, (a) g = 0.01S / m

g = 0.001 / m S

A. Ramirez, F. Uribe. A Broad Range Algorithm for the Evaluation of Carsons Integrals IEEE. Transaction on Power Delivery, .vol. 22 No. 2, April. 2007, pp.1183-1193 [9] F. A. Uribe. Accurate Modeling of Underground Cable Earth Impedances for Electromagnetic Transients. IEEE.1-4244-04932/06/$20.00 2006 [10] N. Theethayi. Electromagnetic Interference in Distributed Outdoor Electrical systems, with an emphasis on lightning Interaction with Electrified Railway Network. Thesis Uppsala Universitet. 2005

Outer radius 2cm and distant 0.5m.

V.

DISCUSSION

Fig. 1 shows a comparison of different closed form approximations, it can be seen that they provide very similar results up to 10MHz. Two different values of soil conductivity were considered for a cable having 2cm as an outer radius. The relative permeability and permittivity are taken as unity and 3 respectively. Fig.2 shows the mutual impedances for three approximations. Vances expressions provide a neglected value from the whole range of low frequency, however the other expressions Wedpohl and Saad can be considered. VI. CONCLUSION Based on transmission line theory, in view of the frequency content which characterizes lightning or switching transients, the behavior of the self and mutual ground impedance are investigated. The analysis of the proposed approximations provides very similar results for a wide range of frequencies. From the results obtained, it is obvious that the value of the ground transient impedance is very important at early time (tends to infinity). This high value is due certainly to neglecting the displacement current. This leads to a singularity in time domain analysis.

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