Hybrid continuous circuit‐trapezoidal integration method analysis of multi‐cross structure of grounding system.

An essential requirement to improve the lightning performance of transmission line is the achievement of low impulse impedance of grounding system, which diminishes the occurrence of the external overvoltages. In this study, for the first time, a multi‐cross structure used as transmission line tower‐footing grounding system is investigated by means of hybrid continuous circuit‐trapezoidal integration method (HCCTIM). It is discovered that the angle of minimum impulse impedance or the optimal structure of multi‐cross grounding system is mainly dependent on the branch length compared to the effective length of a single horizontal conductor. Furthermore, in the current work, the trapezoidal integration method is used to solve the continuous circuit equations which elements are extracted from electromagnetic integral method, called HCCTIM. Coupling elements and soil ionisation are considered in this model. This method is an accurate, simple, and less time‐consuming computational method. The comparison of the results with measurements, other recent simulations and CDEGS software, satisfactorily validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]