Power Grounding Safety: Copper Grounding Systems vs. Steel Grounding Systems

More and more conventional grounding systems made of steel are being replaced with copper grounding systems in Asian countries. This paper analyzes the performance of grounding systems made of steel or copper conductors, taking into account the impedances of the ground conductors. A series of computer models simulate grounding systems of different sizes in various soil structures. Numerical results such as ground impedance, ground potential rise (GPR), touch and step voltages, and potential differences between copper ground conductors are compared with those pertaining to steel grounding systems. The performance advantages of grounding grids made of copper are demonstrated throughout the comparison. This paper also presents briefly a practical grounding performance before and after the replacement of steel with copper conductors.