Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars

In this paper, we propose a method for locating discontinuities in grounding grids using a multistatic radar. The objective is to determine the fault position in the structure by injecting an ultra-wideband pulse (Gaussian monocycle) at one of the corners of the grid and analyzing the transient sign...

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Main Authors: Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira, Pedro G. B. Maia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/150
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author Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira
Pedro G. B. Maia
author_facet Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira
Pedro G. B. Maia
author_sort Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we propose a method for locating discontinuities in grounding grids using a multistatic radar. The objective is to determine the fault position in the structure by injecting an ultra-wideband pulse (Gaussian monocycle) at one of the corners of the grid and analyzing the transient signals obtained at two sensors and at the transceiver. To perform the analysis and validation of the developed method, simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique were carried out to numerically solve Maxwell’s equations. The voltage signals obtained in an intact grounding grid are used as a reference. Differences between these reference voltages and the voltages obtained with the faulty grid are calculated. With these difference signals, the parameters of the radar ellipses and circle are obtained, which delimit the area where the fault can be found. These parameters depend on the wave propagation speed and the arrival times of the signals at the sensors and the transceiver. The results show that the proposed method is able to reduce the estimated fault location area to a range of 2% to 19% of the total grid area. In addition, the average distance between the actual fault and the center of the estimated region varies between 3.0 and 4.0 m.
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spelling doaj-art-00bb023960f246239ef09138b44829452025-01-10T13:17:14ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118115010.3390/en18010150Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic RadarsRodrigo M. S. de Oliveira0Pedro G. B. Maia1Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE), Institute of Technology (ITEC), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, BrazilGraduate Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE), Institute of Technology (ITEC), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, BrazilIn this paper, we propose a method for locating discontinuities in grounding grids using a multistatic radar. The objective is to determine the fault position in the structure by injecting an ultra-wideband pulse (Gaussian monocycle) at one of the corners of the grid and analyzing the transient signals obtained at two sensors and at the transceiver. To perform the analysis and validation of the developed method, simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique were carried out to numerically solve Maxwell’s equations. The voltage signals obtained in an intact grounding grid are used as a reference. Differences between these reference voltages and the voltages obtained with the faulty grid are calculated. With these difference signals, the parameters of the radar ellipses and circle are obtained, which delimit the area where the fault can be found. These parameters depend on the wave propagation speed and the arrival times of the signals at the sensors and the transceiver. The results show that the proposed method is able to reduce the estimated fault location area to a range of 2% to 19% of the total grid area. In addition, the average distance between the actual fault and the center of the estimated region varies between 3.0 and 4.0 m.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/150fault diagnosisMaxwell’s equationsgrounding gridsFDTD methodmultistatic radars
spellingShingle Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira
Pedro G. B. Maia
Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
Energies
fault diagnosis
Maxwell’s equations
grounding grids
FDTD method
multistatic radars
title Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
title_full Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
title_fullStr Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
title_full_unstemmed Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
title_short Pinpointing Defects in Grounding Grids with Multistatic Radars
title_sort pinpointing defects in grounding grids with multistatic radars
topic fault diagnosis
Maxwell’s equations
grounding grids
FDTD method
multistatic radars
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/150
work_keys_str_mv AT rodrigomsdeoliveira pinpointingdefectsingroundinggridswithmultistaticradars
AT pedrogbmaia pinpointingdefectsingroundinggridswithmultistaticradars