Design of substation grounding grid in CFETR

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Fusion Energy Technology
• Power Systems

Background:

• Substation grounding grids are critical for safety in large-scale projects like the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR).
• Existing grounding grid designs may have limitations in meeting stringent safety standards while optimizing material usage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an optimized design method for substation grounding grids specifically for the CFETR.
• To ensure the safety and efficiency of the grounding system through rigorous simulation and verification.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel grounding grid design methodology.
• Utilizing Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP) for simulating fault currents, contact voltages, and step voltages.
• Comparison of simulation results with theoretical calculations to validate design correctness.

Main Results:

• The proposed grounding grid design meets relevant industry standards.
• The method successfully reduces the number of conductors required compared to conventional designs.
• Simulations confirmed the safety of the grounding grid under various fault conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a safe and efficient approach for designing CFETR substation grounding grids.
• This methodology can be adapted for the design and renovation of grounding systems in other CFETR buildings.
• The design balances safety requirements with material optimization, reducing potential faults.