Patent ID: 6265881
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G01R,G01V

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring ground impedance to evaluate the performance of a grounding system, said apparatus comprising:a current electrode for placement in the ground at a first location;source means for causing an electric current to flow from said current electrode to the grounding system;means for measuring the current flowing from said current electrode to the grounding system;at least one voltage probe for placement in the ground at an arbitrary second location spaced a distance from the grounding system, said arbitrary second location being a non-null and non-asymptotic location, said at least one voltage probe having a ground potential resulting from the flow of current from said current electrode to the grounding system;means for measuring the ground potential difference between a ground potential detected at the grounding system and the ground potential of said at least one voltage probe; andelectronic means which utilizes a mathematical model of said grounding system and state and parameter estimation techniques to formulate an estimate of ground potential rise with respect to remote earth and which utilizes the formulated estimate of ground potential rise to estimate the impedance of the grounding system.