Advances and Challenges of Corrosion and Topology Detection of Grounding Grid

TLDR

Grounding devices release lightning and fault currents, but corrosion of the conductors can damage the grounding body and threaten power system safety, making corrosion detection technology essential for reliable operation. This study reviews the current state of grounding corrosion and topology detection, outlining the basic principles, research challenges, and existing problems of various methods. The authors examine multiple detection techniques—including electric network, electromagnetic field, electrochemical, ultrasonic, and electromagnetic imaging methods, with particular emphasis on recent advances in electromagnetic imaging and time‑difference positioning. The paper concludes that grounding grid corrosion detection still faces significant challenges, and that future research will rely on multidisciplinary approaches, multi‑information fusion, new sensing technologies, big‑data platforms, and intelligent computing to improve fault detection, corrosion assessment, and life prediction.

Abstract

The grounding device plays performs the role of releasing a lightning current and a fault current in the power system, and the corrosion of the conductor will cause damage to the grounding body, which threatens the safe operation of the power system. The grounding grid corrosion detection technology and equipment guarantee the safe operation of the power system. This paper discusses the research status of grounding corrosion and topological detection in detail and introduces the basic principles, research difficulties and existing problems of the methods such as the electric network method, electromagnetic field method, electrochemical method, ultrasonic detection method and electromagnetic imaging method. The methods of electromagnetic imaging and time difference positioning proposed in recent years have been also discussed in detail. The paper points out that the application of grounding grid corrosion detection distance engineering still faces great challenges and that multi-disciplinary, multi-information fusion, new sensing technology, big data platforms and intelligent computing will be the trends to follow in research on grounding grid fault, corrosion detection and life prediction.