SWITCHYARD GROUNDING AND EARTHMAT DESIGN CALCULATION FOR 230KV STATION

Design Calculations for substation grounding system have been done as per IEEE Guide for safety in AC Substation Grounding ANSI-IEEE
Std. 80-2000 and CBIP Manual on Substation - Publication 223
0.01 IEEE-80 2000
0.02 CBIP Manual on Substation - Publication 223

= ENTER THE VALU IN YELLOW COLOR BOXES ONLY

STEP-1 : BASIC DESIGN DATA

1.00 SYSTEM DATA
1.01 System nominal voltage

Vs

33.0

kV

1.02 Symmetrical system fault current

Isc

25.76

kA

1.03 rms value of symmetrical ground fault current in A. (furnished by Client)

IF

6.814

kA

1.04 Duration of time of current flow in second

tc

0.5

sec

1.05 Duration of shock for determining allowable body current

(Fibrillation limit)

ts

0.5

sec

1.06 Duration of fault current for determining decrement factor,s

tf

0.5

sec

LxB

1.08 Area of Substation

4900

1.09 Resistivity of the soil

400.00

1.10 Thickness of crushed rock surface

Hs

0.102

1.11 Crushed rock Layer resistivity(wet)

2500

1.12 Design Ambient temperature

Ta

40

1.07 Length and breadth of the Substation(A)

70

70

m2
-m
m
-m
C

2.00 EARTHING CONDUCTOR DATA

2.01 Type of the Earthing conductor

2.02 Resistivity of the Earthing material

16

mm

8.62

-m
gm/cc

2.03 Specific weight of earthing material

SW

7.86

2.04 Specific heat of earthing material

SH

0.114

2.05 Temperature co efficient of the material

0.00378

GI FLAT

cal/gm/C
C

2.06 Type of the Earthing Conductor Material

Copper-clad steel rod

2.07 Selected Earthing material Conductivity (%)

20

2.08 Maximum allowable temperature for Copper-clad steel rod joints

Tm

1084

2.09 Reference temperature of material constant

Tr

20

2.10 Equivalent diameter of earthing conductor

0.01

2.11 Depth of burial of the conductor

0.5

2.12 Selected Grid Spacing between the paraller Conductor

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4.00 EARTH BORE ELECTRODE DATA

4.01 Type of Earth bore electrode

32mm dia MS ROD

4.02 Length of each earth bore electrode

Leb

4.03 Number of Earth bore electrodes chosen

Neb

20

Nos

4.04 Total Length of ground rod,m (Leb x Neb)

LR

0.00

STEP-2 : SIZING OF EARTHING CONDUCTOR

Consequently, at this stage, the designer may opt to check if, alternately, the use of a less conductive (30%) copper-clad steel wire and the imposition of
a more conservative maximum temperature limit of 700C will still permit the use of a conductor with diameter d=0.01m
Using Equation (41) and Table 1 gives
Akcmil

Akcmil

Area of conductor in kcmil

197.4
KO + Tm
TCAP
IF
In
KO + Ta
tc x r x r

IF

6.814

TCAP

3.85

tc

0.5

Sec

r
r

0.00378

8.620

-m

Tm

1084

Ta

40

Ko

245

kA
3
J/cm /C

Where,
1

Ko

Ko

Akcmil

6.814

Akcmil

6.814

Akcmil

Tr

244.550

1
0.00378

20

244.55

C
197.4
3.85
ln
0.5 x 0.00378 x 8.62

244.55 + 1084
244.55 + 40

197.40
19.08

70.49

kcmil

35.24

OR

mm2

Cross section of the earthing strip calculated =

Areq =

Cross section of the earthing strip Selected =

mm2

35.24

Areq

Hence the calculated minimum diameter of the Earthing Rod

A =

D =

X
3.142
6.698 mm

64

mm

Hence the selected minimum diameter of the earthing Rod

D /4

D = 35.24

D2/4
64

X
4
3.142
9.03 mm

In this case,dmin = 6.5 mm, or 0.0065 m solid conductor, which is less than d = 0.01m desired. Hence, a 30% copper-clad steel wire of approximately 2/0
0

AWG size is a viable alternative for grid wires, even if a conservative maximum temperature limit of 700 C is imposed
Selected cross section of the rod is greater than the required. Hence Safe.

Minimum Cross sectional area required

As per IEEE - 80 -2000,the minimum cross sectional area of the earthing conductor to withstand the Short circuit current is given by
1
Aseq

IF

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-43)

x
-4

TCAP x 10
tc x r x r

0.5

Ko + Tm
Ko + Ta

ln

Where,
Ko

1
r

Ko

244.55

TCAP

TCAP

Tr

20

244.55

3.75

J/cm3/C

4.184 x SW x SH
3.75

1
0.00378

4.184 x 7.86 x 0.114

J/cm3/C
1

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Areq

6.814

0.5
3.75 x 10^-4
0.5 x 0.00378 x 8.62

Cross section of the earthing strip calculated =

Areq

Cross section of the earthing strip Selected =

36 mm2

Areq

Hence the calculated minimum diameter of the Earthing Rod

A =

64

mm2

Hence the selected minimum diameter of the earthing Rod

D /4

D = 36.19 X
3.142
D =
6.788 mm

244.55 + 1084
244.55 + 40

ln

D2/4
64

X
4
3.142
9.03 mm

Considering 10% corrosion allowance the diameter of the MS rod will be [Link] 32mm MS rod will be sufficient However we will will select standard
size of 32mm MS Rod for the main earth mat below ground.
2
The conductor size for fround grid can be 100mm However,the conductor size is selected as

Selected cross section of the rod is less than the required. Hence Not Safe.

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240

mm2

STEP-3: TOLERABLE TOUCH AND STEP POTENTIALS CRITERIA

Step voltage :The difference in surface potential experienced by a person bridging a distance of 1 m with the feet without contacting any grounded object.
Touch voltage :The potential difference between the ground potential rise (GPR) and the surface potential at the point where a person is standing while at the same
time having a hand in contact with a grounded structure.
The safety of a person depends on preventing the critical amount of shock energy from being absorbed before the cleared and the system deenergized. The maximum driving voltage of any accidental circuitfault is should not exceed the limits defined as follows. For step voltage the limit is
The tolerable limits of touch and step potentials of a person weighing 50 Kg can be computed by the following equations

Etouch50

(1000+(1.5 x Cs x S)) x

0.116
ts

Volts

Estep50

(1000+(6 x Cs x S)) x

0.116
ts

Volts

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

The tolerable limits of touch and step potentials of a person weighing 70 Kg can be computed by the following equations

Etouch70

(1000+(1.5 x Cs x S)) x

0.157
ts

volts

Estep70

(1000+(6 x Cs x S)) x

0.157
ts

volts

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

Where,
Cs

Surface layer resistivity derating factor

tsc

Duration of shock for determining allowable body current

0.5

Sec.

Resistivity of the crushed rock layer

2500

-m

Hs

Surface Layer Thickness

0.10

Resistivity of the soil

400

-m

Cs =

0.743

0.09 (1 - (/S)
(2 x Hs) + 0.09

0.09 x (1-(400/2500))
(2 x 0.102) + 0.09

Cs =

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-23)

0.743

Etouch50

(1000+(1.5 x 0.743 x 2500))

0.116
0.5

621.13 volts

Estep50

(1000+(6 x 0.743 x 2500))

0.116
0.5

1992.38 volts

Etouch70

(1000+(1.5 x 0.743 x 2500))

0.157
0.5

840.67 volts

Estep70

(1000+(6 x 0.743 x 2500))

0.157
0.5

2696.58 volts

STEP - 4 : INITIAL DESIGN

Spacing"D" between the paraller conductors was finally arrived at as were performed manually
if not -go loops
D =

Square mesh of size is adopted.

Number of parallel conductors lengthwise

L
70
+
1
=
+
=
D
7
nA =
11 nos.

Number of parallel conductors breadthwise

B
70
+
1
=
+
=
D
7
nB = 11 Nos.

7 m

nA

nB

Lc = Total length of grid conductor in the horizontal grid,m

= (nA x B)+(nB x L)
= ( 11
Lc

x
1540

70 ) + (

11

70 )

LR = Total no of groung rod along the perimeter at

=

( L + B)

70

7
+

meter spacing

70 )

4 of 5

7 m after several interative

D
Neb

20

Leb

LR

=
=(

(Neb x Leb)

LR

20

7
Nos
m
m

0 )
m

Total length of Ground system ,including grid and ground rods

LT

11

1540

70 )+( 11

770

=
LT

LR

(nA x B)+(nB x L) +

=(

770

70 )+

STEP-5: DETERMINATION OF GRID RESISTANCE

Rg

Rg

1
LT

1
1540

400 x

1
(20 x A

3.03

3.028

1
20 x 4900

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-65)

1
+
1 + h x ((20/A)
1

1
1 + 0.5 x ((20/4900))

The grid resistence is greater than 1. Hence Not Safe.

STEP-5: DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM GRID CURRENT IG
IG
Ig
Df
If
Sf
CP

=
=
=
=
=
=

Maximum grid current that flows between ground grid and surrounding earth,A (IG = Df x Ig)
rms ymmetrical grid current,A , Ig = Sf x If
Decrement factor for the entire duration of fault tf of 0.5 Second, given in s
rms value of symmetrical ground fault current in A. (furnished by Client)
Fault current division factor
Corrective protection factor is taken as 1for ultimate fault levels.

IG

Cp
Df
Sf
If

=
=
=
=

Ig

=
=

Sf x [Link]
0.6 x

1908

Ig

Cpx Df x Ig
1
1
0.6
6.81

Sf

Ig
[Link]

kA

3180

1908

kA

Though the 13 kV bus fault value of 6814 A is greater than the 115 kV bus fault value of 3180 A, it is recalled from Clause 15 that the wye-grounded 13
kV transformer winding is a local source of fault current and does not contribute to the GPR. Thus, the maximum grid current is based on 3180 A.
Hence
IG

Cpx Df x Ig

IG

IG

1908

1908

kA

STEP-7 : GROUND POTENTIAL RISE (GPR)

The maximum electrical potential that a substation grounding grid may attain relative to a distant grounding point assumed to be at the potential of
remote earth. This voltage, GPR, is equal to the maximum grid current times the grid resistance.
GPR

=
=

GPR

IG x Rg
1908
5777

3.03
V

It is seen that the calculated values of GPR exceeds the safe value of touch voltage i.e..

NOTE:-

621.13 volts

The GPR of preliminary design is not below the tolerable touch voltage hence calculated the Mesh & step voltage for the grid
STEP-8 : CALCULATED MESH AND STEP POTENTIAL
Step voltage :The difference in surface potential experienced by a person bridging a distance of 1 m with the feet without contacting any grounded object.
Mesh Voltage : The maximum touch voltage within a mesh of a ground grid.
Calculated step and touch and step potential are given by
Em
= Mesh voltage at the center of the corner mesh for the simplified method, V

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Es

Km
Ks
Ki

LM
LS
Ig/Lm
Kii
Kh
Lc
Lp
LR

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Es

Step voltage between a point above the outer corner of the grid and a point 1 m diagonally outside the grid for the simplified method, V
Spacing factor for mesh voltage,
Spacing factor for step voltage,
Correction factor for grid geometry,
Soil Resistivity,
Effective length of Lc+Lr for mesh voltage
Effective length of Lc+Lr for Step voltage
The average current per unit of effective buried length of the grounding system conductor.
Corrective weighting factor that adjusts for the effects of inner conductors on the corner mesh,
Corrective weighting factor that emphasizes the effects of grid depth,
Total length of grid conductor in the horizontal grid,m
Peripheral length of the grid in m
Total Length of ground rod,m (Leb x Neb)

x Ks x Ki x IG
LS

Em

volts

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

x Km x Ki x IG
volts
LM

Where,
Km

2x

D
16 x h x d

ln

(D + 2 x h)2
8xDxd

4xd

Kii
Kh

ln

x (2 x n -1)

For grids with ground rods along the perimeter, or for grids with ground rods in the grid corners, as well as
both along the perimeter and throughout the grid area
Kii

0.57 for grid with ground rods

ho

Kh

1.225

Geometric factor composed of factors (na x nb x nc x nd )

na x nb x nc x nd

11.00

OR

1540

280

na

2 x Lc
Lp

nb

for square grids

nc

for square grid and rectangular grids

nd

for square grid,rectangular and L-shaped grids

Km

1
2x

ln

ln

D2
16 x h x d
7^2

16 x 0.5 x 0.009

Ki

Ki

2.272

LM

Lc

1.55 + 1.22 x

LM

1540

1.55 + 1.22 x

LM

1540.00

IG

IG

1908

Isc

25.76 x 1000

ISC

25760

nA nB

11

11

(D + 2 x h)
8xDxd

(7 + 2 x 0.5)^2
8 x 7 x 0.009

4xd

0.5
4 x 0.009

0.644 + 0.148 x 11

Leb
2

(L + B )
0.00
(70^2 + 70^2)

LR

Df x Ig
A

A
1
2xh

11.00

11.00

0.906
0.644 + 0.148 x n

11.0

Km

Ks

280

1540

11 x 1 x 1 x 1

2x

11 )2/11

0.5
1

Lc

(grid reference depth)

Lp

Km

(2

h
ho

Kh

(2 x n)2/n

1
D+h

1
D

6 of 5

(1 - 0.5n-2 )

+
0.5701
1.225

Kii
Kh
ln

ln

x (2 x n -1)
8

x (2 x 11 -1)

Ks
LS

0.406

Ls

Em

Em

Es

Es

0.75 x Lc + 0.85 x LR
1155.00

1
7 + 0.5

0.75 x

1
7

1540

(1 - (0.5)^11-2)

0.85 x

0.00

x Km x Ki x IG
LM

volts

400 x 0.9064 x 2.272 x 1908

1540.00
=

1
2 x 0.5

x Ks x Ki x IG
LS

400 x 0.406 x 2.272 x 1908

1155.00

(As per IEEE 80-2000,Page-27)

1020.6 volts

609.53 volts

volts

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STEP-9 : SAFETY CHECK

If the computed mesh voltage is below the tolerable touch voltage, the design may be complete (see Step 10). If the computed mesh voltage is greater
than the tolerable touch voltage, the preliminary design should be revised (see Step 11).
Description
Touch potential in V
Step potential in V

Tolerable (for 50kg)

Etouch50
621.13 volts
EStep50
1992.38 volts

Calculated
Em
1020.58
ES
609.53

Tolerable (for 70kg)

Etouch70
840.67 volts
EStep70
2696.58 volts

Hence the designed values of Em and Es are lower than the body with stand capability fior the given data.
Hence,the ground grid is safe.
The attainable touch potential is not within the tolerable limit. Not safe.
The attainable Step potential is well within the tolerable limit. Hence safe.

=
=

Em
Es

<
<

Etouch
Estep

CONCLUSION
Type of earthing conductor chosen for earthmat is

16 x 4 mm GI FLAT

Selected Grid spacing for the earthmat

Total length of earthing conductor required for main mat

1540

Type of Earth bore electrode

Length of each earth bore electrode

Number of Earth bore electrodes chosen

20

Nos.

32mm dia MS ROD

Step 10: If both the computed touch and step voltages are below the tolerable voltages, the design needs only the refinements required to provide
access to equipment grounds. If not, the preliminary design must be revised (see Step 11).
Step 11: If either the step or touch tolerable limits are exceeded, revision of the grid design is required. These revisions may include smaller conductor
spacings, additional ground rods, etc. More discussion on the revision of the grid design to satisfy the step and touch voltage limits

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