User Guide for Current Distribution, Electromagnetic Fields, Grounding and Soil Structure

Analysis (CDEGS) Software Package

CDEGS is an Integrated Software for Power System Grounding/Earthing, Electromagnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Interference supplied by Safe
Engineering Services and technologies ltd.
For more information and deep understanding of the Package go to www.sestech.com

This guide is for MultiGround package which is made up of 3 engineering modules

RESAP
1

MALT

FCDIST

CDEGS Design Flowchart

Create file
Start program

Enter data measured on site

Create multi layer soil model (layer
thickness and resistivities) to be used
in simulations
Enter preliminary (or existing) earthmat grid
(as per earthmat layout drawing)
Enter parameters for simulation- Fault current,
Conductor type
Enter information for connected power lines
(that will share the fault current)
Run simulation to determine GPR, step and touch voltages

Open CDEGS from Start Program or desktop short cut

Create Working Directory

D:User\Data\Substation
Name\Project Name

Start up
Job ID drop down menu
appears

NB: All projects for a particular substation must be saved in the same Substation
folder for record purposes. Look at the latest job on that particular sub

Once complete click OK

CDEGS Main Input Screen

Soil Model
Step/touch/GPR
Fault Current
Sharing

Data Entry
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Simulation Modules

Program Output Display

Modules in CDEGS
To enter data, click on Toolbox in the Data Entry window. The following menu will appear

We are currently using only the three modules highlighted below:

1. RESAP
Module used for Soil Resistivity Analysis from the field measurements
> Click on Toolbox under Data Entry Toolbar > Click on RESAP > Window on Slide
number 6 Appears

2. MALT
Module used for Low Frequency Grounding / Earthing Analysis
> Click on Toolbox under Data Entry Toolbar>Click on RESAP > Window on Slide
number 10 Appears

3. FCDIST
Module used to determine the sharing in dissipation of the fault current between the
substation electrode and the connected power line shield wires > Click on Toolbox
under Data Entry Toolbar>Click on FCDIST > Window on Slide number Appears

Resap
In TOOLBOX Click on RESAP The following menu will appear
1. Select Job ID
2. Ensure System of Units is Metric

Now, click on Measurements to

input field data

Field Data

Specifying Measurement Conditions:

1. Werner, Long Filter
2. Resistance
3. Ignore Probe Depth

Entering Field Data

Probe Spacing in meters

Apparent Resistance values in Ohms

Note: The minimum requirement is 2 sets of soil Resistivity

measurements must be taken. Both sets of measurements must be
entered
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When complete, click on OK The

program will take you back to
Resap

Defining the Soil Model

In RESAP window Click on Soil Types. The following menu will appear

If Soil Resistivity and Thickness are not known

1. Determine Automatically
2. Horizontal Layers
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If Soil Resistivity and Thickness are known

1. User Defined
2. Horizontal Layers

Exiting Resap

Click OK / Submit to exit the RESAP window and go back to Toolbox

Malt
In TOOLBOX Click on MALT. The following window will appear
1. Select Job ID
2. Ensure System of Units is Metric
3. Radius in meters

Now, click on System to CREATE or IMPORT the Grid and Define Grid Energization. See next page
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CREATE or IMPORT the Grid and Define Grid Energization

1. Select Main Ground

2.Put in the coordinates of the grid Conductors and

the Conductor Radius = 0.05m

3. Select Current (Amps)

4. Enter Fault Current Magnitude

Click on Ampacity for Conductor Ampacity Calculation

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which will be shared at a later stage (FCDIST)

Conductor Ampacity Calculation

Enter the following

1. Fault Current in kA
2. Fault Duration in seconds
3. Copper Type (100% not BEE CU)
4. Frequency is 50Hz

Go back to System and click ok to return to MALT

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Computation
In MALT window Click on Computation. The following window will appear
Defining the Profile and Surface Aria for which the safety parameters will be calculated

Assuming that on average a human

takes 0.5m (dX or dY) steps when
walking within the substation yard
1. Populate P1
Walking in X direction
N = X / dX (Y and Z are constant)
2. Click on S1and see the next page for
Surface Definition

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Defining the Profile and Surface Aria

This window appears after clicking on S1

1. Populate the Surface details with Y being
a variable and then click ok

Walking in the Y direction

N = Y / dY (X and Z are constant)

Click OK to return to Computation and OK to return to MALT and then OK /Submit to return to Toolbox

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Network Fault Current Distribution FCDIST

In TOOLBOX Click on FCDIST. The following window will appear

Ensure that the following is selected

1. Use JobID
2. Metric
3. Meters
4. Both

Click on System and define all the interconnected

Return Paths (Shield Wire/OPGW)

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Defining the System/Network for FCDIST

1.

Average Soil Characteristics Along

Electric Lines

Note : This information must be obtained

from
Network Planning, Network Ops, Plant and
Land Development

2. Central Site Name

Enter the Substation name.

e.g. Gull
Select Use shared data (MALT)
CDEGS will use the data you entered in MALT to
calculate the grid resistance

3. Sections
Specifying the total number of structures from the source substation and average span length]
Enter the total number of structures
4. Section Length:
Enter the average span length
5. Tower Impedance:
Enter the tower footing Resistance. If value is unknown, an average value of 20 can be used.
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Defining the Circuit

Click on Define Circuit in System window and this window will appear.

Define Circuit [ Specifying the height and electrical

characteristic of the shield wire, as well as the height of
the phase conductor where a phase-to-earth fault
occurs]

Click Import From Database to select the shield Wire from the list
(See next page)
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Importing Shield Wire and/or OPGW from Database

1.Click ok to return to Define Circuit window and ok again to return to System window
2.On System window, click NEW if there is more than 1 Terminal go over the process
line.
3. When you are done click OK /Submit on System window to return to Toolbox
4.Click Submit All in the Toolbox window to return to CDEGS Main window
(see page 18)
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for the new

CDEGS MAIN INPUT SCREEN

Soil Model

Step/touch/GPR

Fault Current
Sharing

Data Entry
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Simulation Modules

Program Output Display

Running Simulation in Engineering window

1. Click on RESAP and then OK once the program has completed Simulation

2. Click on MALT and then OK once the program has completed Simulation

3. Click on FCDIST and then OK once the program has completed Simulation

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RESULTS / OUTPUT

1. Click on Toolbox

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RESAP OUTPUT

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MALT OUTPUT

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OUTPUT

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OUTPUT

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REPORT

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REPORT

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Output

Analyse the results and take corrective measures as per Substation Earthing Standard if
any safety requirement is not met

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