Project 230/34.5kV, 50/62.

5MVA Substation Petron BPI-0059

Subject Earthing Calculation Touch & Step Voltage Document No:
Prepared by: Gary O. Cudal Effectivity date
Approved by: George T. Sulit Revision No:

Introduction
As per contract requirement, calculation need to be done to show/verify that the earthing
grid design is safe for the worst earth faults to remote earth. This calculation is based on
guidelines provided by IEEE Std. 80 (2000) and IEC 479-1.

Input Data
a) Soil Resistivity : 27.03 m average OF Test 1 & Test 2.
(See grounding system resistance test report July 13, 2012, Refer to Annex A)
b) Symetrical fault level (line-ground) for solid grounded system neutral at 230kV side :

3 ( KVL / 1.732 )
If =
3 (Rf ) ( R++R-+R0)+j (X++X-+X0)

WHEREIN :
KVL = 230,000 ; LINE VOLTAGE
RF = 0 : FAULT RESISTANCE
Z+ = 1.085 + j 8.792
Z- = 1.149 + j 9.058
Z0 = 0.0474 + j 9.909 }
REFER TO ANNEX B

3 ( 230,000 / 1.732 )
If =
3 (0) + (1.085 + 1.149 + 0.0474 ) + j (8.792+9.058 +9.909)

If = 14.34 kA

c) Computed Symetrical Grid Current Ig = If x Sf

WHEREIN :
Sf = 1 ( 100% earth fault flows back through )

Ig= If x Sf = 14.34 X 1 = 14.34 kA

d) Fault duration ; ts = tc = tf = 1 s ;
We assume duration of 1 s.

tc = Duration of fault current for sizing of conductor in seconds.

tf = Duration of fault current for determining the decrement factor in seconds.
ts = Duration of shock for determining Step and Touch Voltage in seconds.

e) Burial grid conductor depth : 0.60m min.

f) Substation area to be covered : 1726.04 m

(See Dwg. No. BR100-4-E512 sheet 3 - Annex F)

g) Total length main horizontal grid using hard drawn Cu Conductor 125 mm : 700m.

f) Eighteen (18) earthing rod diameter 19mm.

 Length each 3m will be installed on each corner along the fence and specific areas as per
Dwg. No.BR100-4-E512 sheet 3.

g) Substation surface material is gravel crushed rock graded stone thickness :200mm.

h) Substation surface material is gravel crushed rock graded stone Resistivity is 4000 .m.
Refer to Annex D - Table 7.

i) Earthing grid Bare Cu condcutor 125 mm and other data are specified by client's
and NGCP Standard Specification GRD-1.

j) Ratio at Fault Location X/R = (8.792+9.058+9.909) / (1.085+1.149+0.0474) = 12.17

A. CABLE SIZING :

WHEREIN :
I = If = 14.34 kA
Kf = 11.78 ; Refer to Annex C ( Table 2), the constant for the material at various fusing tempera
or limited conductor temperature at ambient temperature of 40 deg.C.
tc = Duration of fault current for sizing of conductor in seconds = 1s

Akcmil = 14.34 x 11.78 x

Akcmil = 168.93 kcmil A = 85.57 mm2

BASED ON THE CALCULATION MINIMUM SIZE OF GROUNDING CABLE IS 85 mm2.

B. STEP AND TOUCH VOLTAGE CALCULATION

Reduction factor,Cs calculation

WHEREIN:
-Soil Resistivity = 27.03
s-Gravel resistivity, 4000 m
hs-Thickness of surface material (gravel) 0.200

Cs = 1-(0.09x(1-/s)/(2hs+0.09))
= 1-(0.09x(1-27.03/4000)/(2x0.2+0.09))
= 1-((0.09x0.9932)/(0.49)
= 1-(0.0894/0.49)
Cs = 0.8176

Step and Touch Voltage Calculation :

Cs = surface reduction factor = 0.8176
s-gravel resistivity m = 4000
ts - duration of shock = 1s
 E (touch,70) = (1000+1.5Cs x s) x 0.157/ts
= (1000+1.5x 0.8176 x 4000) x (0.157/1)
= (1000+4905.6) x (0.157/1)
= 5905.6 x 0.157
E (touch,70) = 927.18 V

E (step,70) = (1000+6xCsxs) x 0.157/ts

= (1000+6x0.8176x4000) x (0.157/1)
= (1000+19,627.20) x (0.157/1)
E (step,70) = 3,237.717 V

C) Earthing Grid Resistance, Rg calculation

WHEREIN :
- Soil Resistivity = 27.03 m
LT - Ground grid Cu conductor length, 700m
A - Total area covered by grid = 1726m
h - conductor burial depth = 0.6m

Rg = [(1/LT)+(1/20 x A) x (1+(1/(1+h20/A)]
= 27.03 x [(1/700)+(1/20 x 1726.04) x (1+(1/(1+0.620/1726.04)]
= 27.03 x [0.00142+0.00538x(1+0.939)]
= 27.03 x 0.01185= 0.320
Rg = 0.320

D) Maximum Grid Current, IG' calculation

IG = Ig x Df

WHEREIN :
Ig- symetrical grid current = 14.34kA
Df - decrement factor

Ta-DC time offset

f-frequency, 60Hz.
tf-fault duration, 1s.
Ratio @ Fault Location X/R :
Ta = X/R x 1/(2f)
Ta = 12.17 x 1/260 = 0.0323

Df = 1+(0.0323/1) x (1-e (-2x1)/0.0323))

= 1 + 0.646 (1-e(-61.92)) = 1.646
Df = 1.282

IG = Ig x Df = 14340 x 1.28 = 18,355.2 A

IG = 18,355.20 A
E) Ground Potential Rise, GPR'
Normally, potential difference between the local earth is considered to be zero (ie. They
are at same potential), however an earth fault (where the fault current flows back through
remote earth), the flow of current through the earth causes local potential gradients in
and around the site. The maximum potential difference between the site and remote
earth is known as the ground potential rise, GPR'. It is important to note that this is maximun
potential difference and that earth potentials around the site will vary, relative to
the point of fault. So the maximum ground potential rise, GPR' is calculated.

GPR = IG x Rg
= 18,355.20 x 0.320 IG-maximum grid current, 18,355.20 A
GPR= 5,873.66 V Rg-earthing grid resistance, 0.320

GPR exceed the safe value of touch voltage Etouch value , further design evaluation is necessary.

EARTHING GRID DESIGN VERIFICATION

F) Mesh Voltage Calculation

WHEREIN :
- Soil Resistivity = 27.03 m
IG = 18,355.20 A

WHEREIN :

D = 1/2 ( (Wg /nr-1) + (Lg / nc-1) ) ; Spacing between parallel conductors.

Wg = Width of Grid 65.892 m

Lg = Length of Grid 26.195 m
nc = ground cond. columns 11
nr = ground cond. rows 6

D = 1/2 ( (65.892/(6-1) ) + (26.195/(11-1)) )

D = 1/2 ( (65.892/5 ) + (26.195/10))
D = 7.899

n = na + nb + nc + nd

2 X 700
= =7.910
177

Lc = Length of Conductor = 700 m

Lp = Length of Conductor along Perimeter Fence = 177 meter
nb = = = 1.032

nc = nd = 1

n = na + nb + nc + nd = 7.910 x 1.032 x 1 x 1 = 8.163

Kii = 1 ; for grids with ground rods ( i.e. refer to IEEE Standard Annex G )

= = 1.265

h = depth of buried grid conductor

ho = Grid reference depth = 1 m

Km = ( 1/ 2x3.1416 ) ( In ( 515.825+2.907-11.905) + ( (0.7905)x(-1.796)

Km = 0.159 (6.228-1.419)
Km = 0.765

Ki = 0.644 + ( 0.148 x 8.163 )

Ki = 0.644 + ( 1.2680 )
Ki = 1.852

Lc + LR =

LM =

WHEREIN :
LC Total Length of Grid Conductor = 700 m
Lr Length of Ground Rod at each location = 3m
LR Total Length of Ground Rods = 3 * 18 = 54
LM Effective Length of Lc + LR for Mesh Voltage,

LM = 786.487

therefore Em ( MESH VOLTAGE )

27.03 x 18,355.02 x 0.765 x 1.852
Em =
786.487

Em = 893.74 V
 Em = 893.74 V

G) Step Voltage Calculation

Ks = 0.342

therefore Es ( STEP VOLTAGE ) :

Es = 550.437 V

Em vs Etouch : Mesh Voltage is Lower than the tolerable Touch Voltag

( 893.74 Volts vs 927.18 Volts )

Es vs Estep : The calculated Step Voltage is Lower than the determine

in Item B , ( 550.437 Volts vs 3,237.717 Volts )
THE EARTHING IS SAFE

Prepared by: Gary O. Cudal Issue No.

Approved by:
George T. Sulit Revision No.
Professional Electrical Engineer
PRC NO. 2188 Validity 2013 ,PTR No: 1389330 Date 2/28/12Effectivity Date:
AMII-C-001
November 11,2013
2
onstant for the material at various fusing temperature
Ratio @ Fault Location X/R : 12.17
ue , further design evaluation is necessary.
Lower than the tolerable Touch Voltage
s vs 927.18 Volts )

p Voltage is Lower than the determined Step Voltage

550.437 Volts vs 3,237.717 Volts )
E EARTHING IS SAFE

11-Nov-13
ANNEX A
ANNEX B
ANNEX C
ANNEX D
ANNEX F
ANNEX G