Earthing Enhancement

5.1 Introduction
Earthing systems are designed to dissipate high magnitude fault current to ground and to provide
safety for persons working or living near power system installations. In order to dissipate current
efficiently under both power frequency and transient fault conditions, the earthing system
should have a low impedance value. For enhancing the earthing system of steel transmission
lines, single earth rods or ring electrodes are used, in land with high soil resistivity, horizontal
electrodes may also be used. The addition of horizontal earth electrodes will contribute to the
reduction of the low-frequency earth impedance. However, under lightning conditions, these
additional electrodes may not be effective in dissipating current because there is a limiting
effective length of the electrode, which can be much lower than the physical length of the
electrode. This effective length depends on the electrode geometry, soil resistivity and the
impulse characteristics, and this has been the subject of interest of many researchers. The
current and voltage distributions along a horizontal electrode have been analysed in for a range
of soil resistivity values and for low and high current magnitudes. Computation models based on
distributed-parameter equivalent circuits have been proposed to determine the impulse
response, the effective length and the impulse impedance of horizontal electrodes.
5.2 Enhancing Earthing system for a substation of 132KV/220KV
This research p r e s e n t s the design of earthing system for 132KV/220KV substation and
simulation for calculation of required parameters. This research is to provide information
pertinent to safe earthing practices in ac substation design and to establish the s a f e
l i m i t s o f potential difference u n d e r normal and fault conditions. The grounding grid
system of a practical 220 kV substation is calculated by MATLAB program. The supporting
data has been obtained from actual field tested at the substation. Standard equations are
used in the design of earthing system to get desired parameters such as touch and step
voltage criteria for safety, earth resistance, grid resistance, maximum grid current, minimum
conductor size and electrode size, maximum fault current level and resistivity of soil. By
selection the proper horizontal conductor size, vertical electrode size and soil resistivity, the
best choice of the project for safety is performed. This paper mentions the calculation of
the desired parameters which are simulated by MATLAB program. Some simulated results
are evaluated.
In subs tation earthing system is essential not only to provide the protection of people working
in the vicinity of earthed facilities and equipment’s against t danger of electric s hock but to
maintain proper function of electrical s ys tem. Reliability and s ecurity are to be taken in
cons iderations as well as adherence to s tatutory obligations (IEEE and Ind ian s
tandards on electrical s afety and environmental as pects ). Earthing s ys tem thus
des ign mus t be eas ily maintained and future expans ion mus t be taken into account while
des igning the dimens ions of earth mat This paper is concerned with earthing p ractices and
des ign for outdoor AC s ubs tation for power frequency in the range of 50 Hz. DC s ubs tation
GIS and lightening effects are not covered in this paper. With proper caution, the method
described here is als o applicable to indoor portion of s uch s ubs tation. By using proper
conductor and electrode s ize, earthing s ys tem may be able to overcome lightening effects .
5.3 Components required for enhancement earthing system
An effective s ubs tation earthing s ys tem typically cons is ts of earth rods , connecting cables
from buried earthing grid to metallic parts of s tructures and equipments , connections to
earthed s ys tem neutrals , and the earth s urface ins ulating covering material briefly dis
cus s ed in . Current flowing into the earthing grid from lightening arres ter operation
impuls e or s witching s urge flas hover of ins ulators and line to ground fault current from the
bus or connected trans mis s ion lines all caus e potential differences between earthed points
in the s ubs tation. Without a properly des igned earthing s ys tem, large potential differences
can exis t between different points within the s ubs tation its elf. Under normal circums tances
it is the current cons titutes the main threat to pers onal.
5.4 Required data for designing of enhance earthing system
 Maximum grid current
 Soil res is tivity at the s ite
 Subs tation grid area
 Res is tivity of soil at s surface
 Fault clearing time

5.5 Factors on which design of earthmat depends

1) Materials us ed for earth electrodes and conductors must be chosen

carefully taking into account physical, chemical and economical constraints.
Ground conductor must be adequate for fault current (considering corros ion).
2) Bas ic requirements a r e thoroughly studied in research.
3) Conductor sizing depends on fault current and conductivity as well as mechanical
strength of material us ed.
4) Res is tivity of soil and surface layer determines the STEP and TOUCH potentials
which determine s afe values of operation as des cribed in reference. Also the
multilayer resistivity has been a subject of continuous attention by the researchers.
5) A good grounding system p r o v i d e s a l o w res istance in order to minimize
GPR (ground potential ris e).
6) Grid geometry is a major factor in determining the step, touch and mes h potential
contours and current distribution in grid. The limitations on the physical
parameters of a ground grid are bas ed on economics and the phys ical limitations
of the installation of the grid.
The ground resistance of grids of different shapes are given in the table
 5.6 Mathematical Expr essio n/ Description
Safe restrictions & voltage values limitation

The safety of a pers on depends on preventing the critical amount of s hock energy
from being abs orbed. The maximum driving voltage of any accidental circuit should not
exceed the limits defined as follows.

The tolerable step voltage criteria is

The tolerable touch voltage criteria are

Where
Cs = 1 for no protective surface layer
ρs= the res is tivity of the surface material in A -m
t s = duration of s hock circuit in s seconds

The minimum co nd u cto r s size formula is mentioned below

Where
Ko = 1/ αo or 1/ αo - Tr
tc = time of current flow in s ec
TCAP = thermal capacity factor
For grounding res is tance, the following formula is us e d

Where
ρ = s oil res is tivity
Lt = total length of grid conductor

A = total area encloses ed by earth grid h = depth of earth grid

conductor
For calculation of grid current, equation (5) is us ed

Where
Ig = maximum grid current
3Io = symmetrical fault current in subs tation for Conductor sizing in A
Sf = current divers ity factor

Equation (6) is expressed s for grid potential rise (GPR)

Maximum att ainab le s tep and touch voltages are given by: Formula for calculation touch
and step voltage are as follow:
Where
ρ = s oil res is tivity, ohms -m
Em = mesh voltage at the center of corner mes h

Es = s tep voltage between point

Km = s pacing factor for mes h voltage
Ks = s pacing factor of s tep voltage
Ki = correct factor for grid geometry
The most favorable earth surface potential distribution concepts have horizontal earth
electrodes, especially meshed ones, whose surface potential can be controlled relatively simply.
The potential distribution of vertical electrodes is the most unfavorable, with high values of touch
potential. On the other hand, vertical electrodes can easily reach low earthing resistance with
stable values, largely independent from seasons. Vertical electrodes are also used in combination
with horizontal ones in order to reach lower values of earthing resistance. These results are
obtained above prove that this earth grid design is safe for 220 kV substation in the range of soil
resistivity 100-350 Ωm
The whole procedure can be s hown by this flowchart
The Input Constant values for design calculations & Output results for grid construction design
are given in following tables

TableI&II I
5.7 Net Outcome Result
Thes e res ults are obtained by a MATLAB program

Fig a.1.3 voltage vs conductor spacing between earthing conductor

Fig a.1.3 Grid voltage vs resistivity of soil

6.8 Conclusion
Earthing systems are designed to dissipate high magnitude fault current to ground and to provide
safety for persons working or living near power system installations. In order to dissipate current
efficiently under both power frequency and transient fault conditions, the earthing system
should have a low impedance value. For enhancing the earthing system of steel transmission
lines, single earth rods or ring electrodes are used, in land with high soil resistivity, horizontal
electrodes may also be used. The addition of horizontal earth electrodes will contribute to the
reduction of the low-frequency earth impedance. However, under lightning conditions, these
additional electrodes may not be effective in dissipating current because there is a limiting
effective length of the electrode, which can be much lower than the physical length of the
electrode. This effective length depends on the electrode geometry, soil resistivity and the
impulse characteristics, and this has been the subject of interest of many researchers. The
current and voltage distributions along a horizontal electrode have been analysed in for a range
of soil resistivity values and for low and high current magnitudes. Computation models based on
distributed-parameter equivalent circuits have been proposed to determine the impulse
response, the effective length and the impulse impedance of horizontal electrodes.