EARTHING SYSTEM DESIGN CALCULATIONS FOR WTG HT YARD

1.0 SCOPE:

The intent of this calculation is to determine the following for WTG SwitchYard
1.1 : Size of earth strip
1.2 : Number of earth electrodes
1.3 : Earth Resistance

2.0 REFERENCE STANDARDS:

The entire earthing system will be designed in accordance with relevant Indian Standard specifications and with the requirements of
Indian Electricity Rules and Acts 1956 and IEEE Standard 80.
2.1 : IEEE Standard 80 - 1986 - AC Substation Grounding
2.2 : IS 3043 - 1987 - Code of Practice for Earthing

3.0 BASIC DESIGN DATA:

3.1 : Material used for Earth electrode : Copper clad steel electrode
3.2 : Material used for Earth grid conductor : Mild Steel (GI)
3.3 : Type of Joints in Earth Grid : Welded

4.0 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARAMETERS

System Rated voltage : Vr - 33kV, 50 Hz

Fault MVA considered : 1000 MVA (from IS 2026 - Table 4 - Short circuit apparent power for 33kV system voltage
Max. Fault current : 17.516 kA ~ 18kA
Note:
The 33/0.690KV transformer is Dyn11 and secondary is solidly grounded, so the earth fault will confined in LV and will not reflect to 33kV system

Earthmat Design Calculation

5.0 Data
5.1 Short circuit Current for conductor sizing Is = 18 kA
5.2 System Short circuit current If = 18000 Amps
5.3 Current Division Factor considered Sf = 1
5.4 Short circuit Current through earthing electode Ig = 18 kA
5.5 Type of earthing Conductor = GI
5.6 Specific density of Material (GI Steel) SW = 8.386 gm/cm3
5.7 Specific Heat of conductor (GI Steel) SH = 0.112 cal/gm/ºc
5.8 Thermal Capacity Factor Tcap = 3.930 J/cu.cm/ºc As per IEEE Std 80
5.9 Reference temperarure for Material constants Tr = 20 ºc
5.10 Resistivity of earthing Material(GI Steel) ρr = 20.1 µΩcm As per IEEE Std 80
5.11 Thermal Co-officient for resistivity (GI Steel) αr 0.0032 /ºc As per IEEE Std 80
5.12 Fault Current withstand Capacity by Conductor tc = 1 s
5.13 Type of Joint Welded
5.14 Maximum Allowable Temperature for Welded joints for GI steel Tm = 419 ºc As per IEEE Std 80
5.15 Ko (1/αr)-Tr = 293 ºc As per IEEE Std 80
5.16 Ambient Temperature Ta = 50 ºc
5.17 Soil Resistivity P = 250 Ohm-m
5.18 Duration of Fault Clearing Time ts = 1 Seconds

6.0 Methodology and Assumptions:

6.1 Size of Earthing Conductor :

Area of cross section of earth conductor (A) =

I = A√(T CAP.10-4/(tc*αr*ρr)) log(Ko+Tm)/(Ko+Ta)

…. from IEEE Std80 Pg 43

I = A(0.1031513)
A = 269.46 sq.mm

6.2 Corrosion Allowance:

As per CBIP manual on substations publication number 233,corrosion allowance is

is recommended as per following rule
Safe Guard Conductor against excessive corrosion by current resistance coating on conductor ( Zinc Coating)
Considering Soil resistivity for the conductor sizing as above 100 Ohm-m

Required Area of earthing Conductor including Corrosion Allowance

= A x 1.0
= 269.46 X 1
= 269.46 sq mm
Size of GI Flat choosen = 50 X 6 mm

Hence Area of the Choosen conductor = 300 Sq.mm

Equivalent dia. of the Conductor = 2r
d = 19.55 mm
6.0 DETERMINATION OF EARTHING CONDUCTOR AREA FOR THE DISSIPATION OF FAULT CURRENT :

In accordance with clause No. 10.3 of IS 3043, the dissipation of fault current at the earth conductors surface area, I is given by

I= 7.57 X 1000 / sq. rt. (P X t) ……from IS 3043 clause no. 10.3

Where,
I : Max. permissible current density at electrode surface in A/m2
P : Resistivity of Soil = 250 ohm-metre
t : Duration of fault current in second = 1 second

Therefore,
I= 478.77 A/ m2

To dissipate fault current of 18 kA, the total area of Earthing conductor required is worked out as below
Area = If/ I = 37.596 say 38 sq. mtr

7.0 NUMBER OF EARTH ELECTRODES INSTALLED:

14.2 mm diameter Copper clad Earth Electrodes with following length are provided for the following

1 Structure Body Earthing = 3 mtrs.

2 Lightning Arrester = 3 mtrs.
3 Lightning Arrester = 3 mtrs.
4 Transformer Neutral - I = 3 mtrs.
5 Transformer Neutral - II = 3 mtrs.
6 Structure Body Earthing = 3 mtrs.
7 Lightning Arrester = 3 mtrs.

Total length = 21 mtrs.

Total no.of Electrodes = 7 nos.
Net area of total electrodes for dissipation of heat is as below
Total Electrode length = 21 mtrs.

7.1 Area of Copper bonded rod 3.14 X D X L Diameter of Electrode = 14.2 mm

Area = 0.9363 sq. mtr.

7.2 Surface area of 50 x 6 mm GI strip - buried conductor :

Length of buried conductor (i.e. at depth of 600 mm±100mm )used for interconnection of earthpits ( Mtr) = 360
Length of GI strip used in the Tower foundation ( Mtr) = 60
Total Length of GI strip in mtr. (L) = 420
Thickness of GI strip (mm) (T) = 6
Width of GI strip (mm) (W) = 50

Surface Area of buried strip LX2XT= 44.52 sq. mtr.

Therefore, total area of buried earth conductor available for dissipation of 18kA fault current = 45.46 sq. mtr

It is seen from above that total area provided by 7 nos. Earth electrodes and grid conductors is adequate in order to dissipate
a fault current of 18 kA

8.0 CALCULATION OF EARTHGRID RESISTANCE :

8.1 The earth resistance for Earth Electrode is calculated based on the following formula (Cl. 9.2.2 of IS - 3043)

R = (100 p/(2*∏*L))*Log 4*L/d ohms

Where,
p = Resistivity of Soil = 250 ohm-mtr
L = Length of Earth Electrode in cm = 300 cm
d = Diameter of Earth Electrode in cm = 1.42 cm
N= No. of Electrodes = 7 nos.

Therefore, resistance of single earth electrode

R= 38.83881 Ohms

With Considering to Ground Enhancement Material (GEM)

In order to achieve the best results, following actions are taken for reducing the soil resistivity:
Use of Ground enhancement material (GEM) with 0.12 Ohm-meter resistivity, around the earthing electrode to fill up a bore of 100x3000mm

Incase of Rocky area, replacement of Rocky/sandy soils with low resistivity Black cotton soil/ agricultural soil (appx. 50 Ohm-meter resistivity
to fill up a bore of 200x4000mm.

The most common formula for electrode with length L, Diameter D, developed by Prof.H.R.Dwight is

R = (Rho/2∏L) * [ln(8L/d)-1] …………..from IEEE-80 section 14.6, equation 59, Pg. 71

Rho Average soil resistivity in Ohm-meter

R Resistance of Ground rod in ohms
L Length of Ground rod in meter
d Diameter of Ground rod in meters

With considering to L= 3Meter and Diameter d= 0.0142mtr, the equation can be further simplified as unde

R = 0.3312 * Average soil resistivity in Ohm-meters

 Since soil resistivity is high, we have to treat it by using GEM to reduce the same. The current density is greatest near the rod and
then keeps on reducing. For a 10 feet (3000mm) long rod, 40% of soil resistivity is attributed to first 4 inches (100mm) diameter of earth
surrounding the rod area i.e. the area covered by GEM material. Remaining 60% is assumed to be dissipated in the
black cotton soil in 200mm diameter around GEM covered electrode.

As a result of replacement of Rocky/Sandy soil with low resitivity black cotton soil and use of GEM material the above mentioned equation
can be further modified as under: -

R = 0.3312 * (0.40 * Gem material resistivity + 0.60 * Resistivity of Black cotton soil)

R = 0.3312 * (0.40 x 0.12 + 0.60 x 50)

R = 9.95 ohms (for single earth electrode in treated soil)

Appx. Theoretical value of earth resistance for a Grid having 7 no. of earth electrodes may be calculated using formula for resistance in
parallel:
Combined Earth resistance with 7 rods in parallel connection R1 = 1.421 Ohms

8.2 The earth resistane of GI strip forming the earth grid is calulated based on the following formula

R2 = (100 P/2∏L)* (Loge (2*L*L/ wt)) ohms …… from IS 3043 - Cl. No. 9.2.3, Pg no. 21

Where,

P = Resistivity of Soil in Ohm-meter = 250 ohm-mtr

L = Length of burried condutor in cm = 42000 cm
w = Depth of the buried of earth condutor in cm = 60 cm
t= Width of the buried earth condutor in cm = 5 cm

i 50 X 6 mm GI strip used for interconnetion of earth pits

R2 = 0.802657 Ohms

Hence the combined resistane of WTG Yard considered with parallel connection of Copper bonded earth electrodes
earthing grid & foundation earthing conductor buried underground is given by

1/R = 1/R1 (Earth Electrode) + 1/R2 (earth mat of foundation and yard)

Where,
R =Combined earth resistane
R1 =Resistance of Copper bonded Electrodes
R2 = Resistance of 50X6 mm grid earthing

1/R = 1.949381 mho

R = 0.5130 ohms

The above figure of 0.51 ohms is well within the permissible value of 2 ohms

9.0 CONLUSION:

9.1 Proposed Earth Strip size below the ground = 50 mm x 6 mm GI strip

9.2 Total Number of earth pits = 7 nos.

9.3 Thus, resistance of earth grid is below 2 ohm which is less than the maximum allowable earth grid resisance
of 2 ohms for small substations & Yards