Published by : International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

http://www.ijert.org ISSN: 2278-0181

Vol. 7 Issue 10, October-2018

Design and Analysis of Ground Grid System For

Substation using E-TAP Software and FDM code
in MATLAB
Deep B. Desai
B.E. Electrical (2014-2018)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Institute of Technology, VASAD
Vadodara, India

Abstract–The paper depicts about design of ground grid system transmission lines all cause potential differences between
for 66/11KV rectangular substation. Although it is designed by earthed points in the substation. Without a properly designed
IEEE Std 80-2000, it also illustrates step potential, touch earthing system, large potential differences can exist between
potential and absolute potential in normal and faulty condition different points within the substation itself. Under normal
by E-TAP intelligent software version 12.6.0. Furthermore, its
graph design is analyzed by FDM (Finite Difference Method) via
circumstances, it is the current constitutes the main threat to
MATLAB code. Some of the factor which are useful in ground personal.
grid study are described below,
1) Fault current magnitude and duration B. Practical Design Problem
2) Geometry of grounding mat
3) Soil resistivity
4) Human factors Such as
-Body resistance -Standard assumption on physical condition of
the individual

Keywords– Ground grid system, FDM (Finite Difference Method)

MATLAB code, E-TAP version 12.6.0 ground grid design,
Substation grounding

I. INTRODUCTION
In substation earthing system is essential not only for 1. All dimensions are in mm unless otherwise
providing the protection for people working in the vicinity of specified.
earthed facilities and equipment against danger of electric 2. Earth mat & earth electrode location shown are
shock but also maintain proper function of electrical system. indicative. Only minor modification if any may be
Reliability and security are to be taken in consideration as carried out at site.
well as adherence to statutory obligations (IEEE and Indian 1. Wherever earthing conductor infringes with cable trench
standards on electrical safety [1-2] and environmental it shall be land at 300mm below the trench.
aspects). This paper is concerned with earthing practices and 2. Main grid conductor shall lad at minimum 600mm below
design for particular 66/11KV outdoor AC substation for figure.
power frequency in the range of 50 Hz. DC substation GIS 3. minimum distance of 6000mm shall be maintained
and lightening effects are not covered in this paper. between any two adjacent earth electrodes.
Moreover, the software output also has been seen for 4. wherever earthing grid infringes with foundation, grid
crosschecking of theoretical calculation. Furthermore, the conductor shall be diverted suitable at site.
analysis of software graph is done by FDM (Finite Difference 5. Every equipment/structure shall be connected to grid by
Method) which is one of the mathematical solutions and it two distinct earth connections.
shows that how the graph generates in software. 6. Every alternate fence post shall be earthed with 25x3mm
galvanized iron flat.
II. EARTHING SYSTEM FOR SUBSTATION 7. Gate shall be earthed with 25x3mm galvanized iron flat.
A. Components of earthing system 8. BMKs junction for current transformer and potential
An effective substation earthing system typically transformer shall be earthed at two
consists of earth rods, connecting cables from buried earthing points with 25x3mm galvanized iron flat.
grid to metallic parts of structures and equipment, 9. For standard earthing drawings of various equipment
connections to earthed system neutrals, and the earth surface refer figure.
insulating covering material briefly discussed in [1,3]. III. MATHEMATICAL SOLUTION
Current flowing into the earthing grid from lightening arrester A. Given Data: -
operation impulse or switching surge flashover of insulators 1. Fault duration t f =1s
and line to ground fault current from the bus or connected 2. Current division factor (sf )=1

IJERTV7IS100032 www.ijert.org 51
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
 Published by : International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
http://www.ijert.org ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 7 Issue 10, October-2018

3. Soil resistivity (𝜌)=5.23Ωm (R B + 1.5ρs Cs )0.116

4. Crush rock resistivity(wet) (𝜌𝑠 )=3000Ωm Etouch50 =
√ts
5. Thickness of crushed rock surfacing (hs)=0.1m
6. Depth of grid burial (h)=0.3m =476.746V ………….……… (7)
7. Available grounding area (A)=48m×18m
8. Fault current (If )=25000A (R B + 1.5ρs Cs )0.157
Etouch70 =
B. Solution According to IEEE Std 80-2000[4] √ts

• Conductor size =646V ………………………. (8)

Here step and touch potential foe 50kg body weight.
10−4 k0 +Tm
Amm2 = I/√(TCAP ∗ ) ln( ) … (1)
t c αr ρ r K0 +Tα
• Initial Design
Amm2 =25000/80
=312 𝑚𝑚2 Grid burial depth h= 0.6m,
Amm2 = (πd2 )/4 Total length of buried conductor (𝐿𝑡 )=(18*9) +(48*4)
2 =192+162=354m
d = (500*4)/𝜋
= 25.23mm ……………………….. (2) Total length of buried conductor
Diameter of vertical ground rod = 25.23 ×1.3 =32.799 mm (Lc )=26*3=78m
(considering 30% corrosion allowance) Commercially rod of L = Lc + Lt
32.799 mm diameter is not available so rod =354+78
equivalent to 40.00 mm diameter is considered. =432m ………………………… (9)

• Touch and Step Criteria Area (A)=48m*18m

Reflection factor (K) =864m2 ………………………….. (10)
ρ − ρs
k=( ) • Determination of Grid resistance
ρ + ρs 1 1 1
=-0.996 R g = ρ[( ) + ( )(1 + ( )
Lt √20A 20
Here from the value of the reflection factor according to the 1 + h√
A
graph of K→ hs =0.0885 ………………………………………. (11)
Value of hs is taken 0.1m.
• Maximum Grid Resistance
Surface layer darting factor
Ig
0.09(1−(
ρ
)) Sf =
ρs 3I0
Cs = ((1 − )
2hs +0.09 I G = Df ∗ I g
IG = Df ∗ Sf ∗ 3I0
=0.693………………………… (3) =25000A ……………………… (12)
Step potential for 50kg and 70kg
• Ground Potential Rise(GPR)
Estep50 = Ib (R B + 6ρs Cs ) ……………. (4)
GPR = Ig ∗ R g
(RB +6ρs Cs )0.116
=2208.756V ………………… (13)
Estep50 =
√ ts
• Mesh voltage
=1557.98V …………………. (5)
n = na ∗ nb ∗ nc ∗ nd
2Lc
(R B + 6ρs Cs )0.157 na = ( )
Estep70 = Lp
√ts =5.3
=2115.41V ………………….. (6) Lp
nb = √
4√A
Touch potential for 5kg and 70kg
=1.056
nc = nd =1
Etouch50 = Ib (R B + 1.5ρs Cs )
n= 5.3*1.056*1*1=5.7 ……………… (14)

IJERTV7IS100032 www.ijert.org 52
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
 Published by : International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
http://www.ijert.org ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 7 Issue 10, October-2018

h
k h = √1 + • Output in E-TAP
ho
=1.140 Kii= 1
1 (D2 ) D + 2h 4
km = ( ) [ln +( )−( )
2π (16hd) 8Dd 4d
k ii 8
+ ( ) ln( )]
kh π(2n − 1)
=0.6537

KI = 0.644 + 0.148n
= 1.487
LC is the total length of the conductor in the horizontal grid in
m
Lp is the peripheral length of the grid in m
A is the area of the grid in m2
Lx is the maximum length of the grid in the x direction in m
Ly is the maximum length of the grid in the y direction in m
Dm is the maximum distance between any two points on the
grid in m

• Mesh Voltage (Em) & Step Voltage (ES)

ρIa k m K i
Em =
Lr
Lc + [1.55 + 1.22 ]Lr
√x 2 + y2
= 351.84 V < Etouch ……………………… (15)

1 1 1 1 • Absolute Potential Profile (GPR)

Ks = [ + + (1 − 0.5n−2 )]
π 2h D + H D

=0.630
Where
D = spacing between conductor of the grid in m
h = depth of burial grid conductor in m
n = number of parallel conductors in one direction

𝜌𝐼𝑔 𝐾𝑠 𝐾𝑖 • Step Potential

𝐸𝑠 =
0.75𝐿𝑐 + 085𝐿𝑟

=368.85 V < Estep …………………… (16)

Here as shown above and computed mesh voltage and Step

voltage both are much less than the step potential criteria and
touch potential criteria. So, obtained design is safe.

IV. E-TAP GRAPH AND FDM MATLAB PROGRAM

• Design in E-TAP
• Touch Potential

IJERTV7IS100032 www.ijert.org 53
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
 Published by : International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
http://www.ijert.org ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 7 Issue 10, October-2018

OUTPUT
• Absolute Potential Calculation using FDM ans =
(MATLAB Code) [5]
1.0e+003 * [2.2080 2.2001 2.1735 0.8082]

V. CONCLUSION
This paper has focus on ac substation grounding design
and also compare theoretical as well as software output and
analyzed mathematically calculation for generation of graph
in software program by FDM coding in MATLAB.
By the calculation it has been proved that calculated
step and touch potential must be less than tolerable limit of
step and touch potential to made safe design for grounding
system for substation. If any of the conditions or both
conditions are not satisfied then varying different parameter
in the calculation (i.e. soil resistivity, depth of buried rod,
increasing number of earth pit in substation, use different
material for rod, etc.…) and recalculate whole design until
both the conditions are not satisfied.

VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I hereby declare that all the given data, information and
MATLAB PROGRAMME: calculation are true and calculated from real example. The
v1=2208.0; diagram of substation which is shown above is rear.
v2=0.0;
v3=0.0; VII. REFERENCE
v4=2208.0; (1) N.M. Tabatabaei, S.R. Mortezaeei; ―Design of Grounding
ni=200; System in Substation by ETAP Intelligent Software ‖, IJTPE
nx=25; Journal, March 2010, Page(s):45-49
(2) Chae-Kyun Jung; Jong-kee choi; Ji-won Kang, ―A study on
ny=10; effect of grounding system on transient voltage in 154kV
v=zeros(nx,ny); Substation‖, IEEE Conference Publications, 2009, Page(s): 1- 6
for i=2:nx-1 (3) Ladanyi, J. ―Survey of the equivalent Substation earth current
v(i,1)=v1; and earth impedance for transformer Station‖, IEEE Conference
Publications, 2011, Page(s): 1-5
v(i,ny)=v3; (4) IEEE Std. 80-2000, ―IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation
end Grounding‖, IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronic
for j=2:ny-1 Engineers, Inc., New York, 2000, Page(s) 1- 192
v(1,j)=v4; (5) Hadi Sandhue -chapter 15 Numerical Method Page(s):- 660-
727
v(nx,j)=v2;
end
v(1,1)=0.5*(v1+v4);
v(nx,1)=0.5*(v1+v2);
v(1,ny)=0.5*(v3+v4);
v(nx,ny)=0.5*(v2+v3);
for k=1:ni
for i=2:nx-1
for j=2:ny-1
v(i,j)=0.25*(v(i+1,j)+v(i-1,j)+v(i,j+1)+v(1+j-1));
end
end
end
diary FDM.out
[v(1,1), v(6,2), v(12,4), v(24,9)]
[ [1:nx, 1:ny] v(i,j) ]
diary off

IJERTV7IS100032 www.ijert.org 54
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)