Earthing Calculation for Substation building

Scope
Define the Size of Main Earthing Conductor and Minimum number of earth electrodes required to achieve
an overall earth resistivity of 1
Codes and Standards to be used
IEEE142 Recommended Practice for grounding of Industrial & Commercial Power Systems
BS7430 Code of practice for Earthing

DESIGN CRITERIA
1. The overall earthing network resistance shall be maintained less than 1.
2. The earthing cable/grid shall comprise of stranded copper conductor with green/yellow PVC
Sheathing.
3. Consider Earth electrode of 19mm diameter and 3.6 m length.
5. All earth electrodes shall be interconnected through the earthing grid.
6. Consider Soil resistivity of 30 Ohm-meter

Use Formulas
1. Resistance of earthing electrode
Resistance to earth of an electrode (rod) is given by the formula (Refer BS 7430, Clause no. 10.2)

R= / 2L [ [ { log e (8L / d) }]-1

Where

= Resistivity of the Soil in Ohm-meters =30

= Length of the earth electrode in meters = 3.6

= Diameter of the earth rod in meters = 0.02 (20 mm) Approx.

R=
Find R of one Rod. Calculate how many rods are required to achieve a value of 1 or less?

Use 1/ R value to get number of electrodes required ( let us assume X)

Resistance of Earthing Network

The equivalent resistance of n rod electrodes in parallel can be obtained from the formula given in
BS 7430, Clause No. 10.2.

Rn= R ( 1+an )
Where
a = / (2R s)

R = Resistance of one rod in isolation =

Rn = Resistance of n rods in parallel, n = X ( as calculated above- minimum to be considered)
s = Distance between adjacent rods in meter (20 m average value considered)
= Soil resistivity in Ohm-meters = 30

= Factor given in Table 2 of BS-7430

Substitute the values and calculate the value of equivalent resistance Rn (it should be less than 1 ohm)

Rn=?

Main Earth Grid Sizing

The minimum conductor size of main earthing grid is given by the formula given in Clause no.
14 of BS-7430,

Where,
S = Cross section of copper conductor in mm2
I = Average fault current (RMS)
=

A (Rated Fault current of LV switchgear to be considered)

T = Duration of fault current in Seconds ( example - 0.3 s for EMAL)

K = The r.m.s current density in A/mm2 (As given by the following formula of BS-7430)

Where,

T1 = Initial temperature in C (ground temperature - 35C)

T2 = Maximum permitted final temperature (150C for PVC insulated cables)
K = 226 (Table-13 of BS-7430 for Copper)
= 254 (Table-13 of BS-7430 for Copper)

K= ?
Minimum Conductor Size required

Substitute the values obtained above, S=?

(Whatever S value obtained should be rounded to next higher standard cable size)