Ground Grid Systems

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems

 Need for Grounding Grids
• Currents flow into the grounding grid from:

– Lightning Arrester Operations

– Switching Surge Flashover of Insulators

– Line-Ground Fault from Connected Bus

– Line-Ground Fault from Connected Line

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 2
 Objectives
• Human and animal safety

• Carry and dissipate current into earth under

normal and fault conditions

• Grounding for lightning impulses and surges

• Low resistance to ground for protective

relays

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 3
 Construction

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 4
 Common Definitions
• Earth Current

• Ground Fault Current

• Ground Potential Rise

• Step Voltage

• Touch Voltage

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 5
 Step 1 – Soil Analysis
• Done at a number of places in the substation

• Several layers with different resistivity

• Lateral surface changes are more gradual

than vertical changes

• Wenner Four-Pin Method

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 6
 Wenner Four-Pin Method

4 aR
a
2a a
1
a2 4b 2 a2 b2

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 7
 Step 2 – Grid Area
• Area should be as large as possible
• Increasing area is more effective than
adding additional conductor to reduce grid
resistance
• Outer conductor should be placed on the
boundary of substation
• Fence should be placed a minimum of 3 feet
inside
• Square, rectangular, triangular, T-shaped, or
L-shaped grids
©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 8
 Step 3 – Ground Fault
Currents
• L-G fault on substation bus or transmission
line
• Interested in maximum amount of fault
current expected to flow into the ground grid
• Determine maximum symmetrical rms fault
current

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 9
 Ground Fault Current

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 10
 Ground Fault Current

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 11
 Ground Fault Current

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 12
 Ground Fault Current

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 13
 Symmetrical Grid Current
Ig S f * (3I o )
• Io = Symmetrical rms value of Zero
Sequence fault current in amperes
• Transmission Systems – Model Maximum Io
for L-G fault for present and ultimate
configuration
• Distribution Systems – Model future fault
current with suitable growth factor (1.1)

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 14
 Decrement Factor
• Accounts for the asymmetrical fault current
• AC component does not decay with time but
remains at its initial value
• Calculated from time duration of fault and X
over R ratio
• Transmission Systems – Use fastest
clearing relay + breaker time
• Distribution and Industrial Systems – Use
worst case backup clearing time
©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 15
 Typical Shock Situations

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 16
 Design Procedure Summary
• Use network of bare conductors buried in the
earth
• Encompass all area within the substation
fence and extend at least 3 feet outside
• Perform soil resistivity test
• Surface material at least 4 inches
• Determine fault current using short circuit
• Determine maximum clearing time
©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 17
 Design Procedure Summary
• Size conductors
• Conductor should be buried a minimum of
18 inches to 59.1 inches
• Vertical ground rods should be at least 8 ft.
long
• Determine if touch and step voltages are
below tolerable limits
• Few iterations may be required to determine
correct grid design
©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 18
 Ground Rod Length
• Three schools of thought
– Length of 10ft is adequate
– Length of 40ft is required to reach water table
– Longest possible rod depth should be used

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 19
 IEEE Methods
• Empirical method; limited applications
• Handles 2 layers plus protective surface
material (1 layer for touch potential)
• Rectangular and triangular shapes only, with
vertical and horizontal conductors
• One ground grid only
• Rods; but arrangements are not flexible
• Calculates required parameters
©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 20
 Finite Element Method
• Handles 2 layers plus a protective surface
material
• Any shape
• Multiple interconnected ground grids
• Rod location modeled in detail
• Calculates required parameters at all points
• Graphic potential profile

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 21
 Typical IEEE Grid

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 22
 IEEE Grid Description
• 40 ft. X 40 ft. square grid with 8 conductors
along X-axis and 8 conductors along Y-axis

• Depth = 1.5 ft., 4/0 copper-clad steel wire

• 1 rod in each grid corner, diameter = 0.5 in.,

length = 8 ft. same material as conductor

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 23
 FEM Grid Example

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 Step Potential Profile

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 Touch Potential Profile

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 26
 Absolute Potential Profile

©1996-2010 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Ground Grid Systems Slide 27