Presentation 02.

Impedance Measurement in Madrid’s Underground Power Grid

Jose Maria Madrid / Ivan Lozano / Jose Manuel Roca, Gas Natural Fenosa, Spain

Abstract
In this paper we want to show our experience in
GNF on impedance measurement of underground
cables and the influence that the soil of a big city
like Madrid has on zero sequence impedance.
This parameter, influenced by the return paths that
can be found on the ground and the type of
connection of the screens, found in a city like
Madrid with unexpected return paths through the
soil (pipelines, railways, building structures, etc. ...)
does vary significantly from the theoretical values
in zero sequence impedance.
For this study we tested all the underground cables
that we have in 220kV, 132kV and some 45kV,
finding notable differences between the theoretical
and measured values. Fig. 1 Autotransformer

GNF Grid
Gas Natural Group is one of the leading
multinational companies in the gas and electricity
sector, operating in 25 countries and with more
than 20 million customers.
Following the acquisition of the electricity
company, Unión Fenosa, third in the Spanish
market, Gas Natural Fenosa has achieved its
objective of integrating the gas and electricity
business in a single company with extensive
experience in the energy sector, capable of
competing efficiently in energy markets subject to a
process of increasing integration, globalisation and
levels of competition.
In Union Fenosa we have over 40 years measuring
impedance cables with equipment manufactured
for us (see Figure 1), but in 2005, when we
acquired an OMICRON CPC 100 we intensified
this field work.
Nowadays, all the electric distribution circuits in the
city of Madrid which are the property of Gas
Natural Fenosa, are underground, with voltage
levels of 220, 132, 45 and 15kV. All 220, 132 and
45kV lines are fitted with a distance relay as main
or redundant protection. This makes it very
important for us to measure the reliability of the Fig. 2 CPC 100 in Azca Substation
impedance data lines in terms of protection Based on our experience, we consider the
settings calculations. impedance measurement of underground power
Since 2006 we have been able to measure all the cables very important because we have found
220kV circuits which are for us the most critical, substantial differences between the values
and any position of 45kV that we believe needs to indicated by the manufacturer or calculated for us,
be measured for its unique features. and those actually measured by us. In addition, it
allows us to detect implementation errors in the
laying of cables related to the connection of the

© OMICRON 2013 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 02.2

sheaths in cable joints, errors in the grounding
systems of sheaths or errors in the surge arresters.
of the cable route and installed very close to the
cable conductors, to carry the fault current during
ground faults and to limit the voltage rise of the
sheath during ground faults to an acceptable level.
As the main advantage is their simplicity, the
screens circulating insignificant current and
magnetic fields between conductors are broadly
balanced.
It is widely used in lines where it is necessary to
maximize the allowed amp capacity in the
conductor without the limitations that cause the
current screen.

Fig. 3 Cable Gallery

In this paper we will show some data in which it
can be seen that in some cases the differences are
quite significant and could give rise to over-or Fig. 5 Single End connection
under-reach.
2. Solid Bonding:

In this case, sheaths are bonded to earth grids at

Fig. 4 Damage detected in a Link box
Cable sheath bonding in GNF
In GNF it is possible to normally find three types of
bonding depending mainly on the voltage level,
cable characteristic or other design purposes.
both ends (via link box). This is the common
connection on our 45kV grid.
This is generally the most common method and
does not require surge arresters, but on the other
hand it reduces the transport capacity because of
heating effects in the cable screen.
The cable grounded at both ends, makes the use
of surge arresters unnecessary and overvoltage
will not occur on the screens. It also eliminates the
need for the parallel continuity conductor used in
single bonding systems.
On the other hand current will flow through them,
thus the transport capacity will be limited by the
heating effects that occur in the screens by the
aforementioned current flow.

1. Single Point or Single End:

In a single end system screens are connected to Fig. 6 Solid Bonding

the ground only at one end of the line, which do
not offer a path for current to flow through them.
In the remaining points of the circuit, we will find a
voltage between the screen and the ground and
also between adjacent screens so that the
maximum is the far end. This voltage is dependent
on the length of the line and the circuit load. To
avoid damaging surges, surge arresters are
equipped at the none-grounded end of the line.
Single-point bonded cable installations need a
parallel ground conductor, grounded at both ends

© OMICRON 2013 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 02.3

3. Cross Bonding: Obtaining parameters before

A system is cross-bonded if the arrangements are
such that the circuit provides electrically
continuous sheath runs from earthed termination to
earthed termination but with the sheaths so
sectionalized and cross-connected in order to
reduce the sheath circulating currents.
In this type of connection voltage will be induced
between screen and earth, but no significant
current will flow.
Therefore, examining the total line length and
number of joints is required, so that the number of
sections in which the line is divided is three or a
multiple of three.
Great lengths of line where it is difficult to get the
number of sections as a multiple of three uses
Cross Bonding combined with one or two end
sections with Single Point configuration.
An advantage of this system is that for a conductor
arrangement in a triangle, the induced voltage in a
steady state in three consecutive sections of
screens is zero because it is the sum of three
equal voltages outdated 120°, because the mutual
inductances between the conductors and screens
are equal in all three phases. As a result there is
no current flow through the screens.
Another advantage is that does not need a
conductor parallel ground return, as the screens
flows continuously from end to end of the line and
are grounded at both ends, so that, the fault
current can flow through them.
Moreover, due to the transposition of screens, the
voltage induced in the screen during a fault is
lower compared with Single End configuration.
The induced voltage on screens is highest in the
transposition intermediate joints, and should not
exceed 150V under nominal conditions of service
and the maximum current for the conductor, taking
into account the longest stretch. Induced voltages
in a steady state and short circuits are calculated
for each project.
In the transposition screen points must be installed
a junction box provided with a screen surge
arrester.
measurement
Usually, the first step is to receive data from the
study of our online database (BDI), which is
composed on one side with the data provided by
the manufacturer and on the other with a
calculation tool, and both sets of data are
compared.
For our part we try to measure the impedance of all
underground cables that make it possible for their
construction work. There are occasions when it is
not possible to have a cable access point.
After both parameters have been obtained, both
are compared, contrasted and evaluated and the
differences examined.
In most cases the calculated parameters are very
close to the real ones.
Fig. 8 Theoretical parameters
The impedance calculating is mainly based on two
factors:
a. Characteristics of the conductor
(diameter of the screens, materials
and type of insulation).
b. Physical geometry of the conductors
and the ground wire.
Measurements experience
As mentioned before, our experience in cable
impedance measuring means we consider this test
to be very important, a useful tool to contrast
theoretical settings with those obtained after
measure.
Observe below some line-measured data, in which
we can observe that the differences are slightly
bigger in some cases and might lead to an over or
under reach in case of faults.

Fig. 7 Cross Bonding

Fig. 9 Comparative

© OMICRON 2013 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 02.4

The table shows some results reported, and we

can check, for instance, in the circuit connecting
the substations “Azca-Norte” a difference of 29.5%
in positive sequence resistance and 70% in zero
sequence resistance.
Another striking case is the circuit connecting the
substations “Puente Princesa” and “Cerro de la
Plata”, which are measured after a gap of "98%" in
the zero sequence resistance.
In previous cases we referred to XLPE insulation
cables, but we also have examples of paper-
insulated cables, such as circuit “Prosperidad –
Hortaleza” 220kV (O.F. technology). In this case,
the calculation of their characteristics may seem
easy because the layout and grounding of the Fig. 10 Cable gallery
sheaths is done in a more conventional way
(Single End with surge arresters at the far
isolated), but we still had a calculation deviation of Literature
51% in positive sequence resistance and 52.8% in
case of zero sequence resistance. [1] Alstom Grid: Network Protection &
Automation Guide. May 2011
Due to the discrepancies found, errors have been
detected (connection of screens, execution a Link [2] S. Kaiser 2004,”Different Representation of
Box). In the same way we have found damage and the earth Impedance Matching in distance
problems in the line and its earthing system after Protection Relays”. OMICRON User Meeting
faults and shortcircuits in the surrounding grid. 2004.
The errors mentioned above have been one of the [3] Roeper, Richard, Short-Circuit Currents in
causes of the discrepancies, but on the other hand Three-Phase Networks. Siemens
due to uncontrollable factors such as ground Aktiengesellschaft, 1972
conditions, the current season, or the influence of
other factors external to the line such as pipes, [4] William D. Stevenson & John J. Grainger,
parallel lines, railway infrastructure, and more "Power system Analysis", McGraw-Hill, Jan 1,
items that cannot be evaluated because significant 1994.
changes can occur in a city in a very short period
of time that directly influence these parameters and
these can only be examined if a field test is About the Author
performed.
Jose Maria Madrid (9 October 1973) is a Systems
Engineer from the University of Catalonia. He has
Conclusion performing coordination work commissioning of
electrical installations since 2001 for different
After having carried out the impedance Spanish utilities having developed his main activity
measurement of 220kV cables and a number of for Union Fenosa, both in generation and in
132kV and 45kV cables, a conclusion can be distribution and transportation.
reached.
Due to soil characteristics in a city like Madrid, the
impedance of the lines needs to be measured
because large differences can be found, especially
in the parameter R0, which being dependent on
return paths, is strongly influenced by the structural
conditions that affect this type of circuit, whether
medium voltage lines flowing through the same
gallery, water or gas pipelines, railways, steel
structures of buildings, the current season or
characteristics of the soil. Furthermore, impedance
line measurement helps us to check that the
connection of the screens has been successful,
according to current hypotheses.
In the end, many factors make it very difficult to
estimate a theoretical calculation compared with
the true scenario.

© OMICRON 2013 – International Protection Testing Symposium