Influence of Soil and Conductor of Ground Grid

on Safety of the Grounding System

Lin Li, Rang Cui, Tiebing Lu and Haoliu Yin
North China Electric Power University..
Baoding, Hebei, 071003 P. R. CHINA

Abstract: The grounding system of a practical 500 kV configuration and dimension of the ground grid and the
substation, in which the ground grid is made from steel, is material of the conductor, the influence is analyzed of soil and
calculated by virtue of the CDEGS software. ' The model of conductor of ground grid on the safety of the grounding
the soil is established based on the soil resistivity system. Some useh1 results are summed up.
measurements. The safety of the grounding system is
evaluated. The influence is analyzed of soil and conductor of Analysis of a Practical 500kV Substation
ground grid on the safety of the grounding system through
large computation under the condition of various soil
The steel ground grid of a practical 500 kV substation is
resistivity, conductor permeability, and conductor conductivity.
analyzed by using the module MALZ. The four-layer model
The influence of soil on the safety of the grounding system is
of the soil in the substation is established by using the RESAP
also analyzed when the ground conductor is assumed to be
module of the software based on the soil resistivity
copper.
measurements. The fault current is assumed to be 1000
ampere. The Result of modeling the apparent resistivity of the
Introduction
soil is shown in figure 1. The calculated distribution of the
electric potentials on the surface of the ground in the
The grounding in a 500 kV substation plays an important role substation is shown in Figure 2. The maximum difference of
in whole power system. In consideration of economy, the the electric potentials on the surface of the ground in the
ground grid of 500kV substation is usually made fiom steel substation is about 34% of the highest electric potential. The
rather than copper. But this would cause the loss of the good value of the maximum difference of the electric potentials is
safety in the substation [l]. In other hand, the soil resistivity about 2000 voltages.
largely changes in different district and in different season,
and it has important influence on the property of the
grounding system [2]. So it merits study that the influence of
soil and conductor of ground grid on the safety of the
grounding system.

The MALZ module of the integrated Analysis Software

CDEGS is a frequency-dependent earth analysis tool particular
suited to determining leakage current, earth potentials, and
electric and magnetic fields generated by a network of current-
carrying conductors buried in both simple and complex earth
10' 100 10' 10' 10'
structures. The another module RESAP of the Software Average Inter-Electrode Spacmg (m)
CDEGS can be used to determine equivalent earth structure
model fiom measures soil resistivity data. The model is used Figurel. Modelling of soil resistivity
in the MALZ [3].

The steel ground grid of a practical 500 kV substation is

calulated by virtue of the CDEGS software. The multi-layer
model of the soil in the substation is established based on the
soil resistivity measurements. The grounding system is also
analyzed under the assumption of that the ground grid
conductor is copper. The result indicates that a larger
difference of the electric potentials occurs on the surface of 271
the ground in the substation if the ground grid conductor is
I ' ~ ' " " ~ ' , .
steel than copper. 0 100 200 300

In order to provide a suitable reference for the grounding Distance (m)

Figure 2. The distribution of electric potentials on the
system designer so that he can quickly determine the
surface of the ground

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 It can be seen that larger difference of the electric potentials current flows into the grid at the point 2 on the figure 3. The
occurs on the surface of the ground in the substation, which relevant calculated impedance and electric potentials are
might damage the equipment in the substation. So some shown in table 3.
measures resisting the interference should be adopted for
electrical devices in the substation. Table 1 Influence of Soil Resistivity on Copper Grid
Soil Groundine Maximum Minimum Difference
The touch voltages and the step voltages are also calculated in Resist Resistan; Electric Electric Of Electric
the substation, and the results indicate that the safety is -ivity (Q.1o") Potential Potential Potentials
satisfied on these hands. (C2.m) (VI (VI (V)
10 13.8 13.6 11.9 1.7
Influence of Grid and Soil on Grounding System 25 34.4 34.0 29.8 4.2
40 55.0 54.8 47.7 7.1
55 75.7 75.4 65.5 9.9
In order to analyze the influences of parameters of grounding 70 96.3 96.0 83.4 12.6
grid and resistivity of soil on the properties of grounding 85 116.9 116.5 101.3 15.2
system, a reference rectangular (371mx280m) grid with 100 137.6 137.1 119.1 18.0
identical meshes is analyzed by using CDEGS software. The 150 206.3 205.6 178.7 26.9
number of the conductors is 30 along the length and 20 along 200 275.12 274.1 238.3 35.8
the width. The radius of the conductor is 2cm. The depth is 300 412.7 41 1.2 357.4 53.8
0.8m at which the grid is buried in the earth. The value of the 500 687.8 685.4 595.7 89.7
current that flows into the earth is assumed to be 1000 ampere, 1000 1375.6 1370.7 1191.4 179.3
the operating fiequency is 50 Hz and the phase angle is zero.
Along a straight line on the earth surface above the grid, the Table 2 Influence of Soil Resistivity on Steel Grid
ground electric potentials are calculated. The specified straight (Center Fault Point)
line and the grid are shown in figure 3. Soil Grounding Maximum Minimum Difference
Resist Impedance Electric Electric Of Electric
-ivity (Q. 10") Potential Potential Potentials
P
(C2.m) (VI (VI (V)
10 25.8L27.4' 20.5 11.3 9.2
25 45.2L 16.2" 40.3 29.2 11.1
40 65.3L11.4' 60.5 47.1 13.4
55 85.6L8.7' 80.8 64.9 15.9
70 106.1L7.1' 101.1 82.8 18.3
85 126.6L6.0' 121.5 100.7 20.8
100 147.1L5.2' 141.9 118.6 23.3
150 215.713.6" 210.5 177.9 32.6
Figure 3. Reference Grid 200 284.4L2.7' 278.5 237.5 41.0
300 421.9L1.8' 414.5 356.6 57.9
Uniform Soil Case 500 697.0Ll.l" 686.6 594.9 91.7
1000 1384.8L0.6' 1371.7 1190.7 181.0
Case L, The conductor of the reference grid is assumed to be
copper. Under the prerequisite, the grounding resistance and Table 3 Influence of Soil Resistivity on Steel Grid
the maximum electric potential and the minimum electric (Corner Fault Point)
potential are calculated on the specified straight line in figure Soil Grounding Maximum Minimum Difference
3 for various soil resistivity. The calculated results are shown Resist Impedance Electric Electric Of Electric
in table 1. -ivity (a.10') Potential Potential Potentials
(Q-m) (VI (V) (ir)
Case 2, The conductor of the reference grid is assumed to be 10 51.9136.7' 35.8 8.9 26.9
steel and the fault current flows into the grid at the point 1 on 25 71.9129.9" 53.4 26.5 26.9
the figure 3. The relative magnetic permeability and the 40 90.9L24.4' 70.4 44.5 25.9
resistivity of the conductor are respectively 250 and 2.931~10' 55 110.2L20.4' 88.2 62.4 25.7
70 129.81 17.4' 107.5 80.4 27.1
R.m. Under the prerequisite, the grounding impedance and 85 127.0 98.4 28.7
149.6L15.2'
the maximum electric potential and the minimum electric 100 169.6L13.5" 146.5 116.3 30.2
potential are calculated on the specified straight line in figure 150 237.119.8" 213.6 176.2 37.4
3 for various soil resistivity. The calculated results are shown 200 305.1L7.6' 281.0 236.1 44.9
in table 2. 300 441.815.3' 413.6 355.8 57.8
500 716.2L3.3' 687.9 595.3 92.6
U s e 3, The conductor of the reference grid is still assumed 1000 1403.U 1.7' 1373.4 1194.1 179.3
to be steel that is the same as that in case 2, but the fault

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 The influence of resistivity of soil on the grounding 5. The difference of the maximum electric potential and the
impedance is shown in figure 4 for case 1, case 2 and case 3. minimum electric potential along the specified straight line
From the figure, the following conclusions can be obtained of the steel grid is larger than that of the copper grid.

n
c
5 3-
.
0 -
0
Q
- -
z --
-
,/' -

v
c N,- -
0
-
Q)
-
/J
U
0 -
0.0 50 100 150 200 250 300

-L s - W

Case 3
2
0
m
-

8 - E % - ./
-gJ -
-j 3 - /'

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 bottom layer is hold to be 200 Ram and that of the top layer is
n
varied between 20 Ram and 300R.m. Under the prerequisite,
,C the grounding impedance and the maximum electric potential
E: and the minimum electric potential are calculated on the
W
Q
specified straight line in figure 3 for various top layer soil

48 resistivity. The calculated results are shown in figure 10 and

figure 11. The calculated touch electric voltages and step
voltages are shown in figure 12 and figure 13. In figure 12 and
E
U
figure 13, curve 1, 2, 3 and 4 correspond respectively to the
resistivity of top layer soil, 20 R.m, 100 Ram, 200 R.m and
0
x 0.0
v 50 100 ' 150
300 O m .
. Resistiviity of conductor (xl0' R-m)
When the resistiviity of top layer soil varies fkom 20 Ram to
Figure 8. Influence of resistivity of conductor on
300 R.m, the grounding impedance increases about 20% and
Grounding impedance
the difference of the maximum electric potential and the
minimum electric potential on the surface of the earth
increases about 110%. Therefore, it should be paid more
attention to that the increase of resistivity of top layer soil
leads to the increase of difference of electric potential on the
earth surface.

When the resistiviity of top layer soil varies fiom 20 Q-m to

300 Q.m, the touch electric voltages increases about 114% and
the step electric voltage on the surface of the earth increases
about 152%. Therefore, the increase of resistivity of top layer
I soil would leads to the decrease of safety in the substation.
0 50 100 1so
Resistiviity of conductor (x10' R.m) 0
I , I I
m
0
Figure 9. Influence of resistivity of conductor on
maximum electric potential and the minimum that

It can be seen that resistivity of the conductor has also notable

influence on the grounding impedance and the difference of
the maximum electric potential and the minimum electric
potential on the surface of the earth, But the influence is also
less than that of soil resistivity.

Two layer Soil Case 0.0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Resistiviity of top layer soil (Q-m)
Most of practical multi-layer soil structure can be Figure 10. Influence of resistivity of top layer soil on
approximated by two-layer soil model [4]. The two-layer soil Grounding impedance
model can be established by using optimum algorithm based
on soil resistivity measurement [5]. The design of a practical
grounding system in a substation is based on the soil model.
Therefore, accuracy of the soil model directly affects the
accuracy of the design. Because of rainfall and fieeze, soil
resistivity varies with season [6]. Because the rainfall and
fkeeze mainly affect the surface layer soil, the following study
scheme is made:

For the reference grid shown in figure 3, The conductor is

assumed to be steel and the fault current flows into the grid at 0

the point 1 on the figure 3. The relative magnetic permeability

and the resistivity of the conductor are respectively 250 and
2.931~10'Q-m. A two-layer soil model is assumed in which
the thickness of the top layer is 1.5m. The resistivity of the

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 Conclusion

It merits attention that a large difference of the electric

potentials would occur on the surface of the ground in the
substation if the ground grid were made from steel.

The large computation results indicate that the soil resistivity

is the most main factor that influences the grounding
impedance and difference of the electric potentials on the
surface of the ground in a substation. The conductor
permeability and conductivity are also notable factors that
influence the properties of the grounding system.

When the resistivity of top layer soil increases, the difference

0 100 200 300 400 500 of the maximum electric potential and the minimum electric
Distance from origin of profile (m) potential on the surface of the earth, touch electric voltage and
the step electric voltage would increase heavy.
Figure 12. Influence of resistivity of top layer soil on
touch electric voltage References

[l] F. R. Dawalibi and D. Mukhdkar, Parametric Analysis of

Grounding Grids, IEEE Trans. on Power Apparatus and
System, vol. PAS-98, No. 5, pp. 1659-1667, 1979.
[2] E. D. Sunde, Earth Conduction Effects in Transmission
Systems, New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1949.
[3] F. R. Dawalibi and F. Donoso, “Integrated Analysis
S o h a r e for Grounding, EMF, and EMI,” IEEE
Computer Applications in Power, vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 19-24,
1993.
[4] J. Ma, F. P. Dawalibi and R. D. Southey, On the
Equivalence of Uniform and Two-layer Soil to Multi-
layer Soils in the Analysis of Grounding Systems, IEE
Proc.-Gener. Transm. Distrib., Vol. 143, No. 1, pp49-55,
1996.
[5] F. R. Dawalibi and D. Mukhdkar, Optimum Design of
Substation Grounding in a two layer Earth Structure Part I,
0 100 200 300 400 500 IEEE Trans. on Power Apparatus and System, vol. PAS-
94, NO.2, pp. 252-272, 1974.
Distance from origin of profile (m) [6] Weimin Sun, Jinliang He and Weihan Wu, Influence of
Figure 13. Influence of resistivity of top layer soil on Seasonal Factor on Safety of Grounding System,
step electric voltage Proceedings of the Chinese Society for Electrical
Engineering, Vol. 20, No.1, pp15-18,2000.

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