20.

SUBSTATION GROUNDING

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 SUBSTATION GROUNDING
IEEE Std. 80-2000, Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding
• Ac systems are always grounded in some way.

• Grounding the system limits the phase to ground voltage under fault
conditions.

• If not designed properly, during fault conditions the maximum potential

gradients may endanger a person in the area.

• Hazardous voltages may develop between grounded structures and the

nearby earth.

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• Substation grounding provide grounding for impulses and the surges
occurring from the switching of substation equipment, which reduces
damage to equipment and cable.

• Substation grounding also provides a low resistance for the

protective relays to see and clear ground faults, which improves
protective performance, particularly at minimum fault.

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ESSENTIAL GROUND DESIGN ELEMENTS
1. Data for soil resistivity, fault clearing times, and fault magnitude.

2. Conductor and ground rod layout, location of shield wires and feeder neutrals.

3. Know the material used and the depth of burial.

4. More ground rods and larger grids reduce the touch and step potentials.

5. Safe designs are required by IEEE 80, 81 and the NESC

The metal to metal touch voltages between metallic objects or structures

bonded to the ground grid is assumed to be negligible. However, the metal to
metal touch voltages between metallic objects bonded to the grid and not
bonded to the grid may be substantial.

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EFFECTS OF CURRENT ON HUMANS

• Effects of currents on humans varies weither the person is a man or

a woman and the more the current is, the higher the damage
becomes.

• Also the effect varies from only a slight sensation on hand, painful
shock to a tissue burning which could be fatal when vital organs
damaged.

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308
Table 6 of IEC 865: Recommended Highest Temperatures for Mechanically
Stressed Conductors during a Short Circuit

Type of conductor Maximum recommended

conductor temperature during
a short circuit
Bare conductors, solid or :
stranded Cu, Al or Al alloy 200 ºC

Bare conductors, solid or :

stranded steel 300 ºC

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Table 4 Recommended Highest Temperatures for Non-
Mechanically Stressed Conductors During a Short Circuit

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GROUNDING SYSTEM DESIGN THEORY
Today’s Challenges
y Power plans and substations are operating past their original design
service life
y Engineers and designers are faced with rising fault currents
requirements

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Touch Potential

y Touch Potential is the potential difference between GPR and the

surface potential at the point where a person is standing, while at the
same time having hands in contact with a grounded structure

y Touch Potential is controlled by proper bonding and protective

systems, such as personnel safety mats.

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 Touch Potential

y 1,000A Fault current

y 5Ω Ground resistance

5,000 V

y Touch potential due to voltage

gradient
2,500 V
y Resistance of body: 1,000 Ω (IEEE®
80)

2.5A Current
2,500V

IEEE is a registered trademark of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
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Touch Potential

No protection Same potential as tower

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Step Potential

y Step Potential is the difference in surface potential experienced by a

person’s feet bridging a distance of 1m without contacting any other
grounded surface.

y Step Potential is controlled by properly designed ground electrode

system (grid) or the use of wire mesh.

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Step Potential

50% Voltage Drop Same potential between

between feet feet
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 Mechanical vs. Exothermic

Compression Mechanical Exothermic

317
NEGRP Study - After 10 Years in the Same Soil
Conditions
Mechanical Mechanical

Compression Exothermic

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•Exothermic - heat producing reaction
ŸCu Oxide + AL -> Copper + Al Oxide
ŸReaction Temperature at 4500° F

•Copper to numerous other metals

ŸSteels; Stainless; Cast, Ductile, & Wrought Iron; Brass; Bronze
ŸProvides Maintenance Free Molecular Bond

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Exothermic Process

320
321
 Typical Substation Connection
Exothermic Welds in Grounding Applications

322
Connector “A”, #2 Connector “B”, Type “L”, #1
CYCLE #4 CYCLE #8

Connector “B”, Type “C”, #1 CADWELD® TAC2V2V, #2

CYCLE #10 CYCLE #57

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 Advantages of Exothermic Connections

Provides a molecular bond between conductors

Ensures equal current sharing between conductor strands

Current carrying capacity equal to or exceeding conductor ampacity

Permanent

Will not loosen or corrode or increase in resistance

Will last longer than conductors

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 CONDUCTORS

Connectors
2000 Edition
Exothermic Connections - Rated the same as the conductor - 1083 qC
Brazed Connections - 450 qC based on copper based brazing alloys melting at
600 qC
Pressure Connectors - 250-350 qC
Bolted Connectors - 250 qC
2000 Edition
Connectors meet IEEE 837, IEEE Standard for Qualifying Permanent Connections
Used in Substation Grounding

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Copper Theft

• US Department of Energy estimates over US $1 Billion in copper theft

annually

From Surveillance Video of Actual

Theft

326
Copper Theft

Even birds are stealing copper…

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Methods for Copper Theft Prevention

Painting
Signage
Alternative Coatings
Encoding / Marking
Covering (PVC Conduit, etc.)
CCTV Systems
Motion Detectors / lighting
Alternative Materials
Theft Monitoring systems

328
 Conductors

Material
Copper
Copper - bonded steel
Copper – clad steel
Composite
Size
Sufficient to withstand maximum fault current for maximum clearing
time
Resist underground corrosion

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Advantages of Copper Conductors

Copper is the most common material used for grounding

Copper has high conductivity
Copper is resistant to most underground corrosions
Copper is cathodic with respect to most other metals that can be buried
in it’s vicinity

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Advantages of Copper-Clad Steel & Copper-Bonded
Steel Conductors

Combines the strength of steel with the corrosion resistance of copper

It is more economical
It is more resistant to damage and theft
Low scrap value adds to theft deterrence

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 GROUND ENHANCEMENT

Chemical Ground Rods

332
 Ground Enhancement - Bentonite
Bentonite clay

Low initial cost

Ineffective when dry

Resistivity of 2.5 Ω·m at 300% moisture

Low resistivity results mainly from an electrolytic process

May shrink and pull away from rod or soil when it dries

IEEE® Std 80 – 2000 Section 14.5

“It may not function well in a very dry environment, because it may shrink away
from the electrode, increasing the electrode resistance”

IEEE is a registered trademark of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
333
Ground Enhancement Material (GEM)
Parameters:
Environmentally friendly
Hygroscopic
Permanent, maintenance free
Low resistivity
Unremarkable affect by wet, dry or freezing conditions
Works in any type of soil
Cost effective

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