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EarthingCalculation
FromOpenElectrical

Contents
1Introduction
1.1Whydothecalculation?
1.2Whentodothecalculation?
1.3Whenisthecalculationunnecessary?
2CalculationMethodology
2.1Prerequisites
2.2EarthingGridConductorSizing
2.3TouchandStepPotentialCalculations
2.3.1Step1:SoilResistivity
2.3.2Step2:SurfaceLayerMaterials
2.3.3Step3:EarthingGridResistance
2.3.3.1SimplifiedMethod
2.3.3.2SchwarzEquations
2.3.4Step4:MaximumGridCurrent
2.3.4.1CurrentDivisionFactor
2.3.4.2DecrementFactor
2.3.5Step5:TouchandStepPotentialCriteria
2.3.6Step6:GroundPotentialRise(GPR)
2.3.7Step7:EarthingGridDesignVerification
2.3.7.1MeshVoltageCalculation
2.3.7.1.1GeometricSpacingFactorKm
2.3.7.1.2GeometricFactorn
2.3.7.1.3IrregularityFactorKi
2.3.7.1.4EffectiveBuriedLengthLM
2.3.7.2StepVoltageCalculation
2.3.7.2.1GeometricSpacingFactorKs
2.3.7.2.2EffectiveBuriedLengthLS
2.3.7.3WhatNow?
3WorkedExample
3.1Step1:SoilResistivity
3.2Step2:SurfaceLayerMaterials
3.3Step3:EarthingGridResistance
3.4Step4:MaximumGridCurrent
3.5Step5:TouchandStepPotentialCriteria
3.6Step6:GroundPotentialRise(GPR)
3.7Step7:EarthingGridDesignVerification
3.7.1MeshVoltageCalculation
3.7.2StepVoltageCalculation
4ComputerBasedTools
5Whatnext?

Introduction
Theearthingsysteminaplant/facilityisveryimportantforafewreasons,allofwhicharerelatedtoeithertheprotectionofpeopleandequipmentand/or
theoptimaloperationoftheelectricalsystem.Theseinclude:
Equipotentialbondingofconductiveobjects(e.g.metallicequipment,buildings,pipingetc)totheearthingsystempreventthepresenceof
dangerousvoltagesbetweenobjects(andearth).
Theearthingsystemprovidesalowresistancereturnpathforearthfaultswithintheplant,whichprotectsbothpersonnelandequipment
Forearthfaultswithreturnpathstooffsitegenerationsources,alowresistanceearthinggridrelativetoremoteearthpreventsdangerousground
potentialrises(touchandsteppotentials)
Theearthingsystemprovidesalowresistancepath(relativetoremoteearth)forvoltagetransientssuchaslightningandsurges/overvoltages
Equipotentialbondinghelpspreventelectrostaticbuildupanddischarge,whichcancausesparkswithenoughenergytoigniteflammable
atmospheres
Theearthingsystemprovidesareferencepotentialforelectroniccircuitsandhelpsreduceelectricalnoiseforelectronic,instrumentationand
communicationsystems
ThiscalculationisbasedprimarilyontheguidelinesprovidedbyIEEEStd80(2000)(http://standards.ieee.org/findstds/interps/802000.html),"Guidefor
safetyinACsubstationgrounding".Lightningprotectionisexcludedfromthescopeofthiscalculation(refertothespecificlightningprotectioncalculation
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formoredetails).

Whydothecalculation?
Theearthingcalculationaidsintheproperdesignoftheearthingsystem.Usingtheresultsofthiscalculation,youcan:
Determinetheminimumsizeoftheearthingconductorsrequiredforthemainearthgrid
Ensurethattheearthingdesignisappropriatetopreventdangerousstepandtouchpotentials(ifthisisnecessary)

Whentodothecalculation?
Thiscalculationshouldbeperformedwhentheearthingsystemisbeingdesigned.Itcouldalsobedoneafterthepreliminarydesignhasbeencompletedto
confirmthattheearthingsystemisadequate,orhighlighttheneedforimprovement/redesign.Ideally,soilresistivitytestresultsfromthesitewillbe
availableforuseintouchandsteppotentialcalculations(ifnecessary).

Whenisthecalculationunnecessary?
Thesizingofearthingconductorsshouldalwaysbeperformed,buttouchandsteppotentialcalculations(perIEEEStd80forearthfaultswithareturnpath
throughremoteearth)arenotalwaysnecessary.
Forexample,whenallelectricityisgeneratedonsiteandtheHV/MV/LVearthingsystemsareinterconnected,thenthereisnoneedtodoatouchandstep
potentialcalculation.Insuchacase,allearthfaultswouldreturntothesourceviatheearthingsystem(notwithstandingsomesmallleakagethroughearth).
However,wheretherearedecouplednetworks(e.g.longtransmissionlinestoremoteareasoftheplant),thentouchandsteppotentialcalculationsshouldbe
performedfortheremoteareaonly.

CalculationMethodology
ThiscalculationisbasedonIEEEStd80(2000),"GuideforsafetyinACsubstationgrounding".Therearetwomainpartstothiscalculation:
Earthinggridconductorsizing
Touchandsteppotentialcalculations
IEEEStd80isquitedescriptive,detailedandeasytofollow,soonlyanoverviewwillbepresentedhereandIEEEStd80shouldbeconsultedforfurther
details(althoughreferenceswillbegivenherein).

Prerequisites
Thefollowinginformationisrequired/desirablebeforestartingthecalculation:
Alayoutofthesite
Maximumearthfaultcurrentintotheearthinggrid
Maximumfaultclearingtime
Ambient(orsoil)temperatureatthesite
Soilresistivitymeasurementsatthesite(fortouchandsteponly)
Resistivityofanysurfacelayersintendedtobelaid(fortouchandsteponly)

EarthingGridConductorSizing
Determiningtheminimumsizeoftheearthinggridconductorsisnecessarytoensurethattheearthinggridwillbeabletowithstandthemaximumearthfault
current.Likeanormalpowercableunderfault,theearthinggridconductorsexperienceanadiabaticshortcircuittemperaturerise.Howeverunlikeafaulton
anormalcable,wherethelimitingtemperatureisthatwhichwouldcausepermanentdamagetothecable'sinsulation,thetemperaturelimitforearthinggrid
conductorsisthemeltingpointoftheconductor.Inotherwords,duringtheworstcaseearthfault,wedon'twanttheearthinggridconductorstostart
melting!
TheminimumconductorsizecapableofwithstandingtheadiabatictemperatureriseassociatedwithanearthfaultisgivenbyrearrangingIEEEStd80
Equation37:

Where

istheminimumcrosssectionalareaoftheearthinggridconductor(mm2)
istheenergyofthemaximumearthfault(A2s)
isthemaximumallowable(fusing)temperature(C)
istheambienttemperature(C)
isthethermalcoefficientofresistivity(C1)
istheresistivityoftheearthingconductor(.cm)

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is
isthethermalcapacityoftheconductorperunitvolume(Jcm3C1)
ThematerialconstantsTm,r,randTCAPforcommonconductormaterialscanbefoundinIEEEStd80Table1.Forexample.commercialharddrawn
copperhasmaterialconstants:
Tm=1084C
r=0.00381C1
r=1.78.cm
TCAP=3.42Jcm3C1.
AsdescribedinIEEEStd80Section11.3.1.1,therearealternativemethodstoformulatethisequation,allofwhichcanalsobederivedfromfirst
principles).
Therearealsoadditionalfactorsthatshouldbeconsidered(e.g.takingintoaccountfuturegrowthinfaultlevels),asdiscussedinIEEEStd80Section
11.3.3.

TouchandStepPotentialCalculations
Whenelectricityisgeneratedremotelyandtherearenoreturnpathsforearthfaultsotherthantheearthitself,thenthereisariskthatearthfaultscancause
dangerousvoltagegradientsintheeartharoundthesiteofthefault(calledgroundpotentialrises).Thismeansthatsomeonestandingnearthefaultcan
receiveadangerouselectricalshockdueto:
Touchvoltagesthereisadangerouspotentialdifferencebetweentheearthandametallicobjectthatapersonistouching
Stepvoltagesthereisadangerousvoltagegradientbetweenthefeetofapersonstandingonearth
Theearthinggridcanbeusedtodissipatefaultcurrentstoremoteearthandreducethevoltagegradientsintheearth.Thetouchandsteppotential
calculationsareperformedinordertoassesswhethertheearthinggridcandissipatethefaultcurrentssothatdangeroustouchandstepvoltagescannotexist.
Step1:SoilResistivity
Theresistivitypropertiesofthesoilwheretheearthinggridwillbelaidisanimportantfactorindeterminingtheearthinggrid'sresistancewithrespectto
remoteearth.Soilswithlowerresistivityleadtoloweroverallgridresistancesandpotentiallysmallerearthinggridconfigurationscanbedesigned(i.e.that
complywithsafestepandtouchpotentials).
Itisgoodpracticetoperformsoilresistivitytestsonthesite.Thereareafewstandardmethodsformeasuringsoilresistivity(e.g.Wennerfourpinmethod).
AgooddiscussionontheinterpretationofsoilresistivitytestmeasurementsisfoundinIEEEStd80Section13.4.
Sometimesitisn'tpossibletoconductsoilresistivitytestsandanestimatemustsuffice.Whenestimatingsoilresistivity,itgoeswithoutsayingthatone
shoulderronthesideofcautionandselectahigherresistivity.IEEEStd80Table8givessomeguidanceonrangeofsoilresistivitiesbasedonthegeneral
characteristicsofthesoil(i.e.wetorganicsoil=10.m,moistsoil=100.m,drysoil=1,000.mandbedrock=10,000.m).
Step2:SurfaceLayerMaterials
Applyingathinlayer(0.08m0.15m)ofhighresistivitymaterial(suchasgravel,bluemetal,crushedrock,etc)overthesurfaceofthegroundiscommonly
usedtohelpprotectagainstdangeroustouchandstepvoltages.Thisisbecausethesurfacelayermaterialincreasesthecontactresistancebetweenthesoil
(i.e.earth)andthefeetofapersonstandingonit,therebyloweringthecurrentflowingthroughthepersonintheeventofafault.
IEEEStd80Table7givestypicalvaluesforsurfacelayermaterialresistivityindryandwetconditions(e.g.40mmcrushedgranite=4,000.m(dry)and
1,200.m(wet)).
Theeffectiveresistanceofaperson'sfeet(withrespecttoearth)whenstandingonasurfacelayerisnotthesameasthesurfacelayerresistancebecausethe
layerisnotthickenoughtohaveuniformresistivityinalldirections.Asurfacelayerderatingfactorneedstobeappliedinordertocomputetheeffective
footresistance(withrespecttoearth)inthepresenceofafinitethicknessofsurfacelayermaterial.Thisderatingfactorcanbeapproximatedbyanempirical
formulaasperIEEEStd80Equation27:

Where

isthesurfacelayerderatingfactor
isthesoilresistivity(.m)
istheresistivityofthesurfacelayermaterial(.m)
isthethicknessofthesurfacelayer(m)

ThisderatingfactorwillbeusedlaterinStep5whencalculatingthemaximumallowabletouchandstepvoltages.

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Step3:EarthingGridResistance
Agoodearthinggridhaslowresistance(withrespecttoremoteearth)tominimisegroundpotentialrise(GPR)andconsequentlyavoiddangeroustouchand
stepvoltages.Calculatingtheearthinggridresistanceusuallygoeshandinhandwithearthinggriddesignthatis,youdesigntheearthinggridtominimise
gridresistance.Theearthinggridresistancemainlydependsontheareatakenupbytheearthinggrid,thetotallengthofburiedearthingconductorsandthe
numberofearthingrods/electrodes.
IEEEStd80offerstwoalternativeoptionsforcalculatingtheearthinggridresistance(withrespecttoremoteearth)1)thesimplifiedmethod(Section14.2)
and2)theSchwarzequations(Section14.3),bothofwhichareoutlinedbrieflybelow.IEEEStd80alsoincludesmethodsforreducingsoilresistivity(in
Section14.5)andatreatmentforconcreteencasedearthingelectrodes(inSection14.6).
SimplifiedMethod

IEEEStd80Equation52givesthesimplifiedmethodasmodifiedbySveraktoincludetheeffectofearthinggriddepth:

Where

istheearthinggridresistancewithrespecttoremoteearth()
isthesoilresistivitiy(.m)
isthetotallengthofburiedconductors(m)
isthetotalareaoccupiedbytheearthinggrid(m2)
isthedepthoftheearthinggrid(m)

SchwarzEquations

TheSchwarzequationsareaseriesofequationsthataremoreaccurateinmodellingtheeffectofearthingrods/electrodes.TheequationsarefoundinIEEE
Std80Equations53,54,55(footnote)and56,asfollows:

Where

istheearthinggridresistancewithrespecttoremoteearth()
istheearthresistanceofthegridconductors()
istheearthresistanceoftheearthingelectrodes()
isthemutualearthresistancebetweenthegridconductorsandearthingelectrodes()

Andthegrid,earthingelectrodeandmutualearthresistancesare:

Where isthesoilresistivity(.m)
isthetotallengthofburiedgridconductors(m)
is
forconductorsburiedatdepth metresandwithcrosssectionalradius metres,orsimply forgridconductorsonthe
surface
isthetotalareacoveredbythegridconductors(m2)
isthelengthofeachearthingelectrode(m)
isnumberofearthingelectrodesinarea
isthecrosssectionalradiusofanearthingelectrode(m)
and areconstantcoefficientsdependingonthegeometryofthegrid
Thecoefficient

canbeapproximatedbythefollowing:

(1)Fordepth

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(2)Fordepth

(3)Fordepth
Thecoefficient

canbeapproximatedbythefollowing:

(1)Fordepth

(2)Fordepth

(3)Fordepth
Whereinbothcases,

:
isthelengthtowidthratiooftheearthinggrid.

Step4:MaximumGridCurrent
Themaximumgridcurrentistheworstcaseearthfaultcurrentthatwouldflowviatheearthinggridbacktoremoteearth.Tocalculatethemaximumgrid
current,youfirstlyneedtocalculatetheworstcasesymmetricalearthfaultcurrentatthefacilitythatwouldhaveareturnpaththroughremoteearth(callthis
).Thiscanbefoundfromthepowersystemsstudiesorfrommanualcalculation.Generallyspeaking,thehighestrelevantearthfaultlevelwillbeon
theprimarysideofthelargestdistributiontransformer(i.e.eithertheterminalsorthedeltawindings).
CurrentDivisionFactor

Notalloftheearthfaultcurrentwillflowbackthroughremoteearth.Aportionoftheearthfaultcurrentmayhavelocalreturnpaths(e.g.localgeneration)
ortherecouldbealternativereturnpathsotherthanremoteearth(e.g.overheadearthreturncables,buriedpipesandcables,etc).Thereforeacurrent
divisionfactor mustbeappliedtoaccountfortheproportionofthefaultcurrentflowingbackthroughremoteearth.
Computingthecurrentdivisionfactorisataskthatisspecifictoeachprojectandthefaultlocationanditmayincorporatesomesubjectivity(i.e.
"engineeingjudgement").Inanycase,IEEEStd80Section15.9hasagooddiscussiononcalculatingthecurrentdivisionfactor.Inthemostconservative
case,acurrentdivisionfactorof
canbeapplied,meaningthat100%ofearthfaultcurrentflowsbackthroughremoteearth.
Thesymmetricalgridcurrent

iscalculatedby:

DecrementFactor

Thesymmetricalgridcurrentisnotthemaximumgridcurrentbecauseofasymmetryinshortcircuits,namelyadccurrentoffset.Thisiscapturedbythe
decrementfactor,whichcanbecalculatedfromIEEEStd80Equation79:

Where

isthedecrementfactor
isthedurationofthefault(s)
isthedctimeoffsetconstant(seebelow)

ThedctimeoffsetconstantisderivedfromIEEEStd80Equation74:

Where

istheX/Rratioatthefaultlocation
isthesystemfrequency(Hz)

Themaximumgridcurrent

islastlycalculatedby:

Step5:TouchandStepPotentialCriteria
Oneofthegoalsofasafeearthinggridistoprotectpeopleagainstlethalelectricshocksintheeventofanearthfault.Themagnitudeofacelectriccurrent
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(at50Hzor60Hz)thatahumanbodycanwithstandistypicallyintherangeof60to100mA,whenventricularfibrillationandheartstoppagecanoccur.The
durationofanelectricshockalsocontributestotheriskofmortality,sothespeedatwhichfaultsareclearedisalsovital.Giventhis,weneedtoprescribe
maximumtolerablelimitsfortouchandstepvoltagesthatdonotleadtolethalshocks.
ThemaximumtolerablevoltagesforstepandtouchscenarioscanbecalculatedempiricallyfromIEEEStdSection8.3forbodyweightsof50kgand70kg:
Touchvoltagelimitthemaximumpotentialdifferencebetweenthesurfacepotentialandthepotentialofanearthedconductingstructureduringafault(due
togroundpotentialrise):
50kgperson:
70kgperson:
Stepvoltagelimitisthemaximumdifferenceinsurfacepotentialexperiencebyapersonbridgingadistanceof1mwiththefeetwithoutcontacttoany
earthedobject:
50kgperson:
70kgperson:
Where

isthetouchvoltagelimit(V)
isthestepvoltagelimit(V)
isthesurfacelayerderatingfactor(ascalculatedinStep2)
isthesoilresistivity(.m)
isthemaximumfaultclearingtime(s)

Thechoiceofbodyweight(50kgor70kg)dependsontheexpectedweightofthepersonnelatthesite.Typically,wherewomenareexpectedtobeonsite,
theconservativeoptionistochoose50kg.
Step6:GroundPotentialRise(GPR)
Normally,thepotentialdifferencebetweenthelocaleartharoundthesiteandremoteearthisconsideredtobezero(i.e.theyareatthesamepotential).
Howeveranearthfault(wherethefaultcurrentflowsbackthroughremoteearth),theflowofcurrentthroughtheearthcauseslocalpotentialgradientsin
andaroundthesite.Themaximumpotentialdifferencebetweenthesiteandremoteearthisknownasthegroundpotentialrise(GPR).Itisimportanttonote
thatthisisamaximumpotentialpotentialdifferenceandthatearthpotentialsaroundthesitewillvaryrelativetothepointoffault.
ThemaximumGPRiscalculatedby:

Where

isthemaximumgroundpotentialrise(V)
isthemaximumgridcurrentfoundearlierinStep4(A)
istheearthinggridresistancefoundearlierinStep3()

Step7:EarthingGridDesignVerification
Nowwejustneedtoverifythattheearthinggriddesignissafefortouchandsteppotential.IfthemaximumGPRcalculatedabovedoesnotexceedeitherof
thetouchandstepvoltagelimits(fromStep5),thenthegriddesignissafe.
Howeverifitdoesexceedthetouchandstepvoltagelimits,thensomefurtheranalysisisrequiredtoverifythedesign,namelythecalculationofthe
maximummeshandstepvoltagesasperIEEEStd80Section16.5.
MeshVoltageCalculation

ThemeshvoltageisthemaximumtouchvoltagewithinameshofanearthinggridandisderivedfromIEEEStd80Equation80:

Where::

isthesoilresistivity(.m)
isthemaximumgridcurrentfoundearlierinStep4(A)
isthegeometricspacingfactor(seebelow)
istheirregularityfactor(seebelow)

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istheeffectiveburiedlengthofthegrid(seebelow)
GeometricSpacingFactorKm

Thegeometricspacingfactor

Where

iscalculatedfromIEEEStd80Equation81:

isthespacingbetweenparallelgridconductors(m)
isthedepthofburiedgridconductors(m)
isthecrosssectionaldiameterofagridconductor(m)
isaweightingfactorfordepthofburial=
isaweightingfactorforearthelectrodes/rodsonthecornermesh
forgridswithearthelectrodesalongthegridperimeterorcorners
forgridswithnoearthelectrodesonthecornersorontheperimeter
isageometricfactor(seebelow)

GeometricFactorn

Thegeometricfactor

iscalculatedfromIEEEStd80Equation85:

With

forsquaregrids,orotherwise
forsquareandrectangulargrids,orotherwise
forsquare,rectangularandLshapedgrids,orotherwise
Where

isthetotallengthofhorizontalgridconductors(m)
isthelengthofgridconductorsontheperimeter(m)
isthetotalareaofthegrid(m2)
and
arethemaximumlengthofthegridsinthexandydirections(m)
isthemaximumdistancebetweenanytwopointsonthegrid(m)

IrregularityFactorKi

Theirregularityfactor

Where

iscalculatedfromIEEEStd80Equation89:

isthegeometricfactorderivedabove

EffectiveBuriedLengthL M

Theeffectiveburiedlength

isfoundasfollows:

Forgridswithfewornoearthingelectrodes(andnoneoncornersoralongtheperimeter):

Where

isthetotallengthofhorizontalgridconductors(m)
isthetotallengthofearthingelectrodes/rods(m)

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Forgridswithearthingelectrodesonthecornersandalongtheperimeter:

Where

isthetotallengthofhorizontalgridconductors(m)
isthetotallengthofearthingelectrodes/rods(m)
isthelengthofeachearthingelectrode/rod(m)
and
arethemaximumlengthofthegridsinthexandydirections(m)

StepVoltageCalculation

ThemaximumallowablestepvoltageiscalculatedfromIEEEStd80Equation92:

Where::

isthesoilresistivity(.m)
isthemaximumgridcurrentfoundearlierinStep4(A)
isthegeometricspacingfactor(seebelow)
istheirregularityfactor(asderivedaboveinthemeshvoltagecalculation)
istheeffectiveburiedlengthofthegrid(seebelow)

GeometricSpacingFactorKs

Thegeometricspacingfactor

Where

basedonIEEEStd80Equation81isapplicableforburialdepthsbetween0.25mand2.5m:

isthespacingbetweenparallelgridconductors(m)
isthedepthofburiedgridconductors(m)
isageometricfactor(asderivedaboveinthemeshvoltagecalculation)

EffectiveBuriedLengthL S

Theeffectiveburiedlength

Where

forallcasescanbecalculatedbyIEEEStd80Equation93:

isthetotallengthofhorizontalgridconductors(m)
isthetotallengthofearthingelectrodes/rods(m)

WhatNow?

Nowthatthemeshandstepvoltagesarecalculated,comparethemtothemaximumtolerabletouchandstepvoltagesrespectively.If:
,and

thentheearthinggriddesignissafe.
Ifnot,however,thenfurtherworkneedstobedone.Someofthethingsthatcanbedonetomaketheearthinggriddesignsafe:
Redesigntheearthinggridtolowerthegridresistance(e.g.moregridconductors,moreearthingelectrodes,increasingcrosssectionalareaof
conductors,etc).Oncethisisdone,recomputetheearthinggridresistance(seeStep3)andredothetouchandsteppotentialcalculations.
Limitthetotalearthfaultcurrentorcreatealternativeearthfaultreturnpaths
Considersoiltreatmentstolowertheresistivityofthesoil
Greateruseofhighresistivitysurfacelayermaterials

WorkedExample
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Inthisexample,thetouchandsteppotentialcalculationsforanearthinggriddesignwillbeperformed.Theproposedsiteisasmallindustrialfacilitywitha
networkconnectionviaatransmissionlineandadeltawyeconnectedtransformer.

Step1:SoilResistivity
ThesoilresistivityaroundthesitewasmeasuredwithaWennerfourpinprobeandfoundtobeapproximately300.m.

Step2:SurfaceLayerMaterials
Athin100mmlayerofbluemetal(3,000.m)isproposedtobeinstalledonthesite.Thesurfacelayerderatingfactoris:

Step3:EarthingGridResistance
Arectangularearthinggrid(seethefigureright)withthefollowingparametersisproposed:
Lengthof90mandawidthof50m
6parallelrowsand7parallelcolumns
Gridconductorswillbe120mm2andburiedatadepthof600mm
22earthingrodswillbeinstalledonthecornersandperimeterofthegrid
Eachearthingrodwillbe3mlong
Usingthesimplifiedequation,theresistanceoftheearthinggridwithrespecttoremoteearthis:

Figure1.Proposedrectangularearthinggrid

Step4:MaximumGridCurrent
SupposethatthemaximumsinglephasetoearthfaultattheHVwindingofthetransformeris3.1kAandthatthecurrentdivisionfactoris1(allthefault
currentflowsbacktoremoteearth).
TheX/Rratioatthefaultisapproximately15,themaximumfaultduration150msandthesystemnominalfrequencyis50Hz.TheDCtimeoffsetis
therefore:

Thedecrementfactoristhen:

Fianlly,themaximumgridcurrentis:

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kA

Step5:TouchandStepPotentialCriteria
Basedontheaverageweightoftheworkersonthesite,abodyweightof70kgisassumedforthemaximumtouchandsteppotential.Amaximumfault
clearingtimeof150msisalsoassumed.
Themaximumallowabletouchpotentialis:

V
Themaximumallowablesteppotentialis:

Step6:GroundPotentialRise(GPR)
Themaximumgroundpotentialriseis:

V
TheGPRfarexceedsthemaximumallowabletouchandsteppotentials,andfurtheranalysisofmeshandstepvoltagesneedtobeperformed.

Step7:EarthingGridDesignVerification
MeshVoltageCalculation
Thecomponentsofthegeometricfactor

Thereforethegeometricfactor

and

fortherectangulargridare:

is:

Theaveragespacingbetweenparallelgridconductors

is:

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where

EarthingCalculationOpenElectrical

and

arethewidthandlengthofthegridrespectively(e.g.50mand90m)

and

isthenumberofparallelrowsandcolumnsrespectively(e.g.6and7)

Thegeometricspacingfactor

Theirregularityfactor

is:

is:

Theeffectiveburiedlength

is:

m
Finally,themaximummeshvoltageis:

V
Themaximumallowabletouchpotentialis1,720V,whichexceedsthemeshvoltagecalculatedaboveandtheearthingsystempassesthetouchpotential
criteria(althoughitisquitemarginal).
StepVoltageCalculation
Thegeometricspacingfactor

Theeffectiveburiedlength

is:

is:

m
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Finally,themaximumallowablestepvoltageis:

V
Themaximumallowablesteppotentialis5,664V,whichexceedsthestepvoltagecalculatedaboveandtheearthingsystempassesthesteppotentialcriteria.
Havingpassedbothtouchandsteppotentialcriteria,wecanconcludethattheearthingsystemissafe.

ComputerBasedTools
Ascanbeseenfromabove,touchandsteppotentialcalculationscanbequiteatediousandlaborious
task,andonethatcouldconceivablybedonemuchquickerbyacomputer.EvenIEEEStd80
recommendstheuseofcomputersoftwaretocalculategridresistances,andmeshandstepvoltages,and
alsotocreatepotentialgradientvisualisationsofthesite.
Computersoftwarepackagescanbeusedtoassistinearthinggriddesignbymodelingandsimulationof
differentearthinggridconfigurations.Thetoolseithercomeasstandalonepackagesorpluginmodules
topowersystemanalysissoftware(suchasPTW'sGroundMat
(http://www.skm.com/products_grownmat.shtml)orETAP'sGroundGridDesignAssessment
(http://etap.com/groundgridsystems/groundgridsystems.htm).Examplesofstandalonepackages
includeSESAutogrid(http://www.sestech.com/products/softpackages/autogridpro.htm)andSafeGrid
(http://www.elek.com.au/safegrid.htm).

Whatnext?
Theminimumsizefortheearthinggridconductorscanbeusedtospecifytheearthinggridconductor
sizesinthematerialtakeoffsandearthingdrawings.Thetouchandsteppotentialcalculations(where
necessary)verifythattheearthinggriddesignissafefortheworstearthfaultstoremoteearth.The
earthingdrawingscanthereforebeapprovedforthenextstageofreviews.

Figure2.PTWGroundMatsoftwareoutput
(courtesyofSKMSystemsAnalysisInc)

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