REPORT ON

SWITCH YARD EARTHING

AKKAREIPATTU

AMITHI POWER CONSULTANTS (PVT) LTD,

NO. 1080/9,
ATIGALA MAWATHA,
RAJAGIRIYA,
SRI LANKA.

APRIL 2017
Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 3
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 4
2. APPLICABLE CODES AND STANDARDS ............................................................................................. 4
3. SOIL RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENT ................................................................................................... 4
4. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................. 4
4.1 Input Data ..................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Conductor sizing for short time thermal requirements ................................................................ 4
4.3 Soil Layer Model............................................................................................................................ 5
5. EARTHING GIRD DESIGN ...................................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Tolerable Step and Touch Voltage calculation.............................................................................. 6
5.2 Evaluation of Ground Resistance .................................................................................................. 7
5.3 Calculation of Ig – Phase to earth fault ......................................................................................... 8
5.4 Justification for Ig ........................................................................................................................ 10
5.5 Grid current calculation .............................................................................................................. 11
5.6 Grid Step and Touch Voltage calculation .................................................................................... 11

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Amithi Power Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, carried out the design of the earthing system for a switch yards at
Akkareipattu in accordance with the requirements of the Standard: IEEE 80 –2000 Guide for Safety in
Substation Grounding. Specific resistance is calculated on the basis of measured values of soil
resistivity.

This document contains descriptive report of the earthing design.

Certified by:

…………………………………..

D. G. Rienzie Fernando
B.Sc. Eng, C.Eng, MIE (SL),
Managing Director,
Amithi Power Consultants (Pvt) Limited.
21/04/2017

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1. INTRODUCTION
Earthing system design is carried out as per the IEEE 80-2000 standard. Clearing ground fault keeping
touch and step potentials in acceptable region in an optimal time period is the main criteria of
earthing.

2. APPLICABLE CODES AND STANDARDS

IEEE-80-2000 IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding.

3. SOIL RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENT

Soil resistivity test for gantry sites has been carried out by Marlbo Projects (Pvt) Ltd. Following
substation grounding system designs has been carried out, based on the values furnished by Marlbo
Projects (Pvt) Ltd.

4. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
 Earth grid conductors are of Copper (hard-drawn)installed 600mm below ground level
 Crushed rock is used as the surfacing material
 Earth grid shall be bonded with exothermic joints
 Step and touch potentials, as per the recommendations of IEEE 80 standard

4.1 Input Data

Fault Current for conductor sizing (kA) If 3.12
Fault Duration (S) tc 0.5
Maximum allowable temperature (0C) Tm 350
Ambient temperature (0C) Ta 30
Material constant for copper K0 242
Thermal capacity factor for copper (J/cm30C) TCAP 3.42
Thermal coefficient of resistivity for copper (0C-1) αr 0.00381
Specific resistivity for copper (Ωm) ρr 1.78
Resistivity of surface layer(crushed rock) (Ωm) ρs 3000
Thickness of surface layer (m) hs 0.1
Z0/ Z1 4
Decrement factor Df 1

4.2 Conductor sizing for short time thermal requirements

1
𝐴𝑚𝑚2 = 3.13 ×
3.42×10−4 242+350
√( )× ln ( 242+30 )
1×0.00381×1.78

= 11.18 𝑚𝑚2 Equation 40 _ IEEE-80-2000

75 mm2 Cu flat (25 mm × 3 mm), approved conductor is appropriate.

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4.3 Soil Layer Model
Soil resistivity data was observed along two perpendicular diagonals of the site.

Rod Spacing (m) Resistivity (Ωm) along Diagonal 1 Resistivity (Ωm) along Diagonal 2
2 114.5 128.9
4 310.1 295.4
6 308.4 301.3
8 290.5 330.2
10 320.1 360.2

Resistivity vs Rod Spacing

400
350
300
Resistivity (Ωm)

250
200
150
100
50
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Rod Spacing (m)
Resistivity (Ωm) along Diagonal 1 Resistivity (Ωm) along Diagonal 2

As per the soil resistivity test data soil layer model has been done based on the two layer model
which is described in IEEE 80:2000.

Selected,
Upper layer resistivity = r1 = 150 Ωm
Lower layer resistivity = r2 = 350 Ωm
r2/r1 = 2.33

From Sunde’s Graph in Figure 1,

Selected ra/r1 = 1.2
Selected a/h =2
ra = 1.2 x 150
= 180 Ωm
a = 2.5 m
Upper layer depth (h) = 2.5 / 2
= 1.25 m

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 Figure 1 - Sunde’s Graph

5. EARTHING GIRD DESIGN

5.1 Tolerable Step and Touch Voltage calculation
0.116
Tolerable Body Current for 50kg body weight (IB ) =
√0.5

= 0.164 A Equation 8_ IEEE-80-2000

0.157
Tolerable Body Current for 70kg body weight (IB ) =
√0.5

= 0.222 A Equation 9_ IEEE-80-2000

180
0.09 (1 − 3000)
Surface layer derating factor (Cs ) = 1 −
2 × 0.1 + 0.09

= 0.708 Equation 27_ IEEE-80-2000

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𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝 50 = (1000 + 6 × 0.708 × 3000) × 0.164

= 2255.50 V Equation 29_ IEEE-80-2000

𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝 70 = (1000 + 6 × 0.708 × 3000) × 0.222

= 3052.70 V Equation 30_ IEEE-80-2000

𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 50 = (1000 + 1.5 × 0.708 × 3000) × 0.164

= 686.91 V Equation 32_ IEEE-80-2000

𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 70 = (1000 + 1.5 × 0.708 × 3000) × 0.222

= 929.70 V Equation 33_ IEEE-80-2000

5.2 Evaluation of Ground Resistance

5.2.1 Ground Conductors

Grid Spacing lengthwise = 1.2 m

Grid Spacing widthwise = 1.2 m

Buried Depth (h) = 0.6m

Diameter of the conductor (d) = 0.0098 m

Length of the Grid = 16 m

Width of the Grid = 14 m

Area of the Grid = 224𝑚2

Number of parallel conductor lengthwise = 14

Number of parallel conductor widthwise = 13

Total length of the grid conductor (𝐿𝑐 ) = 404 𝑚

Number of ground rods (𝑛𝑅 ) = 4

Diameter of ground rod (2b) = 0.017 m

Length of ground rod (𝐿𝑟 ) = 1.2 m

Total length of rod conductor (𝐿𝑅 ) = 4.8 𝑚

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5.2.2 Defined Parameters
𝐾1 = 1.06

𝐾2 = 5.8

5.2.3Total System Resistance

180 2 × 404 1.06 × 404

𝑅1 = [𝑙𝑛 ( )+ − 5.8]
𝜋 × 404 √0.0098 × 0.6 √224

= 4.549 Ω Equation 54_ IEEE-80-2000

180 4 × 4.8 2 × 1.06 × 1.2 2

𝑅2 = [𝑙𝑛 ( )−1+ ∙ (√4 − 1) ]
2𝜋 × 4 × 4.8 0.017/2 √224

= 10.284 Ω Equation 55_ IEEE-80-2000

180 2 × 404 1.06 × 404

𝑅𝑚 = [𝑙𝑛 ( )+ − 5.8 + 1]
𝜋 × 404 1.2 √224

= 4.301 Ω Equation 56_ IEEE-80-2000

4.549 × 10.284 − 4.301 2

𝑅𝑔 =
4.549 + 10.284 − 2 × 4.301

= 4.54 Ω Equation 56_ IEEE-80-2000

5.3 Calculation of Ig – Phase to earth fault

Akkareipattu Switch Yard is fed by a 33 kV double circuit line come from Ampara GSS.

At Ampara GSS (According to the CEB Transmission Expansion Plan)

Fault Current = 8.1 kA

Angle = -83.90

Fault Current in Complex form = 0.8607 – j8.0541 kA

33
Fault Impedance = 0.8607 – j8.0541

= (0.4329 + j4.0510) Ω

Consider 33 kV line coming from Ampara GSS to Akkareipattu Switchyard

Line Resistance (Per length) = 0.20626 Ω/km

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Line Reactance (Per length) = 0.316353728 Ω/km

Distance = 16 km

Therefore,

Line Resistance = 3.3002 Ω

Line Reactance = 5.0617 Ω

Line Impedance in complex form = (3.3002+ j5.0617) Ω

At Akkareipattu Switchyard

Total fault impedance = (0.4329 + j4.0510) + (3.3002+ j5.0617)

= (3.7331 + j9.1127) Ω

33000
Fault Current in complex form = 3.7331 + j9.1127

= (1183.1569 – j2888.1491) A
Therefore,

Three phase Fault Current (𝐼𝑘3 ) = 3.12 kA

Angle = -67.720

Zero sequence current for line-to-ground fault (IEEE 80-2000 equation 69)

𝐸
𝐼0 =
𝑋0 + 𝑋1 + 𝑋2

Where,
I0 is the symmetrical rms value of zero sequence fault current in A
E is the phase-to-neutral voltage in V
X1 is the positive sequence equivalent system reactance (sub transient) in Ω
X2 is the negative sequence15 equivalent system reactance in Ω
X0 is the zero sequence equivalent system reactance in Ω

In most calculations it is usually permissible to assume a ration of X2/X1 equal to unity.

Hence, X1 = X2

𝐸
𝐼0 =
𝑋0 + 2𝑋1

𝐸
𝑋1
𝐼0 = 𝑋0
+2
𝑋1

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 𝐸
3 [𝑋 ]
1
3𝐼0 = 𝑋0
𝑋1
+2

𝐸
Three phase Fault Current = 𝐼𝑘3 = 𝑋
1

Single phase to earth fault current = 𝐼𝑘1 = 3𝐼0

3 𝐼𝑘3
𝐼𝑘1 = 𝑋0
𝑋1
+2

For Akkareipattu Switchyard, X0 / X1 is assumed as 4.

Then,

3 × 3.12
𝐼𝑘1 =
4+2

𝐼𝑘1 = 1.56 𝑘𝐴

Current division factor (Sf) is assumed as 1.

𝐼𝑔 = 𝐼𝑘1 𝑥 𝑆𝑓

= 1.56 × 1

= 1.56 𝑘𝐴

5.4 Justification for Ig

Typically zero sequence impedance of the earthing transformer of a GSS is varies between 60 Ω-90
Ω.

If the worst case is considered,

33000⁄
√3
Maximum fault current which can occur in 33kV side of the GSS = 60

= 317.5 A

The fault current in the Gantry will be much smaller than 317.5 A since the Gantry is far away from
the GSS.

Also the fault current used for the earthing design is much larger than this figure.

Hence, Fault current calculation used for the earthing design is acceptable.

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5.5 Grid current calculation

𝐼𝐺 = 1 × 1.56

= 1.56 kA Equation 64_ IEEE-80-2000

𝐺𝑃𝑅 = 1560 × 4.54

= 7081.32 V
5.6 Grid Step and Touch Voltage calculation

2 × 404
𝑛𝑎 =
60

= 13.467 Equation 85_ IEEE-80-2000

60
𝑛𝑏 = √
4 × √224

= 1.001 Equation 86_ IEEE-80-2000

𝑛𝑐 = 1

𝑛𝑑 = 1
𝑛 = 13.467 × 1.001 × 1 × 1
Equation 84_ IEEE-80-2000
= 13.482

0.6
𝐾ℎ = √1 +
1
Equation 83_ IEEE-80-2000
= 1.26

𝐾𝑖 = 0.644 + 0.148 × 13.482

Equation 89_ IEEE-80-2000
= 2.64

𝐾𝑖𝑖 = 1

1 1.22 (1.2 + 2 × 0.6)2 0.6 1 8

𝐾𝑚 = ∙ [𝑙𝑛 ( + − )+ ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( )]
2×𝜋 16 × 0.6 × 0.0098 8 × 0.0098 × 1.2 4 × 0.0098 1.26 𝜋(2 × 13.482 − 1)

= 0.363 Equation 81_ IEEE-80-2000

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 1.2
𝐿𝑀 = 177.5 + [1.55 + 1.22 ( )] Equation 91_ IEEE-80-2000
√14 2 +162

= 405.881

180 × 0.363 × 2.639 × 1560

𝐸𝑚 =
405.881

= 663.08 V Equation 80_ IEEE-80-2000

𝐿𝑠 = 0.75 × 404 + 0.85 × 4.8

Equation 93_ IEEE-80-2000
= 307.080

1 1 1 1
𝐾𝑠 = [ + + (1 − 0.513.482−2 )
𝜋 2 × 0.6 1.2 + 0.6 1.2

= 0.707 Equation 94_ IEEE-80-2000

180 × 0.707 × 2.639 × 1560

𝐸𝑠 =
307.080

= 1706.92 𝑉
Equation 92_ IEEE-80-2000

Mesh voltage and step voltage of the designed ground grid are less than the acceptable values.
Hence the design caters all the safety precautions.

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