CONSTRUCTION OF ISOPENTANE TANK

AT POLYETHYLENE

Doc No.
GROUNDING CALCULATION
POLYETHYLENE PLANT JE-R0-E5-CS-138962
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA

GROUNDING CALCULATION

REVISED AS PER CLIENT COMMENTS AND SS

1 24.02.2009 GB IRS
ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION
0 07.01.2009 REVISED AND ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION GB IRS SS
A 12.05.2008 ISSUED FOR APPROVAL IRS IRS SS
Rev. Date Description Prepared Checked Approved
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK
AT POLYETHYLENE

Project No. 339

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-400001

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 2 of 7

CONTENTS

SR.NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

1.0 SCOPE 3

2.0 STANDARDS 3

3.0 BASIC DESIGN DATA 3

4.0 DETERMINATION OF SIZE 3

OF MAIN GROUND GRID

CONDUCTOR

5.0 CALCULATION FOR GROUND 5

RESISTANCE

6.0 CONCLUSION 7

7.0 ATTACHMENTS
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 3 of 7

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 The intent of this document is to define the basis for design of safety grounding
system required for the Isopentane Storage Tank Area at Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia,
for Tank (RV-4902) & Pump Motor (RPM-4902A/S) area .

2.0 REFERENCE

The entire grounding system will be designed in accordance with the following
standards/specifications as given below :

2.1 IEEE standard 80-2000

2.2 IEEE standard 142
2.3 GES-018-09

3.0 BASIC DESIGN DATA 1

3.1 As per the 'Electrical Primary One Line diagram 480V MCC 27-76MC-1B', drawing No.
P0N0-E2-DW-105018, Rev. A, the switchgear rating for three phase symmetrical fault current at 480V bus is
65 kA for 2 Sec. Considering the actual three phase fault current as 50 kA and ground fault current as 60% of
the phase fault current with maximum clearing time of 1 sec., following are the design paramaters.

System Voltage = 480 V

Symmetrical 3 phase fault current = 50 kA
Ground fault current = 30 kA
Duration of ground fault current = 1 sec.
Material of Ground Electrode = Copper claded steel rod.

Main Ground Grid Conductor = Bare Copper Conductor.

Type of U/G joints in Ground Grid = Exothermic welding.(CAD Welding)

4.0 DETERMINATION OF SIZE OF MAIN GROUND GRID CONDUCTOR 1

4.1 As per the above considering ground fault current as 30 kA ,the Main Conductor is sized. The size of
the ground grid conductor is decided on mechanical, thermal and electrical considerations.
The following formula from IEEE Standard 80 -2000 is used for determining the size of ground grid conductor.

1/2

TCAP X 10-4 Ko + Tm
I = A tc x α r x ρ r ln Ko + Ta

(As per IEEE Std-80, clause no.11.3.1 & Table-1 ),Refer attachment.

Where,
I = Maximum ground fault current in kA = 30
A = Conductor cross section area in mm2
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 4 of 7

Ta = Maximum ground temperature OC = 35

Tm = Maximum allowable temperature in deg. C for Bare Copper = 1084 deg.C
Conductor

Tr = Reference temperature for material constants = 20 deg.C

αο = Thermal coefficient of resistivity of material at 0OC = 0.00413
αr = Thermal coefficient of resistivity of material at reference = 0.00381
ρr = The resistivity of the ground conductor = 1.78 µ-ohm-cm
at reference temperature
Ko = 1/αo = 1/0.00413 = 242.0
tc = Duration of flow of current = 1 sec.
TCAP = Thermal capacity factor in J/cm3-oC = 3.42

I
∴ A =
TCAP X 10-4 Ko + Tm 1/2

tc x α r x ρ r ln Ko + Ta

30
A = 1/2
-4
3.42 X 10 ln 242.0 + 1084
1 x 0.00381 x 1.78 242.0 + 35

30
A =
1326 1/2

0.05043 ln 277.0

∴ A = 106.75 Sq.mm

Considering corrosion allowance of 10%

A = 106.75 x 1.1 = 117.43 Sq. mm
Therefore, the nearest standard size of 1C x 120 Sq.mm Bare Copper conductor is recommended for the
Main Grid , to be formed in the Tank (RV-4902) & Pump motor (RPM-4902A/S) area .

Above ground, connection to equipment, structure etc. shall be grounded through PVC insulated copper cable.
For ground cable size details refer 'Grounding Layout', Drg. No. JE-R0-E5-SD-138957, Rev. 1
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 5 of 7

5.0 CALCULATION FOR GROUND RESISTANCE 1

5.1 Considering 2Nos., 19mm dia., 3000mm long (without joints)Copper Claded
Steel Rod type Ground Electrodes to be provided in the Tank-RV-4902
and Pump motor (RPM-4902A/S) shed area grid. Distribution of ground
electrodes shall be as given below :
Tank & Pump Shed Area (GE-1) & (GE-2) :2Nos.

Total : 2Nos.
R1 x R2 - Rm2
Rg = ---- (i)
R1+ R2 - (2Rm )
The above equation is as per IEEE Std-80, clause no. 14.3

Where,
Rg = Total ground Resistance in ohm.
R1 = Ground Resistance of the grid in ohm.
R2 = Ground Resistance of the rods in ohm.
Rm = Mutual Ground Resistance between the group of
grid conductors, R1 and group of ground rods
R2, in ohm.
ρ = Resistivity of soil in ohm-meter = 200 (as per GES-018-09)
CL. No. 4.1, Sr. No. 7

Ground resistance of the grid

ρ ln 2 Lc + k1 Lc - k2
R1 = ------------ (ii)
Π Lc a' √A

ρ = Soil resistivity in ohm-m = 200 ohm-m (From above )

Lc = Total length of all connected grid conductor in m.

= [2Lc + 2W] = (2 x 55) + (2x 69) = 248 m

(The length indicated above is including the length of RV-4902 area only).

a' = √a x 2h = 0.089
for conductors buried at depth h in mtrs. h = 0.6 (Assumed)
a' = 'a' for conductor on earth surface in mtrs.
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 6 of 7

2a = Diameter of burried conductor in mtrs.

(1 x 120 sq.mm Bare Copper Cable diameter in mtr. ) = 0.0132 appr
∴a = 0.0066m
A = the area covered by conductor in m2 = Lc x W = 55 x 69 = 3795

k1, k2 = the coefficients as per figure (25) a & b [ IEEE - 80 ],Refer attachment.
k1 = 1.08 & k2 = 4.5

200 ln 2 x 248 + 1.08 x 248 - 4.5

∴ R1 =
3.14 x 248 0.089 √3795

= 0.256 ( 8.625 + 4.347 -4.5)

∴R1 = 2.168 Ohm

Ground resistance of the rod bed

∴ R2 = ρ ln 4 LR - 1 + 2 k1 Lr (√nR - 1 )2 ------- (iii)

2Π nR LR b √A

Where,
LR = total length of ground rod in mtrs. = 6.0
Lr = the length of each rod in mtrs. = 3.0
2b = the diameter of rod in mtrs. = 0.019 ∴ b = 0.0095
nR = no. of rods placed in area 'A' = 2

200 ln 4 x 6.0 -1+ 2 x 1.08 x 3.0 (√2 - 1)2

∴ R2 =
2 x 3.14 x 2 x 6.0 0.0095 √3795

= 2.654 ( 7.83 -1 + 0.105 x 0.172)

∴ R2 = 18.174 Ohm

Mutual ground resistance between grid and the rod bed.

Rm = ρ ln 2 Lc + k1 Lc - k2 +1 ------- (iv)
Π Lc Lr √A

200 ln 2x 248 +1.08 x 248 - 4.5 +1

∴ Rm =
3.14 x 248 3.0 √3795

= 0.256 (5.108 + 4.347 - 4.5 +1)

 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No. 7 of 7

∴ Rm = 1.524 ohm

Therefore from equation (ii,iii & iv),

R1 x R2 - Rm2 As per IEEE Std-80,
Rg =
R1+ R2 - (2 Rm ) clause no. 14.3

∴ Rg = 2.168 x 18.174 - (1.524)2

2.168+18.174 - (2 x1.524 )

37.078
= 17.294

∴ Rg = 2.144 ohm

6.0 CONCLUSION 1

The above value of 2.144 ohm for the ground resistance is well within the minimum
permissible value of 5 ohm (as per GES-018-09), considering the burried conductor and 2 Nos.
ground rods.

However, the new earth grid will be connected to the existing grid with 2Nos.
Connections by 1C x 120 Sq.mm Bare Copper cable, hence the effective
resistance of the ground grid will be less than 2.144 ohm.
 CONSTRUCTION OF ISO-PENTANE TANK AT
POLYETHYLENE

Project No. AF-0620071

GROUNDING CALCULATION Doc.No. JE-R0-E5-CS-138962

POLYETHYLENE PLANT
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Sheet No.

ATTACHMENTS