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1.1 CLP Power 132kV Substations 2.0 Earth Grid System Design
CLP Power 132kV substations can be classified into The following basic parameters are adopted for the
132kV bulk and primary substations. These substations earthing system design.
normally accommodate up to four 132/11kV 50 MVA
transformers and eighty 11kV switchgear panels. A 2.1 Soil and Weather Parameters
typical 132kV bulk substation has a maximum of
twenty-eight bays of 132kV Gas Insulated Switchgear. Soil composition: most decomposed granite in hilly area
On the other hand, a typical 132kV primary substation is with thin layer of organic top soil and
equipped with a maximum of four SF6 Ring Main Units, sand filled in reclamation area
teeing off from the radial circuit connected to the 132kV Soil resistivity: 20 - 2200 ohm-meter
bulk substation. The typical 132kV bulk and primary Soil temperature: 24.9 oC (yearly average)
substation sizes are approximately 2,500 and 2,000 18.9–30.1 oC (monthly average,
square metres respectively. unfrozen)
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2 x 70 mm2 stranded
copper conductor at
500mm below soil
13mmØ copper
clad steel cored earthing rod at
Perimeter of the substation grid
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The test is normally carried out using a four-terminal If the permanent water table is over 10 m deep or with
composite earth test. The outer two probes are connected the presence of boulders or rock, the earthing rod cannot
to the current terminals C1 and C2 and the inner probes be effectively driven below the water table in the soil,
to voltage terminals P1 and P2. small bore holes ranging from 20-40m are drilled for
installing the earthing rod. After earthing rod installation,
However under certain circumstances, if the accurate the borehole is then filled up with bentonite (typical soil
measurement of the resistivity may not be possible, an resistivity: 2.5 ohm-metre at 300% moisture) to maintain
empirical value can be determined by making reference good electrical contact between the earthing rod and the
to the book “Thermal and Electrical Properties of Hong earth mass. To minimize the maintenance requirement
Kong Soils” by N.A. Halfter and S.Y. King. and potential contamination of underground water,
chemical filled earthing rod (i.e. specially design porous
After the resistivity of the soil is measured or estimated, metallic rod filled with soluble organic salt to increase
the earth grid is then designed with reference to the the conductivity of the surrounding soil until the salt is
following documents: consumed) is not used.
Electricity Council Engineering Recommendation Some countries use “blasting method” to increase the
S5/1; Earthing Installations in Substations cracks in soil or rock underground aiming to increase
IEEE standard 80; Guide for Safety in an AC current dispersion after this cracks are filled up with
Substation water/ conductive slit. This method is not practicable for
British Standard 6651; Protection of Structures a densely populated environment like Hong Kong where
against Lighting blasting will likely cause large damage to the existing
IEC 60364-5-54; Earthing of Electrical Installation building and structure in the vicinity of the substation
in Buildings site as well as the stability of rock bed and foundation of
the future substation building. Furthermore, there are
Special considerations are given to the layout and stringent regulations on the use of blasting in
physical arrangement of the substation site, vicinity of construction.
metallic underground facilities (e.g. water and gas main)
in and near the site and relative location of the Based on the above considerations, bore holes are widely
underground structures (e.g. foundation, oil interceptor, adopted, more than 40% of total, in CLP Power’s
etc). The preliminary earth grid design is then analyzed earthing rod installation to achieve a low substation
by computer based on ‘multiple soil layer model’. If the earthing resistance of approximately 0.2 ohm.
calculated touch voltage, step voltage and the rise of
earth potential exceed the Standards, the earth mat is 4.2 Segregation of True Earth and Substation Floors
reinforced by adding the number of and / or extending
the vertical earthing electrodes deeper into the moist All substation floors in direct contact the earth mass (i.e.
layer, as far as practical, or making closer the space of ground and basement floor) are covered with concrete
the grid conductor to increase the grid density. The for easy maintenance and limiting the step and touch
reinforced earth mat is then re-analyzed. If it is within potential during earth fault condition. To enhance the
the safety limit, the design will be passed on to the civil landscape of the substation and/ or fulfilling land grant
contractor for installation during the civil construction conditions of the substation site, reinforced concrete tree
stage of the substation building. planter with few small openings at bottom separating the
soil for trees or shrub from the earth mass to control the
The substation resistance after installation of the earth potential hazard.
grid is measured by “Fall of Potential Method” on site
and the result is then re-assessed by the computer 4.3 Remote Bonding
program to confirm its compliance with the designed
safety limit or necessity for further reinforcement. Due to the high load density of CLP Power supply area,
most substations have approximate eighty to ninety
11kV and 132kV cables running in and out of the
4. Some Special Practices in CLP Power substation which help to disperse the earth fault current.
However, in some special purpose substations (e.g.
To overcome the compactness of the 132kV substation, traction and water supply pumping station), the number
wide range of soil resistivity of substation sites in most of cables running in and out of the substation is relative
CLP Power supply area and the stringent safety and low, says 5 to 10. Unfortunately, size of these
interference requirements, the following means are substations are relatively smaller (ranging from 500 to
selectively adopted by CLP Power to achieve a 1600 m2), these constraints impose challenges in
satisfactory design. substation earthing. In the cases that substation’s
earthing grid cannot effectively disperse the earth fault
4.1 Bore Hole for Installation of Vertical Earthing current, the grid will be bonded to the customer’s lower
Rod voltage earthing grid (for 11 to 33kV voltage equipment)
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at more than two points by minimum two single core existing lower voltage earthing grid to 132kV level
240 mm2 copper bonding cables. Removable links adopted successfully in CLP Power thus resolve the site
housed in a lockable box with adequate warning label of & system constraints and provide a safe and effective
‘not disconnecting in normal operating condition’ are earthing system for CLP Power’s new or upgraded
provided for these bonding cable for testing purpose. transmission substations.
5.0 Conclusion
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