Study of Transferred Earth Potentials in

Electrical Distribution Substations

Presented by,
Buba, Sani Dahiru
GS34084
Supervisory Committee Members
Dr. Wan Fatinhamamah Wan Ahmad - Chair
Prof. M. Z. A. Ab. Kadir,
Prof. Chandima Gomes,
Dr. Jasronita Jasni and
Dr. Miszaina Osman (UNITEN)

Presentation outline
Research Objectives
Objective 2
Objective 3
Papers in progress

Research Objectives
The main objective of the study is to determine the
separation distance between MV and LV earthing
systems in a distribution substation to mitigate transfer
of potentials. In order to achieve the main objective, the
following minor objectives are implemented,
Determine the soil models at selected sites for
installation of distribution substations.

Research Objectives (contd.)

Estimate the short circuit fault current liable to

imposed at each

substation as a result of bolted

three phase (symmetrical fault) and single line to

ground (unsymmetrical fault).
Determine the grid resistance (Rg), earth potential rise

(EPR), step and touch voltages at each substation.

Determine the separation distance between the MV

and LV earthing system in each substation to mitigate

transfer of earth potentials.

Objective 2
In order to estimate the fault current in a distribution
network, the following steps were taken,
One line diagram indicating the network components
was drawn.
Suitable calculation method, e.g. ohmic, p.u or MVA
method was chosen.
The fault current was calculated using appropriate
formula and the results tabulated.

Site locations
Site 1- located at near Surau College 14 UPM
Site 2- located behind the Canteen, Faculty of
Engineering
Site 3- located adjacent to School of Graduate Studies
Site 4- located at Bukit Expo near Taman Pertanian
Universiti (TPU) UPM.

Calculation of line impedance (Z)

Following site visit to TNB main switching station (SSU 1
and 2), it was found that, distribution substations in
UPM are connected using 240mm2 Aluminium 3-core
armoured cable with,
R=0.161 at 50Hz, X=0.089
Z= (R + jX) * L
Z=(0.161 + j0.089) * L
Where L is the length of cable line

MVA method procedure

I.

Utility short circuit MVA at 25kA capacity,

MVASC 3 33kV 25kA

II. Transformer short circuit MVA

MVA
MVASC Transforme r
%Z

III. Cable short circuit MVA

V2
MVASC cable
Z

MVA method procedure (contd.)

IV. Calculation of total MVA

1
1
1
1

MVATotal MVA1 MVA2 MVA3

V. Calculation of fault current

I fault

MVATotal

3 VL

Objective 3
In order to determine the safety criteria for each
substation, an earth grid needs to be designed
manually or using CDEGS.
Soil model is required to determine the burial depth
of earth grid.

Earth grid design procedure

Grid dimension (LxB) depends on available area to
obtain an Rg<5 as recommended by IEEE Std. 80:2000.

Rg

4 A

Energization current is based on available fault current

and split factor.
Touch and step voltage depends on the fault clearing
time, i.e. 0.3 sec.

Earth grid design data (Site 1)

Based on IEEE Std. 80:2000,
Grid dimension 70mx70m, grid area 4,900m2
Available fault current 5.316kA @75% split factor
(3.987kA)
Burial depth 1.2m
Grid

geometry

spacing

21x21

parallel

conductors

@3.5m

Earth grid design procedure (contd.)

Based on TNB code of practice,
Grid dimension 14.8mx13.6m, grid area 201m2
Available fault current 5.316kA @ 75% split factor
(3.987kA)
Burial depth 1.2m
Grid geometry 6mx5m parallel conductors @2.5m
spacing

SESCAD Design Data

Plot of Earth Grid for Site 1 TNB Space [ID:MT_Site 1_TNB_ Thesi]

Plot of Earth grid for Site 1 [ID:MT_Site 1 Thesisa.F0]

-4

-16

SOIL SURFACE

SOIL SURFACE

Z AXIS (METERS)

Z AXIS (METERS)

16

32

12

48

16

16.8

64

12.8

75

8.8

59

4.8

43

0.8

27

-3.2

11

-2

-5

-8

24
X AXIS (METERS)

3-D View of Conductors

40

56

72

6
X AXIS (METERS)

3-D View of Conductors

10

14

18

SESCAD Design Data

Plot of Earth grid for Site 1 [ID:MT_Site 1 Thesisa.F0]
Plot of Earth Grid for Site 1 TNB Space [ID:MT_Site 1_TNB_ Thesi]

72
16

56

12

8
Y AXIS (METERS)

Y AXIS (METERS)

40

24

-4

-8

-2

-8

24
X AXIS (METERS)

Top View of Conductors

40

56

72

6
X AXIS (METERS)

Top View of Conductors

10

14

18

SESCAD Design Data

Plot of Earth grid for Site 1 [ID:MT_Site 1 Thesisa.F0]
Plot of Earth Grid for Site 1 TNB Space [ID:MT_Site 1_TNB_ Thesi]
-16

-4

SOIL SURFACE

16

Z AXIS (METERS)

Z AXIS (METERS)

SOIL SURFACE

32

12

48

16

64

-8

24
X AXIS (METERS)

Side View of Conductors

40

56

72

-2

6
X AXIS (METERS)

Side View of Conductors

10

14

18

SESCAD Design Data

Plot of Touch Voltage for Grid of Site 1 [ID:MT_Site 1 Thesisa.F0]

LEGEND

80

Plot of Touch Voltage for Earth Grid of Site 1 TNB Space [ID:MT_Site 1_TNB_ Thesi]

Maximum Value : 4873.172

Minimum Value : 154.232

SPOT LEVELS x 1.E+3

20

4873.17

Maximum Value :
Minimum Value :
29.40

15

4401.28

26.96

3457.49

30

2985.60
2513.70
2041.81
1569.91

24.53

Y AXIS (METERS)

Y AXIS (METERS)

3929.38
10

22.09
19.65

17.21
14.77
12.34

9.90

1098.02
626.13

-20
-20

30

80

7.46
-5
-5

10

X AXIS (METERS)

Touch Voltage Magn. (Volts) [Wors]

X AXIS (METERS)

Touch Voltage Magn. (Volts) [Wors]

15

20

29.403
5.022

SESCAD Design Data

Plot of Gradient Step Voltage for Grid of Site 1 [ID:MT_Site 1 Thesisa.F0]

LEGEND

80

Plot of Gradient Step Vol tage for Earth Grid of Site 1 T NB Space [ID:MT _Site 1_T NB_ Thesi]

Maximum Value : 599.032

Minimum Value : 0.00

20

599.03

15

LEGEND

Maximum Value : 4155.897

Minimum Value :
1.981
4155.90
3740.51

539.13

419.32

30

359.42
299.52
239.61
179.71

3325.11

Y AXIS (METERS)

Y AXIS (METERS)

479.23

10

2909.72
2494.33

2078.94
1663.55
1248.16

832.76

119.81
59.90

-20
-20

30
X AXIS (METERS)

Gradient Step Voltage Magn. (V/M)

80

417.37
-5
-5

10

X AXIS (METERS)

Gradient Step Voltage Magn. (V/M)

15

20

Results (IEEE Std.)

Results (TNB code of practice)

Discussion (IEEE Std.)

Following

IEEE

recommendation

to

obtain

grid

resistance of <5 for small distribution substations, it

should be noted that,
a.

Unlimited land is used during design until the required

resistance is obtained.

b.

Lower grid resistance values could be obtained which produces

lower values of EPR.

c.

Step and Touch voltages are not affected by grid resistance

d.

Unlimited land use for construction of substation is regulated in

Malaysia, as allocation is based on substation capacity, i.e.
voltage.

Discussion (TNB Code of practice)

Based on TNBs code of practice, land sizes are

allocated

for

substation
e.g.

installation

substation

capacity,

30mx30m

substations

and

14.8mx13.6m

substations

[TNB

Electricity

based
for

on

33/11kV

for

11/0.43kV

Supply

Application

Handbook, 2007].
a. It is difficult to achieve recommended grid resistance due to
limited land.
b. Results in the design of unsafe substations, which could be
hazardous to personnel and general public.

Discussion TNB code of practice (contd.)

EStep 50

0.116
1000 6CS S
tS

ETouch 50

0.116
1000 1.5CS S
tS

The values of grid is resistance and hence EPR are often high
especially in areas with high resistivity.

Contribution
Due to the fact that soil resistivity varies from one
place to the other as shown in this study, allocation of
land for installation of distribution substation based
on voltage level is not the best practice from safety
point of view.
It is recommended that a data base of soil resistivity
values for different locations be established such that
land allocation is based on soil resistivity and not
voltage level.

Papers in writing process

Impact of Addition of Earth Rods to Different Grid
Configurations on Grid Resistance
Impact of Buried Conductor Length on the Resistance
of Substation Earth Grid, to be submitted to the
Journal of Electric Power Components and Systems
soon.

Thank You
???