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Home / Technical Articles / What does a good grounding of the power substation and switching station really mean?

Earthing For Safety

Provision of adequate grounding in a substation and switching stations are very important for the safety of operating personnel as well a electrical devices do not rise above tolerable thresholds and that the earth connection is rugged to dissipate the fault to the earth.

What does a good grounding of the power substation and switching station really mean?
What does a good grounding of the power substation and switching station really mean?

The importance of an effective, durable and a dependable earth for ensuring safety from electrical hazards does not require to be elaborated upon more.

By earthing, connecting the electrical equipment to the general mass of the earth, this has a very low resistance.

Contents:

  1. Requirements Of a Good Substation Earthing
  2. Maximum Permissible Resistance Of Earthing System
  3. Touch Voltage (E-TOUCH)
  4. Step Voltage (E STEP)
  5. Earthing System In a Substation
  6. Location Of Earth Electrode
  7. Earthing Of Various Equipment In The Substation
  8. Distribution Transformer Structure Earthing

1. Requirements Of a Good Substation Earthing

The object of an earthing system in a substation is to provide under and around the substation a surface that shall be at a uniform potential and near zero or absolute earth potential as possible.

The provision of such a surface of uniform potential under and around the substation ensure that no human being in the substation subject in shock of injury on the occurrence of a short circuit or development of other abnormal conditions in the equipment installed in the yard.

The primary requirements of a good earthing system in a substation are:

  1. It stabilizes circuit potentials with respect to ground and limits the overall potential rise.
  2. It protects life and property from over voltage.
  3. It provides low impedance path to fault currents to ensure prompt and consistent operation of protective devices during ground faults.
  4. It keeps the maximum voltage gradient along the surface inside and around the substation within safe limits during ground fault.

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2. Maximum Permissible Resistance Of Earthing System

Large power station0.5 ohms
Major sub-station1.0 ohms
Small sub-station2.0 ohms
In all other cases8.0 ohms
The earth continuity inside an installation1.0 ohms

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3. Touch Voltage (E-TOUCH)

Definition – The potential difference between a ground metallic structure and a point on the earth’s surface separated by a distance equal to the normal maximum horizontal reach of a person, approximately one meter as shown in figure 1.

Touch voltage at a grounded structure
Figure 1 – Touch voltage at a grounded structure

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4. Step Voltage (E STEP)

Definition – The potential difference between two points on the earth surface separated by distance of one pace that will be assumed to be one meter in the direction of maximum potential gradient as shown in figure.

Step voltage at a grounded structure
Figure 2 – Step voltage at a grounded structure

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5. Earthing System In a Substation

The earthing system comprises of earthing (or) grid, earthing electrodes, earthing conductors and earth connections.


5.1 Earth Mat or Grid

The primary requirement of earthing is to have a very low earth resistance. If the individual electrodes driven in the soil are measured it will have a fairly high resistance.

But if these individual electrodes area inter linked inside the soil, it increases the area in constant with soil and creates a number or paralleled paths and hence the value of earth resistance in the interlink state, which is called combined earth resistance, will be much lower than the individual resistance.

However interlinking of earth pit electrodes is necessary. The substation involves many earthing through individual electrodes. In order to have uniform interconnection, a mat or grid or earthing conductor is formed inside the soil. Thus a mat is spread underneath the sub-station.

Hence if a ground electrode is driven in the soil, the interlinking can be done by a small link between that electrode and earth mat running nearby.

The spreading of such a mat in the soil also ensures the object of earthing that and surface under and around the sub-station is kept at as nearly absolute earth potential as possible.

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5.2 Construction of Earth Mat

The sub-station site including the fence is segregated at intervals, of say four meters width along with length and breadth wise. Trenches of one meter to 1.5 meter depth and one meter width is dug along these lines. The earthing conductors of sufficient sizes (as per fault current) are placed at the bottom of these trenches. All the crossing and joints are braced.

The trenches are then filled up with soil of uniform fine mass of earth mixed with required chemicals depending upon the soil resistivity. If location of equipment is fixed, the intervals are also arranged that the earth mat passes nearby the equipment location to facilitate for easy interlinking.

It is preferable to extend the mat beyond the fence for about one meter that fence can also be suitably earthed and made safe for touching.

Normally the earth mat is buried horizontally at a depth of about half a meter below the surface of the ground and ground rods at suitable points.

Substation grounding
Figure 3 – Substation grounding

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5.3 Earth Mat in a Sub-Station

Earth Mat is connected to the Following in a Substation:

  • The neutral point of such system through its own independent earth.
  • Equipment frame work and other non-current carrying parts of the electrical equipments in the sub-station.
  • All extraneous metallic frame work not associated with equipment.
  • Handle of the operating pipe.
  • Fence if it is within 2 m from earth mat.

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6. Location Of Earth Electrode

The location of earth electrode should be chosen in one of the following types of soil in the order of preference:

  • Wet marshy ground.
  • Clay, loamy soil and arable land
  • Clay and loam mixed with varying proportions of sand, gravel and stones.
  • Damp and wet sand, peat.

Dry sand, gravel chalk limestone, granite, very stone ground and all locations where virgin rock is very close to the surface should be avoided.

Substation ground grid
Figure 4 – Substation ground grid

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6.1 Pipe Electrode

It should be made of ‘B’ class G.I pipe. The internal diameter should not be smaller than 38 mm and it should be 100 mm fore cast Iron pipe. The length of the pipe electrode should not less than 2.5 m. It should be embedded vertically.

Where hard rock is encountered it can be inclined to vertical. The inclination shall not more than 30 from the vertical.

To reduce the depth of burial of an electrode without increasing the resistance, a number of pipes shall be connected together in parallel. The resistance in this case is practically proportional to the reciprocal of the number of electrodes used so long as each is situated outside the resistance area of the other.

The distance between two electrodes in such a case shall preferably be not less than twice the length of electrode as shown in figure 5.

Pipe Electrode
Figure 5 – Pipe Electrode

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7. Earthing Of Various Equipment In The Substation


7.1 Isolators and switches

A flexible earth conductor is provided between the handle and earthing conductor attached to the mounting bracket and the handle of switches is connected to earthing mat by means of two separate distinct connections made with MS flat.

One connection is made with the nearest longitudinal conductor, while the other is made to the nearest transverse conductor of the mat.

HV switch grounding
Figure 6 – HV switch grounding (photo credit: Brink Constructions, Inc.)

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7.2 Lightning Arresters

Conductors as short and straight as practicable to ensure minimum impedance shall directly connect the bases of the lightning arresters to the earth grid. In addition, there shall be as direct a connection as practicable from the earth side of lightning arresters to the frame of the equipment being protected.

Individual ground electrodes should be provided for each lighting arrester for the reason that large grounding system in itself may be relatively of little use for lightning protection. These ground electrodes should be connected to the main earth system.

In the case of lighting arresters mounted near transformers, earthing conductor shall be located clear off the tank and coolers in order to avoid possible oil leakage caused by arcing.

144kV Lightning Arresters with grounded bottom terminals and with insulated leads
Figure 7 – 144kV Lightning Arresters with grounded bottom terminals and with insulated leads (photo credit: arresterworks.com)

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7.3 Circuit Breakers

For every breaker there will be five earth connections to the earth mat with: MS flat (i) breaker body (ii) relay panel (iii) CTs of the breaker (iv) Two side of the breaker structure.

Circuit breakers grounding
Figure 8 – Circuit breakers grounding (photo credit: Casteel Corporation)

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7.4 Transformers

The tank of each transformer shall be directly connected to the main grid. In addition there shall be as direct a connection as practicable from the tank to the earth side of projecting lightning arresters.

The transformer track rails shall be earthed either separately or by bonding at each end of the track and at intervals not exceeding 60.96 meter (200 feet).

The earthing of neutral bushing shall be by two separate strips to the earth grid and shall likewise be run clear to rank cell and coolers.

Transformer structure grounding
Figure 9 – Transformer structure grounding

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7.5 Current Transformers and Potential Transformers

The supporting structures of Current Transformer and Potential Transformer unit of bases, all bolted cover plates to which the bushings are attached connected to the earthing mat by means of two separate distinct connections made with MS flat.

One connection is made with the nearest longitudinal conductor, while the other is made to the nearest transverse conductor of the mat.

High Voltage Substation
Figure 10 – High Voltage Substation (circuit breakers, instrument transformers)

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7.6 Other Equipment

All equipment’s, structures, and metallic frames of switches and isolators shall be earthed separately as shown in figure 11.

Structure earthing
Figure 11 – Structure earthing

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7.7 Fences

The Sub-station fence should be generally too far outside the substation equipment and grounded separately from the station ground. The station and the fence ground should not be linked.

To avoid any risk to the person walking near the fence inside the station, no metal parts connecting connected to the station ground, should be near to the fence five feet and it is desirable to cover the strip about ten feet wide inside the fence by a layer of crushed stone which keeps its high resistively even under wet condition.

If the distance between the fence and station structures, cannot be increased at least five feet and if the fence is too near the substation equipment structure etc., the station fence should be connected to the fence ground.

Otherwise a person touching the fence and the station ground simultaneously would be subjected to a very high potential under fault conditions.

Substation fence earthing
Figure 12 – Substation fence earthing

In a fence very near to the station area, high shock voltage can be avoided by ensuring good contact between the fence stations and by grounding the fence at intervals. The station fence should not be connected to the station ground but should be grounded separately.

If however, the fence is close to the metal parts of substation, it should be connected to the station ground.

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7.8 Ground Wire

All ground wires over a station must be connected to the station earth grid.

In order that the station earth potentials during fault conditions are not applied to transmission line ground wires and towers, all ground wires coming to the station must be broken at and insulated on the station side of the first tower or pole external to the station by means of 10” disc insulator.

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7.9 Cables and Supports

Metal sheathed cables within the station earth grid area must be connected to that grid. Multi-core cables must be connected to the grid at least at one point. Single core cables normally should be connected to the grid at one point only.

Where cables which are connected to the station earth grid pass under a metallic station perimeter fence, they shall be laid at a depth of not less than 762 mm (2’-6”) below the fence, or shall be enclosed in an insulating pipe for a distance of not less than 1524 mm (5’) on each side of the fence.

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7.10 Panels and Cubicles

Each panel or cubicle should be provided near the base with a frame earth bar of copper to which shall be connected the metal bases and covers of switches and contactor unit.

The frame earth bar shall in turn be connected to the earth grid by an earthing conductor.

Panel earthing
Figure 13 – Panel earthing

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8. Distribution Transformer Structure Earthing

Let’s see the following nine rules you should follow for correct grounding of distribution transformer structure:

  1. For earthing three earth pits in triangular formation at a distance of six meter from each other are to be provided.
  2. Earth pit should be digged for 45 cm x 45 cm size and 5 ft. depth.
  3. 3 Nos. of 40 mm dia and 2.9 mm thickness and 3 mts. (10 ft) length of earth pipe should be used for earthing.
    This earth pipe is erected in 5 ft. depth earth pit and for the balance length of earth pipe is driven by hammering into the ground.
  4. When a pipe is driven into the earth, the earth surrounding the pipe can be considered to be consisting of concentric cylinders of earth which will be bigger in size and area, as they are away from the pipe. The current can travel into the earth with large area having little resistance.
  5. 3 m. length of electrode will have contact with the earth area of 3 m in radius. Hence to have better effect 3 m pipe should be fixed at a distance of 6 m (i.e.) twice the distance of pipe length.
  6. For better earth connection, one G I clamp should be welded to the earth pipe and the other clamp bolted with 2 nos. 11/2 x 1⁄2 G I bolt nuts and 4 nos. G. I. washers to the earth pipe.
  7. Two separate distinct connections through G I wire should be made from the transformer neutral bushing to the earth pit No. 2.
  8. Two separate distinct connections through GI wire should be made from the transformer HT lightning Arrester to the earth pit No. 1.
    As far as possible this earth wire should not have contact with other earth wire connections. If needed PVC sleeves can be used for insulation.
  9. Two separate distinct connections through GI wire from the following parts of the structure should be made to the earth pit No. 3 as shown in figure 14 below.
    • Metal part of the disc and stay.
    • Top channel.
    • AB switch frame, metal part of the insulator, side Arms.
    • HG fuses frame and metal part of the insulator.
    • LT cross arm, metal part of the insulator, open type fuse frame.
    • AB switch guide and operating pipe ( At the top and bottom )
    • Transformer body.
    • Belting angle.
    • Seating channel
    • LT lightning arrester.

The above earth connections should be made as far as possible without joints. Wherever joints are necessary, GI sleeves should be used by proper crimping.

The earth pits No. 2 and 3 can be interlinked to serve as parallel path and lower the earth resistance.
If the earth resistance of the earth pit No. 1 is high, then another earth pit No. 4 can be formed as a counter poise earth and linked with the HT lightning arrester pit.

Earthing of Distribution Transformer Structure
Figure 14 – Earthing of Distribution Transformer Structure

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Reference // Handbook on maintenance of electrical general services substation by Government of India / Ministry of railways

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

23 Comments


  1. Mgcineni Mokoena
    Oct 11, 2023

    Thank you so much for the substation grounding information really helped me on my studies. What are different types of controlling the potential earthing systems?


  2. John Kawooya
    May 21, 2023

    Real thank you engineers for the good knowledge shared here. I love electrical engineering and am an electrical technician who loves learning new ideas Everytime.


  3. John orogun
    May 03, 2023

    Difference power station of 8resistance and their values. Please can I get the answer to the above question


  4. Santosh A. Mohite
    Dec 16, 2021

    What is the Standard for above permissible earth resistance ?


  5. Florian Misoc
    Dec 14, 2021

    Great article.


  6. Samundra Gurung
    Oct 11, 2021

    Great article, keep it up


  7. Sunil
    Aug 18, 2021

    Question -: Why Transformer (supply) neutral connection via individual Treated Earth Pit & why it is not linked with Grid earthing.


  8. Thilakasena Yaddehige
    Mar 03, 2021

    Very useful article for our ongoing project of a new ASU plant.


  9. ANANDA
    Jan 26, 2021

    The Earthing System of the installations,one of the most confusion issues, is guided well by EEP .Thanks for that.


  10. Emmanuel Afriyie Junior
    Nov 14, 2020

    This article is a mind opener to Substation works (Electrical).


  11. Helmut
    Sep 13, 2020

    Maybe I overlooked it but my question is which material shall be used for the earth mat, copper, steel, ???


  12. Jeremias Soriano
    Mar 28, 2020

    Very informative and straight forward..


  13. Juan Mendoza Hamburger
    Mar 21, 2020

    Excelente información. Esta muy claro todos los conceptos expuestos. Mil Gracias desde Colombia.


  14. Daniel Thompson
    Mar 20, 2020

    Brilliant article…very informative


  15. Nihar Ranjan Bal
    Mar 20, 2020

    Very good article.Is there any provision for training on Electrical protection system and how to study electrical engineering drawing ?


  16. MEL Daravann
    Nov 20, 2019

    Nice article.
    However, I would like to know about the standard that recommend Maximum Permissible Resistance value of Earthing System that you mentioned in content #2.


  17. Sujithanto
    Jul 30, 2019

    Excellent


  18. Florian Misoc
    Mar 12, 2019

    Great and very useful information.


    • Chung, Jin Heung
      Jul 30, 2019

      Really useful summary for electrical consultant! Thanks.


  19. ULHAS VAJRE
    Dec 20, 2017

    Quite useful article for the electrical engineers and those associated with the field work.


  20. Mohammed Azam
    Dec 19, 2017

    Nice Article and valued informations


  21. Rodrigo Cortés
    Dec 18, 2017

    Great article. It’s good to have all the earthing design aspects in a brief document. A small comment on paragraph 5.1: “area inter linked inside the soil, it increases the area in constant with soil”, I think it should be “are inter linked inside the soil, it increases the area in contact with soil”.
    Greetings.


  22. David Nowicki
    Dec 18, 2017

    Good article. I think the burial depth needing to be greater than the frost depth is a critical design factor. There are studies in cold weather that shoes a dramatic increase in resistivity during winter months. I’ve confirmed this affect with informal studies.

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