Gaoyuan, LIANG
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer
Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Gaoyuan Liang
Inner Mongolia Electric Power Research Institute Network Centre
Abstract: This paper discusses current grounding
design issues of present electric power plants,
transformer substations in high soil resistivity area,
by incorporating the actual engineering data of a
220KV substation, analyzes the impact degree of
grounding design parameters to earth potential,
contact potential, and step potential. It also can be
used as a reference point for peers to discuss in
engineering design.
Key Words:High Resistivity, Electric Power
Plants, Transformer Substation, Grounding,
Design
1. Overview
Along with the rapid demand growth of urban
residential electric load, there are increasing number
of 220KV transformer substation are seat in city as
distribution substations in order to meet the electrical
load distribution requirements. The major features of
those transformer substations are: small-scale sites,
using GIS on 220KV and 110KV high-voltage
electrical equipment, occupying less area.
The increasing power system capacity has cased high
earth fault currents in those substations. Therefore, the
outstanding issues in transformer substation
grounding design are: small grounding area
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(5,000~10,000 m ), high soil resistivity (typically
500~1200m or higher), lack of condition to lay the
external grounding. Although electric power plants
occupy larger area than transformer substations, it is
still a tough challenge in designing ground grid when
the soil resistivity is higher and earth current is
escalating. In addition, DL/T621-1997 industrial
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
standards still maintain 2000V earth potential
regulation value unchanged even though the system
short circuit capacity is growing, therefore, it is much
strict on the permissible value of grounding grid
contact potential and step potential. According to the
recent situation analysis of engineering design, it is
very difficult to drop ground resistance below
DL/T621-1997 industrial standards. The following
article will emphasis on exploring current grounding
design issues and solutions of present electric power
plants, transformer substation in high soil resistivity
area, by incorporating the actual engineering data of a
220KV substation.
The main object of grounding design for electric
power plants and transformer substation is that
designing a desirable grounding grid to meet power
system operational requirements, ensure the safety of
personnel and devices. A low resistance grounding
grid obviously benefits the safe running of the
equipment and personnel against harmful shock.
However, there are many factors contribute to the
safety grounding of electric power plants and
transformer substations. Considering the expanding of
current electrical network capacity, there is no safety
guarantee of equipment and personnel even though
the grounding grid can be maintained at a low
resistance level. There is no direct connection between
the resistance of overall grounding system and a
harmful shock to persons. Electric power plants and
transformer substations with relatively low grounding
resistance can be very dangerous. On the contrast, by
careful designing the grounding grid, those with
higher grounding resistance will become more secure
(1). The following paragraph will discuss the factors
and the solutions when designing safety grounding for
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Gaoyuan, LIANG
Electric Power Plants, Transformer Substation in high
soil resistivity areas.
2. The safety grounding design factors
andsolutions
The aim of sound safety grounding grids design is that
to provide a lower enough secure access point on
earth potential, contact potential, and step potential for
electric power plants and transformer substations.
Contact potential is formed when earth-fault current
flow through equipments and generates distribution
potential on the ground surface, the voltage exists
where the distance from ground surface to equipments
is 0.8m horizontal and 1.8m vertically. As a matter of
fact, the existing mesh of grounding grid generates
voltage between every point on the mesh to grounding.
The maximum contact potential difference is the
voltage (maximum value) from the centre of mesh to
the earth electrode of grounding grid. When operators
working with charged equipment shell have grounding
access, it is crucial to avoid potential electric shock
hazard by limiting contact potential difference within
a security level.
The formulas to calculate allowable contact potential
difference value (Ut(v))and grounding grid maximum
contact potential difference (Utmax(v)) are showing as
below:
Contact Potential Difference (Allowable Value) Ut(v)
Ut(v)=(174+0.17f)/ (2)
Grounding Grid Maximum Contact Potential
Difference Utmax(v)
Utmax=KmaxUg
Utmax - Maximum Contact Potential
Difference;
Ktmax Coefficient of Maximum Contact
-
Potential Difference
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
Step potential difference is the ground surface voltage
when the distance between the feet of a person is 0.8m.
Because the voltage decreased in soil when earth fault
currents or lighting currents flow into ground, where
the soil resistivity contributes voltage difference the
most. In the uniform soil, the step potential difference
is small due to the lower soil resistivity. Likewise, the
step potential difference increased due to the high soil
resistivity. However, it is far more complicated in the
non-uniform soil condition. The soil resistivity is still
the main drive of step potential difference on human
elements, see formula below (3),
Step potential difference (Allowable Value) Us(V)
Us(V)= Ut(v)=(174+0.17f)/ (3)
Maximum Grounding Step potential difference
Usmax(V)
Usmax(V)= Ksmax Ug (4)
Usmax - Maximum Step Potential Difference;
Ksmax - Coefficient of Maximum Step
Potential Difference
Earth potential rise is cause by a grounding fault, the
voltage rise in ground grid when earth current flows
through electrode. The shift of potential caused by
increasing earth potential is not only threat the
equipments and operators, but also creates potential
counterattack voltage hazards to local equipments.
The index of earth current and grounding resistivity
are earth potential.
Earth potential Ug(v)
Ug (v)=IR
I - Ground short circuit current, A
R Earth resistance of grounding devices
There are many factors contribute to above three
elements, somehow, the most influential ones are
earth fault current (I), duration time (t), shunt
coefficient of overhead ground wire (K), soil
resistivity (), ground surface resistivity (f),
uniformity of soil resistivity etc.
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Gaoyuan, LIANG
The following paragraphs will also analyze the
requirements, influential factors and solutions to
above three security elements in grounding grid
design. An existing GW substation design data will be
used to demonstrate influential factors and degrees in
grounding grid design elements.
The original parameters of a substation grounding
design are listed as below:
Duration time of ground short circuit (fault)
current, t:0.6s
Maximum current of earth fault (maximum
shunt coefficient), I:1.5kA
Uniform soil resistivity value (including the
seasonal coefficient), 500m
Available grounding grid area (109*92m), S:
10028m2
Surface resistivity of cushion macadam (moist),
f: 2500m
According to DL/T621-1997, electric devices
grounding at Electric Power Plants, Transformer
Substation should dominate horizontal manual
grounding grids. GW substation proposed to adopt
compound grounding grids which combined
horizontal and vertical grounding electrodes.
engineering calculation, the allowable contact and
step potentials are 334V, 676V respectively. If
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
considering double-layer soil (f =2500m), the
new contact and step potentials are 773V, 2483V. As
the ground resistance is 2.5, the earth potential value
is as high as 28170V, far more great than standard
2000V. In order to reach the requirements, the ground
resistance should below 0.1 and it is 4% of the
original value, which also suggested minimizing soil
resistivity down to 34.8m.
The argument is focused on how to maintain the
safety of GW substation grounding grid while the
ground resistance cannot be reduced.
2.1 The impact of earth fault duration time
to grounding design parameters
As shown on Chart 1, the variation curves of contact
potential and step potential move with earth fault
duration time. It is quite obvious that the fault
duration time has a great impact on safety issues.
Therefore, fast fault clearing will guard substation
operating much safer. For instance, when fault cleared
in 0.1s, contact and step potentials are 819V, 1657V.
When it is in 0.6s, the contact and step potentials are
334V and 676V, the allowable voltage are all
decreased to 40% of its value in 0.1s. The fault
duration time has a greater influence to contact
potentials and step potentials, especially between
0.1~0.9s. In reality, the switch breaking time and
protection operating time of circuit breaker units that
are mostly relied on the type of equipments and
By manufacture which normally cannot be changed. Also
it would be too expensive and unrealistic if the
changes have to be made.
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2.2 The impact of ground surface resistivity
to grounding design parameters
Chart 2 demonstrates the impact of ground surface
resistivity to contact potentials and step potentials. It
shows that ground surface resistivity has a greater
impact to the allowable vale of step potentials than
contact potentials. Therefore, it is more effective to
adopt quarantine measures when improving step
potential hazard. In engineering design, contact
potentials can be limited by using high soil resistivity
material on operating platform.
Considering the surface soil resistivity has greater
impact on the allowable value of contact and step
potentials, ground electrode material usage can be
reduced by paving high resistivity material on the
In the uniform soil environment, there is a negative
linear correlation between earth potential and soil
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
surface. For instance, GW substation sets pebble
isolation layer with 2500 m, the number flat steel
required for horizontal ground are 600m (weight
2.226t), and it meets step potential requirement by
setting up a 20m mesh distance. Otherwise, the
number flat steel required for horizontal ground would
be 20000m (weight 75.4t), and the mesh spacing is
1m which is more than 33 times more than setting
pebble isolation layer.
Hence, adopting isolation layer method is more
economical wise for substations occupy small area.
But rain is a critical element where using pebble
isolation layer, the resistivity sharply drops when the
ground surface is wet or rain. Therefore, it is quite
important to wear insulating shoes when entering
operating areas in raining days or wet seasons.
resistivity. It has a much obviously result to decrease
contact and step potentials by reducing soil resistivity
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Gaoyuan, LIANG Year 2010

rather than earth potential. And the grounding grids According to the calculate formula, there is a positive
become secure when resistivity drops down to certain linear correlation between earth potential and earth
lower value. In applied engineering, it is difficult and current. It is an effective method to maintain low earth
expensive to reduce resistivity partially, not to potential, maximum contact and step potentials of
mention dropping down to certain lower value. From ground grid by decreasing system earth fault current,
above analysis, in order to meet contact potentials, it increasing ground current distribution, and cutting
is un-realistic and un-achievable to reduce earth down earth current. In practice, system capacity,
resistance from 2.5 to 0.1 , even though by impedance, and operating methods are determining
investing great amount of labour and material. earth fault current. Also fault current in two-phase and
For example, a substation in Shenzhen city, the single-phase grounding can be limited to certain point
measured earth resistivity was 3.08 before applying by system adjustment. However, it is not
any resistance reducing measurements, even though recommended to decrease earth potential by
adopted the methods of connecting earth to trench, restricting system operation. With the system capacity
replacing soil, adding resistance reducing agent, and expending, earth fault current will increasing
burring earth deep, earth resistivity only dropped accordingly. To decrease earth current, the ideal
down to 2.6, however, the investment was increased method is increasing the diversion effect of overhead
7,000,000. Even with the recommended explosion ground wire, but should considering the affect from
grounding technology which could reduce earth wiring tower potential.
resistivity by 20%~50%, only reached to 0.62~1.5.
It still does not meet owner required 0.5. When 2.4 The impact of grounding grid size to
decrease contact potential to 1243.5 ~ 3108.8V, still grounding design parameters
does not meet standard specification of 444.1V. It is For the grounding grid has sufficient area, there is a

quite challenge to maintain earth potential at 2000V as negative linear correlation between earth resistance

well as resistivity reached to 0.1. and square root of ground grid area. With larger

All above, soil resistivity contributes the most to earth ground grid area, earth resistance is relatively smaller.

potential, while ground surface resistivity affects Hence, it is an effective way to decrease earth

contact and step potentials the most. In conclusion, the resistance by increasing ground grid area in the design.

most effective way to solve contact potential and step As shown in chart 3, when doubling the ground grid

potential issues is that paving high resistivity isolation area, earth potential and earth resistance are all

layers on the ground. decreased by 30%. If grounding the lowest resistance

part of soil, the result will be more remarkable. But
2.3 The impact of earth current (or shunt from the practical perspective, on few electric power
coefficient ) to grounding design plants and substations at the seaside could achieve it,
parameters the rest simply lack of land to adopt this method.

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area 5
Gaoyuan, LIANG
2.5 The impact of grounding material quantity to grounding design parameters
To certain grounding grid, increasing the amount of
grounding material can effectively decline grounding
contact potential, especially to step potential. As show
in chart 4, it demonstrates the reflection of contact and
step potential to horizontal grounding material
quantity. Mainly because of the additional grounding
material, especially by increasing horizontal
grounding electrode, not only reduced mesh spacing
of ground grid, the ground surface potential
distribution became more even, but also solved the
In summary, by measuring grounding grid of existing
electric power plants and substation, also including
new designed grounding grid, the actual measurement
results of earth, contact and step potentials from
majority substations are beyond standard. In some
cases, there are few substations are above standard
earth potential limit by 10 times, and contact potential
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
potential difference from centre of mesh to grounding
electrode, and step potential. For instance, there are
cases, in foreign countries where the operation
platform is made from 0.6m * 0.6m (1) metal mesh.
However, it is not economic wise to solve the
excessive contact and step potential issues by
adopting excessive grounding material. Reasonable
use of grounding material and control project cost are
must be considered in design.
is more than 6~7 times (4). Take GW substation for
instance, its earth potential is 28.7kV, which is 14.3
times of standard 2kV. For those electric power
plants and substations located in high soil resistivity
area, it is also not cost effective and realistic by
decreasing earth potential to standard. It is a huge
challenge in ground designing to achieve a reasonable
safe ground grid when the high potential exists.
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Gaoyuan, LIANG
3. Complete ground grid design
measurement
By applying essential measurements to reduce
resistance, the earth potential still cannot be reduced
to the standard requirement. Grounding grid design
should be focused on dealing with voltage equalizer
and isolation, especially on the particular area on
ground grid.
3.1 Voltage equavalent issue on ground grid
edge
Theoretically, electric power plants and substations
are designed on the basis of uniformed soil resistivity.
Actually, soil resistivity is not equivalent either
horizontally or vertically. According to DL/T621-1997
standard, it is difficult for the non-equalizing treated
ground grid to meet contact and step potential
requirement even if the earth potential is below 2000V.
In the case of GW substation, step potential meets
requirement when soil resistivity dropped down to
34.8, however, the contact potential still needs to be
worked on by potential equalizing treatment. Since the
edge effect of earth current, there is a huge potential
gradient on the ground grid edge (1). The design
should be focused on dealing with the voltage
equalize on grid edge.
To prevent potential difference over the standard, the
main measurements are:
a) Increasing the density and depth along
vertical electrode on ground grid edge
b) Burying two or more horizontal electrode
around the edge. And the inbuilt electrodes
should go deeper with the distance far away
from substation, which is called the hat
brim voltage potential area.
c) Changing the distance between horizontal
electrodes on grid. The density of horizontal
electrodes should be higher at where close
to the grid edge.
3.2 Metal frame grounding issue
To prevent the possible earth potential damage caused
by metal frame around electric power plants and
substations, connecting frame to ground grid or using
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Year 2010
insulated frames can be applied in real scenarios. If
the ground grid is located within the fences, it is
necessary to set isolation area out side of the fences
and displaying electric danger sign to minimize
potential electric hazard to staff. If the ground grid is
beyond fences, the step potential must satisfy the
safety standard.
3.3 Control cable grounding issue
It is important to strengthen the control of cable
grounding to prevent counterattack damage to the
cable and secondary equipment. If the cable is not
very long, grounding one end of cable jacket can
reduce current outside of the single-conductor cable.
For a long cable, both sides and the skin of the joint
all should be grounded. To eliminate the EMF, both
ends of shielding control cables should be grounded.
The control cable jacket spacing may be too large at
each grounding point, which will cause large current
flows through cable jacket when earth fault potential
happened. To avoid current damage, the best solution
is installing a separate ground cable on cable jacket
where between grounding point and parallel to the
control cable.
3.4 Telecommunication cable grounding issue
It is important to isolate communication cable to avoid
the shift potential damage.
Communication lines need to take into measurement
in design to ensure the safety of staff and
communication terminal devices. In order for the
substation communication terminal and remote
terminal isolation, consider using fiber optic
communications cable, eliminating high potential of
transfer.
3.5 Low voltage power supply line grounding
issue
It is critical to isolate low voltage neutral lines to
avoid the shift potential damage caused to residence
from high voltage substations. In substations or
nearby, neutral lines should be treated as "charged"
conductor, and isolate neutral lines with substation
grounding system by using insulator has a high
potential resistance. Meantime, the neutral wire
should be placed in a secure location to prevent staff
exposed to risks, isolate when necessary.
3.6 Metal pipes grounding issue
All kinds of metal pipes should be isolated to prevent
shifting potentials.
Pipes and metallic conductors should be connected to
grounding systems to avoid internal hazard with
substations. To prevent the high potential spread out
along metal pipes, isolation zone should be set around
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Gaoyuan, LIANG Year 2010

fences near power plants and substations. Most among metals, therefore personnel hazard
importantly, the isolation zone has to be in great
distance to avoid nearby soil bypass. still obvious even the potential is small on
Isolation area must be able to withstand the potential GIS shell. It is the best solution to reduce
difference between a substation and nearby ground -
earth potential. touch potential and step potential hazard by
grounding multi-point of GIS shell.
4. Key factors of designing ground grid Working together with GIS manufacture to
inhighsoilresistivityarea find out the suitable grounding material size,
a) Metallic fences grounding connecting points and shell potential
In the event of earth fault grounding, there requirement, also the emphasis should be
is a higher potential gradient difference near focused on DC component, switch actions
fences around power plants and substations and maximum potential when earth fault
caused by edge effect of earth current. grounding happened and connect equal
Designers should be alerted that electric potential properly.
shock hazard still exists regardless of d) System capacity development
whether the fences connected to grounding System capacity should be designed by the
grid or not, particularly in high soil life cycle of power plants and substation (1)
resistivity area, it may be worse. rather than standard 5~10 years
b) Focusing on voltage equivalent on main development plan recommended by
building, auxiliary workshop, and coal DL/T621-1997. By studying cases, it has
transmission system in addition to booster been found that the follow-up supplement
station of power plants. and optimize are difficult and expensive.
Above areas are normally considered as e) Note the side effect caused by un-even soil
crucial parts in the design, it has created resistivity
touch and step potential hazard due to large Grounding grid design is based on the
mesh grounding. For example, a LNG condition of equivalent uniformed soil
power plant in Guangdong province, its resistivity. Due to the actual effect, the
earth potential value is 20.8kV, if decreasing designed ground grid is not safe, especially
it down to 20kV, the soil resistivity needs to in high soil resistivity area. Therefore,
drop from 791 m to 76 m . Under this followed by grounding grid construction,
circumstance, step potential could still meet measuring actual ground potential
safety standard even not laying horizontal distribution curve and eliminate unsafe
electrodes to equivalent potentials. However, elements to complete setting of grounding
if not paving high soil resistivity isolation grid.
layer, the required touch potential cannot be
meet even expending mesh distance up to 5. Conclusion
1m. When the earth potential is 20.8kV, it is a) With increasing capacity of the power

required to set a 37m mesh distance on system and decreasing floor area of power

grounding grid to meet step potential plants and transformer substation network, it

requirement. Therefore, isolation is a great challenge to design grounding

measurements should to take into account to grids in high resistivity area and it requires

prevent grounding when staff operation designers to be more careful.

b) The lower earth resistance does not mean a
devices.
safe ground grid, and ground grid resistance
c) GIS grounding is not the direct unsafe cause to personnel
and device. Theoretically, no matter how
As GIS could easily cause touch potential
much ground grid resistance is, a careful

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area 8
Gaoyuan, LIANG Year 2010

designed ground grid will be very safe. On 4. Yang Ziyi, 2000, The Comprehensive
the other hand, although the ground network
resistance is low, potential hazard elements Analysis Of Current Substation Grounding
are not considered in design, it is very much Design
insecure with a grounding grid without
eliminate excessively high touch potential, 5. IEEE Guide for Generating Station
step potential, transfer potential. Grounding IEEE Std665-1995.
c) To stop 2~10kv system valve type arrester

actions, methods can be adopted by
decreasing resistance, distribute current and
earth level.
d) Besides decreasing grounding grid
resistance to lower the earth level, it is much
easier to increase shunt coefficient of
overhead arrester wire to decrease
grounding current.
e) To decrease step potential, there are few
methods can be adopted such as increasing
quantity of horizontal electrodes or
designing a suitable mesh size to meet
requirements. Distributing the unequal
layout of mesh can greatly reduce the cost
of ground grid design.
f) In order to limit step potential and not using
excessive horizontal electrode, the
alternative solutions are laying wood
floorboard on operation platform, paving
asphalt and gravel mixture to isolate
platform or using metal ground platform.
g) In power plant ground grids design, it is
important to take full advantage of existing
building foundations, underground water
pipes to connect equal potential and
eliminate dangerous potentials in entire
power plant ground grid.

Bibliography
1. IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation
Grounding IEEE Std80-2000
2. DL/T 621-1997 AC Electric Devices
Grounding
3. Electric Engineering Design Manual
(Electrical Transmission Circuit), BeiJing,
1989, Water Resources and Electric Power
Press.

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area 9