International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012
Design and Performance of Primary Substation
Earthing System (230/33 kV)
Hnin Nu Wai , Kyaw San Lwin

Abstract—Earthing practices and designs are provided to
reduce grid potential rise as well as earthing resistance and to
save people in and around the substation under normal and
fault conditions. A good substation earthing is considered
three basic conditions: personal safety, protective device
operation and noise control. The main functions of an earthing
system for a substation are safety of human and animal life by
limiting touch and step voltages to safe values (protective
earthing, earthing of work), correct operation of the
electricity supply network and to ensure good power quality
(power system earthing), achievement of a given
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) level, i.e. limitation of
electromagnetic disturbances and protection of buildings and
installations against lightning [1].This paper is calculated
substation earthing resistance, grid potential rise, mesh
voltage, step voltage and touch voltage depending on the
different depths of burial grid conductor and the earth rod
spacing. The calculated results show the amount of decreasing
values. Substation earthing is divided into four separated
grids such as primary earthing, two transformer earthing and
secondary earthing. The advantage of the separated earthing
grids is to reduce the installing equipments and to protect
human and equipments. The results are showed by using
MATLAB figures.
Keywords—Earthing designs, substation earthing resistance,
grid potential rise, mesh voltage, step voltage and
MATLAB figures.
I. INTRODUCTION
Earthing is essential for the outdoor AC substation
designs and the installed equipments in the substation. It is
also provided and saved for personnel and the animals. In
the substation, good earthing is also necessary and
important both to provide the protection of people working
in the vicinity of earthed facilities and equipments against
danger of electric shock and to maintain proper function of
electrical system [2]. Earth grid designs depend on the soil
resistivity, the number of earth rods, the earth rod spacing
and the depth of burial grid conductor in order to reduce the
substation earthing resistance, Grid Potential Rise, mesh
voltage and step voltage. This paper considers and
calculates the safe design values on the base of the earth rod
spacing and the depth of burial grid conductor. The main
objectives of design of the substation grounding grid under
normal as well as fault conditions are-
(1) To ensure that person in the vicinity of grounded object
is not exposed to electric shock.
Manuscript received Oct 15, 2011.

Hnin Nu Wai, Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Mandalay
Technological University, (e-mail: snowgirl.nw@gmail.com).Mandalay,
Myanmar.
Kyaw San Lwin, Department of Electrical Power Engineering,
Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay, Myanmar.
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR
(2) To provide a low impedance path to carry the fault
current into ground without exceeding any operating &
equipment limits.
(3) During fault conditions, continuity of the service
should not be affected [3-4].
II. IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EARTHING DESIGN THEORY
Earthing means an electrical connection to the general
mass of earth to provide safe passage to fault current to
enable to operate protective devices and provide safety to
personnel and equipments. All equipments and structures
are required to be earthed by two separate and distinct
connections with earth. All these earthing points should be
interconnected with the substation earth mat. An effective
substation earthing system typically consists of earth rods,
connecting cables from the buried earthing grid to metallic
parts of structures and equipment, connections to earthed
system neutrals, and the earth surface insulating covering
material. Current flowing into the earthing grid from
lightning arrester operation, impulse or switching surge
flashover of insulators, and line to ground fault current
from the bus or connected transmission lines all cause
potential differences between earthed points in the
substation. The earthing is broadly divided into
(1)Neutral earthing
The neutral earthing is essential requiring for
transformer, generator, star point loads, circuits, star points
of CT and PT(secondary).The purpose of the neutral
earthing is to hold neutral at grounding potential, prevent
arcing ground on OH lines, discharge of voltage surges,
path for out of balance current and simple earth fault
protection.
(2)Equipment earthing (safety earthing)
Equipment earthing needs for electronic equipments
used in the substation such as metallic non-current carrying
parts. The aim of the equipment earthing (safety earthing)
is to hold metallic parts at earth potential even on earth
fault safety.
(3)Discharge earthing
The discharge earthing aims for earth terminals of earth
switches, current transformer, surge arrestor, capacitor bank
or filter bank. The functions of the discharge earthing do to
discharge the surge voltage and capacitors charge current to
earth.
A. Basic Considerations for Earth Grid Designs
To do the good earth grid designs for the outdoor AC
substations, the following data are necessary and important
to install and save the equipments in the substations such as
(1) Materials used for earth electrodes and conductors
must be chosen carefully taking into account
physical, chemical and economical constraints. Ground
conductor must be adequate for fault current
(considering corrosion).
1
 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

(2) Conductor sizing depends on fault current and C. Earth Grid Design Formulae
conductivity as well as mechanical strength of material The conductor size for substation earth grid is
used.
(3) Resistivity of soil and surface layer determines the step
and touch potentials, which determine safe values of t c  α r  ρ r  10 4
operation as described in reference [1, 4-6]. Also the
multilayer resistivity has been a subject of continuous Ac  If  TCAP (1)
attention by the researchers [7-8].   Tm  Ta  
(4) A good grounding system provides a low resistance in ln1  
order to minimize GPR (ground potential rise)[9].  K  T 
 0 a 
(5) Grid geometry is a major factor in determining the
step, touch and mesh potential contours and current The grid potential rise is GPR=IgRg [5]
distribution in grid. The limitations on the physical (2)
parameters of a ground grid are based on economics ρK s K is I g
and the physical limitations of the installation of the Es  (3)
L g  1.15L r N r
grid.
The substation contains many voltages such as 1 1 1 1 n 2 
- Transient enclosure voltage (TEV) Ks     1  0.5 s  (4)
π  2h D  h D  
- Fast transient (VFT)
- Metal-to-metal touch voltage K is = 0.656 + 0.172 n s (5)
- Step voltage ρK m K im I g
Em  (6)
- Touch voltage L g  1.15L r N r
- Mesh voltage
- Transferred voltage [3] 1   D 2 (D  2h) 2 h  K ii  8 
Km  ln    ln 
2π   16hd 8Dd 4d  K h  π(2n m  1) 
   
Kim = 0.656 + 0.172n m (8)
The step voltage limits are
 0.116 
E step(50kg)   1000   6  Cs  ρ s   (9)
 t f 
 
 0.157 
E step(70kg)   1000   6  Cs  ρ s   (10)
 t f 
 
The touch voltage limits are
 0.116 
E touch(50kg)   1000  1.5  Cs  ρ s   (11)
 t f 
 
 0.157 
Figure1. Illustration of the grounding system E touch(70kg)   1000  1.5  Cs  ρ s   (12)
 t f 
 
B. Advantages for Earth Grid
In the substation earth grids, the basic ideas and concepts FFၤၤၤ
for the following points serve such as For Substation Earthing Resistance, the formulae is
(1) A continuous conductor loop not only surrounds the   
perimeters to enclose as much area as practical but also   
 1 1  1 
helps to avoid very high current concentration and very R g  ρ  1   (13)
L
 t 20A  20  
high gradient both in the grid area and near the   1 h 
projecting cable ends. Enclosing more area also   A 
reduces the resistance of the earthing grid. Where,
(2) Within the loop, conductors are in parallel lines and Ac =Conductor size in sq-mm
along the structures and rows of equipments to provide If =Maximum fault current in kA
for short earth connection. tc =Duration of fault in sec
(3) Earth rods may be at the grid corners and at each α r =Thermal coefficient of resistivity at reference
temperature
second junction points along the perimeter. Earth rods
ρr =Resistivity of earth electrode at reference temperature
must also be installed at major equipments. µΩ/cm3
(4) This grid system extents over the entire substation TCAP=Thermal capacity factor
switchyard and often beyond the fence line. Tm =Maximum allowable temperature of conductor in ˚C
Nowadays, the earthing grid is used to reduce ground Ta =Ambient temperature in ˚C
potential rise and maintain the safe value of the substation K0 =Reversed value of thermal coefficient of resistivity at
earthing resistance [10]. 0 ˚C
Es = Calculating step voltage
Ρ = Soil resistivity in Ωm
Ks = Spacing factor for step voltage

2
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR
 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

Kis = Corrected factor for grid geometry n = Number of x-axis or y-axis

Ig = Maximum grid current A = Area of earth grid in m 2
L = Length of grid conductor in m Lr = Length of earth rod in m
Lr = Length of earth rod in m Nr =Number of earth rods
N = Quantity of electrode (earth rod)
H = Depth of burial grid conductor in m
D = Earth rod spacing in m
n s = Number of conductor for axis
Em = Calculation mash voltage
Figure4. Rectangular grid (with earth rods)
Km = Spacing factor for mesh voltage
n x = (Lx/D)+1 (20)
Kim = Corrected factor for grid geometry
ny = (Ly/D)+1 (21)
Ig = Maximum grid current
Lg = (Lx.n y)+(Ly.n x) (22)
Lg = Length of grid conductor in m LT = Lg+Lr.Nr (23)
Lr = Length of earth rod in m Where n x=Number of x-axis
Nr = Quantity of electrode (earth rod) n y=Number of y-axis
Ρ = Soil resistivity in Ωm Lx=Length of x-axis in m
h = depth of burial grid conductor in m Ly=Length of y-axis in m
d = Diameter of earth rod Lg=Length of grid conductor in m
h 0 = Reference depth of grid
n, m = number of conductor for X axis and Y axis
Cs = Surface layer resistivity derating factor and1 for
no protective surface layer
ρs = The resistivity of the surface material in Ωm
ts = Duration of shock current in sec
Lt = Total length of grid conductor in m Figure5. L-shaped grid (with earth rods)
A = Total area enclosed by earth grid in m 2 n = n a.n b.n c.n d
Rg = Grounding resistance in Ω (24)
2L T
III. DIFFERENT TYPES OF EARTH GRID na = L
p
There are different types of earthing grid design such as (25)
- Square grid (without earth rods) Lp
- Square grid (with earth rods) nb = 4 A
- Rectangular grid (with earth rods) (26)
- L-shaped grid (with earth rods) 0.7A
- T-shaped grid (with earth rods)  L x L y  LxLy
Among these grids, T-shaped grid is sometime used as nc =  A 
the main grid. Therefore, the remaining four grids are   (27)
commonly used to construct the safe grid for substations. n d = 1 for L-shaped grid
LT = Lg+ Lr Nr (28)
Where Lg =Total length of the earth grid

Figure2. Square Grid (without earth rods)

n = n a .n b .n c .n d (14)
n = (L/D) +1 (15)
2L T
na =
Lp
(16)
nb =1 for square grid
nc =1 for square grid
nd =1 for square grid
LT = 2.n.L (17) Figure6. Layout diagram of Myauk Pyin Substation
A = L.L (18) IV. CALCULATION FOR ACTUAL RESULT TABLES
TABLE.I
RESULT FOR PRIMARY SIDE (230 kV)
Specifications Symbols Values
System voltage V 230 kV
Total power P 200 MW
Figure3. Square Grid (with earth rods)
Total area A 115 × 55 = 6325 m2
LT = 2.n.L +LrNr (19) Normal rated current I 502.0437 A
Where, Maximum fault current If 5.020437 kA
LT = Total length of the grid in m Grid conductor size Ac 26.4462 mm2
Lp = Perimeter of the sides of the grid in m Number of earthing rods Nr 54
L = Length of one side of the grid in m Total length of earthing conductor LT 3582 m
Substation earthing resistance Rg 0.58106 Ω
D = Earth rod spacing in m Maximum grid current Ig 502.0437 A

3
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR
 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

Grid potential rise GPR 291.7187 V

Substation Earthing Resistance in ohm

Mesh voltage Em 26.45128 V 0.6

Step voltage Es 25.6914 V 0.595

6m space
7m space
8m space
0.59
TABLE.II
TRANSFORMER RESULT 0.585

0.58
Specifications Symbols Values
System voltage V 230 kV 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1
Total power P 100 MW Depth of burial grid conductor in m
Total area A 25× 15= 375 m2
300
Normal rated current I 251.022 A 6m space
7m space

Grid Potential Rise in V

Maximum fault current If 2.51022 kA 298
8m space
Grid conductor size Ac 13.22308 mm2 296
Number of earthing rods Nr 8
294
Total length of earthing conductor LT 234 m
Substation earthing resistance Rg 2.596 Ω 292

Maximum grid current Ig 251.022 A 290

Grid potential rise GPR 651.653 V 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1
Depth of burial grid conductor in m
Mesh voltage Em 110.4479 V
Step voltage Es 68.0885 V Figure8. Comparison with the values of Substation Earthing Resistance
and Grid Potential Rise due to the depth of burial
TABLE.III grid conductor (Primary side)
RESULT FOR SECONDARY SIDE (33 kV) The above figure8 shows the results of the substation
Specifications Symbols Values
earthing resistance and the grid potential rise varying with
the different depths of burial grid conductor and the earth
System voltage V 33 kV
rod spacing. The more the values of the depths of burial
Total power P 100 MW grid conductor and the earth rod spacing increase, the less
Total area A 70×60 = 4200 m2 the substation earthing resistance and the grid potential rise
Normal rated current I 1.74954 kA decrease gradually.
Maximum fault current If 17.4954 kA 25 6m space
Grid conductor size Ac 92.16085 mm2 7m space
8m space

Number of earthing rods Nr 49 20

Total length of earthing conductor LT 1742 m

S te p V o lta g e in V

Substation earthing resistance Rg 0.7337 Ω 15

Maximum grid current Ig 1.74954 kA

Grid potential rise GPR 1283.64212 V 10

Mesh voltage Em 163.5739V

5
Step voltage Es 111.7635V

V. CALCULATION RESULTS FOR DIFFERENT SPACING 0

0.55 0.6 0 .65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0 .85 0.9 0.95 1 1.0 5
Dept h of burial grid con duct or in m

40
Figure9. Various results for Step voltage according to the depths of
35 burial grid conductor (Primary side)
30
The values of the step voltage are steadily decreasing
because the depths of burial grid conductor and the earth
M e sh V o lta g e in V

25

6m space
rod spacing increase.
Substation Earthing Resistance in ohm

20 7m space
8m space
2.9 6m space
15
7m space
2.8 8m space
10

2.7
5

0
2.6
0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05
Dept h of burial grid conduct or in m
2.5
0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1
Figure7. Results for Mesh voltage by using the different depths Dept h of burial grid conduct or in m
of burial grid conductor (Primary side)
This figure describes that the more the depths of burial 720 6m space
Grid Potential Rise in V

7m space
grid conductor are plenty, the less the mesh voltage 700 8m space

decreases. However, the values of the mesh voltage increase 680

because of the wide spacing for the earth rods.
660

640
0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1
Dept h of burial grid conduct or in m

Figure10. Individual values for Substation Earthing Resistance and

Grid Potential Rise by varying the depths of burial grid conductor
(Transformer)
The values of the substation earthing resistance are
maximum comparing with the primary side and the
secondary side. Similarity, the more the depth of burial grid
conductor and the earth rod spacing are wide, the less the
resistance and GPR are decreasing.

4
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR
 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

VI. CONCLUSION
200
This paper aims to show the design and analysis of 230
150
kV substation earthing grid (Myauk Pyin) in Myanmar and
Mesh Voltage in V

100 to display the different result figures by changing and rising

50
6m space the depths of burial grid conductor (0.6m, 0.7m, 0.8m,
7m space
8m space 0.9m, 1m) and the earth rod spacing (6m, 7m, 8m). After
0
0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05
changing the depths as well as spacing values and
Depth of burial grid conductor in m calculating these data, the values of substation earthing
80 resistance, grid potential rise, mesh voltage and step
60
voltage in the substation grids are decreasing slightly.
Step Voltage in V

40
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
6m space
20 7m space The author is deeply gratitude to Dr. Myint Thein,
0
8m space
Rector, Mandalay Technological University, for his
0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85
Depth of burial grid conductor in m
0.9 0.95 1 1.05
guidance and advice. The author wishes to express grateful
thanks to her chairman Dr. Khin Thu Zar Soe, Associate
Figure11. Comparison with the values of Mesh voltage and Step voltage due
to the depths of burial grid conductor (Transformer) Professor and Head Department of Electrical Power
The results of the mesh voltage are rising with the Engineering, Mandalay Technological University,
increasing of the depth of burial grid conductor. The values supervisor U Kyaw San Lwin, Lecturer, Department of
of the step voltage are inversely proportional to that of the Electrical Power Engineering, for his guidance and moral
mesh voltage. support provided during this research effort and to her all
teachers from Electrical Power Department, Mandalay
Substation Earthing Resistance in ohm

0.73 Technological University. The author’s special thanks are

0.6m depth
0.7m depth
sent to her parents for their guidance from childhood till
0.72 0.8m depth now.
1m depth
0.9m depth
0.71
REFERENCES
0.7
6 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7 7.2 7.4 7.6 7.8 8 [1] Angelo Baggini, ”Handbook of Power Quality”,2008
Eart h rod spacing in m [2] ]N.M. Tabatabaei, S.R. Mortezaeei; “Design of Grounding System in
1270
Substation by ETAP Intelligent Software”, IJTPE Journal, March 2010,
0.6m depth
Page(s):45-49
Grid Potential Rise in V

1260 0.7m depth [3] IEEE 142,"IEEE recommended practice for grounding industrial and
0.8m depth commercial power systems"
1250 0.9m depth [4] "IEEE guide for safety in AC Substation Grounding,” IEEE 80-2000,
1m depth
pp.1-192.
1240 [5] Kosztaluk, R.: Experimental Study of Transient Ground Impedances,
IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS 100, No.
1230
6 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7 7.2 7.4 7.6 7.8 8 11, pp. 4653-4660,(1981).
Eart h rod spacing in m [6] Brian Allport, ―Practical considerations (substation earthing)‖, VA
TECH Reyrolle Transmission
Figure12. Comparison results for Substation Earthing Resistance and [7] H.B. Dwight, "Calculations of Resistances to Ground", AIEE
Grid Potential Rise by varying the earth rod spacing (Secondary side) Transactions, December 1936, pp.1319-1328
The above figure12 shows the decreasing values for the [8] R. J. Heppe, ―Computation of potential at surface above an energized
substation earthing resistance and the grid potential rise by grid or other electrode, allowing for non-uniform current distribution,‖
changing the earth rod spacing and the depth of burial grid IEEE Trans. on PAS, vol. 98, no. 6, pp. 1978–1989, Nov.–Dec. 1979.
[9] Marlar Thein Oo, Ei Ei Cho, “Design of earthing system for new
conductor. substation project” , Myanmar
200
[10] Garrett, D. L. Guidelines for the Design, Installation, Testing and
Maintenance of Main Earthing Systems in Substations, Electricity
M esh Vo ltag e in V

150 Association, (1992)

0.6m dept h
100
0.7m dept h
0.8m dept h
50 0.9m dept h
1m depth
0
6 7 8
Eart h rod spacing in m

150
Step Vo ltag e in V

100

50

0
6 7 8
Eart h rod spacing in m

Figure13. Decreasing values for Mesh voltage and Step voltage

according to the earth rod spacing (Secondary side)
This figure13 shows that both the mesh voltage and the
step voltage are decreasing due to increase the earth rod
spacing and the depth of burial grid conductor. The mesh
voltage and the step voltage rise significantly comparing
with the primary side and the transformer.

5
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR