8/1/2012

EARTHING FOR GIS &

TRANSMISSION LINES
M.M. Babu Narayanan
PRDC
babu@prdcinfotech.com

TOPICS COVERED

 EARTHING IN GAS INSULATED SUB

STATIONS (GIS)

 EARTHING IN TRANSMISSION LINES

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

SUMMARY

 Physical arrangement of GIS presents

issues different from AIS

 Attention to be focused on TEVs & Touch

voltage situations in the design stage
itself to avoid operational problems

 Close co-operation necessary between GIS

manufacturer & Utility

 Co-operation essential between suppliers

of equipment at the design stage itself
Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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TRANSMISSION LINE GROUNDING

Roles of Transmission Line Grounding

 To protect against lightning, eliminate hazards by:

o Providing a mechanically and electrically robust

path to ground

o Limiting potential differences across electrical

insulation to stricken towers

o Reducing the number of flashovers that occur

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Roles of Transmission Line Grounding

 For correct operation of the electric network by:

o Providing identification of fault conditions for

efficient relay coordination

o Providing low zero-sequence impedance

for return of unbalanced fraction of three-phase
alternating current

 To ensure electrical safety by:

o Limiting touch or step voltages to levels that

restrict body currents to safe values

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Lightning & momentary dips

 Lightning is a leading cause of power outages,

equipment damage, and power quality
problems for utilities.

 Best practices for transmission and distribution

lightning protection include:

 Environmental Shielding such as Trees

 Overhead Ground wires (OHGW) and
Grounding, more effective with higher CFO
 Line Surge Arresters to limit local potentials
Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Effectiveness of OHGW
Courtesy: EPRI

Reliability of Overhead Ground wires in Preventing

Lightning Outages
Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Grounding and Local Step and Touch Potentials

During Faults

 Under fault conditions, some fraction of the stored electrical

energy of the power system appears as temporary power-
frequency voltages and currents in transmission tower ground
electrodes.

 Ground electrode size and shape can affect the energy level.

 Larger electrodes will have lower levels of local potential rise.

 Flat electrodes tend to limit gradients and touch potentials

within their perimeter to safe levels even if they have high
potential rise

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Transmission line – Tower earthing

IS: 5613/1989 : Code of practice for design, installation

& maintenance of Overhead power lines

Typical Pipe earthing system

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Transmission line – Counterpoise earthing

2 x 50 m counterpoises in one direction & one rod

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Counterpoise earthing: Alternatives

2 x 50 m counterpoises in opposite direction & one rod

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Counterpoise earthing: Alternatives

Mesh around tower base

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Counterpoise earthing: Alternatives

Mesh around tower base with vertical rods

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Counterpoise earthing: Alternatives

Radial spurs from each tower leg plus vertical rods

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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Fault analysis –steady state

Courtesy: EPRI

Potential Profile Around Four-Footing Tower with Spacing L = 10 m

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

Transient performance:

 Ground Impedance independent of frequencies upto 10 kHZ

 Beyond 10 kHz, inductances become important

 Impedance increases from 1-5 ohms to 10-30 ohms

 At low frequencies, electrodes covering the largest area

produces the lowest EPR

 At high frequencies, concentration of electrodes near tower

is most effective

 Choice of counterpoise & rod/pipe earthing based on

reducing impedance due to lightning so as to reduce back
flashovers

Workshop on ‘Power system Grounding Practices’, August 2012, PRDC, Bangalore

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