SUBSTATION EARTHING

The sole purpose of substation grounding/earthing is to protect the equipment from surges and
lightning strikes and to protect the operating persons in the substation. The substation earthing
system is necessary for connecting neutral points of transformers and generators to ground and
also for connecting the non current carrying metal parts such as structures, overhead shielding
wires, tanks, frames, etc to earth. Earthing of surge arresters is through the earthing system. The
function of substation earthing system is to provide a grounding mat below the earth surface in
and around the substation which will have uniformly zero potential with respect to ground and
lower earth resistance to ensure that

To provide discharge path for lightning over voltages coming via rod-gaps, surge arresters,
and shielding wires etc.

To ensure safety of the operating staff by limiting voltage gradient at ground level in the
substation

To provide low resistance path to the earthing switch earthed terminals, so as to discharge
the trapped charge (Due to charging currents even the line is dead still charge remains
which causes dangerous shocks) to earth prior to maintenance and repairs.

Earth Resistance
Earth Resistance is the resistance offered by the earth electrode to the flow of current in to the
ground. To provide a sufficiently low resistance path to the earth to minimize the rise in earth
potential with respect to a remote earth fault. Persons touching any of the non current carrying
grounded parts shall not receive a dangerous shock during an earth fault. Each structure,
transformer tank, body of equipment, etc, should be connected to earthing mat by their own earth
connection.
Generally lower earth resistance is preferable but for certain applications following earth
resistance are satisfactory
Large Power Station s 0.5 Ohm
Major Power Stations - 1.0 Ohm

Small Substation 2.0 Ohm

In all Other Cases 8.0 Ohm

Step Potential and Touch Potential

Grounding system in a electrical system is designed to achieve low earth resistance and also to
achieve safe Step Potential and Touch Potential.

Step Potential:
Step potential is the potential difference between the feet of a person standing on the floor of
the substation, with 0.5 m spacing between the feet (one step), through the flow of earth fault
current through the grounding system.

Touch Potential:
Touch potential is a potential difference between the fingers of raised hand touching the faulted
structure and the feet of the person standing on the substation floor. The person should not get a
shock even if the grounded structure is carrying fault current, i.e, The Touch Potential should be
very small.

Types of earthing
1. Solid earthing
2. Resistance earthing
3. Reactance earthing
4. Arc suppressive coil earthing
Effectively earthed system is one in which X0+X1 is less than 3 and R0 + X1 is less than 1
where
X0 is the zero sequence reactance
X1 is the positive sequence reactance
R0 is the zero sequence resistance of the system
Only if the solidly earthed system fulfills this, it can be called as effectively earthed.
Solid earthing:
Generally for voltages below 2.2 kV and above 33 kV solid earthing is used. Below 2.2kV
circuit impedance together with resistance of earth returns is sufficiently high to limit the value
of fault current to safe value and as such no need is there to add any impedance n the earthing
circuit.
Above 33 kV cost of insulation is high. By adopting solid earthing graded insulation can be used
as toward neutral insulation required is less. This reduces cost of equipment.
Advantages:

Equipment insulation cost is reduced

Proper relaying possible

Arcing grounds and double faults are unlikely

Efficient lightning protection

Minimum radio interference in normal condition

Minimum total cost

Disadvantages

On overhead lines earth faults cause severe shock to the system

Circuit breaker of high capacity will be required

More chances of conductor burning due to severe fault current.

Earth fault current may interfere with communication circuits``

Resistance earthing:
For the systems of 2.2kV to 33kV earthing through resistance or reactance is employed. it
reduces

Burning and melting effects of equipment like transformer, switchgear, cables etc during
earth faults.

Mechanical stresses in circuits

Electric shock hazards to personnel due to stray health faults.

Dip in voltage and flash hazards during faults.

Effect of transient overvoltage.

Disadvantages:

System neutral will be displaced during earth fault which necessitates the use of 1005
lightning arrester rating.

Under fault conditions voltage to earth of healthy phases may be as high as 110% of
normal line voltage.

High equipment cost.

Reactance earthing:
This is used in case of generators, where earth fault currents become more than 3 phase fault
current. This is when X0 is less than X1