16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 516

Grounding System for High Resistivity Limited

Area Substations in Hilly Region of Himachal
Pradesh
Ashwani Kumar, Member, IEEE, and Hans R. Seedhar, Senior Member, IEEE

reported. Tagg [9] has analysed a single vertical rod in the

Abstract--This paper proposes a method of grounding system presence of vertical fault (a vertical plane separating the soils
analysis in the presence of satellite electrode for hilly region of two different resisitivities). Legace et al. [10] have
where soil resistivity is quite high and area available for published a method for computing a performance of a ring
grounding system is also limited. The impacts of lateral variation electrode in the presence of vertical fault. However, methods
of soil resistivity called vertical fault has also been studied for of Tagg and Legace et al. are not applicable for the practical
ground resistance, safe and touch potentials. An experimental
combinations of ground electrodes used in generating station
analysis has been carried out at Baddi Himachal Pradesh.
Computer program has been developed to verify the or a substation. Their methods are not applicable for the
experimental results of an experimental grounding system ground electrodes lying in both sides of a vertical fault.
located in hilly region of Baddi of Himachal Preadsh, India. Hydroelectric power plants are located in rocky beds where
the moisture content in the soil is very low and due to rocks
Index Terms—Ground resistance, ground potential rise, step soil resistivity is very high. The area available for grounding
and touch potential, satellite electrode. system is also very limited. Under such limited area and high
resistivity soil conditions, it becomes quite difficult to design
I. INTRODUCTION grounding system with low grounding resistance and safe

A safe design of grounding system has two main touch and step potentials.
objectives: To carry and distribute currents into earth In the present work, an experimental analysis has been
under normal and fault conditions without exceeding carried out with the collaboration of PSEB on a grounding
operating and equipments limits or adversely affecting system with square electrodes placed in a homogeneous soil
continuity of service and to ensure that person in the vicinity and connected through underground tie wire with different
of grounded facilities is not exposed to the danger of electric depths in the soil. Another experimental analysis has also been
shock. carried out on two ring and rod electrodes placed at two
The performance analysis of a grounding system essentially different locations separated by a vertical fault located at
consists of determination of its ground resistance and earth Baddi, Himachal Predesh. The computer program has been
surface potential distribution due to current dissipated by it developed and tested by applying it to an experimental
during a ground fault. IEEE standard 80 [1] Emperical grounding system. The computer model developed in this
formulae have been widely used by the design engineers for a work is of practical use for the design of the grounding system
long time. These formulae have number of limitations and are with additional electrode for high resistivity limited area
suitable for only square or nearly square grids placed in substations. A parametric study has also been carried out for
homogeneous soil [2-4]. In the last decade, techniques for two grids located in different soil resistivities joined by
grounding grid analysis based on Average Potential Method overhead tie wire.
(APM) have been developed. A new boundary element
approach that includes the technique of APM has been II. DESIGN OF GROUNDING SYSTEMS FOR LIMITED AREA HIGH
presented in [5-6]. Recently number of algorithms has been RESISTIVITY STATIONS
reported in literature [7-8] for analysis and design of
The design of grounding system for rocky areas requires
grounding systems. These algorithms are applicable for
special measures to obtain safe step and touch potentials for
practical shapes of ground electrodes placed in homogeneous
grounding system. Some of the measures to reduce the
soil and stratified soil medium. However lateral variation of
soil resistivity cannot be accounted in these algorithms. grounding resistance can be adopted in such situations.
Only a limited work related with analysis of grounding A. Use of Vertical Ground Rods
system with lateral variation of soil resistivity has been A grounding system at a power station often requires the
form of a horizontal grid supplemented by number of vertical
Ashwani Kumar is with the Dept of Electrical Engineering, NIT rods. The ground rods are of particular value when the upper
Kurukshetra, India (e-mail: [email protected]).
H. R. Seedhar retired as a Prof. from the Dept of Electrical Engineering, layer of soil in which grid is buried is of much higher
PEC Chandigarh, India (email: [email protected]).

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 517

resistivity than that of the soil beneath [1,11]. The information system of station and satellite electrode can be connected by
about the soil stratas can be obtained from the interpretation of an overhead wire or an underground wire. When an
the measured soil resisitivity data. A number of computer underground wire is used, the tie wire also becomes a part of
algorithms have been developed in [12, 14] for interpretation the grounding system and is effective compared to overhead
of soil resistivity data obtained by Wenner method or driven interconnection. However, with underground tie wire,
rod method [13]. If the analysis of measured soil resistivity potential gradients around the tie wire must also be
data suggests lower resisitivity medium at shallow depth, use determined in order to safeguard the living beings moving
of vertical rods can be very helpful and convenient to obtain around the tie wire. For computation of ground resistance and
safe design of the grounding system. earth surface potentials, the grounding system placed in two
different areas of different soil resistivity has to be represented
B. Use of Counterpoise Mesh
by suitable mathematical model. In this work, computer model
A counterpoise mesh is a closely spaced mesh of horizontal has also been obtained for interconnected grounding system
conductors placed at a shallow depth above main grounding with overhead and underground tie wire. The results for
system. If this additional mesh could be placed to occupy area ground resistance have been obtained with computation as
otrher than occupied by the main grid, its contribution would well as experimental investigation at Baddi, Himachal
have been higher. Punjab state Electricity Board has carried Preadesh
out scale model studies on counterpoise mesh placed above
the main square grid in an electrolytic tank. The main and III. COMPUTATIONAL METHODOLOGY
counterpoise mesh has no electric connection and a
The performance analysis of a grounding system essentially
considerable improvement by the use of mesh has been
consists of determination of its grounding resistance and earth
reported in [15].
surface potentials. From knowledge of these parameters, step
C. Chemical treatment of Soil and use of bentonite and touch potentials can be obtained [1]. For computational
Chemical treatment or backfilling of the soil in a close purpose, the grounding system can be divided into linear
proximity of a ground electrode is very effective method of conductor segments. It is assumed that the current dissipation
improving the performance of a grounding system [1, 16]. to earth is uniform over the finite length of the segment and it
varies from segment to segment. The current dissipation from
Addition of common salt, charcoal, and soft coke around the
the electrode surface with equi-potential boundary conditions
ground electrode has been traditionally used for lowering the
is known to be non-uniform [18]. The validity of the constant
ground resistance. This treatment requires regular watering in
current dissipation along the segment length increases as the
order to keep ground resistance low. In the high resistivity soil size of the segment is made shorter with respect to the total
area, bentonite clay can be used to decrease the grounding length of the conductor in the grounding system.
resistance effectively. It consists of hydrous aluminium The grounding system formed by interconnection of the main
silicate and acts as an excellent backfill if sufficient amount of and the satellite electrode is modeled as an interconnection of
water is added to it. It has been observed [17] that fly ash linear conductors located in tow soil mediums of resistivities
disposal poses serious problem in thermal power plants and ρ1 and ρ2. The linear conductors are divided into number of
since ash possesses similar characteristics as of bentonite, it segments. The total current I is dissipated by the grounding
can be used as a backfill to reduce ground resistance. system to the earth from the surface of these segments. The
potential of any segment depends on the current dissipated by
D. Use of Penstock as an earthing system element
it and the current dissipated to the earth by the neighboring
At many hydroelectric stations, long penstocks are segments [19]. The potential of the any ith segment is written
necessary to carry water to the turbines. If the penstoch liner is as [5]:
buried in the earth, it can be made part of the station earthing N
systems [18]. Vi = ∑ Rij ∗ I j , i = 1,2,.......N (1)
j =1
E. Current diversion by overhead earth wires
Where,
The overhead earth wires, when connected to the station Vi is the potential of the ith segment
grounding system, divert substantial portion of the ground Rij is mutual resistance between ith and jth segment.
current away from the station ground [1, 19]. The ground N is the number of segments into which the grounding system
potential rise (GPR) of the grounding system is substantially is divided.
reduced. The mutual resistance Rij is the potential of the ith segment due
to unit current dissipated by the jth segment with all other
F. Use of Satellite Electrode
segment currents equal to zero. For i-j, Rii represents the self
In this work, a satellite electrode to design the safe resistance of the ith segment. It is the potential of the segment
grounding system has been proposed. An extra ground due to unit current dissipated by the ith segment itself with all
electrode in an adjoining area of lower soil resistivity and other segment currents equal to zero. By taking potential of
connected to the station grounding system is called a satellite earth segment equal to 1.0 V, N simultaneous equations can be
electrode. The satellite electrode is an effective way to reduce obtained from (1) and the solution of these equations gives the
ground resistance and potential gradients. The grounding value of segment currents corresponding to 1 volt potential of

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 518

the grounding system. The ground resistance Rg of the not be uniform. The potential of the segment due to current Ij
grounding system is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of these dissipated by it is approximated as the average of the
segment currents. The potential of the grounding system Vg potentials computed along the length assuming uniform
known as ground potential rise (GPR) is given as: current dissipation. This method is known as average potential
Vg = Rg ∗ I g (2) method (A.P.M.). The average potential Vs of the segment
obtained by integrating (3) along the length of the conductor
Where Ig is the current dissipated by the grounding system. A is obtained as [21]:
segment current corresponding to 1.0 V potential when
⎡ ⎛ 2 2 ⎞⎤
multiplied by Vg gives the actual current for a grounding I jρ lj ⎜ ⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ ⎟⎥
system dissipating current Ig. The potential on earth surface is VS = ln ⎢ ⎜l + ⎜l + a ⎟ + a − ⎜l + a ⎟ ⎟⎥
(5)
2πl j ⎢ a ⎜ ⎜ l ⎟ lj ⎜ l ⎟ ⎟⎥
computed by summing the potential contribution due to ⎝ j ⎠ ⎝ j ⎠
⎣⎢ ⎝ ⎠⎦
currents dissipated by all the segments. For implementation, it
where
is necessary to develop:
a is the radius of the conductor segment
(i) The expression for self resistance and mutual
resistance between any two segments located in When l j is very large than a, (5) can be written as:
two soil media separated by vertical fault. I jρ ⎡ 2l j ⎤
(ii) The expression for the potential at any point due VS = ln ⎢ − 1⎥ (6)
to current dissipated by a segment located on 2πl j ⎣ a ⎦
either side of vertical fault. Thus the self resistance of the segment is:
A. A Linear Conductor Segment in an Unbound ρ ⎡ 2l j ⎤
Homogeneous Medium R jj = ln ⎢ − 1⎥ (7)
A linear conductor segment j dissipating current Ij located in
2πl j ⎣ a ⎦
unbound homogeneous medium of resistively of ρ. The B. Mutual Resistance between two Segments in Unbound
potential at any point located in a surrounding medium can be Homogeneous Medium
obtained as [21]:
d
P
Two segments i and j located in a homogeneous medium of
dn resistivity ρ and dissipating current Ij is shown in Fig. 1. The
j potential at point P located at centre of segment i due to
da
Ij current I dissipated by j is given by (3). The average potential
of segment i because of current Ij dissipated by segment j can
dn da
be found by integration of (3) along the segment i. It has been
shown by Dawalibi [22] that instead of finding average
i
P potential at segment I, it is sufficiently accurate to determine
d
j
the potential at the center of the segment i. Thus, the potential
lj given by (3) at point P on segment I may be regarded as the
average potential of segment I due to current Ij dissipated by
Fig.1. Linear conductor segments located in unbound segment j. Thus, the mutual resistance is equal to:
homogeneous medium
ρ
ρI j Rij = h(d a , d n , l j )
h(d a , d n , l j )
(8)
VP = (3) 4πl j
4πI j
The problem of finding potential at any point due to the
where current dissipated by a segment j located near a vertical fault
2 can be transformed by the method of images into a problem of
⎛ l ⎞ ⎛ l ⎞
⎜⎜ d a + j ⎟⎟ + d n2 + ⎜⎜ d a + j ⎟⎟ finding potential due to multiple sources in an unbound
2⎠ 2⎠
h(d a , d n , l j ) = ln
⎝ ⎝ homogeneous medium [23]. The image system for a line
(4) source can be obtained by the extension of the image system
2
⎛ l ⎞ ⎛ l ⎞ for a point source as a linear current source is a succession of
⎜⎜ d a − j ⎟⎟ + d n2 + ⎜⎜ d a − j ⎟⎟ point current sources arranged along the line [24]. Thus, the
⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2⎠
linear conductor segment near a vertical fault can be replaced
lj is the length of the segment by an image system located in a homogeneous soil of
da,dn= Components of the distance of point P from the centre resistivity equal to the resistivity of the region in which
of the segment, along the segment axis and the perpendicular segment is located.
to the segment axis respectively.
The expression (3) is also applicable for obtaining the
potential at any point on the surface of the conductor. The
potential computed by (3) at different points along the length
of the conductor would not be equal because for conductor to
be equi-potential, the current dissipation along its length can

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 519

Start
Case 4: Grid A and B joined by tie wire at depth 0.5 m
Read data and divide grounding system into
n-segments
Case 5: Grid A and B joined by insulated wire
Case 6: Tie wire at depth of 0.1 m
Iteration count i=0
Case 7: Tie wire at depth of 0.25 m
i=i+1
Case 8: Tie wire at depth of 0.5 m
Iteration count j=0 The measured and computed values of ground resistances for
j=j+1
different cases are shown in Fig. 4.
0.5 m Tie
No Yes
Compute self resistance is i=j Compute mutual resistance

Vi=1.0 1m Elevation

No
is j=n

No
is i=n

Y
Compute segment currents for GPR=1.0

Compute ground resistance, GPR and

actual segment currents X

Compute earth surface potential 1m

1m
154 m
Print results

Stop Plan

Fig. 4. Flow chart of the computer program developed Fig.3. Plan and Elevation showing the intertied Square grids at Baddi (Not to
scale)
IV. PROGRAM EVALUATION AND APPLICATION FOR
Computed value of Rg in ohm Measured value of Rg in ohm % difference
900
800
EXPERIMENTAL GROUNDING SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
Ground resistance in Ohms
700

The program compute ground resistance and earth surface

600
500

potentials distribution of a grounding system placed in a soil 400

300
with vertical fault. The program has been utilized for an 200

experimental grounding system with a vertical fault and 100

0

connected with a satellite electrode of Punjab State Electricity

Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8

Computed value of Rg in ohm 856.7 43.3 41.4 39.8 429.6 45.6 43.6 41.7

Board (PSEB) located in a high resistivity hillock at Baddi, Measured value of Rg in ohm 840 38 420 42
% difference 1.949 12.44 2.23 8.49
Himachal Pradesh. The measured results are compared with
the computed results to determine the applicability of the Fig.4. Measured and computed values of ground resistance for different cases
program. It is observed from the Figure that ground resistance of two
grids joined by over head wire is about half of the one grid.
A. Experimental Grounding set up at Baddi, Himachal The computed values of the ground resistance are slightly
Pradesh larger due to the mutual effect between the grids.
The experimental study relates to the following: Ground surface potentials over the grids and the tie wire are
(i) Two intertied square grids connected by tie wire are shown in Fig. 5 along with the computed data. The origin of
placed in the uniform soils of same resistivity X-Y axis is located at the lower left hand corner of the grid A.
(ii) Two ring electrodes with vertical rods placed in the soil With underground tie wire the earth surface potentials are
of different resisitvities. obtained along the length of the tie wire also. It is observed
The results for the above cases have been made use of that earth surface potentials are more uniform with
establishing practical utility of the computer program. underground tie along the length of the tie wire than when
(a) Interconnected Square Grids in Uniform Soil insulated tie is used. Further the wire becomes more effective
Two square grids each of side 1m are buried in the rocky soil when depth is increased. In case of grid alone, the maximum
on a hillock at baddi at a depth of 0.5m. The configuration of touch voltage is obtained at point (0, 1.0), the maximum step
the grids is shown in the Fig. 3. The soil resistivity is 2465 voltage voltage is obtained at point (1.0, 1.0). In case when
ohm-m. Tow sets of studies are carried out with underground tie wire is used, maximum touch voltage over the
interconnection through intertie wire of radius 0.001041 (14 grid is at (0, 1.0) and maximum step voltage occurs at (1.0,
SWG). N one study, the tie aire is laid underground and in 1.0). Also it is found that maximum step voltage occurs at
second case it is overhead. The tie line is run along the point (78, 0.5) and (78, -0.5). The maximum step and touch
shortest path between the two grids measuring 154 m. The voltages are reduced by using the inter-tie with two grids
depth of the wire is taken as 0.1m. 0.25m, and 0.5m in the because GPR is reduced. The maximum step and touch
soil. The ground resistance of the individual grids, tie wire voltages in percent of GPR for interconnected square grids are
and the complete interconnected system with different modes shown in Fig.6. It is observed that maximum step is obtained
of interconnection has been measured. at middle of the wire when tie wire is buried at depth of 0.1 m.
Case 1: Grid A alone The reduction in step and touch voltages are considerable
Case 2: Grid A and B joined by tie wire at depth 0.1 m when depth of tie wire is increased.
Case 3: Grid A and B joined by tie wire at depth 0.25 m

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 520

underground tie (0.1m) underground tie (0.25m)

underground tie (0.5m) Insulated wire
100

Ground potential rise in (%GPR)

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.5 0.7 1 1.2 1.5 1.7 2 0.7 1 1.2 1.5 1.7 2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0 -0.5
0.50.25 0 -0.25-0.5-0.75-1 0.75 1 1.251.51.75 2 0.75 1 1.251.51.75 2 3 5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 78 0.5 1 1.251.51.75 2 10 30 50 78 78 78

underground tie (0.1m) 74 71 64 55 47 42 39 75 71 63 56 51 48 76 83 88 86 84 82 78 77 78 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 73 77 77 74 73 71 66 68 69 69 62 55

underground tie (0.25m) 74 71 65 55 48 43 40 75 71 64 57 53 49 76 79 80 78 76 74 71 70 71 72 73 72 73 73 73 73 73 76 76 74 72 70 67 68 69 69 64 57
underground tie (0.5m) 74 71 65 56 49 44 40 75 71 68 58 53 50 75 76 74 72 70 68 65 64 65 66 67 67 68 68 68 68 73 75 73 70 68 66 64 66 66 67 64 59
Insulated w ire 60 59 52 40 32 26 22 59 52 40 32 26 22 60 56 50 42 35 30 18 10 5 3 3 1 2 1 1 1 60 55 48 41 34 29 5 2 1 1 1 1

Fig. 5. Ground potential profile

be split into linear conductor segments. Therefore ring
Vstep in grid Vstep along tie line Vtouch electrodes are represented by an equivalent square with each
Maximum step and touch voltages (% of GPR)

60

50
side equal to 0.9m. The ground resistance has been measured
40
for various combinations of Ra, Ea, Rb and Eb and
30
experimental results have been compared with those obtained
20 from computation. The results for 15 different cases with
10 measured and computed values and the percent differences are
0
underground tie underground tie underground tie Grids with/without
shown in Fig.8.
(0.1m) (0.25m) (0.5m) tie The possible combinations taken are:
Vstep in grid
Vstep along tie line
18.1
24.6
17.4
15.9
16.2
9.4
32.6
Configuration 1: Grid Ra alone
Vtouch 36 35.3 34.9 48.5 Configuration 2: Grid Rb alone
Configuration 3: Vertical rod Ea alone
Fig.6. Maximum step and touch voltages
(b) Ring and Rod Electrodes in Two Different Resistivity Soils Configuration 4: Vertical rod Eb alone
with Vertical Fault and connected with over-head tie wire Configuration 5: Vertical rods Ea and Eb
Two copper ring electrodes each of diameter 1m along with Configuration 6: Grid Ra and vertical rod Ea
two vertical rods each of 1m length are buried in the soils of Configuration 7: Grid Ra and vertical rod Eb
different resistvities. The plan of the experimental set up is Configuration 8: Grid Ra and vertical rods Ea and Eb
shown in Fig.7. Configuration 9: Grid Rb and vertical rod Ea
Configuration 10: Grid Rb and vertical rod Eb
10 m
40.5 m
60 m
Configuration 11: Grid Rb and vertical rods Ea and Eb
Configuration 12: Grid Ra and grid Rb
Configuration 13: Grid Ra and Rb with vertical rods Ea and Eb
Ea Eb Configuration 14: Grid Ra and Rb with vertical rod Ea
Configuration 15: Grid Ra and Rb with vertical rod Eb
Vertical Fault
Ra 2500
Rg in ohms (measured) Rg in ohms(Computed) % diff
Ground resistance Values in ohm

1m 2000

1m Region 1 1500
Region 2
1000

Rb 500

Fig.7. Arrangement of ring and rod electrodes used in experimental set up at 0

Baddi, Himachal Preadesh (not to scale) -500

Confi Conf i Conf i Conf i Conf i Confi Confi Conf i Conf i Conf i Conf i Confi Confi Conf i Conf i

One ring electrode (Ra) and vertical rod (Ra) are buried in a Rg in ohms (measured)
g1
1150
g2
390
g3
1890
g4
680
g5
495
g6
700
g7
402
g8
335
g9 g 10 g 11 g 12 g 13 g 14 g 15
305 232 205 290 156 235 196

flat trait of a hillock and another ring electrode (Rb) and rod Eb Rg in ohms(Computed) 1107 377.7 1974 672.3 502.7 722.5 419.6 349.7 317.9 245 218.6 282.7 184.1 249.3 201.4
3.89 3.24 -4.23 -1.14 1.53 3.1 4.18 4.21 4.05 5.3 6.2 -2.59 15.24 5.75 2.68
are buried at a lower level in a nearly cultivated land. The soil
% dif f

resistivity of flat portion at a hillock is 2465 ohm-m and soil Fig.8. Ground resistance for different combinations with measured and
computed values
resistivity of lower level is 837ohm-m. Radius of each vertical
It is observed that minimum ground resistance is obtained for
rod is 0.001041m and depth of burial of upper end of vertical
the case with both ring electrodes and ground rods. The
rod and ring electrode is 0.05m. The resistivity changes
computed and experimental values match closely.
abruptly at a distance of 40.5 meter from the centre of the ring
(C) Parametric Study
electrode located in region 1. Thus, the two regions are
In this section, a parametric study has been carried out on two
separated by a vertical faulty with Yv=40.5 m. Since the
30m by 30m square grids located in soils of resisitivities
program GSVF is applicable for grounding system which can
1000ohm-m and 100 ohm-m. The two soil areas are separated

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 521

by a vertical fault. The centre to centre distance between two dissipated by the grounding system is equal to the ground
grids has been taken as 330m. Depth of burial of grids has resistance itself for a unit current. The earth surface potentials
been taken as 0.5m with radius of conductor as 0.01m. The computed for different case are:
ground resistance and ground surface potentials have been Case 1: Single grid in homogeneous soil
determined for different distances of vertical fault as Case 2: Two grids joined by an overhead tie wire
Yv=130m, 180m, 230m, and 280m considering overhead Case 3: Two grids joined by an overhead tie wire with vertical
insulated tie wire. The plan of the intertied square grids for fault and its variation in distance (Yv=130m, 180m, 230m
parametric study is shown in Fig. 9. The earth surface 270m)
potentials have been determined along AB and CD. It is observed that the earth surface potentials expressed as
Yv % of GPR for grids joined by an overhead tie aire for different
locations of vertical fault are practically same as those for the
X
CD case of homogeneous soil. But the absoluter values of the
AB potentials would differ in various cases depending on the
30 m values of the ground resistance. The earth surface potential
variation for Case 1 is plotted in Fig.11. The earth surface
30 m potentials for case 2 and Case 3 are given in Fig. 12. It is
300 m
observed from the Figs. that touch and step voltages of
interconnected grids when expressed as % of GPR are
Fig. 9. Square grids located in two different soil resistivities intertied with
overhead tie wire approximately equal to the corresponding values of the single
The computed values of ground resistance of the grid in homogeneous soil. Thus for an interconnection by an
interconnected grids with overhead tie wire are shown in Fig. overhead wire, the absolute values of step and touch voltages
10. It is observed that ground resistance of the grids tied with are reduced in the same proportion as the reduction in the
overhead conductor changes by only 1.82% (from 1.632 to ground resistance. For a single grid located in soil of
1.682 ohm) when the distance of the vertical fault is changed resisitvity 1000 ohm-m, the ground resistance is 17.54 ohm.
by more than 100% (130m to 270 m). Thus, there is only a When this grid is tied to a similar grid located in a soil of 100
small variation in the ground resistance of the grids intertied ohm-m by an overhead tie wire, the ground resistance is
with insulated wire when the location of vertical fault is reduced to 1.632 ohm for Yv=130m.
varied. The step and touch voltages would thus only be
Overhead tie w ire
1.632/17.54=0.093 times the values for the single grid in 1000
1.69
ohm-m resisitvity. Thus, a considerably reduction in step and
Ground Resistance in Ohms

1.68
1.67 touch voltages is obtained by the additional grid in lower soil
1.66 resistivity soil. The reduction in step and touch voltage would
1.65
1.64
be of the same order as the reduction in the ground resistance.
1.63 If the area enclosed by satellite electrode is of the same order
1.62
as the main grid in the high resistivity soil, the maximum step
1.61
1.6 and touch voltages in the main grid area when the two grids
Yv=130m Yv=180m Yv=230m Yv=270m
are joined by an overhead tie wire would get reduced by the
Overhead tie w ire 1.632 1.641 1.656 1.682
factor approximately equal to the ratio of soil resisitivity of
Fig. 10. Ground resistance in ohm for intertied square grids with overhead tie the area where satellite grid is placed to the resistivity of the
wire area where main grid is placed.
Ground resistance in homogeneous soil of 100 ohm-m has
also been determined for a single grid, two grids joined by Case 1
insulated wire. These values obtained are 1.755 ohm for a 120
Ground potential rise in (% GPR)

single grid and 0.9028 ohm for two grids with insulated wire. 100
The ground resistance of the inter-tied grids is only slightly
80
greater than the parallel combination of ground resistance of
grid A of soil resistivity 1000 ohm and grid B in soil 60

resistivity of 100 ohm-m. The resistance higher than that 40

obtained for parallel combination is due to the mutual 20

resistance between the two grids.
(d) Earth Surface Potentials 0
-2 -1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 31 32
Earth surface potentials have been computed for a unit current Case 1 66.8 76.68 92.06 85.44 85.99 99.99 85.99 85.44 92.07 76.68 66.8

injected into the grounding system for different cases. For a

Fig. 11. Ground surface potential near grid along axis AB
comparison, the potentials for a case with homogeneous soil
are also computed. The profile axis along which potentials are
computed are represented as AB and CD in Fig. 6. To
generalize the results, the potentials have been expressed as
percent of the ground potential rise (GPR). The GPR being
equal to the ground resistance multiplied by the total current

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.
 16th NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, 15th-17th DECEMBER, 2010 522

Case 2 Case 3 (Yv=130m) Case 3 (Yv=180m) grounding electrodes”, part-1, IEEE Trans. Vol. PAS-104, no. 11, Nov.
Ground potential rise in (% GPR)
Case 3 (Yv=230m) Case 3 (Yv=270m) 85, pp. 3124-3133.
120
[8] H. R. Seedhar, J. K. Arora, and B. Thaper, “Finite expressions for
100
computation of potential in two layer soil”, IEEE Trans. On Power
80
Delivery, vol. 2, no. 4, Oct. 1987, pp. 1098-1102.
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[9] G. F. Tagg, “earth resistance, Georgr Newnens limited, London, 1964.
40
[10] P. J. Legace, D. Mukedhar, H. H. Hoang, and H. Griess, “Evaluation of
20
the effect of vertical faults on the voltage distribution around HVDC
0
-2 -1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 31 32
32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 36 electrodes using a super computer”, IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol.
8 9 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 1 2
5, no. 3, July, 1990.
Case 2 67 77 92 86 86 100 86 86 92 77 68 68 77 92 86 86 100 86 86 92 77 67
Case 3 (Yv=130m) 67 77 92 85 86 100 86 85 92 77 67 67 77 92 86 86 100 86 86 92 77 67
[11] F. Dawalibi and D. Mukedhar, “Influence of ground rods on grounding
Case 3 (Yv=180m) 67 77 92 86 86 100 86 86 92 77 68 68 77 92 86 86 100 86 86 92 77 67 grids”, IEEE Trans. Vol. PAS-98, no. 6, Nov./Dec. 1979, pp. 2089-2097.
Case 3 (Yv=230m) 68 77 92 86 87 100 87 86 92 77 68 68 77 92 87 87 100 87 86 92 77 68 [12] H. R. Seedhar and J. K. Arora, “Estimation of two layer soil parameters
Case 3 (Yv=270m) 68 77 92 86 87 100 87 86 92 77 68 69 78 92 86 87 100 87 86 92 78 68 using finite wenner resisitvity expressions”, IEEE Trans. Vol. PAS, July,
1992, pp. 1213-1217.
Fig. 12. Ground surface potential for grids joined with an overhead tie wire [13] ANSI/IEEE Std. 81-1983, IEEE guide for measuring earth resistivity,
ground impedance, and earth surface potentials of a ground ystem-Part
V. CONCLUSIONS 1: Normal measurement, IEEE Newyork, 1983.
[14] A. P. Meliopolous and A. D. Papalexopolous, “Interpretation of soil
In this work, an experimental analysis has been carried out on resistivity measurements”: Experience with the model SOMIP”, IEEE
grounding systems located at Baddi Himachal Pradesh. A Trans. On Powet Delivery, Oct. 1991, pp. 142-151.
computational methodology for analyzing performance of a [15] J. S. sandha, S. K. Gupta, S. K. Paul, K. K. Guru, and J. K. Arora,
“Design of grounding mat in difficult conditions of high resistivity and
grounding system with a satellite electrode in the neighboring limited area”, Proc. of 58th R&D session of CBIP, April, 1993, pp. 19-
area of lower soil resisitivity has also been developed. The 22.
computational methodology has been utilized for evaluating [16] S. H. hanumanthappa, “Effectiness of bentonite clay as a backfill for
the performance of an experimental grounding system located ground rods-A case study”, Proc. 58th R&D session of CBIP, April,
1993, pp. 121-123.
at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. Based on the results, the [17] R. Arunachalam, H. jayakumar, H. N. Sarkar, and S. Parameshwaram“,
following conclusions have been drawn: Investigation on fly ash for effectiveness of earthing“, Ibid, pp. 131-134.
(i) A satellite electrode in the neighboring area of lower [18] J. K. Arora and H. R. Seedhar, “Grounding system design for an
soil resistivity is an effective method of lowering underground hydroelectric plant-A case study”, Pre Conf. Proc., pp. 28-
30.
ground resistance and potential gradients in and around [19] B. Thaper and S. K. Madan, “Current for design of grounding systems”,
the station area. IEEE Trans. On PAS, vol. PAS 103, 1984, pp. 2633-2638.
(ii) Experimental and computed values of ground [20] H. R. Seedhar and . K. Arora, “Segmentation study for computer
resistances match closely. analysis of grounding systems”, Proc. 56th R&D sessions of CBIP, Oct.
1990, pp. 57-60.
(iii) The ground resistance decreases with increase in depth
[21] E. D. Sunde, “Earth conduction effects in transmission system”, Dover
of tie wire in the ground and also with the shift of Publications, Newyork, 1968.
vertical fault towards soil of lower resistivity. [22] Transmission line grounding, EPRI final report, EL-2699, vol. 1,
(iv) The step and touch potentials reduces with additional Electric Power research Institute, Palo Alto, USA, Oct. 1982.
[23] J. C. Maxwell, A treatise on Electricity and magnetism”, vol. 1, 3rd
satellite grid placed in the soil of lower resistivity.
edition, Oxford, University Press, 1892, pp. 441-445.
[24] H. R. Seedhar, “Analysis and design of grounding systems in non-
VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS homogeneous soils”, Ph.D. Electric Engineering Thesis, Panjab
University, Chandigarh, 1990.
Authors gratefully acknowledges the research cell of Punjab
State Electricity Board to collaborate and provide the facility
VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
to conduct experimental analysis of grounding system located
at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Ashwani Kumar graduated from GBPUA&T, Pant Nagar in 1988. He did
his masters in Power systems from PEC Chandigarh in 1994 in honors. He did
his Ph.D. in Electrical Enginerring Dept at IIT Kanpur in 2003. He published
VII. REFERENCES numerous papers in national and international journals. He has interest in
[1] ANSI/IEEE Std. 80, 1986, “IEEE guide for safety in AC substation grounding systems, power systems restructuring, power system operation,
grounding”, IEEE, Newyork, 1986. demand side management, distributed generation, load and price forecasting.
[2] B. Thaper, V. Gerej, and A. Balakrishanan, “Evaluation of ground He is a life member of ISTE and IEI, India and member IEEE and IEEE/PES.
resistance of a grounding grid of any shape”, IEEE Trans. On Power Hans. R. Seedhar graduated from Punjab University Chandigarh in
Delivery, vol. 6, no. 2, April 1991, pp. 640-647. honors. He did his masters in Power Systems from Punjab University with
[3] B. Thaper, V. Gerej, and A. Balakrishanan, “Simplified equations for distinction and also did his Ph.D. from Punjab University Chandigarh.. He
mesh and step voltages in an AC-substation”, IEEE Trans. On Power published many papers in national and international journals and won
Delivery, vol. 6, no. 2, April 1991, pp. 601-607. numerous awards. He is consultant to grounding systems for Punjab, Haryana,
[4] J. K. Arora, H. R. Seedhar, and P. Kumar, “Optimized expressions for and Himachal presdesh. He is actively involved in research in the area of
analysis of grounding grids”, Proc. of VIII NPSC, Feb. 1993, pp. 36- grounding systems and with Punjab State Electricity Board Research Cell,
364. PEC Chandigarh. He worked on many key positions in his service career. He
[5] I. Colominas, F. Navarrina, M. Casteleiro, “A boundary element retired as a Prof. from Punjab Enginering College, Chandigarh. He is a life
numerical approach for earthing grid computation”, Computer Methods member of ISTE and fellow IEI, India and senior member IEEE.
in Applied mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 17, 1990, pp. 73-90.
[6] I. Colominas, F. Navarrina, M. Casteleiro, “A numerical formulation for
grounding analysis in stratified soils”, IEEE Trans. On Power Delivery,
Vol. 17, no. 2, April 2002, pp. 587-595.
[7] R. P. Nagar, R. Velazquez, M. Loclocian, D. Mukedhar, and V. Gervals,
“Review of analytical methods for calculating the performance of large

Department of Electrical Engineering, Univ. College of Engg., Osmania University, Hyderabad, A.P, INDIA.