Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH)

Vol. 37, No. 3, July 2018, pp. 720 – 726

Copyright© Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Print ISSN: 0331-8443, Electronic ISSN: 2467-8821
www.nijotech.com
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v37i3.22

DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER

AND DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS

L. M. Adesina1,* and T. O. Akinbulire2

1, ENGINEERING & STANDARDIZATION, EKO ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CO., LAGOS, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA.

2, DEPT. OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, AKOKA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

E-mail addresses: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Engineers and planners have realized that equipment grounding is a necessary part of installation process in
Electrical power substations. Over years, grounding or earthing has been carried out primarily through preparation of
Earth Mat which is interconnected with several Earth-rods buried around the equipment under consideration. This
approach takes several efforts to have an acceptable and reliable result. However, this paper presents a more flexible,
economical and results oriented approach. A flow chart which describes the procedures of carrying out the proposed
method of earthing is developed. This was applied to two case studies: a proposed Power transformer substation and
distribution Transformer substation located within the same geographical domain. On the two cases, the measured
earth resistances are presented and discussed. The results from the case study indicates that the earth resistance
values obtained from this new approach are reliable and in compliance with IEEE Standards 80,142, 81 and 1100.

Keywords: Equipment, Grounding, Earthing, Earth-rod, Flowchart, Earth Mat, Flow Process, Injection Substation,
Distribution Substation, Earth Resistance, IEEE Standard.

1. INTRODUCTION grounding system can increase if the ground rods are

Power System installations and equipment need eaten away [2, 3]. Grounding testers, are indispensable
grounding systems [1-5]. Generally, grounding systems troubleshooting tools to help one maintain uptime.
consist of grids integrated with rods at each corner. In With frustrating, intermittent electrical problems, the
modern extra-high-voltage and ultra- high voltage AC problem could be related to poor grounding or poor
substations, grounding has become one of the power quality. That is why it is highly recommended
dominant problems of system design. It is essential to that all grounds and ground connections are checked at
have an accurate design procedure for the grounding least annually as apart of normal Predictive
system. Grounding provides an increase in the Maintenance plan. During these periodic checks, if an
reliability of the electricity supply service as it increase in resistance of more than 20% is measured
enhances stability of voltage conditions, preventing [1], it is required to investigate the source of the
excessive voltage peaks during disturbances, and a problem and make the correction to lower the
means of providing a measure of protection against resistance, by replacing or adding ground rods to the
lightning [1-3]. It is required that the voltage rise ground system.
during a fault be kept to low levels. This dictates that Therefore, to bring the incessant Earth failure to the
ground resistances in high voltage substations must be barest minimum, Engineers designed earthing system
very low. The most common method of obtaining low for both Distribution substation and injection
values of ground resistance at high-voltage substations substation. However, there is need to know the
is to use interconnected ground grids. regulations and the expected Earth resistance values in
Over time, corrosive soils with high moisture content, different utility companies that requires the supply of
high salt content, and high temperatures can degrade electricity. The lower the ground resistance, the safer
ground rods and their connections. Although the for people and better protection for the equipment. The
ground system when initially installed, had low earth IEEE Standard 80 [6] and IEEE Standard 142 [7] state
ground resistance values, the resistance of the that the earth resistance for large HV substation should

*Corresponding author tel: +234 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Please, Provide Your Phone Number)

DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

be less than 1.0 Ohm especially for Power • Prevent or at least minimize damage to equipment
Transformers of ratings 7.5 MVA, 33/11 KV and above. because of heavy fault current (short circuit
But for cases of Distribution Transformer either current) and Lightning and thus improve the
33/0.415kV or 11/0.415kV having capacity ranging reliability of Equipment.
from 100 KVA to 2 MVA [7], it is often difficult to • Provides stable platform for operation of sensitive
achieve this earth resistance values. electronic equipment i.e. maintaining the voltage at
It worth noting that the old conventional ways of doing any part of an electrical system at a known value to
Power Transformer substation earthing was to dig a prevent overcurrent or excessive voltage on the
large pit and bury all the earth rods and just brought appliance or equipment.
out about two leads which will be extended to all the
power transformers and substation equipment. 2.2 Overvoltage Protection
Factors influencing resistance of grounding (Earthing) Lightning, Line surges or Unintentional Contact with
electrode systems include, [7-9] higher voltage lines can cause dangerously high
• The resistance of the electrode is a function of the voltages to the electrical distribution system. Earthing
material of the rod and the surface area of the rod. provide an alternative path around the electrical
The surface area of the rod is a function of the rod system to minimize damages in the system.
diameter.
• Difference in ground rod sizes and materials make 2.3 Voltage Stabilization
little appreciable difference in the resistance of the In power system network, there are various sources of
electrode. system electricity supply. For example, every
The contact resistance between the rod and the Transformer in the system can be considered a
surrounding soil also varies depending on the separate source. If there were not a common reference
compatibility of the soil. For example, if the rod is point for all these voltage sources, it would be
driven into well compacted soil, then the resistance extremely difficult to establish relationships with each
between the rod and the surrounding soil is not a other.
significant factor.
Thus, in a properly installed grounding electrode 2.4 Protection of system
system, soil resistance is the key factor that determines The reliability of the power supply is generally
what the resistance of a grounding electrode will be improved.
and to what depth a rod must be driven to obtain low
ground resistance. This imply that the resistivity of 3. PARALLEL CONNECTION OF EARTH PIT
soils varies with the depth from the surface and the RESISTANCES IN SYSTEM GROUNDING.
electrolyte in the soil (the type of concentration of A Parallel circuit is one with several different paths for
soluble chemical in the soil, the moisture content and the electricity to travel [8, 9]. It is like a river that has
soil temperature). been divided up into smaller streams, however, all the
streams come back to the same point to form the river
2. IMPORTANCE OF EQUIPMENT GROUNDING IN once again.
POWER SYSTEM Resistors in parallel, on the other hand, result in an
Equipment grounding in power system is of significant equivalent resistance that is always lower than every
importance to the life of Equipment as well as human individual resistor [9, 13]. If voltage is applied across a
operating them. Some of them are discussed as follows resistor, certain amount of current flows. If another
[10-12]. resistor is added in parallel with the first one, one
would have essentially opened a new channel through
2.1. Safety of Human life / Building / Equipment which more current can flow. No matter how large the
• Save human life from danger of electrical shock or second resistor is, the total current flowing from the
death by blowing a fuse i.e. to provide an alternative power supply will be at least slightly higher than the
path for the fault current to flow so that it will not current through the single resistor. And if the total
endanger the user current is higher, the overall resistance must be lower.
• Protect buildings, machinery and appliances under Consider a 15 MVA 33/11 kV power Injection
fault conditions Substation where the resistance of six number earth pit
• Ensure that all exposed conductive parts do not are R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 and are connected in
reach a dangerous potential

Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 721

DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

parallel. The resultant resistance RT1 , is shown in 7. Use copper conductor to bond the two earth rods
equation (1) [2,14]; in each pit and connect the two ends to the grid via
soldering.
8. Measure the resistance (R) of each of these pits
Where, conductor to 15 m around the earth pit with
; another conductor dip on earth at least 0.6m deep.
; Each of these resistances should be maintained at a
; value less than one ohm.
In the same way, for a 500 KVA, 33/0.415 KV 9. Obtain the equivalent resistance (RT1) for R1, R2, R3,
Distribution Transformer Substation, the equivalent R4, R5 and R6. The RT1 value should be closer to zero
resistance (RT2) of 4 No Earth pit required is also ohm as much as possible for an injection substation
shown in equation (2) [2,14]; and less than 5 Ω for the Distribution transformer
substation.
10. Check voltage between earth pit conductor to
Where, neutral of mains supply 220 A.C, 50 Hz. The result
; ; ; should be less than 2.0 Volts.

4. PROPOSED WORK SPECIFICATION FOR STANDARD 4.2 Procedure of Standard Grounding in Distribution
GROUNDING OF POWER SYSTEM SUBSTATION AND Transformer Substations.
DEVELOPMENT OF FLOWCHARTS 1. Specify 0.1 x 1.8m Earth rod, 70mm2 x 1 copper
The general procedures of carrying out Grounding or earth conductor, 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 m Earth pit
Earthing in typical Injection and Distribution dimension and Earth Grid of l x b x 0.6m. Where, l
Transformer Substations are as shown below including and b are respectively length and breadth of the
the flowchart shown in figure 1. This flowchart space occupied by the equipment to be protected.
illustrates the flow process in obtaining a very good 2. Excavate Earth Grid and the desire number of
grounding results. Earth Pits. If unable to achieve wet soil after
excavation depth of 2m, increase excavation depth
4.1 Procedure of Standard Grounding in Power till the desired results is achieved.
Transformer Substations 3. The Earthing Material i.e wood coal, Animal dung,
1. Specify 1.5 x 1.5 x 2.0m earth pit, 150mm2 x 1 water & sand are poured into the earth pit in layers
copper earth conductor, 0.1 x 2.4m copper earth shown in figure 4. Wood coal used as good
rod and Earth Grid of l x b x 0.6m. Where, l and b conductor of electricity while Sand is used to form
are respectively length and breadth of the space porosity to cycle water and humidity around the
occupied by the equipment to be protected. mixture.
2. Excavate earth grid and the desire number of earth 4. Put Copper or Galvanize earth rod of size 0.1
pits. If unable to achieve wet soil after excavation x1.8m in the mid of mixture.
depth of 2m, increase excavation depth till the 5. Insert/bury 2 No Earth rod per pit (copper or
desired results is achieved. galvanized earth rod type) as shown in figure 5.
3. The Earthing Material i.e wood coal, Animal dung, 6. Lay Copper Conductor round the Earth grid and
water & sand are poured into the earth pit in layers terminate by soldering at the two ends.
shown in figure 2. Wood coal used as good 7. Use copper conductor to bond the two earth rods
conductor of electricity while Sand is used to form in each pit and connect the two ends to the grid via
porosity to cycle water and humidity around the soldering.
mixture. 8. Measure the resistance (R) of each of these pits
4. Put copper earth rod of size 0.1 x 2.4m in the mid conductor to 15 m around the earth pit with
of mixture. another conductor dip on earth at least 0.6m deep.
5. Insert/bury 4No. Copper earth rod per pit as Each of these resistances should be maintained at a
shown figure 3 value less than one Ohm.
6. Lay Copper Conductor round the Earth grid and 9. Obtain the equivalent resistance (RT2) for R1, R2, R3
terminate by soldering or mechanical joining at the and R4. The RT2 value should be less than 5 Ω for the
two ends. Distribution transformer substation.

Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 722

DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

10. Check voltage between earth pit conductor to

neutral of mains supply 220 A.C, 50 Hz. The result
should be less than 2.0 Volts.

Figure 1: Flow Process of effective grounding of Transformers in both PT and DT Substations.

5. DESCRIPTION OF CASE STUDY 1.5x1.5x2m well treated and two earth rods is buried
Oke Ira 2X15MVA, 33/11KV Injection Station that takes and well connected. The lead is then being brought out
source from Ajah Transmission in Eko Electricity by clamp and each earth pit is connected to already laid
Distribution Company, Lagos State, Nigeria is used as a grid wire in parallel. The resistance of the earth pit R1,
case study. At the completion of the project, the result R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 were measured and recorded as
of the conventional formal earthing system of the shown in Table 1. Substituting the above resistance
injection substation was obtained to be 3.5 Ω due to the values in equation (1), the equivalent resistance is
swampy nature of the land. The procedural steps calculated as RT1 0.47 Ω. Consequently, the newly
described in subsection 4.1 and flow process of Figure developed earthing standard has really made it
1 were applied to the installation shown in Figure 6. possible to get values of our earthing within the
In Figure 6, the earth wire called grid wire is laid prescribed international value of < 1 Ohm.
without connected to any wire and soldered at the Further application of the procedures in subsection 4.2
meeting point. Then, the Six earth pit is being dug and the flow process in Figure 1 to 500 KVA 33/0.415

Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 723

DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

kV Distribution Transformer Substation in the same

location as above yielded a more improved Earthing
results. The difference lies in the fact that in this case, 4
No Earth Pits instead of 6 No Earth pits used at power
Transformer substation were required to be dug. The
resistance of the Earth pit R1, R2, R3 and R4 were also
measured and recorded as shown in Table 2.
Substituting these resistance values in equation (2), the
equivalent resistance (RT2 is obtained to be 0.54Ω. The
circuit arrangement of this Grounding of a typical 500
KVA, 33/0.415 kV Distribution Transformer substation
is shown in Figure 7.
Figure 5: Plan View of Earth Rods in DT Substation Pit

Table 1: List of Symbols and their Descriptions

Symbol Description

Earth Pit

150mm2 x 1 Cu Bonding Earth Rod

Figure 2: Cross Sectional View of Earth Pit Contents in and the Earth Grid for PT Station
PT Substation 70mm2 x 1 Cu Bonding Earth Rod
and the Earth Grid for DT Station

Transformer

Ring Main Unit (RMU)

Transformer Neutral Connection

N
with Earth Pit
CT Current Transformer
VT Voltage Transformer
LA Lightning Arrester
Earth Grid
Figure 3: Plan View of Earth Rods in PT Substation Pit Two connections made for each
power equipment to the main Grid
(Earth Grid).
Two connections made for each
Earth Pit to the Grid.
S/S Substation
G/ISO Gang Isolator
CB Circuit Breaker
Pro Proposed
PT Power Transformer
DT Distribution Transformer
Cu Copper Conductor
Figure 4: Cross Sectional View of Earth Pit Contents in
DT Substation

Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 724

DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

Table 2: Measured Earth Pit Resistance in Case Study 1

Earth Pit Measured Resistance (Ohms) 6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1 2.4 The pre-commissioning test results of the two case
2 2.8 study projects are shown in Tables 2 and 3. These
3 3.7 results revealed that the equivalent Earth resistance, R T
4 2.9
of 15 MVA 33/11 kV Power Transformer substation
5 3.3
6 2.2 and 500 KVA 33/0.415 kV Distribution Transformer
Equivalent Resistance, RT1 0.47 Ω substation are 0.47 Ω and 0.54 Ω respectively.
However, it is required that for a PT substation, R T <
Table 3: Measured Earth Pit Resistance in Case Study 2 Ω and DT Substation, RT < 5 Ω are generally the
Earth Pit Measured Resistance (Ohms) acceptable standards [4,5]. Indeed, the two RT Values
1 1.5 follow the two inequality relations described above.
2 2 The challenges that are often encounter in carrying out
3 2.5 the implementation of the substation grounding
4 3.7 approach has been taken care of. These includes,
Equivalent Resistance, RT2 0.54Ω 1. Ensuring Married Joint are cleverly carried out by
Welding via Soldering/Mechanical joining rather
than using binding wire. This prevent easy
separation (losing of wires) which may results in
high resistance.
2. Ensuring that Materials and equipment
specifications are strictly complied with.
It is important to state that the use of Animal dung and
wood coal is to fasten the attainment of results and
minimizing cost. Otherwise, same results could be
achieved by putting up more pits that will consume
more materials such as Earth rods, Grid Conductor etc.
From Figures 6 & 7, it can be seen that each earth pit
contents and equipment are connected to the earth grid
twice (Parallel connections).
From Engineers field experience, it has been observed
that the conventional approach to power system
equipment grounding is cumbersome because part of
the process are several times repeated before the
results are achieved. In the old way of doing earthing, a
big earth pit is dug and several earth rods are driven in
to the earth pit. Then the earth wire is connected
across all the earth rods while 1 or 2 earth lead(s)
Figure 6: Line Diagram of a 15 MVA, 33/11kV Power is/are brought out. The earth lead is extended to other
Transformer Substation Earthing. apparatus through married joint. At this point of
connection, a resistance is developed which opposes
the free flow of earth current. This makes the approach
and the results obtained unreliable. For an illustration
using Nigeria as an example, unpatriotic Nigerians
vandalise the copper wire used as connecting lead for
earthing of power equipment. This action is often
unreported and unknown to power utility company.
The vandalism is very common in Distribution
Transformer substations and the affected substation
will now be in operation unearthed since 1 or 2 leads
brought out from the earth pit is Vandalised from the
Figure 7: Line Diagram of a 500 kVA, 33/0.415kV
source. The overall consequence includes; possibility of
Distribution Transformer Substation Earthing.
Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 725
DEV. OF AN IMPROVED EARTHING METHOD FOR POWER AND DIST. TRANSFORMERS SUBSTATIONS, L. M. Adesina & T. O. Akinbulire

shortening the lives of the equipment, thereby putting Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of
the utility customers in darkness and loss of revenue to Engineering, Jazan University, pp.1-64, 2014.
utility company. [2] Fink, G. D. and Beaty, W. H. Standard Handbook
The new approach to equipment grounding has for Electrical Engineers, McGraw-Hill, USA, 2000.
therefore eliminated the problems being faced in
[3] Beltz, R., Peacock, L. and William, V.P.E;
convectional approach. For example, “Application Considerations for high Resistance
 The connection of each power equipment in the ground retrofits in pulp and paper Mills”;
substation to Earth pit is dual from the earth grid. http://www.eaton.us/ecm/groups/public/@pub
 More than one Earth pits are used in each case /@electrical/documents/pu0 70 00 e.pdf” 2nd
study. February, 2018.
 The problem of repeated process before getting [4] Shah, S. G. and Bhasme, N. R. “Design of Earthing
reliable result in the conventional method of system for HV/EHV AC Substation”, International
earthing is eliminated. This is because the result in Journal of Advance in Engineering & Technology,
Volume 6, Issue 6, pp.2597-2605, 2014.
this method is obtained at once.
 Period required for the for the commissioning of the [5] Adelian, M. A. “Improvement of Substation
Transformer substation ( i.e connection to Grid) is Earthing”, International Journal of Engineering
.and Advanced Technology, Volume 3, Issue 4, pp
drastically reduced
100-104, April 2014.
 Effects of copper conductor vandalism is minimized.
 Loss of power utility equipment and revenue would [6] IEEE Standard 80 -: IEEE guide for safety in
Alternating current in substation grounding,
be drastically reduced.
2000.
Thus, the reliability of this newly improved power
equipment grounding method is high. [7] IEEE Standard 142-2007: Recommended Practice
for Grounding of Industrial and commercial
power systems. Chapter 4 page 164.
7. CONCLUSION
Grounding of power system equipment in substations [8] IEEE Standard 81: Guide for measuring Earth
Resistivity, Ground Impedance and Earth Surface
is a phenomenon that engineers must attach great
Potentials of a ground system.
concern with. This became necessary to save the lives
of the equipment as well as personnel handling the [9] IEEE 1100 –: Powering and Grounding Electronics
equipment. It enhances security of personnel and Equipment. 2005
minimizes installation maintenance cost. The paper has [10] Bakkabulindi, G. “Planning Models for Single Wire
presented the importance of Grounding of Power Earth Return Power Distribution Networks”,
System equipment in substations. A flexible approach Licentiate Thesis, Royal Institute of Technology,
Stockholm, Sweden, December, pp.9 – 71. 2012.
to this Earthing contrary to the old approach that
involves creating Earth Mat without even achieving [11] Obeta, C. N. and Nnadi, D. B. N. “Performance
results in time is introduced. A flow process to achieve Assessment of Substation Site Earthing using
this new approach was developed and presented. The Fluke 6 5 Ground Tester”, Nigerian Journal of
Technology, Vol. 32, No. 1, March, pp.49-53, 2013..
Developed flow process was applied to two case study;
a 15 MVA, 33/11 kV PT substation and a 500 kV, [12] Oluseyi, P. O., Akinbulire, T. O. and Amahian, O.
33/0.415 kV DT substation. The results obtained in the “Investigation of the Lightning Arrester Operation
in Electric Power Distribution Network”, Nigerian
two - case studied are presented and discussed. These
Journal of Technology, Vol. 37, No. 2, April 2018,
results are satisfactory, reliable and obviously in pp.490 – 497.
compliance with IEEE Standards. Thus, the new
[13] Engineer Educators (2007 – 008 ; “Grounding
approach is highly recommended to power utility
and Bonding Electrical Systems”,
companies. http://www.engineereducators.com/docs/groun
dingandbonding2-2.pdf, pp.1-34, 2007 – 2008.
8. REFERENCES
[14] Theraja, B. L. and Theraja, A. K. A Textbook of
[1] Al. Nami A., Al. Qarni K., Al. Shahrani S. and Al. Electrical Technology, S. Chand Company Ltd,
Juhani M.; “Design of Substation grounding grids”, Hardback, India, 2005

Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 37, No. 3, July, 2018 726