UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

MAYAGÜEZ CAMPUS
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Transmission and Distribution

Ground Grid Design
INEL - 5406

Group:
Edgar Vega Feliciano
José Sánchez Rivera
Fernando Lozano Inca
Table of Contents

Tables…………………………………………………………………………………….……2
Material Prices……………………………………………………………………………..…..5
Information Provided………………………………………………………………………..…6
A) Design Rectangular grid without ground rod……………….……………………….…7
B) Design Rectangular grid with ground rods…………………………………………….13
C) Design L-shaped grid with ground rods………………………………………….……..16
References……………………………………………………………….……………………..20

2
Tables

Table 1: Design Abbreviations

3
Table 2: Typical Values of Df.

4
List Material Prices

Materials Price

Conductor 4/0 AWG (211.6 kcmil) soft-drawn copper 11.12 $/m

Copper-clad steel ground rod ¾” 8’ 33.51 $/ea

Table 3: Material Prices

5
Information Provided

1. Uniform soil model

2. Available grounding area A = 120m x 80m = 9600 m2
3. Average soil resistivity ρ = 285 Ω-m
4. Symmetrical ground-fault current If = 3I0 = 8400 A
5. X/R ratio = 10
6. Crushed-rock resistivity ρs = 3000 Ω-m
7. Thickness of crushed-rock surfacing hs = 0.102 m (4”)
8. Fault duration tf = tc = 0.5 s
9. Shock duration ts = 0.5 s
10. Depth of grid burial h = 0.5 m
11. Minimum size of grid conductor is 4/0 AWG (211.6 kcmil) soft-drawn copper
12. Copper-clad steel rod
13. Diameter of each ground rod 2b = 0.019 m (¾”)
14. Length of each ground rod Lr = 2.438 m (8’)
15. Weight of electric utility worker is 50 kg
16. Ambient temperature Ta = 40 °C
17. Current division factor Sf = 0.6

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 A) Design Rectangular grid without ground rod

The first step of the design was to acquire the conductor information, converting the 211.6 kcmil

of the 4/0 AWG conductor to mm2:

Amm =0.5067 × A kcmil

2 [1]
2
Amm =0.5067 ×211.6=107.22 mm
2

Using the resulting mm2, the diameter of the 4/0 AWG conductor is found using equation [2]:

d=
√ 4
π
× A mm 2 [2]

d=
√ 4
π
×107.22=11.684 mm

The next step is to determine the touch and step criteria, which starts with the reflection factor

‘k’ and the surface layer derating factor ‘Cs’, using equation [3] and [4] respectively.

ρ−ρs
K= [3]
ρ+ ρs
285−3000
K= =−0.8265
285+ 3000

C s=1−
0.09 1−
( ρρ )s [4]
2 hs +0.09

C s=1−
0.09 1−(
285
3000 )
=0.7230
2 × 0.102+ 0.09

With the crushed-rock resistivity of 3000 Ω-m and the derating factor the step voltage and touch

voltage is calculated for a person of 50kg, respectively. It is important to note that the voltages

for a person of 50 kg is the standard when designing the ground of a substation.

7
 0.116
E step50=( 1000+ 6 C s ρ s ) [5]
√ts
0.116
E step50=( 1000+ 6 ×0.7230 ×3000 ) =2298.98V
√0.5

0.116
Etouch 50=( 1000+1.5 C s ρs ) [6]
√t s

0.116
Etouch 50=( 1000+1.5 ×0.7230 ×3000 ) =697.78 V
√ 0.5

Etouch Estep
697.75 V 2298.86 V
Table 4: Design Requirements

The next step is to choose the conductor spacing ‘D’, which was set to 3.8 m between each conductor.
Consequently, the length of the conductor ‘Lc’ is set by equation [7]:

LC = ( LD +1)× L +( LD +1) × L
x
y
y
x [7]

LC = ( 120
3.6
+1 )× 80+ (
3.6 )
80
+1 ×120=5,533.33 m

LT =LC + LR
[8]
The resulting grounding mesh is shown below in figure 1.

8
 Figure 1: Rectangular grid without ground rod with D = 3.6

Furthermore, the determination of the grid resistance and the ground current is required in order to

determine the ground potential rise ‘GPR’, and are acquired using equation [8] and [9] respectively.

R g=ρ
[ 1
+
1
LT √ 20 A (
1+
1
1+ h √ 20 / A )] [9]

R g=285
[ 1
+
1
5,533.33 √ 20 ×9600
1+ ( 1
1+0.5 √ 20/9600
=1.3378 Ω)]
I G=D f × Sf × 3× I o [10]

I G=1.026 × 0.6 ×8,400=5,171.04 A

Finally using equation [10] the ground potential rise, the first design test is achieved.

GPR=I G × RG [11]

GPR=5171.04 × 1.3378=6918 V

9
Since the GPR is greater than the touch voltage this means more steps are required to ensure the grid

satisfies the requirements of voltages. The criteria used for determining if the grid is safe is the mesh

voltage ‘Em’ and the ‘Es’ which is the step voltage of the grid. The factors that affect these voltages are

geometric factor composed of factors ‘na’,’nb’,’nc’,’nd’, geometrical spacing factor ‘km’, irregularity

factor ‘Ki’, the corrective weighting factor emphasizing the grid depth ’kh’, and corrective weighting that

adjusts effects of inner conductors on the corner ’kii’, which are calculated from equation [12] through

[20].

2 × LC
n a= [12]
Lp
2 ×5,533.33
n a= =27.6667
400

n b=
√ Lp
4 ×√ A
nb=1 square [13]

n b=
√ 400
4 × √ 9600
=1.0103

[ ]
0.7 × A
Lx × L y Lx × Ly
n c= , nc =1 square∧rectangular
A
[14]
n c=1

n D =1 [15]

n=na ×n b × nc × nd [16]

n=27.6667 ×1.0103 ×1 ×1=27.9505

10
 [( ( D+ 2× h )2 K ii
) ( )]
2
1 D h 8
Km= ln + − + × ln
2π 16 ×h × d 8 × D × d 4 × d K h π ( 2× n−1 )
[17]

[( ) ( )]
2
1 3.6
2
( 3.6+ 2× 0.5 ) 0.5 0.7498 8
Km= ln + − + × ln =0.5366
2π 16 ×0.5 ×0.01168 8 × 3.6 ×0.01168 4 ×0.01168 1.2247 π ( 2× 27.9505−1 )

K i=0.644+0.148 × n [18]

K i=0.644+0.148 × 27.9505=4.7807

K h= 1+
√ h
, h =1 m
ho o
[19]

√
K h= 1+
0.5
1
=1.2247

1
K ii = , K ii =1 when rods present
2 [20]
( 2× n ) n

1
K ii = 2
=0.7498
( 2× 27.9505 ) 27.9505

Finally, the mesh voltage is calculated using equation [20], which requires all the previous calculations.
This is going to be the determinant value that decides if the grid can be used.
ρ× I G × K m × K i
Em = [21]
LC + L R
285 × 5,171.04 ×0.5366 × 4.7807
Em = =683.203V
5,533.33+0

For calculating the step voltage, first is needed to acquire the spacing factor for step voltage ‘Ks’.

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 Ks=
[
1 1
+
1 1
+ ( 1−0.5 n−2 )
π 2 × h D+h D ] [22]

Ks=
1
[ 1
+
1
+
1
π 2 × 0.5 3.6+0.5 3.6
( 1−0.527.9505−2) =0.4844 ]
]
As a result, the step voltage is obtained from equation [22].
ρ× I G × K s × K i
E s=
0.75 × LC +0.85 × LR
[23]
285× 5,171.04 × 0.4844 × 4.7807
E s= =822.31 V
0.75 ×5,533.33+0.85 × 0
Therefore, the mesh voltage and step voltage satisfy the requirements presented in table 4.

Conductor Spacing (m) Em (V) Es (V) Total Price

3.6 683.2 822.31 $61,530.7

Table 5: Economical Choice for grid without rods.

In the final analysis we found that the biggest spacing, that reduced the cost of the grid and make

the grid safe, was found when a spacing between the conductors is 3.6 meters, resulting in a

material cost of $61,530.7.

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 Figure 2: Matlab Program for part A

The tool used to fasten the process was a program in matlab that used a guide, shown in figure 2.

In this figure it is shown all the vales and parameter used and also the outputs.

B) Design Rectangular grid with ground rods

13
For this part of the project the developed matlab program was used to iterate and find the

minimum total cost. The mesh voltage and step voltage obtained from part A still apply.

From the table below is seen the options that are suitable for the design. It is important to note

that it was only taken into account the cost of the conductor and rods. Therefore, the most

economic option is with a spacing of 5 meters but it was decided that the 3.8 meters spacing was

a better option since it needs less handwork for wielding rods.

Conductor Spacing
Max Rods Number of Rods Em (V) Es (V) Total Cost
(m)
3.8 841 38 697.44 539.54 $ 59,682.60
4 651 110 697.5 505.08 $ 59,286.10
4.5 520 256 697.2 436.09 $ 58,247.90
5 425 364 697.53 384.97 $ 57,122.40
Table 6: Conductor spacing suitable for the design of the grid.

Figure 3: Rectangular grid with nr=38 ground rods and D = 3.6

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To determine the total length of conductors and rods it was first determined that the spacing is
3.8 meters with 38 rods.

LR =nr × Lr [24]

LR =38 ×2.438=92.6440 m

LC = ( 120
3.8
+1 )× 80+ (
3.8 )
80
+1 × 120=5,252.63 m

LT =5,252.63+92.6440=5,345.28 m

Using equation [9] and [11]:

R g=285
[ 1
+
1
5,345.28 √ 20 ×9600
1+ (1
1+0.5 √ 20/9600 )]
=1.3397 Ω

GPR=5,171.04 × 1.3397=6927.37 V

Lastly, ‘Em’ and ‘Es’ are computed from equations [11] through [22]:
2 ×5,533.33
n a= =52.5263
400

n b=
√ 400
4 × √ 9600
=0.7144

n=27.6667 ×1.0103 ×1 ×1=37.5227

K ii =1

K h= 1+
√ 0.5
1
=1.2247

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 [( ) ( )]
2
1 3.8
2
( 3.8+2 × 0.5 ) 0.5 1 8
Km= ln + − + × ln =0.4121
2π 16 ×0.5 ×0.01168 8 × 3.8× 0.01168 4 ×0.01168 1.2247 π ( 2× 37.5227−1 )

K i=0.644+0.148 ×37.5227=6.1974
285× 5,171.04 ×0.4121 × 6.1974
Em = =697.377 V

[
5252.63+ 1.55+1.22
(√ 2.438
2
120 + 80
2 )] 92.6440

Ks=
1
[
1
+
1
+
1
π 2 × 0.5 3.8+0.5 3.8
( 1−0.537.5227−2 ) =0.4761 ]
285× 5,171.04 × 0.2374 ×6.1974
E s= =1082.17 V
0.75× 5252.63+0.85 × 92.6440

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 Figure 4: Matlab Program for part B.

C) Design L-shaped grid with ground rods

For the L-shaped, two rectangles of the same size were used in order to create the geometric
form of an L. The horizontal length was chose to be 100m and the vertical length 48m.
Again, a software was used in order to speed up the process of optimizing the total cost. For
the design this time it was used the most economic option.

Conductor Spacing
Max Rods Number of Rods Em (V) Es (V) Total Cost
(m)
4.5 530 45 697.53 830.93 $ 51,711.00
5 434 153 697.26 763.48 $ 50,585.60
5.5 363 237 697.3 710.14 $ 49,518.50
6 309 304 697.38 666.73 $ 48,528.80
Table 7: Conductor spacing suitable for the design of the grid.

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 Figure 5: L-shape grid with nr=304 and D = 6.

LC =2 × ([ LD +1) × L +( LD +1) × L ]−L

x
y
y
x y [25]

LC =2 ×
[( 100
6 )
+ 1 × 48+(48
6 ) ]
+1 × 100 −48=3,448 m

Using equations [9] and [11]:

R g=285
[ 1
+
1
4189.15 √20 × 9600
1+ ( 1
1+ 0.5 √20 /9600
=1.35436Ω )]
GPR=5,171.04 × 1.35436=7,003.46 V

Using equations [11] through [22]:

18
 2 ×3,448
n a= =13.9032
496

n b=
√ 496
4 × √ 9600
=1.1250

[ ]
0.7 ×9600
100 × 148 100× 148
n c= =1.2172
9600
n=13.9032× 1.1250× 1.2172× 1=19.0378

K ii =1

√
K h= 1+
0.5
1
=1.2247

[( ) ( )]
2
1
2
6 ( 6+ 2× 0.5 ) 0.5 1 8
Km= ln + − + × ln =0.6284
2π 16 ×0.5 ×0.01168 8 × 6 ×0.01168 4 ×0.01168 1.2247 π 2× 19.0378−1 )
(

K i=0.644+0.148 ×19.0378=3.4616
285 ×5,171.04 × 0.6284 × 3.4616
Em = =697.377 V

[
3,448+ 1.55+1.22
2.438
√ 1002+ 1482 (
741.152
)]

Ks=
1
[ 1
+
1 1
+ ( 1−0.519.0378−2 ) =0.4203
π 2 × 0.5 6+ 0.5 6 ]
285× 5,171.04 × 0.4203× 3.4616
E s= =666.773 V
0.75× 3,448+0.85 ×741.152

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 Figure 4: Matlab Program for part C.

Result Discussion

The project analyzes the parameters of the design of a ground grid for a transmission

substation, based on the Std.80 IEE. The software used for to optimize the design of the grid was

20
Matlab, for the evaluation and comparison of the voltages and costs of materials. Three types of

topographies were designed, a rectangular with no rods, which resulted in a minimum cost of

$61,530.7; a second design of a rectangular grid with ground rods resulted in a minimum cost of

$57,122.40; and finally the L-shaped grid with ground rods that had the minimum cost of

$48,528.80. With this result we can conclude that the best design, based on economics, is the L-

shaped grid with 304 rods and a conductor spacing of 6 meters.

References:

[1]. “4/0 Soft Drawn, Stranded, Bare Copper Wire.” Wire and Cable Your Way,
www.wireandcableyourway.com/4-0-soft-drawn-stranded-bare-copper-wire.html

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[2]. “Copper Coated Ground Rods, 3/4 IN x 8 FT.” What Are the Benefits of a Retrofit? |
Graybar Lighting, www.graybar.com/store/en/gb/copper-coated-ground-rods-3-4-in-x-8-ft-
25405875#{Material Finish:Copper}&{Rod Size (Inches):3/4 in.}&{Length:8 ft.}.
[3]. IEEE Standard Substation committee,“ Std. IEEE 80 Guide for Safety in AC Substation
Grounding”, IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2013.

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