CALCULATION

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

FEED

Date:

12/2008

Page:

1 of 16

Earthing Calculation

QPCC

QATAR PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX PROJECT

Foster Wheeler Energy Limited

MESAIEED, QATAR

FW Cont No: 1-14-3480/3529

Doc Class: 1

D1

12/2008

For information

PWR

DR

DR

01

07/07/08

For Internal comment

PWR

RS

DR

Rev

Date

Description

Orig by

Chkd by

App By

Client
App

This document is issued by Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, for and on behalf of QPCC, Doha, Qatar. The information contained in this
document is the confidential property of QPCC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose without the approval of QPCC. If
you are not authorised to possess this document, please destroy it immediately.

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

2 of 16

CONTENTS
1. SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. 3
2. METHOD.................................................................................................................................... 4
3. RESULTS.................................................................................................................................... 9
4. RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................. 10
APPENDIX 1 ................................................................................................................................ 11

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

1.

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

3 of 16

SUMMARY.
This grounding study is performed to ANSI/IEEE Std. 80 2000. The findings are as follows

1.1

Touch Voltages
The results show that the calculated actual touch voltage is less than the allowable touch
voltage. This is the case when the calculations use the 0.4kV equipment fault current rating
and the smaller calculated fault current.

1.2

Step Voltages
The calculated step voltage is less than the allowable step voltage.

1.3

Ground Grid Resistance

The calculated final ground grid resistance is 0.08

1.4

Minimum Down Lead Size

The minimum calculated total down lead area is 600mm 2.

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

FEED

2.

Date:

12/2008

Page:

4 of 16

METHOD
This study is based on ANSI/IEEE Std. 80-2000 IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation
Grounding.
The main object of this study is to design the substation grounding arrangement and
substation above grade down conductor sizes. The calculation is performed for the worst
case fault level rating of switchgear. To avoid excessive construction costs, the design
should be optimised at the EPC stage for each substation switchgear rating.

2.1

Minimum Conductor Sizing.

The minimum conductor size is selected by using Equation 40 of ANSI/IEEE Std 80-2000.
The conductor sizes recommended in this study will be for a worst case and assume
standardisation of chosen sizes across all substations where applicable for down leads and
grounding grids.
The following design values are used;
I

= Substation rms fault current in kA

= 100kA (based on 0.4kV switchgear rating)

Tm

= max. allowable conductor temperature in 0C

= 250oC (This is a worst case for bolted connections).

Ta

= ambient temperature in 0C
= 50oC (refer to 3481-8531-SP-0002)

tc.

= time of current flow in sec

= 1 sec. (based on 0.4kV switchgear rating)

Cable type is bare stranded soft copper.

Equation 40 of IEEE-80 gives a minimum total conductor area of 600mm2
This is the required minimum equivalent cable size for a down lead to the ground grid and is
not necessarily provided by a single cable, i.e. two or three smaller conductors may be used
to provide an equivalent overall size. The ground grid current, and hence the ground grid
design, are determined separately
Note:
For the case of 6.6kV switchgear rated for 40kA, 1 sec., 250mm 2 is required. Therefore the
more stringent requirement for 0.4kV equipment is chosen as a base case for selection of
minimum conductor size.

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

2.2

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

5 of 16

Step and Touch Voltages.

To limit the driving voltage of an accidental circuit it is necessary to determine the
maximum value of step and touch voltages.

2.2.1

Step Voltages.
The following assumptions are made for data required by IEEE-80:
a) A body weight of 50Kg is used
b) the earth fault will last for a maximum duration of 0.5 sec. (backup clearance time)
c) Ground fault current shall be the higher of the line to line to ground or the symmetrical
line to ground fault current
d) In calculations of the grid current, the current division factor is assumed to be 1.0
e) For calculations of allowable step and touch potentials, the resistivity of the surface
material (rhos) shall be assumed to be 2,000 ohm-meters for a minimum 75mm thick pad of
clean crushed rock, 10,000 ohm-meters for a minimum 50 mm layer of asphalt, and 200
ohm-meters for a minimum 75 mm layer of concrete. For all other surface materials, the
lower of 100 ohm-meters or the actual measured top layer (minimum 0.3 m layer thickness)
soil resistivity is used.
The tolerable step voltage is given by;
Estep50 = (1000 + 6CSS)0.116/tS

eq.1

where:
CS = reduction factor for derating the nominal value of surface layer resistivity determined
from Equation 27 of IEEE- 80 substituting for K using;
K = ( - S) / ( + S)

eq.2

hS = surface layer thickness in meters = 0.15

and
tS = 0.5 sec
and:
S = crushed rock resistivity in -m
= earth resistivity in -m
= 1110 -m is the highest resistance value taken from Fugro report PQ/1001/04/02, soil
resistivity test at location ERT-04, E-W coordinates N 356045m / E 235450m.

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

FEED

Date:

12/2008

Page:

6 of 16

S = 2000 -m, based on a 150mm layer of crushed rock.

Hence;
K = (1110 - 2000) / (1110 + 2000)
= -0.29
Substituting K = -0.29 into Equation 27 of IEEE-80 gives;
CS 0.8973
Estep50 = (1000 + 6CSS)0.116/tS
= (1000 + 6 x 0.8973 x 2000 ) x 0.116/0.5
which gives:
Estep50 = 1930V
2.2.2

Touch Voltages
The tolerable touch voltage is given by;
Etouch50 = (1000 + 1.5CSS)0.116/tS

eq.3

= (1000 + 1.5 x 0.8973 x 2000) x 0.116/0.5

which gives:
Etouch50 = 606V
2.3

Calculation of Ground Grid Resistance

The highest design value for rms symmetrical ground fault current is 100kA for a LG (lineground) fault occurring on the 0.4kV system.

2.3.1

Symmetrical Grid Current

Ig (symmetrical Grid Current in Amps) is given by;
Ig = S f x If

eq. 4

where :
Sf = current division factor relating the magnitude of fault current to that portion flowing
between the grounding grid and surrounding earth.
If

File:

= rms value of symmetrical ground fault current in A

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

7 of 16

The supply to the QPCC plant is via underground cable. Therefore it is considered that
there will be no diversion of ground current from the ground grid, as might be the case if
overhead lines were used (see IEEE-80, Sect 15.6). This approach is considered
conservative, as ignoring this effect results in a more onerous ground grid requirement.
Similarly the effects of any below grade cable armour and pipes in the switchyard are
ignored.
Therefore Ig is assumed equal to If.
Thus giving Ig = 100kA
2.3.2

Maximum Grid Current

The maximum grid current is given by;
IG = Cp Df Ig

eq. 5

where:
IG

= maximum grid current in Amps.

Cp

= corrective projection factor accounting for the relative increase of fault currents
during the station life span; the rating of the switchgear is 100kA, so no increase in
fault current during the life-span is considered. Hence, C p = 1.0

Df

= decrement factor for the entire duration of fault, t f, given in s.

Ig

= rms symmetrical grid current in A.

and
tf,

= 0.5 s

From IEEE / ANSI Std. 80 Table 10, Df = 1.052

Cp
= 1.0, because future growth has already been allowed for by not applying a
division factor in 2.3.1 above.
Ig

= 100kA

Therefore IG = Ig x 1.052
= 105.2kA
2.4

Evaluation of Grid Resistance for Substation.

The objective is to design a substation grid arrangement with an overall resistance 1.
The preliminary substation grid layout is as shown in drawing 3481-8532-72-0003. The 33kV
substation perimeter is enclosed by a below grade 300mm 2 bare copper loop. The area
inside this loop is interconnected by bare copper ground grid spaced at 5m intervals. This

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

8 of 16

grid is direct buried at a depth of 0.5m. The perimeter loop is connected to ground rods at
10m intervals
The ground soil characteristics are given in Fugro report PQ/1001/04/02
Using the computer model representation of the ground grid (Appendix 1), the ground grid
resistance is calculated as:
Rg = 0.08 .
This satisfies the requirement for substation grid resistance to be 1.
2.5

33kV Switchyard Touch and Step Potential Voltages.

2.5.1

Ground Potential Rise (GPR)

The GRP (Ground Potential Rise) is given by the product of I G and RG which is 105200A x
0.10 = 10.52kV.

2.5.2

Mesh Voltage.
The mesh voltage is given by (IEEE-80 eq.80);
EM = IG Km Ki / LM

eq. 6

where:
Km = 1/2 [ln (D2 /16hd + (D+2h)2 / 8dD h/4d) + (Kii / kh) ln 8/(2n-1)

eq. 7

Kii = 1
Kh = (1 + h / ho)

eq. 8

D = spacing between parallel conductors

H = depth of ground grid
n = number of parallel conductors in one direction
D = diameter of grid conductor in m
ho = 0.5m (reference depth of ground grid)
Ki = 0.656 + 0.172n

eq. 9

LM = total length of buried conductors

and
Kh = (1 + 0.45 / 1)

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

9 of 16

D = 5m
h = 0.45m
n = 73
D = 0.0095m
ho = 0.5m (reference depth of ground grid)
Ki = 13.212 + 0.172 x 73
LM = LC+[1.55+1.22(Lr/{ Lx2+Ly2})]LR
From Appendix 1,
EM = 547V @ 105.2kA.

2.5.3

Step Voltage
Using Es = IG Ks Ki / LS

eq. 10

where:
Ks = 1/ [1 / 2h + 1 / (D+h) + (1-0.5n-2 )/ D

eq. 11

LS = 0.75Lc + 0.85 Lr.)

eq. 12

From Appendix 1,
Es = 650V
3.

RESULTS

3.1

Step and Touch Voltages

Etouch50 = 622V (permitted), 547V (calculated)
Estep50

3.2

= 1999V (permitted), 650V (calculated)

Ground Grid Resistance

Rg = 0.08

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

4.

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

10 of 16

RECOMMENDATIONS
With the geological structure as used in these studies, the results are acceptable. However,
EPC is advised that the actual geological structure and water table depth is to be
determined by site investigation. The calculation should then be revised to reflect the
findings of the site survey.
Wet organic soil has been taken as an equivalent to the local water table. Depending on the
actual water table depth, EPC may have to increase the ground rod lengths as required to
reach the water table and achieve the required grounding resistance, step and touch
voltages.
The calculation has been carried out for the anticipated worst case substation. During EPC,
calculations should be carried out for each substation to determine the optimum ground grid
design.

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

FEED

Date:

12/2008

Page:

11 of 16

APPENDIX 1
Computer Programme Results

File:

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

File:

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

12 of 16

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

File:

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

13 of 16

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

File:

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

14 of 16

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

File:

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

15 of 16

DSN: 1027

CALCULATION
FEED

File:

Number:

3481-8531-CA-0002

Revision
No:

D1

Date:

12/2008

Page:

16 of 16

DSN: 1027