Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer

Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area
Gaoyuan Liang
Inner Mongolia Electric Power Research Institute Network Centre

Abstract: This paper discusses current grounding

standards still maintain 2000V earth potential

design issues of present electric power plants,

regulation value unchanged even though the system

transformer substations in high soil resistivity area,

short circuit capacity is growing, therefore, it is much

by incorporating the actual engineering data of a

strict on the permissible value of grounding grid

220KV substation, analyzes the impact degree of

contact potential and step potential. According to the

grounding design parameters to earth potential,

recent situation analysis of engineering design, it is

contact potential, and step potential. It also can be

very difficult to drop ground resistance below

used as a reference point for peers to discuss in

DL/T621-1997 industrial standards. The following

engineering design.

article will emphasis on exploring current grounding

design issues and solutions of present electric power

Key Words:High Resistivity, Electric Power

plants, transformer substation in high soil resistivity

Plants, Transformer Substation, Grounding,

area, by incorporating the actual engineering data of a

Design

220KV substation.
The main object of grounding design for electric

1.

Overview

power plants and transformer substation is that

Along with the rapid demand growth of urban

designing a desirable grounding grid to meet power

residential electric load, there are increasing number

system operational requirements, ensure the safety of

of 220KV transformer substation are seat in city as

personnel and devices. A low resistance grounding

distribution substations in order to meet the electrical

grid obviously benefits the safe running of the

load distribution requirements. The major features of

equipment and personnel against harmful shock.

those transformer substations are: small-scale sites,

However, there are many factors contribute to the

using GIS on 220KV and 110KV high-voltage

safety grounding of electric power plants and

electrical equipment, occupying less area.

transformer substations. Considering the expanding of

current electrical network capacity, there is no safety

The increasing power system capacity has cased high

guarantee of equipment and personnel even though

earth fault currents in those substations. Therefore, the

the grounding grid can be maintained at a low

outstanding

resistance level. There is no direct connection between

grounding

issues
design

in
are:

transformer
small

substation

grounding

area

the resistance of overall grounding system and a

(5,000~10,000 m ), high soil resistivity (typically

harmful shock to persons. Electric power plants and

500~1200m or higher), lack of condition to lay the

transformer substations with relatively low grounding

external grounding. Although electric power plants

resistance can be very dangerous. On the contrast, by

occupy larger area than transformer substations, it is

careful designing the grounding grid, those with

still a tough challenge in designing ground grid when

higher grounding resistance will become more secure

the soil resistivity is higher and earth current is

(1). The following paragraph will discuss the factors

escalating. In addition, DL/T621-1997 industrial

and the solutions when designing safety grounding for

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

Electric Power Plants, Transformer Substation in high

Step potential difference is the ground surface voltage

soil resistivity areas.

when the distance between the feet of a person is 0.8m.

Because the voltage decreased in soil when earth fault
currents or lighting currents flow into ground, where

2.

The safety grounding design factors

the soil resistivity contributes voltage difference the

andsolutions

most. In the uniform soil, the step potential difference

The aim of sound safety grounding grids design is that

is small due to the lower soil resistivity. Likewise, the

to provide a lower enough secure access point on

step potential difference increased due to the high soil

earth potential, contact potential, and step potential for

resistivity. However, it is far more complicated in the

electric power plants and transformer substations.

non-uniform soil condition. The soil resistivity is still

the main drive of step potential difference on human

Contact potential is formed when earth-fault current

elements, see formula below (3),

flow through equipments and generates distribution

Step potential difference (Allowable Value) Us(V)

potential on the ground surface, the voltage exists

where the distance from ground surface to equipments
is 0.8m horizontal and 1.8m vertically. As a matter of

Us(V)= Ut(v)=(174+0.17f)/
Maximum

Grounding

Step

(3)

potential

difference

fact, the existing mesh of grounding grid generates

voltage between every point on the mesh to grounding.
The maximum contact potential difference is the

Usmax(V)
Usmax(V)= Ksmax Ug

(4)

voltage (maximum value) from the centre of mesh to

the earth electrode of grounding grid. When operators
working with charged equipment shell have grounding

Usmax - Maximum Step Potential Difference;

Ksmax

Coefficient of Maximum Step

access, it is crucial to avoid potential electric shock

hazard by limiting contact potential difference within

Potential Difference

a security level.

Earth potential rise is cause by a grounding fault, the

voltage rise in ground grid when earth current flows

The formulas to calculate allowable contact potential

through electrode. The shift of potential caused by

difference value (Ut(v))and grounding grid maximum

increasing earth potential is not only threat the

contact potential difference (Utmax(v)) are showing as

equipments and operators, but also creates potential

below:

counterattack voltage hazards to local equipments.

Contact Potential Difference (Allowable Value) Ut(v)

The index of earth current and grounding resistivity

are earth potential.

Ut(v)=(174+0.17f)/
Grounding

Grid

Maximum

(2)

Earth potential Ug(v)

Contact

Potential

Difference Utmax(v)

I - Ground short circuit current, A

Utmax=KmaxUg
Utmax

Ug (v)=IR

Maximum

R Earth resistance of grounding devices

Contact

Potential

There are many factors contribute to above three

elements, somehow, the most influential ones are

Difference;
Ktmax

earth fault current (I), duration time (t), shunt

-

Coefficient of Maximum Contact

coefficient of overhead ground wire (K), soil

resistivity

Potential Difference

(),

ground

surface

resistivity

(f),

uniformity of soil resistivity etc.

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

The following paragraphs will also analyze the

considering double-layer soil

requirements, influential factors and solutions to

new contact and step potentials are 773V, 2483V. As

above three security elements in grounding grid

the ground resistance is 2.5, the earth potential value

design. An existing GW substation design data will be

is as high as 28170V, far more great than standard

used to demonstrate influential factors and degrees in

2000V. In order to reach the requirements, the ground

grounding grid design elements.

resistance should below 0.1 and it is 4% of the

The original parameters of a substation grounding

original value, which also suggested minimizing soil

design are listed as below:

(f =2500m), the

resistivity down to 34.8m.

Duration time of ground short circuit (fault)

The argument is focused on how to maintain the

safety of GW substation grounding grid while the

current, t:0.6s

ground resistance cannot be reduced.

Maximum current of earth fault (maximum

shunt coefficient), I:1.5kA

to grounding design parameters

Uniform soil resistivity value (including the

seasonal coefficient),

2.1 The impact of earth fault duration time

As shown on Chart 1, the variation curves of contact
potential and step potential move with earth fault
duration time. It is quite obvious that the fault

500m

duration time has a great impact on safety issues.

Available grounding grid area (109*92m), S:

operating much safer. For instance, when fault cleared

10028m2

in 0.1s, contact and step potentials are 819V, 1657V.

Surface resistivity of cushion macadam (moist),

When it is in 0.6s, the contact and step potentials are

334V and 676V, the allowable voltage are all

f: 2500m
According

Therefore, fast fault clearing will guard substation

decreased to 40% of its value in 0.1s. The fault

to

DL/T621-1997,

devices

duration time has a greater influence to contact

grounding at Electric Power Plants, Transformer

potentials and step potentials, especially between

Substation should dominate horizontal manual

0.1~0.9s. In reality, the switch breaking time and

grounding grids. GW substation proposed to adopt

protection operating time of circuit breaker units that

compound

are mostly relied on the type of equipments and

grounding

grids

electric

which

combined

horizontal and vertical grounding electrodes.

By

manufacture which normally cannot be changed. Also

engineering calculation, the allowable contact and

it would be too expensive and unrealistic if the

step potentials are 334V, 676V respectively. If

changes have to be made.

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

2.2 The impact of ground surface resistivity

to grounding design parameters

Year 2010

surface. For instance, GW substation sets pebble

isolation layer with 2500 m, the number flat steel
required for horizontal ground are 600m (weight

Chart 2 demonstrates the impact of ground surface

2.226t), and it meets step potential requirement by

resistivity to contact potentials and step potentials. It

setting up a 20m mesh distance. Otherwise, the

shows that ground surface resistivity has a greater

number flat steel required for horizontal ground would

impact to the allowable vale of step potentials than

be 20000m (weight 75.4t), and the mesh spacing is

contact potentials. Therefore, it is more effective to

1m which is more than 33 times more than setting

adopt quarantine measures when improving step

pebble isolation layer.

potential hazard. In engineering design, contact

Hence, adopting isolation layer method is more

potentials can be limited by using high soil resistivity

economical wise for substations occupy small area.

material on operating platform.

But rain is a critical element where using pebble

Considering the surface soil resistivity has greater

isolation layer, the resistivity sharply drops when the

impact on the allowable value of contact and step

ground surface is wet or rain. Therefore, it is quite

potentials, ground electrode material usage can be

important to wear insulating shoes when entering

reduced by paving high resistivity material on the

operating areas in raining days or wet seasons.

In the uniform soil environment, there is a negative

resistivity. It has a much obviously result to decrease

linear correlation between earth potential and soil

contact and step potentials by reducing soil resistivity

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

rather than earth potential. And the grounding grids

According to the calculate formula, there is a positive

become secure when resistivity drops down to certain

linear correlation between earth potential and earth

lower value. In applied engineering, it is difficult and

current. It is an effective method to maintain low earth

expensive to reduce resistivity partially, not to

potential, maximum contact and step potentials of

mention dropping down to certain lower value. From

ground grid by decreasing system earth fault current,

above analysis, in order to meet contact potentials, it

increasing ground current distribution, and cutting

is un-realistic and un-achievable to reduce earth

down earth current. In practice, system capacity,

resistance from 2.5 to 0.1 , even though by

impedance, and operating methods are determining

investing great amount of labour and material.

earth fault current. Also fault current in two-phase and

For example, a substation in Shenzhen city, the

single-phase grounding can be limited to certain point

measured earth resistivity was 3.08 before applying

by

any resistance reducing measurements, even though

recommended

adopted the methods of connecting

restricting system operation. With the system capacity

earth to trench,

system

adjustment.
to

earth

However,

decrease
fault

earth

current

it

is

not

potential
will

by

replacing soil, adding resistance reducing agent, and

expending,

increasing

burring earth deep, earth resistivity only dropped

accordingly. To decrease earth current, the ideal

down to 2.6, however, the investment was increased

method is increasing the diversion effect of overhead

7,000,000. Even with the recommended explosion

ground wire, but should considering the affect from

grounding technology which could reduce earth

wiring tower potential.

resistivity by 20%~50%, only reached to 0.62~1.5.

It still does not meet owner required 0.5. When
decrease contact potential to 1243.5 ~ 3108.8V, still

2.4 The impact of grounding grid size to

grounding design parameters

does not meet standard specification of 444.1V. It is

For the grounding grid has sufficient area, there is a

quite challenge to maintain earth potential at 2000V as

negative linear correlation between earth resistance

well as resistivity reached to 0.1.

and square root of ground grid area. With larger

All above, soil resistivity contributes the most to earth

ground grid area, earth resistance is relatively smaller.

potential, while ground surface resistivity affects

Hence, it is an effective way to decrease earth

contact and step potentials the most. In conclusion, the

resistance by increasing ground grid area in the design.

most effective way to solve contact potential and step

As shown in chart 3, when doubling the ground grid

potential issues is that paving high resistivity isolation

area, earth potential and earth resistance are all

layers on the ground.

decreased by 30%. If grounding the lowest resistance

part of soil, the result will be more remarkable. But

2.3 The impact of earth current (or shunt

coefficient
parameters

to

grounding

design

from the practical perspective, on few electric power

plants and substations at the seaside could achieve it,
the rest simply lack of land to adopt this method.

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

2.5 The impact of grounding material quantity to grounding design parameters

To certain grounding grid, increasing the amount of

potential difference from centre of mesh to grounding

grounding material can effectively decline grounding

electrode, and step potential. For instance, there are

contact potential, especially to step potential. As show

cases, in foreign countries where the operation

in chart 4, it demonstrates the reflection of contact and

platform is made from 0.6m * 0.6m (1) metal mesh.

step potential to horizontal grounding material

However, it is not economic wise to solve the

quantity. Mainly because of the additional grounding

excessive contact and step potential issues by

material,

horizontal

adopting excessive grounding material. Reasonable

grounding electrode, not only reduced mesh spacing

use of grounding material and control project cost are

of ground grid, the ground surface potential

must be considered in design.

especially

by

increasing

distribution became more even, but also solved the

is more than 6~7 times (4). Take GW substation for

In summary, by measuring grounding grid of existing

instance, its earth potential is 28.7kV, which is 14.3

electric power plants and substation, also including

times of standard 2kV.

new designed grounding grid, the actual measurement

plants and substations located in high soil resistivity

results of earth, contact and step potentials from

area, it is also not cost effective and realistic by

majority substations are beyond standard. In some

decreasing earth potential to standard. It is a huge

cases, there are few substations are above standard

challenge in ground designing to achieve a reasonable

earth potential limit by 10 times, and contact potential

safe ground grid when the high potential exists.

For those electric power

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG
3.

Complete

Year 2010
ground

grid

design

measurement

insulated frames can be applied in real scenarios. If

the ground grid is located within the fences, it is
necessary to set isolation area out side of the fences

By applying essential measurements to reduce

and displaying electric danger sign to minimize

resistance, the earth potential still cannot be reduced

potential electric hazard to staff. If the ground grid is

to the standard requirement. Grounding grid design

beyond fences, the step potential must satisfy the

should be focused on dealing with voltage equalizer

safety standard.

and isolation, especially on the particular area on

ground grid.

3.1 Voltage equavalent issue on ground grid

edge
Theoretically, electric power plants and substations
are designed on the basis of uniformed soil resistivity.
Actually, soil resistivity is not equivalent either
horizontally or vertically. According to DL/T621-1997
standard, it is difficult for the non-equalizing treated
ground grid to meet contact and step potential
requirement even if the earth potential is below 2000V.

3.3 Control cable grounding issue

It is important to strengthen the control of cable
grounding to prevent counterattack damage to the
cable and secondary equipment. If the cable is not
very long, grounding one end of cable jacket can
reduce current outside of the single-conductor cable.
For a long cable, both sides and the skin of the joint
all should be grounded. To eliminate the EMF, both
ends of shielding control cables should be grounded.
The control cable jacket spacing may be too large at
each grounding point, which will cause large current
flows through cable jacket when earth fault potential
happened. To avoid current damage, the best solution
is installing a separate ground cable on cable jacket
where between grounding point and parallel to the
control cable.

In the case of GW substation, step potential meets

requirement when soil resistivity dropped down to

3.4 Telecommunication cable grounding issue

34.8, however, the contact potential still needs to be

It is important to isolate communication cable to avoid

the shift potential damage.
Communication lines need to take into measurement
in design to ensure the safety of staff and
communication terminal devices. In order for the
substation communication terminal and remote
terminal isolation, consider using fiber optic
communications cable, eliminating high potential of
transfer.

worked on by potential equalizing treatment. Since the

edge effect of earth current, there is a huge potential
gradient on the ground grid edge (1). The design
should be focused on dealing with the voltage
equalize on grid edge.
To prevent potential difference over the standard, the
main measurements are:
a)

Increasing the density and depth along

vertical electrode on ground grid edge

b)

Burying two or more horizontal electrode

around the edge. And the inbuilt electrodes
should go deeper with the distance far away
from substation, which is called the hat
brim voltage potential area.

c)

Changing the distance between horizontal

electrodes on grid. The density of horizontal
electrodes should be higher at where close
to the grid edge.

3.2 Metal frame grounding issue

To prevent the possible earth potential damage caused
by metal frame around electric power plants and
substations, connecting frame to ground grid or using

3.5 Low voltage power supply line grounding

issue
It is critical to isolate low voltage neutral lines to
avoid the shift potential damage caused to residence
from high voltage substations.

In substations or

nearby, neutral lines should be treated as "charged"

conductor, and isolate neutral lines with substation
grounding system by using insulator has a high
potential resistance. Meantime, the neutral wire
should be placed in a secure location to prevent staff
exposed to risks, isolate when necessary.

3.6 Metal pipes grounding issue

All kinds of metal pipes should be isolated to prevent
shifting potentials.
Pipes and metallic conductors should be connected to
grounding systems to avoid internal hazard with
substations. To prevent the high potential spread out
along metal pipes, isolation zone should be set around

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

Year 2010

fences near power plants and substations. Most

importantly, the isolation zone has to be in great
distance to avoid nearby soil bypass.
Isolation area must be able to withstand the potential
difference between a substation and nearby ground earth potential.

among metals, therefore personnel hazard

still obvious even the potential is small on
GIS shell. It is the best solution to reduce
touch potential and step potential hazard by
grounding

4.

multi-point

of

GIS

shell.

Key factors of designing ground grid

Working together with GIS manufacture to

inhighsoilresistivityarea

find out the suitable grounding material size,

a)

Metallic fences grounding

connecting

In the event of earth fault grounding, there

requirement, also the emphasis should be

is a higher potential gradient difference near

focused on DC component, switch actions

fences around power plants and substations

and maximum potential when earth fault

caused by edge effect of earth current.

grounding happened and connect equal

Designers should be alerted that electric

potential properly.

shock hazard still exists regardless of

b)

d)

points

and

shell

potential

System capacity development

whether the fences connected to grounding

System capacity should be designed by the

grid or not, particularly in high soil

life cycle of power plants and substation (1)

resistivity area, it may be worse.

rather

Focusing on voltage equivalent on main

development

building, auxiliary workshop, and coal

DL/T621-1997. By studying cases, it has

transmission system in addition to booster

been found that the follow-up supplement

station of power plants.

and optimize are difficult and expensive.

Above areas are normally considered as

e)

than

standard
plan

5~10

years

recommended

by

Note the side effect caused by un-even soil

crucial parts in the design, it has created

resistivity

touch and step potential hazard due to large

Grounding grid design is based on the

mesh grounding. For example, a LNG

condition of equivalent uniformed soil

power plant in Guangdong province, its

resistivity. Due to the actual effect, the

earth potential value is 20.8kV, if decreasing

designed ground grid is not safe, especially

it down to 20kV, the soil resistivity needs to

in high soil resistivity area. Therefore,

drop from 791 m to 76 m . Under this

followed by grounding grid construction,

circumstance, step potential could still meet

measuring

safety standard even not laying horizontal

distribution curve and eliminate unsafe

electrodes to equivalent potentials. However,

elements to complete setting of grounding

if not paving high soil resistivity isolation

grid.

actual

ground

potential

layer, the required touch potential cannot be

meet even expending mesh distance up to
1m. When the earth potential is 20.8kV, it is

Conclusion
a)

With increasing capacity of the power

required to set a 37m mesh distance on

system and decreasing floor area of power

grounding grid to meet step potential

plants and transformer substation network, it

requirement.

isolation

is a great challenge to design grounding

measurements should to take into account to

grids in high resistivity area and it requires

prevent grounding when staff operation

designers to be more careful.

The lower earth resistance does not mean a
safe ground grid, and ground grid resistance
is not the direct unsafe cause to personnel
and device. Theoretically, no matter how
much ground grid resistance is, a careful

Therefore,

devices.
c)

5.

GIS grounding
As GIS could easily cause touch potential

b)

Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area

Gaoyuan, LIANG

c)

Year 2010

designed ground grid will be very safe. On

the other hand, although the ground network
resistance is low, potential hazard elements
are not considered in design, it is very much
insecure with a grounding grid without
eliminate excessively high touch potential,
step potential, transfer potential.
To stop 2~10kv system valve type arrester
actions, methods can be adopted by

4.

Yang Ziyi, 2000, The Comprehensive

Analysis Of Current Substation Grounding
Design

5.

IEEE

Guide

for

Generating

Station

Grounding IEEE Std665-1995.

decreasing resistance, distribute current and

earth level.
d)

Besides

decreasing

grounding

grid

resistance to lower the earth level, it is much

easier to increase shunt coefficient of
overhead

arrester

wire

to

decrease

grounding current.
e)

To decrease step potential, there are few

methods can be adopted such as increasing
quantity

of

horizontal

electrodes

or

designing a suitable mesh size to meet

requirements.

Distributing

the

unequal

layout of mesh can greatly reduce the cost

of ground grid design.
f)

In order to limit step potential and not using

excessive

horizontal

alternative

solutions

electrode,
are

laying

the
wood

floorboard on operation platform, paving

asphalt and gravel mixture to isolate
platform or using metal ground platform.
g)

In power plant ground grids design, it is

important to take full advantage of existing
building foundations, underground water
pipes to connect equal potential and
eliminate dangerous potentials in entire
power plant ground grid.

Bibliography
1.

IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation

Grounding IEEE Std80-2000

2.

DL/T

621-1997

AC

Electric

Devices

Engineering

Design

Manual

Grounding
3.

Electric

(Electrical Transmission Circuit), BeiJing,

1989, Water Resources and Electric Power
Press.
Grounding Design of Electric Power Plants and Transformer Substations in High Soil Resistivity Area