Method

Statement for
Earthing
Protection

: Khabat Thermal Power Plant Units 1&2

PROJECT NAME
DOCUMENT NO.
TITLE

: KP-00+++-CY712B7103
: Method Statement for
Earthing Protection

11.08.2015

R
e
v

(Including Cover)

Purpose
For Information
For Review
For Approval

: Ministry of Electricity (MOE)

of Kurdistan Regional
Government

OWNER

TOTAL 8 PAGES

For Construction
As-Built

For Review

DATE

DESCRIPTION

PREPARE
CHECKE
REVIEWE
APPROVE
D
D
D
D
GAMA POWER SYSTEMS ENG &CONTRACTING,INC.

Owner

Ministry of Electricity (MOE)

of Kurdistan Regional Government
Contractor

POSCO ENGINEERING
& CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
Main Subcontractor

GAMA
POWER SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
&
CONTRACTING,INC.
KHABAT TPP UNITS 1&2

Method
Statement for

Earthing Protection

Doc. No
CY712-B7103

KP-00+++-

Rev. No.
Page

Contents
1.PURPOSE
2.SCOPE
3.DEFINITIONS
4.

OBJECTIVES OF TESTS
EARTH IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT

6.

FALL OF POTENTIAL METHOD OF GROUND IMPEDENCE

7.

STEP AND TOUCH VOLTAGE

8.

5.

EXECUTION of
TEST 9.RESULTS

A
Sayfa 2 / 8

KHABAT TPP UNITS 1&2

Method
Statement for

Doc. No
Rev. No.
Page

KP-00+++-CY712-B7103
A
Sayfa 3 / 8

1. Purpose
This procedure provides a safe, standardized approach for the initial inspection, checkout, testing,
and data documentation of earthing protection used to drive rotating equipment.
2. Scope
Ground. potential surveys, including the measurement of step and touch voltages, and potential
contour surveys.The measurement of earth resistivity.
3. Definitions

Project
:
Company
:
Construction
:
Supplier (Manufacturer/Vendor)
: The supplier (Manufacturer/Vendor) is the party that
manufacturers or supplies equipment and services to perform the duties specified by the
Company or Contractor.
The word SHALL indicate a requirement.
The word SHOULD indicate recommendation.

4. Objectives of Tests

Measurements of ground resistance or impedance and potential gradients on the surface of the
earth due to ground currents are necessary to:
1. Verify the adequacy of a new grounding system
2. Detect changes in an existing grounding system
3. Determine hazardous step and touch voltages
4. Determine ground potential rise (GPR) in order to design protection for power
and communication circuits.

Earth resistivity measurements are useful for:

1. Estimating the ground resistance of a proposed substation or transmission tower
2. Estimating potential gradients including step and touch voltages
3. Computing the inductive coupling between neighboring power and communication circuits
4. Designing cathodic protection systems

5. Earth Impedance Measurement

General
Connections to earth in general are complex impedances, having resistive, capacitive, and
inductive components, all of which affect their current-carrying capabilities. The resistance of
the connection is of particular interest to those concerned with power frequencies because it
is affected by the resistivity of the earth in the area of the connection. The capacitance and
inductance values are of interest to those concerned with higher frequencies, such as are
associated with radio communications and lightning.
Ground-impedance measurements are made:
1)
2)
3)

4)

To determine the actual impedance of the ground connections

As a check on calculations
(3) To determine (a) the rise in ground potential and its variation throughout an area, that
results from ground fault current in a power system, (b) the suitability of a grounding
connection for lightning protection, and the suitability of a grounding connection for
radio-frequency transmission at a transmitter
To obtain data necessary for the design of protection for buildings, the equipment
therein, and any personnel that may be involved

Ground connections of all power and communication systems should be studied to determine
the variation in ground potential that can be encountered during ground-fault conditions so
as to ensure personnel safety, adequacy of insulation, and continuity of service.
insulation, and continuity of service.

6.

Fall-of-Potential Method of Ground Impedence Measuring

This method has several variations and is applicable to all types of ground impedance
measurements.
The impedance of a large grounding system may have an appreciable reactive component when
therefore, the measured value is an impedance and should be so
considered although the terminology often used is resistance.
The method involves passing a current into the electrode to be measured and noting the influence
of this current in terms of voltage between the ground under test and a test potential electrode.
A test current electrode is used to permit passing a current into the electrode to be tested (see Fig
1).

Figure 1Fall-of-Potential Method

The current I through the tested electrode E and the current electrode C, results in earth surface
potential variations.The potential profile along the C, P, E, direction will look as in Fig 2.

Figure 2Apparent Resistance for Various Spacings X

Potentials are measured with respect to the ground under test, E, which is assumed for
convenience at zero potential.
The fall-of-potential method consists of plotting the ratio of V/I = R as a function of probe
spacing x. The potential electrode is moved away from the ground under test in steps. A value of
impedance is obtained at each step. This impedance is plotted as a function of distance, and the
value in ohms at which this plotted curve appears to level out is taken as the impedance value of
the ground under test (see Fig 3).

Figure 3Case of a High-Impedance Ground System

7.

Step and Touch Voltage

The magnitude of step and touch voltage (see Fig 4 ) may be scaled off of a potential contour
map of the site or actually measured by the voltmeter-ammeter method. These values are
proportional to the earth current and (provided that the deep soil resistivity is constant) to the top
soil resistivity.
NOTE A variation of resistivity of the top soil in some cases increases the ground resistance.
This in turn may cause a variation in the earth current. The changes in step and touch voltages
should therefore be determined by taking into account simultaneously, top-soil resistivity and
earth current variations.
Test Application is executed due to the fall of potential method.

Figure 4

8. Execution of Test
1.
2.

Test procedure is based on Fall of Potential method as described in IEEE 80 2000.

Connect Current and Potential probes according to figure 1 . The specific location for the tester connection to
the ground mat will be selected by the personnel in charge of the test. Generally, the test can be performed at
two locations: at a ground riser along the station perimeter fence, or at a ground riser near a piece of
equipment located where the terrain surrounding the station permits straight test leads to run for several
meters (if possible).

3.

Before setting up the tester, the test engineer will select the direction in which the test leads to the remote
Current and Potential probes shall be run. Routing of the test leads is dependent on the terrain, but they
should be run in as straight a line as possible. The set of data should be taken with the longest practical
Current probe distance.

4.

Run the Current and Potential leads to the maximum designated remote test probe distances. Make sure that
the Current and Potential lead wires are separated if they are run in parallel with each other. This
arrangement will minimize the mutual inductance between the lead wires while running the test.

5.

Test leads should not run in parallel to transmission or distribution lines, fences, ungrounded piping, and
railroads because mutual inductance resulting in the flow of stray currents will affect the test results.

6.

6. It is important that the test probes make good contact with the earth. Tamping the earth around the probe,
wetting the earth around the probe, or driving more than one probe and connecting them in parallel are
methods of getting the necessary earth contact in problem soils.

7.

The distance of the most distant Potential probe should be greater than 60% of the Current probe
distance, preferably at 90%. The nearest Potential probe should be placed closer than 20% of the Current
distance. The measurements separation shall be at equal distances to obtain, at least, eight (8) as per
following table.

8.

Record in attached report form, current and voltage measurements or resistance measurement for each
position of Potential probe. For current and voltage measurements, resistance shall be calculated using the
equation R=V/I.

9.

Plot the Resistance (ohms) versus the Potential probe distance. (It simplifies the procedure to express the
Potential distance as a percentage of the Current distance.) The curve should be smooth and slightly Sshaped containing a flat portion in the middle (see figure 3).

9. Results
PROBES
C (d)
m

P (x)
m

MEASUREMENTS
x/d %
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

R=V/I