Grounding Calculation

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EASURING AND ENHANCING TOWER FOOTING RESISTANCE FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION IN AN 88KV LINE
Available) · January 2017 with 1,890 Reads

rican Universities Power Engineering Conference, At Stellenbosch, South Africa, Volume: 1
ngh Inno Davidson

y of KwaZulu-Natal 24.11 ·Durban University of Technology
K. Venayagamoorthy
Clemson University
to terminate on the earthwire and/or tower. Depending on factors such as the conductor, tower, soil impedance and
e, it will result in flashover across an insulator and the resultant fault surge will propagate along the line until it is
reaker operates. This movement of the surge currents of associated equipment such as circuit breakers and
acts network performance adversely. The paper investigates the concept of tower footing resistances and the factors
hing resistances. Tower footing resistance needs to be kept uniform and as low as possible to prevent back flashovers
nder lightning conditions. Theoretical simulations were conducted on the different methods that are available to
ting resistance values. A case study was undertaken to ascertain the tower footing resistance of an 88kV Eskom line.
onfiguration was then utilized to reduce the footing resistance to a value less than 30 ohms. Results obtained are
sed.
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METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING AND ENHANCING TOWER

FOOTING RESISTANCE FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION IN AN
88KV LINE
E. Singh* and I.E. Davidson** G.K. Venayagamoorthy***
* Discipline of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal,

Howard College, Durban, 4041, South Africa E-mail: singhh@eskom.co.za
** Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment,
Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
E-mail: innocentd@dut.ac.za
*** Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Clemson University, 303-D Riggs Hall Clemson
University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA, Email : gvenaya@clemson.edu
Abstract: Lightning strikes tend to terminate on the earthwire and/or tower. Depending on factors
such as the conductor, tower, soil impedance and magnitude of the strike, it will result in flashover
across an insulator and the resultant fault surge will propagate along the line until it is extinguished or
the breaker operates. This movement of the surge currents
of associated equipment such as circuit breakers and transformers and impacts network performance
adversely. The paper investigates the concept of tower footing resistances and the factors that
influence the earthing resistances. Tower footing resistance needs to be kept uniform and as low as
possible to prevent back flashovers across the insulator under lightning conditions. Theoretical
simulations were conducted on the different methods that are available to improve the tower footing
resistance values. A case study was undertaken to ascertain the tower footing resistance of an 88kV
Eskom line. The crows earthing configuration was then utilized to reduce the footing resistance to a
value less than 30 ohms. Results obtained are presented and discussed.
Keywords: Tower Footing Resistance, soil resistivity, electrodes, earthing, lightning.
1. INTRODUCTION An earth electrode is a metal plate, pipe or condu

electrically connected to earth. They are usually mad
ooting resistance is the resistance offered by the copper or aluminium or mild steel or galvanized st
arts of the tower combined with the ground Some of the factors that influence the earthing are
e to the dissipation of current. The significance [6]:
value of tower footing resistance results in less
stresses across the line insulation. A lightning (i.) Resistance of the electrode or group of electro
the tower results in high currents flowing into (ii.) Composition of the soil in the immed
nd through the tower footing. This gives rise to neighbourhood.
ation and thermal effects. As a result, the ground (iii.) Temperature of the soil
e of the tower base decreases by an amount (iv.) Moisture content of the soil
ng on the soil resistivity, the current magnitude (v.) Depth of the electrode
r footing construction [1], [2], [3], [4]. Hence the
ooting resistance value should be as low as 2.2 Soil Resistivity
to prevent line back flashover and maintain the
potential rise within safety tolerance. The lower Soil resistivity can be defined as the resistance of a c
r footing resistance, the more negative reflections of soil of 1 m size measured between any two oppo
uced from the tower base towards the tower top. faces. It is usually expressed in Ohm-metres. This
sts in lowering the peak voltage at the tower top. key factor in determining the resistance of the charg
electrode and the depth level it should be plant to ob
FACTORS AFFECTING TOWER FOOTING low resistance.
RESISTANCE
The resistance of the soil differs from place to place
e two key factors the affect the tower footing fluctuates seasonally. Soil resistivity depends on
es: These are: following factors [5], [7]:
Electrode configuration (i.) Moisture

Soil Resistivity (ii.) Minerals
(iii.) Dissolved salts
rode Configuration
er the soil resistivity is, the less the number of

es required to achieve the desired earth resistance The model was written with the variables been input
n additional factor that needs to be considered is the program and the tower footing resistance been
er thickness. The soil environment can be output. At this stage the soil resistivity is considered to
ed as an upper layer and a more conductive lower uniform.
. Normally the grid or the electrode is buried in Figure 1 shows the relationship between the numbe
er layer. Detailed modelling is required to electrodes and tower footing resistance. From the gra
e the soil resistivity for multi-layer and depth of one can deduce that the tower footing resistance tend
converge towards a particular number as the numbe
electrodes increases. Based to this, it is not economic
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY viable to increase the number of electrodes beyond
re different types of earthing methods and

ation available for improving tower footing 3.2 Horizontal electrode (crows foot)
e. There are different types of earth electrodes
e are: Horizontal electrodes are particularly effective whe
down wire is connected to a point in the middle of
Vertical electrode (Driven rod) electrode. This configuration has the effect of halving
Horizontal electrode surge inductance due to the parallel transmission p
Earthing grid created. They can be effective when used in combina
Ring electrode with spike electrodes, located close to the junction of
down conductor. The resistance maybe calculated u
cal electrode (Driven rod) the expression:
e common method of earthing towers is by the Rg =

electrode method. Here an electrode is driven
y into the ground. Should the desired resistance Where:
met with a single electrode, additional electrodes = soil resistivity in ohm-meter
riven into the ground. These electrodes would be L = Buried length of the electrode in meters
el, which would reduce the resistance. A genetic d = Diameter of the electrode in meter
was developed in MATLAB to calculate tower h = buried depth of the electrode in meter
resistance. This was developed based on the
g formula [5], [7]: A genetic model was developed in MATLAB,
calculate tower footing resistance. This was develo
[ln ((L/a) + ((rods- 1)*D))]/(2*rods*pi*L) (1) based on equation (2). The parameters used are:
90 ohm-meter
er footing resistance h = 0.5 meters
esistivity d = 10 mm
h of conductor (meters) L = 10 meter and increased to 60 meters
us of conductor (meters)
ance between rods (meters)
umber of electrodes
Download
Figure 2: Relationship citationearth
between Share
resistance Download full-text PDF
length of conductor
Relationship between number of electrodes and
oting resistance
ure 2, it can be deduced that there is a significant further benefit of a reduction of earthing values. T
n in the earthing value as the conductor length information is valuable in carrying out optim
s. The reduction is approximately 78%, which is economic design of earthing systems.
nt. A further scenario was considered where the
f the conductor was maintained at 50meters and
h to which it is buried varied between 0.5 to 4
Figure 4: Relationship between resistance values

Relationship between earth resistance and depth number of conductors.
e graph it can be seen that the reduction of earth
e is 19.6%. In both scenarios, once again a 3.4 Options to improve high tower footing resistance
e used against further benefit of a reduction of The tower footing resistance can be minimized
values. adopting the following techniques:
al conductors (i.) Use of short length radial conductors bonded at
injection point, rather than a single long len
he interaction of the radial conductors, doubling conductor. This produces the effect of havin
ber does not have affect the resistance. The number of conductors in parallel.
in resistance is approximated by: (ii.) Terminating radial conductors with vert
electrodes. These measures are more effectiv
low to medium soil resistivity.
Rg = (3) (iii.) Using large bending radii when changing
direction of horizontal conductors. Sharp be
tend to increase the inductance.
resistivity in ohm-meter (iv.) The use of earth enhancing compounds to impr
ed length of the electrode in meters the soil resistivity in the proximity of
meter of the electrode in meter conductor, which will reduce the tower foo
d depth of the electrode in meter resistance
ber of radials
3.5 Measurement of tower footing resistance
shows the relationship between the number of Various instruments can be used to measure to
and resistance. The following unit parameter footing resistance. These meters should inject a h
ere used: = 90, L = 50, d = 0.01, h = 0.5 frequency lightning-like pulse into the base of the to
d th lt f ti f
See allof
› radials
See and measures the voltage response as a function of
Number andallresistance
› injected current to give one an
Download impedance
citation value. Thi
Share Download full-text PDF
12Citations
3 11 4References
6 8 12 often referred to as the fall of potential method.
0.7 1.53 2.45 4.42 6.5 11
s 2.19 1.61 1.34 1.09 0.96 0.85 Meters, such as the Zed Meter varies from conventio
three/four terminal low frequency earth testers. Th
er of radial conductors
testers use a low frequency generator that measures
power system resistance of a tower and adjacent para
towers. Due to the high frequency nature of lightning,
ure 4 shows once again that
affected tower is treated as isolated and ignores
in terms of the amount of electrode used against
effect of adjacent towers. To simulate the high Figure 6: Tower footing resistance values along a terra
y response of the single affected tower, a high
y pulse generator is required to calculate the The earthing on the towers with high resistance v
mpedance. were improved. This was done by including copper in
be noted that a low frequency generator will not on selected towers where the resistance value was gre
the same high frequency response and as a result than 30 ohms. Figure 6 illustrates the additional earth
er read the impedance value since the shield-wire installed to improve the resistance on selected towers
cent towers dampen the frequency response of an 88kV line.
ted current pulse.
The new tower footing resistance values superimposed
the old values are shown in the figure 7.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Figure 7: Old and new tower footing resistances
wer footing resistance of an 88kV line was

ed during 2014/15. This line passes through 5. CONCLUSIONS
terrains, which includes forestry and rocky
The measured value is shown in figure 5.
Various methods are available to calculate, measure

correct tower footing resistance. The measurement on
88kV line was carried out on a majority of the tow
Tower footing resistance values along a terrain These towers were located in flat level terrain and in h
rocky areas. The values obtained varied from 3
e seen that the resistance value varies along the ohms. Additional horizontal electrodes based on cur
f the 49km line. In certain case, high values are standards were then added to the towers with h
. The impact of these high values is that under resistance. Measurements were then taken to ensure
condition, a high number of back flashovers the values were reduced to values close to or below
cur. This would lead to the circuit breaker ohms. Various simulations were undertaken u
g resulting in a poor quality of supply to the MATLAB software to reduce tower footing resista
rs. In cases, the customers with sensitive The installation of additional copper electrode wo
nt may have their production or parts of their assist, but the cost factor associated is high and that ne
to be included and justified using a cost-benefit analy
on stopped due to these interruptions
on stopped
See all ›
due toSee
these interruptions.
all › This is particularly significant if this has to be carried
hing1 Improvement
Citations 11 References on a large number ofDownload
towers. citation Share
Hence a trade-off or bre Download full-text PDF
even point has to be reached between the number/amo
of copper electrodes to be used and the cost/benefi
further earthing resistance reduction.
6. REFERENCES
[1] G. Radhika, M. Suryakalavathi and G. Soujan
International Journal of Compu

Communication and Information System Vol 2
1, July Dec 2010, pages 167-172.
Hayashi, Y. Mizuno and K. Naito

nsmission Line Arresters for Tower With High
IEEE Transaction on Power
very, Vol 23, No 4, October 2008, pages 2456-
0.
w.abb.com
Li-Hsiung, C. Jiann-Fuh, L.Tsorng-Juu and W.
n-
age for buried ground rod with insulation lead
tric Power Systems Research 78, 2008, pages
1007.
Gouda, G.M.Amer and T.M El-Saied,
cting the Apparent Soil Resistivity of Mult-
5.
Davidson. orithm for
Proceedings of the 6th
hern African Universities Power Engineering
ference (SAUPEC), University of the
watersrand, South Africa, January 1996, Vol. 6,
279-282, 1996.
, Adegboyega and K.O. Odeyemi
Soil Resistivity on Grounding of Electrical
ems: A case study of North-
nal of Academic and Applied Studies; Vol 1(3)
ember 2011, Pages 28-38.
hnologies: Available at:

w.lightningman.com.au
Lo Piparo, T. Kisielewicz, C. Mazzetti and F.
mingo Protection of apparatus against lightning
e in an extended earthing arrangement
ceedings of the 16th IEEE International
ference on Environment and Electrical
ineering, Florence, Italy, 7-10 June 2016, pages
151.
Pires, J.W.L. Nerys, C.L.B. Silva, N. Diogo,
C li t AJ Al C t ti f
. See
Calixto, A.J.See Alves
all › Potential all Computation of
stance and of› Grounding Grids in any Download citation Share Download full-text PDF
metry1 Proceedings Of the 16th IEEE
Citations 11 References
rnational Conference on Environment and
trical Engineering, Florence, Italy, 7-10 June
6, pages 142-147.
eferences (11)
he two layer model when defining earthing system evaluation. Some advantages of low soil resistivity include: the
equired to achieve the desired earth resistance is less than when the soil resistivity is high [6] . According to IEEE 80 [7],
model is sufficient for conducting a suitable design. ...
a metal pipe, conductor or plate which is electrically connected to earth and it is generally made of aluminium or copper
mild steel. The factors affecting the earthing are [6] : ...
ers can be improved by the using vertical electrode method. The electrode is driven vertically into the ground, should
be met, addition electrodes can be can be driven into the ground in parallel to reduce resistance [6] : ...
ty and its Impact on Grounding Systems Design

-text available
da · Elutunji Buraimoh · Eddie Singh · Inno Davidson
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12/24/2018 (PDF) METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING AND ENHANCING TOWER FOOTING RESISTANCE FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTIO…

See all › See all ›

Available) · January 2017 with 1,890 Reads

ngh Inno Davidson

Homes in Manapakkam from 61L

no Davidson Author content Download full-text PDF

METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING AND ENHANCING TOWER

E. Singh* and I.E. Davidson** G.K. Venayagamoorthy***

* Discipline of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal,

Keywords: Tower Footing Resistance, soil resistivity, electrodes, earthing, lightning.

1. INTRODUCTION An earth electrode is a metal plate, pipe or condu

Electrode configuration (i.) Moisture

er the soil resistivity is, the less the number of

re different types of earthing methods and

e common method of earthing towers is by the Rg =

Figure 4: Relationship between resistance values

wer footing resistance of an 88kV line was

Various methods are available to calculate, measure

[1] G. Radhika, M. Suryakalavathi and G. Soujan

International Journal of Compu

Hayashi, Y. Mizuno and K. Naito

hnologies: Available at:

ty and its Impact on Grounding Systems Design

da · Elutunji Buraimoh · Eddie Singh · Inno Davidson

Analysis of Soil Resistivity and its Impact on Grounding Systems Design

Conference Paper Full-text available

Article Full-text available

Lightning Transient Analysis of Telecommunication System with a Tubular Tower

Yang Zhang · Hongcai Chen · Ya Ping Du · Qingsha Cheng

About Support Business solutions

News Help center Recruiting

© ResearchGate 2018. All rights reserved. Imprint ·Terms ·Privacy

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E. Singh* and I.E. Davidson G.K. Venayagamoorthy*