Optimal Grounding System Design Technique for Substation by Using MATLAB Program

Abstract

When using economical principle to consider widely accepted the conventional method basedon the requirement of IEEE Std.80-2000 [1], many disadvantages have been found namely thedesigned grounding system use too many conductors. This directly affects the cost of construction,which is very high. Although the designer recognizes this problem and try to reduce conductors inorder to get the optimal design by decreasing factors influence safety and recalculating in order to getthe most valuable and safe grounding system design, however, the design is trial and error and it isa numerical analysis method. Therefore, designing is complicated and complex. As a result, this articlepresents an effective grounding system design program for substation. This program was created anddeveloped by MATLAB program. Using this program you can choose conventional design method oroptimal design method [2] to reduce the number of conductors and ensure the safety of substation.

This article also presents the instruction and results of such program for both two methods.Afterward the comparison of two results will be presented, which found that the optimal designmethod was able to reduce conductors for up to 11.83%. In addition, it reduces designing time muchmore than the original method and the program is able to print out the hard copy as well. In additionto article, theory and methods of safety design and effecting factors of grounding system design arestudied. Maximum touch & step voltage criteria are discussed. The program can vary value of variousfactors for study that how effect to these voltages and program is simply designed for using, caninterface with designer by GUI, and produces results of design and using a little time for design whichis the advantages of this program.

Keywords : Optimal Grounding Design / Grounding / Substation Design / SubstationGrounding