A method to evaluate voltages to earth during an earth fault on a HV network in a system of interconnected earth electrodes of MV/lv substations

Abstract

An easy and swift method to evaluate, in a system of interconnected earth electrodes, earth potentials on earthing systems of medium-voltage/low-voltage (MV/LV) substations, in an event of single-line-to-earth fault inside a high-voltage/mediumvoltage (HV/MV) station, is presented. The advantage of the method is the simplicity of the mathematical model for solving complex systems of any size with a sufficient accuracy for practical purposes. This paper shows the results of simulations, performed on networks with different extensions and characteristics, organized in easy-to-read graphs and tables. A comparison of these results with the values obtained according to the procedure explained in the IEC-Standard 60909–3, and a study on the accuracy of the method has been made. Moreover, some considerations on the inclusion of earth electrodes of HV/MV stations within global earthing systems are done.