A proposal for ground measurement techniques in substations fed exclusively by power cables

It was previously reported that when a fault to ground occurs in a substation fed exclusively by power cables, around 98% of the fault current can flow along the cable sheaths and auxiliary underground conductors, producing no local potential rise. This can modify greatly the results of ground measurements carried out in this type of substation, unless special care is taken and correction factors are suitably applied. The authors extend the experience gained during those measurement and determine a set of procedures that allow ground measurements to be made in substations fed solely by power cables. They set forth basic requirements for the measuring circuits and for handling the measured data. They then discuss power cable sheath characteristics in some step-down urban substations and ground measurement strategy for such substations