STEP AND TOUCH POTENTIAL DUE TO EARTH FAULT

Any changes in normal condition of power system can be termed as a fault such as
earth fault, overcurrent fault. The most frequent faults in power networks are single
line to earth faults. Earth fault typically means connection of line conductor with
metallic parts being connected with earthing system. During these faults, due to earth
fault current, potential of metallic parts rises over potential of reference earth (this
potential rise is denoted as ground potential rise GPR) and the potential on the
surface near earthing system increases. Due to this, human beings and animals are
exposed to step and touch voltages, which depend on the distribution of surface
potential.

Step Potential: When a fault occurs at a tower or substation, the current will enter
the earth. Based on the distribution of varying resistivity in the soil (typically, a
horizontally layered soil is assumed) a corresponding voltage distribution will occur.
The voltage drops in the soil surrounding the grounding system can present hazards
for personnel standing in the vicinity of the grounding system. Personnel stepping
in the direction of the voltage gradient could be subjected to hazardous voltages.

Touch Potential is the touch voltage between the energized object and the feet of a
person in contact with the object. It is equal to the difference in voltage between the
object and a point some distance away. The touch potential or touch voltage could
be nearly the full voltage across the grounded object if that object is grounded at a
point remote from the place where the person is in contact with it. For example, a
crane that was grounded to the system neutral and that contacted an energized line
would expose any person in contact with the crane or its uninsulated load line to a
touch potential nearly equal to the full fault voltage.
 Fig 1

Touch voltage and Step Voltage Calculation:

Fig 2
In IEEE Standard 80 the Thevenins theorem is a starting point for calculating touch
voltage (human hands to feet voltage). The two points where equivalent Thevenins
generator and the resistance are connected are: the first terminal is a point on earths
surface, where the person is standing and the second terminal is the grounding
system (a person touches faulty exposed conductive parts in direct contact with
grounding system) (Fig. 1). Fig. 2 presents equivalent circuit which stipulates that
the equivalent voltage source is equal to the voltage of open circuit, i.e. to the voltage
between these two terminals, when a person touching grounded structures is not
present (prospective touch voltage UTp). UTp is equal to the difference of GPR and
earth surface potential of the standing point. The GPR and earth surface potential
rise are a consequence of the earth fault current, which is calculated according to
Standard.

UTp : Prospective Touch Voltage

UT : Voltage On Human Body

RB : Body Resistance

REq : Resistance to current flow between the grounding system and the surface of the
feet

The equivalent circuit for step voltage is as in fig ():

From Thevenin theorem:

UTp = (RB + REq) x IB

And, REq = RF/2

So, the permissible total equivalent voltage becomes:

UTp = ETouch= (RB + RF/2) x IB

In IEEE Standard the equivalent resistance REq is taken to be equal to the resistance
between the feet and the remote earth (RF/2). Strictly applying Thevenins theorem,
this is not correct: theoretically, Thevenins impedance is equal to the resistance seen
from terminals 1 and 2. Since the attaching surface of the feet is small, it can be
assumed without significant loss of accuracy that the impedance REq is equal to the
value of the resistance from feet to remote earth.

Fig 3
The equivalent circuit for step voltage is as in fig:
From Thevenin theorem:
VTh = (RB + ZTh) x IB
And, ZTh = 2RF
Where:
RB is the resistance of the human body in
RF is the ground resistance of one foot (with presence of the substation grounding
system ignored) in
So, the permissible total equivalent voltage becomes:
VTh = EStep = (RB + 2RF) x IB
To get the Step Voltage, we need to calculate the parameters RB, RF and IB.

Reducing Step and Touch Potential Hazards

One of the simplest methods of reducing Step and Touch Potential hazards is to wear
Electric Hazard Shoes. When dry, properly rated electric hazard shoes have millions
of ohms of resistance in the soles and are an excellent tool for personnel safety. On
the other hand, when these boots are wet and dirty, current may bypass the soles of
the boots in the film of material that has accumulated on the sides of the boot. A wet
leather boot can have a resistance on the order of 100 ohms. Furthermore, it cannot
be assumed that the general public, who may have access to the outside perimeter of
some sites, will wear such protective gear.

Another technique used in mitigating Step and Touch Potential hazards is the
addition of more resistive surface layers. Often a layer of crushed rock is added to a
tower or substation to provide a layer of insulation between personnel and the earth.
This layer reduces the amount of current that can flow through a given person and
into the earth. Weed control is another important factor, as plants become energized
during a fault and can conduct hazardous voltages into a person. Asphalt is an
excellent alternative, as it is far more resistive than crushed rock, and weed growth
is not a problem. The addition of resistive surface layers always improves personnel
safety during a GPR event.