By: A.K.Agarwal
PMI, Noida
Contents
Introduction:
Equipment earthing and neutral point earthing.
Methods & Importance of neutral earthing
Concepts, Objectives & Classification of Earthing
General Considerations
Importance
E/F protection is based on method of neutral grounding
System voltage during E/F depends on neutral grounding
Provided basically for discrimination of protection, against
arcing grounds, unbalanced voltage w.r.t. earth, protection
from lightning etc.
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POPULAR ( MIS ) CONCEPTS ABOUT EARTHING
NON HOMOGENEOUS
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Objectives of Earthing :-
Avoid potential rise of parts of equipments other
than the live parts.
Safe passage to earth for the fault current.
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Types of Grounding
Un-grounded System
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Ungrounded neutral system: Normal
Condition
REACTANCE EARTHING
WHILE IN RESISTANCE EARTHING, THE EARTH FAULT CURRENT IS LIMITED TO FULL
LOAD CURRENT OF THE LARGEST GENERATOR OR TRANSFORMER, IN REACTANCE
EARTHING IT WILL BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 25% TO 100& OF 3 PHASE FAULT CURRENT.
Effective Earthing
A system is called effectively earthed if
XO/X1 < 3 is true
&
R0/R1 < 1 is true
X0 : Zero sequence reactance
X1: Positive sequence reactance
R0 : Zero sequence resistance
Under a phase fault condition the voltage of healthy
phase should not rise more than 80% of healthy Line
to line voltage.
Magnitude of earth fault current is more than 3phase
fault current.
Solid grounding
B
Y
R
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Reactance grounding
B
Y
R
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Fault Analysis
The fault current and fault voltage at different
parts of the network will be affected by the
following
Type of fault
Position of the fault
Configuration of the network
Neutral earthing
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Fault Analysis
The most dangerous phenomena is normally the high current
that occurs at a short circuit
Open circuit faults not cause high Overcurrent or high
overvoltages and therefore normally not dangerous to network,
but cause heating in rotating machines, due to the negative
sequence current that will flow in the system. Machines
equipped with negative sequence current protection, needs no
fault calculation
The magnitude of the fault current is dependent on type of fault
that occurs. At earth faults the size of the fault current is
depending on the earthing resistance or reactance (if applicable)
and on the resistance in fault. The fault resistance for a phase
fault is much smaller than that for an earth fault
Three phase faults normally gives the highest short circuit
currents
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Symmetrical Components
Introduced by Fortescue in 1916
Developed in a book by Wagner and Evans
Very efficient for hand-calculations
Forms the base for computer programs
An unbalanced system of n related phases could
be replaced by a system of n balanced phases
which were named the symmetrical
components of the original phases
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Symmetrical Components
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Symmetrical Components
Positive-sequence components, consist of three
phasors of equal magnitude, spaced 120 apart, and
rotating in the same direction as the phasors in the
power system under consideration, i.e. the positive
direction
Negative-sequence components, consist of three
phasors of equal magnitude, spaced 120 apart,
rotating in the same direction as the positive-sequence
phasors but in the reverse sequence
Zero-sequence components, which consist of three
phasors equal in magnitude and in phase with each
other, rotating in the same direction as the positive
sequence phasors
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Symmetrical Components
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Symmetrical Components
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Computation of Fault Current
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Computation of Fault Current
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Computation of Fault Current
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SUBSTATION EARTHING
MAIN INTENTION OF EARTHING IS TO LIMIT THE TRANSIENT OVER
VOLTAGE CAUSED BY RESTRICTING GROUND FAULTS, TO THE LEVEL THAT
THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND ABOUT 250 % OF
THE RATED VOLTAGE. FOR SAFETY TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND TO
LIMIT THE DAMAGE OF THE EQUIPMENT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY MUST OF FAST
CLEARING THE GROUND FAULT.
DURING DRY SEASONS, EARTH PITS MAY BE REGULARLY WATERED AND KEPT
WET TO KEEP THE EARTH RESISTIVITY LOW. GRAVEL OR CRUSHED ROCK
COVERING IS ALSO HELPFUL TO RETARD THE EVAPORATION OF MOISTURE
FROM EARTH.
COMPONENTS OF EARTH PIT
1 Conducting Electrode
2 Contact Point of the electrode and Soil
3 Soil
1
3
TYPES OF ELECTRODE
1. Plate electrode
2. Mesh electrode
3. Cast Iron Pipe electrode
4. G.I. Pipe electrode
5. Rod electrode
6. Strip electrode
7. Chemical electrode
DISPERSION FROM ELECTRODE
Careful
Plate electrode corrodes fast hence recommended thickness
Cast Iron = 12.00 mm
G.I = 06.30 mm
Copper = 03.15 mm
INSTALLATION OF PLATE ELECTRODE
600 mm
1500mm 600 mm
min
1500mm
min
Solid Stratum
Rod or Pipe electrode
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6 13mm
0.5 16mm
0.4 25mm
0.3 100mm
0.2
0.1
0
1.0m 1.2m 2.0m 2.4m 3.0m 3.6m
Parallel Electrodes
When number of rods are connected in
parallel, the resultant is the reciprocal of
the rods connected.
Parallel electrodes should be outside the
resistance area of each other.
Mutual separation shall more than the
depth of the driven electrode
13mm
rod
1 rod R= 27.0
1.2 m min
1.2 m 2 rod R = 13.5
3 rod R = 09.0
Soil resistivity of 35 ohms
Care taken during parallel electrode installation
Strip Earthing
The sizes of strip electrode
generally used are 25 X 3,
50 X 6, 75 X 6 flats and 70
sqmm round bare cables. 600mm
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25 25 X 3
0.2 50 X 6
0.15 75 X 6
70 sq mm
0.1
0.05
0
3m 6m 10m 20m 50m
Material of Electrode
Most corrosive but accepted electrode material are cast
iron, wrought iron, mild steel etc.
Z-90 grade GI has much better life compared to bare
material
Most preferred material of electrode is copper
In many cases molecularly bonded copper over steel is
being effectively used.In case of molecularly bonded
copper 250 micron thickness of copper is needed over
steel.
In case the installation is protected by cathodic
protection, the material used for grounding should have
the same galvanic voltage as that of the cathodically
protected installation. Such material may be selected
referring the galvanic series. Please take care that Copper
may not be suitable in this case
Contact between the Earth and Electrode
R6 R2
R7
R1
R4
R3
R5
MEASUREMENT OF SOIL RESISTIVITY
METHODOLGY ADOPTED
MOISTURE
DISSOLVED SALTS
TEMPERATURE
SEASONAL VARIATION
CURRENT MAGNITUDE
VARIATIONS IN RESISTIVITY DUE TO
MOISTURE,TEMPERATURE,SALT
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
To account for the seasonal variations , the average Soil
resistivity is multiplied by the factor as shown below, which is
termed as the apparent resistivity.
Season of measurement Multiplication factor
Summer 1.0
Winter 1.15
Rainy 1.3
Effect of Salt Moisture and Temperature
on Soil Resistivity
The
The objectives
objectives of
of earthing
earthing system
system :-:-
88
TheThe objectives ofwhich
Parameters earthinginfluence
system :- the earthing
system :-
89
The objectives
Magnitude of earthing
& Time systemCurrent:-
of Fault :-
90
Earthing Conductor:-
91
Earthing Conductor size:-
For MS Rod conductor & corrosion allowance of 0.12mm /yr for 40 years
92
Safe Current for human body
1 mA Threshold of perception
1-6 mA Let go currents
9-25 mA Pain full, hard to let go
25-60 mA Muscular contractions
60-100 mA Ventricular fibrillation
93
Potential Rises during fault
94
Touch Potential & Step Potential Tolerable
0,11
6
t
95
Step potential: The potential
difference shunted by a human
body between two accessible
points on the ground separated by
a distance of one pace assumed to
be equal to one meter
98
For Safe Design,
99
For Safe Design,
100
For Safe Design,
101
Soil Resistivity
102
Tolerable Touch & Step Potentials
103
Area of Gravel spreading
GROUND WIRE
FAULT-2 Igw
Im
Ig FAULT-1
If
In = Im = If = Ig+Igr+Is
Ig = Ig1+Ig2+Ig3.........+Ign