12/3/2014

How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1 | EEP

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How to Determine Correct Number of

Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and
Pipes) part 1
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1

Introduction
Number of Earthing Electrode and Earthing Resistance depends on the resistivity of soil and time for
fault current to pass through (1 sec or 3 sec). If we divide the area for earthing required by the area of
one earth plate gives the number of earth pits required.
There is no general rule to calculate the exact number of earth pits and size of earthing strip, but
discharging of leakage current is certainly dependent on the cross section area of the material so for
any equipment the earth strip size is calculated on the current to be carried by that strip.
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How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1 | EEP

First
the

leakage current to be carried is calculated and then size of the strip is determined.
For most of the electrical equipment like transformer, diesel generator set etc., the general concept is to
have 4 number of earth pits. 2 nos for body earthing with 2 separate strips with the pits shorted and 2
nos for Neutral with 2 separate strips with the pits shorted.
The Size of Neutral Earthing Strip should be capable to carry neutral current of that equipment.
The Size of Body Earthing should be capable to carry half of neutral Current.
For example for 100kVA transformer, the full load current is around 140A.
The strip connected should be capable to carry at least 70A (neutral current) which means a strip of GI
25x3mm should be enough to carry the current and for body a strip of 253 will do the needful. Normally
we consider the strip size that is generally used as standards.
However a strip with lesser size which can carry a current of 35A can be used for body earthing. The
reason for using 2 earth pits for each body and neutral and then shorting them is to serve as back up. If
one strip gets corroded and cuts the continuity is broken and the other leakage current flows through the
other run thery by completing the circuit.
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Similarly for panels the no of pits should be 2 nos. The size can be decided on the main incomer circuit
breaker.
For example if main incomer to breaker is 400A, then body earthing for panel can have a strip size of
256 mm which can easily carry 100A.
Number of earth pits is decided by considering the total fault current to be dissipated to the ground in case
of fault and the current that can be dissipated by each earth pit. Normally the density of current for GI
strip can be roughly 200 amps per square cam. Based on the length and dia of the pipe used the number
of earthing pits can be finalized.

1. Calculate numbers of pipe earthing

A. Earthing resistance and number of rods for isolated earth pit
(without buried earthing strip)
The earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per BS 7430:

R=/23.14xL (loge (8xL/d)-1)

Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
L = Length of electrode (meter),
D = Diameter of electrode (meter)
Example:
Calculate isolated earthing rod resistance. The earthing rod is 4 meter long and having 12.2mm diameter,
soil resistivity 500 meter.
R=500/ (23.144) x (Loge (84/0.0125)-1) =156.19 .
The earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per IS 3040:

R=100x/23.14xL (loge(4xL/d))
Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
L = Length of electrode (cm),
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How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1 | EEP

D = Diameter of electrode (cm)

Example:
Calculate number of CI earthing pipe of 100mm diameter, 3 meter length. System has fault current 50KA
for 1 sec and soil resistivity is 72.44 -Meters.
Current Density At The Surface of Earth Electrode (As per IS 3043):
Max. allowable current density I = 7.571000/(xt) A/m2
Max. allowable current density = 7.571000/(72.44X1) = 889.419 A/m2
Surface area of one 100mm dia. 3 meter Pipe = 2 x 3.14 x r x L = 2 x 3.14 x 0.05 x3 = 0.942
m2
Max. current dissipated by one Earthing Pipe = Current Density x Surface area of
electrode
Max. current dissipated by one earthing pipe = 889.419x 0.942 = 837.83 A say 838 Amps
Number of earthing pipe required = Fault Current / Max.current dissipated by one earthing pipe.
Number of earthing pipe required = 50000/838 = 59.66 Say 60 Nos.
Total number of earthing pipe required = 60 Nos.
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 100x/23.14xLx(loge (4XL/d))
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 10072.44 /23.14x300x(loge (4X300/10)) = 7.99
/Pipe
Overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipe = 7.99/60 = 0.133 .

B. Earthing resistance and number of rods for isolated earth pit

(with buried earthing strip)
Resistance of earth strip (R) As per IS 3043:

R=/23.14xLx (loge (2xLxL/wt))

Example:
Calculate GI strip having width of 12mm , length of 2200 meter buried in ground at depth of 200mm, soil
resistivity is 72.44 -meter.
Resistance of earth strip(Re) = 72.44/23.14x2200x(loge (2x2200x2200/.2x.012)) = 0.050
From above calculation overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipes (Rp) = 0.133 .
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And it connected to bury earthing strip. Here net earthing resistance = (RpxRe)/(Rp+Re)
Net eatrthing resistance = (0.1330.05)/(0.133+0.05) = 0.036

C. Total earthing resistance and number of electrode for group

(parallel)
In cases where a single electrode is not sufficient to provide the desired earth resistance, more than
one electrode shall be used. The separation of the electrodes shall be about 4 m. The combined resistance
of parallel electrodes is a complex function of several factors, such as the number and configuration of
electrode the array.
The total resistance of group of electrodes in different configurations as per BS 7430:

Ra=R (1+a/n)

where

a=/2X3.14xRxS

Where:
S = Distance between adjustment rod (meter),
= Factor given in table below,
n = Number of electrodes,
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
R = Resistance of single rod in isolation ()
Factors for parallel electrodes in line (BS
7430)
Number of electrodes (n)

Factor ()

1.0

1.66

2.15

2.54

2.87

3.15

3.39

3.61

10

3.8

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For electrodes equally spaced around a hollow square, e.g. around the perimeter of a building, the
equations given above are used with a value of taken from following table.
For three rods placed in an equilateral triangle, or in an L formation, a value of = 1.66 may be
assumed.
Factors for electrodes in a hollow square (BS
7430)
Number of electrodes (n)

Factor ()

2.71

4.51

5.48

6.13

6.63

7.03

7.36

7.65

10

7.9

12

8.3

14

8.6

16

8.9

18

9.2

20

9.4

For Hollow square total number of electrodes (N) = (4n-1).

The rule of thumb is that rods in parallel should be spaced at least twice their length to utilize the full
benefit of the additional rods. If the separation of the electrodes is much larger than their lengths and only
a few electrodes are in parallel, then the resultant earth resistance can be calculated using the ordinary
equation for resistances in parallel.
In practice, the effective earth resistance will usually be higher than calculation.
Typically, a 4 spike array may provide an improvement 2.5 to 3 times. An 8 spike array will typically
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How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1 | EEP

give an improvement of maybe 5 to 6 times.

The Resistance of Original Earthing Rod will be lowered by Total of 40% for Second Rod, 60% for third
Rod,66% for forth rod.
Example:
Calculate Total Earthing Rod Resistance of 200 Number arranges in Parallel having 4 Meter Space of each
and if it connects in Hollow Square arrangement. The Earthing Rod is 4 Meter Long and having 12.2mm
Diameter, Soil Resistivity 500 .

First Calculate Single Earthing Rod Resistance:

R = 500/ (23.144) x (Loge (84/0.0125)-1) =136.23 .
Now calculate total resistance of earthing rod of 200 number in parallel condition:
a = 500/(23.14x136x4) =0.146
Ra (Parallel in Line) =136.23x (1+100.146/200) = 1.67 .
If earthing rod is connected in Hollow square than rod in each side of square is 200 = (4n-1) so n = 49
No.
Ra (in hollow square) =136.23x (1+9.40.146/200) = 1.61 .
Originally published at Electrical Notes - Calculate Numbers of Plate/Pipe/Strip Earthings (Part1)

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About Author //
Jignesh Parmar
jiguparmar - Jignesh Parmar has completed his B.E(Electrical) from Gujarat University. He is member of
Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than 12 years experience in
Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical Projects
(Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He is Presently associate with one of the
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leading business group as a Assistant Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has

published numbers of Technical Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India",
"Lighting India", "Industrial Electrix"(Australian Power Publications) Magazines.
He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base
Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger
and Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share
his experience & Knowledge and help technical enthusiasts to find suitable
solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

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