GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICES FOR EARTHING SYSTEM

EARTHING - DEFINITION IS:3043-1987 CL.2.7 EARTHING OR EARTH - THE CONDUCTIVE MASS OF THE EARTH WHOSE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL AT ANY POINT IS CONVENIENTLY TAKEN AS ZERO. IEEE:142-1991 A CONDUCTING CONNECTION, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL, BY WHICH ELECTRIC CIRCUIT OR EQUIPMENT IS CONNECTED TO THE EARTH OR SOME CONDUCTING BODY OF RELATIVELY LARGE EXTENT THAT SERVES IN PLACE OF THE EARTH.

EARTHING - GROUNDING
GENERAL TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING GROUNDING means connection of current carrying parts to ground, like transformer or generator neutral EARTHING means connection of non-current carrying parts to ground, like metallic enclosures parts to ground, like metallic enclosures ACTUAL AS PER STANDARDS To quote from IS:3043, CL.0.7 the terms Earthing and Grounding are synonymous. To quote from IEC:60050 The terms Earth as well as Ground have both been in general use to describe the common power/signal reference point interchangeably around the world in the Electro-technical terminology. To quote from Earthing Practice CDA Publication 119 1997 (vide BS 7430:1991 Code of Practice for Earthing) It is worth noting that in Europe tend to use the term earthing, whilst in North America, the term grounding is more common.

TYPES OF EARTHING

ELECTRIC POWER EARTHING - system earthing, associated with current carrying conductor normally essential to security of system , viz. earthing of transformer and generator neutrals. - equipment or protective earthing, associated with noncurrent carrying metallic parts, essential to safety of human life, animals , plant equipment and property, viz. enclosures of motors, switchgear panels, etc. ELECTRONIC EARTHING - signal reference and telecommunications earthing - signal return conductors - counterpoise LIGHTNING PROTECTION EARTHING - lightning and switching surges earthing

PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVE OF EARTHING SYSTEM

TO PROVIDE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE A SURFACE UNDER AND AROUND A STATION AT UNIFROM POTENTIAL AND AS NEARLY ZERO OR ABSOLUTE EARTH POTENTIAL AS POSSIBLE.
OR IN OTHER WORDS TO PROIVDE ZERO POTENTIAL SURFACE IN AND AROUND THE AREA AND UNDER THE AREA FOR INSTALLATION OF THE EQUIPMENT.

OBJECTIVES OF EARTHING
preventing development of voltage to earth and protection against the occurrence of overvoltages (transients) protecting human beings against accidental electric shocks protecting plant equipment and property against flow of heavy fault current protection against discharges of static electricity protection against lightning and switching surges protection against stray currents facilitating supervision and measurement improving reliability of electrical system

DESIGN OF EARTHING
-

OBJECTIVES OF DESIGN OF SYSTEM EARTHING to preserve security of the system by ensuring the potential on each conductor restricted to such a value as consistent with the level of insulation applied. to ensure efficient and fast operation of protective gear in the case of earth faults from the point of view of safety. to prevent flow of current through the earth under normal conditions, and thus to avoid accompanying risks of electrolysis and interference with communication circuits due limitation of each system earthing to one point. to limit overall system resistance to such a value so as to ensure operation of protective gear upon occurrence of fault for isolating the faulty circuit .

DESIGN OF EARTHING
OBJECTIVES OF DESIGN OF EQUIPMENT EARTHING - to ensure safety of human beings from dangerous electric shock due to voltages exposure in the area. - to provide adequate current carrying capability to earth conductor, both in magnitude and duration, to accept earth fault current permitted by the over-current protective system without causing fire or creating explosive hazard to the plant and properties. - to supplement efforts to improve performance of the electrical system by contributing to better stability against earth faults by providing return path in circuit without introducing additional impedance ensuring operation of protective gear.

FACTORS INFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING

TYPE OF S OIL BLACK COTTON, YELLOW S AND, ROCKS S , ALINE M OIS TURE CONTENT IN S OIL, AFFECTING UP TO S E EXTENT OM S OIL RES TIVITY IS S OIL TEM PERATURE AFFECTING IN AREA HAVING FREEZING TEM PERATURES FACTORS TO BE CONS IDERED FOR DES IGN OF EARTHIN G

PROS PECTIVE FAULT CURRENT

RES TANCE OF EARTH IS ELECTRODE NEGLECTED DUE TO VERY LOW RES TANCE IS

M ATERIAL OF CONS TRUCTION OF EARTH ELECTRODE AFFECTING IN CAS OF PROTECTIVE EARTH E CONDUCTOR

DESIGN OF EARTHING
FACTORS INLFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING RESISTANCE TO EARTH Earthing resistance offered by electrode depends on i . resistance of metal electrode ii . contact resistance between surface of metallic earth electrode and soil iii. resistance of the soil (soil resitivity) from the electrode surface outward in the geometry set up for the flow of current outward from the electrode to infinite earth Factor i. and ii. neglected in design due to their offering of fraction of ohm resistance Factor iii. Important one due to dependence of design on soil resistivity

DESIGN OF EARTHING
FACTORS INFLUENCING DESING OF EARTHING Soil resitivity depends on i . type of soil , grain size and distribution , etc. ii. soil conductivity electrolytic in nature affected by moisture content, though up to some extent only iii. chemical properties of soil and concentration of salts dissolved in its water content , i.e. soil resistivity in coastal areas usually found low at 1 5 ohm-m due to saline land iii. soil temperature, soil resistivity rising at lower temp due to abnormal increase in temperature co-efficient of soil at freezing and sub-zero temp levels

DESIGN OF EARTHING
FACTORS INFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION OF EARTH ELECTRODE Earthing system resistance not influenced by material of construction of earth electrode as observed from calculations for resistance offered by different types of electrodes in next slide. Symbols used in next slide in calculations R = resistance offered by earth electrode in ohm A = area of plate for both sides in m2 = resistivity of the soil in Ohm-m L = length of the Rod or Pipe in cm d = diameter of the Rod or Pipe in cm L = length of the Strip in cm w= depth of burial of the electrode in cm t = width (in the case of Strip) or twice the diameter (in the case of Conductor) in cm.

SOIL RESITIVITY VS. MOISTURE CONTENT

FACTORS INFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING MATERIAL OF EARTH ELECTRODE Resistance offered by Plate Electrode

R A

100 4l log e Resistance offered by Pipe Electrode R 2 l d

100 2 l2 Resistance offered by Strip Electrode R 2 l log e w t

Parameters, soil resistivity and dimensions of electrode, affecting resistance offered by electrodes, no bearing of material, whether GI, copper or MS

DESIGN OF EARTHING
FACTORS INFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING
MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION OF PROTECTIVE CONDUCTOR Dependence of design of sizing of Protective Conductor for equipment earthing on the material of construction due to variation in capability of protective conductor to withstand short time current ratings according to the material of construction of the conductor.

I 1 k S t
S = cross-sectional area of protective conductor in mm2 I = fault current (ac rms) for a fault of negligible impedance flowing through protective device in amperes t = operating time of the disconnecting device in seconds K= factor dependent on material of protective conductor, insulation and other parts, and initial and final temperatures. Values of k for protective conductors in various use or service to be taken from IS:3043 for time (t) of 1 and 3 sec respectively

DESIGN OF EARTHING
FACTORS NOT POSSIBLE TO EXERCISE ANY CONTROL NATURAL FACTORS, SUCH AS TYPE OF SOIL, CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE CONTENT IN SOIL, OBSERVED INFLUENCING DESIGN OF EARTHING WIDE VARIATION IN TYPE OF SOIL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL EVEN IN ONE PIECE OF LAND AMBIENT TEMEPRATURE CHANGING DAILY AND FROM SEASON TO SEASON SAME APPLICABLE TO MOISTURE CONTENT FACTORS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL DESIGN OPTIMISATION TYPE OF ELECTRODES SIZE OF ELECTRODES DEPTH OF ELECTRODE (FOR STRIP TYPE ELECTRODES) MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION (FOR PROTECTIVE EARTH CONDUCTORS) DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT ELECTRODES

BONDING WITH EARTHING

Bonding means permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path assure electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed. Essentiality of proper bonding for achieving effective earthing in reference to grounding - to provide a continuous equipment earthing conductor and an effective low-impedance path to electrical equipment, metal raceways, and enclosures through bonding conductor - to allow for the flow of short circuit currents to ground or between phases on ungrounded systems through bonding conductor - to assure tripping protective devices in the affected circuit for quickly isolating faulty section from source of electric power - to prevent arcing and sparking caused by short circuit current flow along such a path through availability of continuous equipment earthing conductor due to proper bonding

GOOD EARTHING PRACTICES

EARTHING SYSTEM GENERALLY FOUND NEGLECTED IN MANY PLANTS, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, ELECTRICITY SUPPLY UTILITY COMPANIES, DOMESTIC ESTABLISHMENTS, AGRICULTURE EARTHING BEING ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL PRE-REQUISITE FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE OF POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK, RELIABILITY, AND MOST VITAL SAFETY OF PLANT EQUIPMENT AND HUMAN BEINGS WORKING THEIRIN DESIGN OF SYSTEM WITH SCIENTIFIC APPROACH AND GOOD JUDGEMENT OF FACTORS BASED ON EXPERIENCE FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE OF EARTHING SYSTEM AND COST ECONOMY BY AVOIDING OVERSIZING. PERIODIC PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE BASED ON CONDITION MONITORING MUST FOR EARTHING SYSTEM IN COMPARISON TO MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS OF OTHER EQUIPMENT. NO MAJOR INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CONDITION MONITORING EARTH RESISTANCE TESTER AND RESISTANCE MEASURING INSTRUMENT REQUIRED. DIFFERENT CONCEPTS FOR DESIGNING OF EARTHING FOR OUTDOOR SWITCHYARD APPLICATIONS AND PLANT AREAS

SOIL RESISTIVITY VS. MOISTURE CONTENT

AS SEEN FROM GRAPH, VERY LITTLE EFFECT ON SOIL RESISTIVITY ABOVE ABOUT 20 PERCENT MOISTURE CONTENT ABRUPT INCREASE IN SOIL RESITIVITY WITH MOISTURE CONTENT GOING BELOW 20 PERCENT WITH MAINTAINING OF MOISTURE CONTENT AROUND 20 PERCENT, NO POINT IN ADDING MORE WATER INTO THE EARTHING STATION PIT WITH 10% NORMAL MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOIL IN DRY SEASONS TO 35 PERCENT IN WET SEASONS, AVERAGING BETWEEN 16 AND 18 PERCENT, DRY EARTH WEIGHING ABOUT 1440 KG PER CUBIC METER AND 10 PERCENT MOISTURE CONTENT MEANS ABOUT 144 KG OF WATER PER CUBIC METER OF DRY SOIL.

SOIL RESITIVITY VS. MOISTURE CONTENT

STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR EARTHING THE INDIAN ELECTRICITY RULES, 1956

ALL MEDIUM VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT TO BE EARTHED BY TWO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CONNECTIONS WITH EARTH. NEUTRAL POINTS OF HIGH AND EXTRA HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEMS TO BE EARTHED BY NOT LESS THAN TWO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CONNECTIONS WITH EARTH AT GENERATING STATIONS AND SUBSTATIONS, EACH HAVING ITS OWN EARTH ELECTRODE, TO BE EARTHED AT ANY OTHER POINT, IF REQUIRED, ENSURING NO INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY SUCH MULTIPLE EARTH CONNECTIONS. IN CASE OF DIRECT EARTHING PROVING HARMFUL RATHER THAN PROVIDING SAFETY, AS IN CASE OF HIGH FREQUENCY CORELESS FURNACES, RELIEF TO BE OBTAINED. EARTHING TO BE PROVIDED AT SUBSTATIONS, GENERATING STATIONS AND CONSUMER PREMISES AS PER IS:3043. TO PROVIDE FACILITY (TEST LINK) FOR TESTING OF INDIVIDUAL EARTH ELECTRODE AND ALL EARTH CONNECTIONS TO BE VISIBLE FOR INSPECTION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. TO CALCULATE PROSPECTIVE FAULT CURRENT FOR ANY ADDITION OF PLANT LOAD, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, ETC. VIS-VIS COMPARING WITH CAPABILITY OF EXSTING EARTHING SYSTEM AND TO STRENGTHEN, IF REQUIRED, ALONG WITH SYSTEM MODIFICATION.

REFERENCES IS:3043-1987 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EARTHING IEEE:142 2007 GROUNDING OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL POWER SYSTEMS [IEEE GREEN BOOK] IEEE:80 2000 IEEE GUIDE FOR SAFETY IN AC SUBSTATION GROUNDING EARTHING PRACTICE CDA PUBLICATION 1191997 TECHNICAL ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN VARIOUS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING JOURNALS

REMEMBER, NO GOOD REFERENCE BOOKS AVAILABLE ON THE SUBJECT