Earthing System

1.

Introduction:

The earthing system, sometimes simply referred as earthing, is the total set of measures used to connect exposed and extraneous electrically conductive parts to earth. The earthing system is an essential part of all power networks required at all voltage levels.

Earthing System
A single reliable earthing system has to be designed to fulfill all the following functions: - Protection of buildings and installations against lightning. - Ensure Safety of human and animal life by limiting touch and step voltages/potential to safe value. - Reliable operation of the electricity supply network and to ensure good power quality.

Earthing System
Earthing system is in strict accordance with IS:3043 and Indian Electricity Rules/Acts.

Function of Earthing System

Protective earthing were the interconnection or bonding of all metallic parts (exposed and extraneous conductive parts) are done with earth. Even though when a person or an animal come in contact with these metallic parts Under normal, fault-free circumstances they are safe since there is no relative potential on these parts, but under fault conditions a dangerous potential may arise as fault current flows. The function of an earthing system is the protection of life against electric shock by limiting/restricting the potential to safe values.

Function of Earthing System

Functional earthing, in electric power systems there arises the need for certain points of the electrical system to be connected to the ground in order to ensure reliable operation. A typical example is earthing of the neutral point of a transformer.

Function of Earthing System

Lightning protection earthing were arrangements are made to conduct lightning currents to the earth. Large buildings and installations are susceptible to lightening strikes which could be dangerous enough to cause damage to high value installations depending on the lightning current and the properties of the earthing system, the potential developed during these strikes can reach very large values, some times in hundreds or even thousands of kV. Since these values are much higher than the network operating voltages, lightning may often cause back-flashover or induced over-voltages in the network. Thus, full protection of installations against lightning requires the provision of a system of lightning arrestors and spark gaps.

BELOW GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

Average soil resistivity is being computed based on data taken from Soil Resistivity Data from plant site. The size of grounding conductor is based on the specified maximum ground fault current for 1 second, with all below grade joints being welded type. The minimum rate of corrosion of steel for selection of grounding conductor is considered as 0.12 mm per year. The grounding grid has been sized for a power plant life of 40 years.

BELOW GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

Connections between equipment earthing leads and between main earthing conductors are of welded type. For rust protection the welds are treated with red lead compound and afterwards thickly coated with bitumen compound. All welded connections are made by electric arc welding.

BELOW GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

In general, earthing conductors buried in ground are laid minimum 600 mm below grade level. Ground grid of mild steel rod of 40mm dia designed to limit step and touch potentials within tolerable limits is provided for the Main Power House Area covering Transformer Yard, TG Building, Boiler area, ESP, Chimney and ESP control room, and auxiliary plants.

BELOW GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

Auxiliary plant buildings not covered by the main ground grid are provided with ring electrode type grounding system using mild steel rod of 40mm dia for limiting the ground resistance below 0.5 ohms. Ground grid is connected to the existing power plant and extension switchyard ground grid at minimum four points. Power station ground grid and auxiliary plant grounding systems are interconnected through at least two interconnections with test facility. Risers with an effective cross sectional area equivalent to below ground earth conductor are provided from the below ground grounding system for connection of above ground (equipment) earth leads.

BELOW GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

All system neutrals (including neutrals of power transformers), grounding terminals of EHV surge arrestors and EHV voltage transformers are connected to two nos. test pits, which in turn are connected to the station grounding grid.

All lightning protection down conductors are connected to dedicated ground electrodes through isolating links and then to the grounding system.

ABOVE GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

Enclosures of all electrical equipment as well all cabinets / boxes / panels etc. are earthed by two separate and distinct earth connections. The same is effected by connecting the earth connectivity leads from individual equipment to the nearest conductor running in the topmost tray of the cable raceway system in the vicinity. Taps from runway conductor are taken to each section of other trays at an interval of about 30 m. The runaway conductor is connected to the below grade grounding system at every available building column within plant buildings, and through risers at approximately 30 m interval in outdoor trestles/trenches.

ABOVE GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

65 x 8 mm galvanized M.S. flats are run as main earth conductor along building columns / walls and securely fixed to the same by welding / clamping at intervals not exceeding 1000 m. Metallic hand rails, fencing of transformer yard, etc. are connected to the below ground earthing system. Earthing conductor is buried at least 2000 mm outside the fence of electrical installations. Every alternate post of the fences and all gates are connected to earthing grid by one lead.

ABOVE GRADE EARTHING SYSTEM

Each street lighting pole, flood lighting pole and the respective junction boxes are connected to an individual 20 mm dia, 3000 mm long M.S. electrode buried in ground provided for each pole with a 25 x 3 mm galvanized M.S. strip. Above grade ground conductor connections are welded except at the equipment end, where the connections are bolted. Earthing conductors embedded in the concrete floor of the building shall have approximately 50 mm concrete cover.

EARTHING SYSTEM
The sizes of earthing conductors for various electrical equipments are considered as below: Equipment above ground level a)Main earth grid Earth conductor 65x8mm GS flat

b)33KV/11KV switchgear/equipment

65x8mm GS flat

c)3.3 kV switchgear / 415 V MCC/ Distribution boards / Transformers --50x6mm GS flat

EARTHING SYSTEM
The sizes of earthing conductors for various electrical equipments are considered as below: Equipment above ground level d)LT Motors above 125 KW Earth conductor 50 x 6mm GS flat

25 KW to 125 KW
1KW to 25 KW Fractional House power motor

25 x 6mm GS flat
25 x 3mm GS flat 8 SWG GS wire

EARTHING SYSTEM
The sizes of earthing conductors for various electrical equipments are considered as below:

Equipment above ground level

e)Control panel & control desk f)Push button station / Junction Box g)Columns, structures, cable trays and bus duct enclosures

Earth conductor
25 x 3 mm GS flat 8 SWG GI wire 50x6mm GS flat

h) Crane, rails, rail tracks & other

non-current carrying metal parts

25x6mm GS flat