Lecture 5

Lecture 5
NEUTRAL GROUNDING
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Power System Grounding

System grounding means the connection of
ground
to the neutral points of current
carrying conductors such as the neutral
point of a circuit, a transformer, rotating
machinery, or a system, either solidly or
with a current limiting device.
Ungrounded system.
Solid grounding
Impedance grounding (R and X)
Resonant grounding
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Three Main Types of Grounding Systems

Ungrounded Systems

3 Phase , 3 wire

Solidly Grounded

3 Phase, 3 Wire or 4 Wire

3 Phase, 3 Wire

Impedance Grounded
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5
Ungrounded Systems
Early Electrical systems are
universally operated ungrounded.

almost

On small systems an insulation failure on

one phase did not cause an outage.
As systems increased in size and voltage
rating, an increasing number of insulation
failures produced multiple failures and major
faults.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The ungrounded neutral system is a capacitive

grounded neutral
system, the capacitance
being the conductor capacitance to ground.
In normal operation the capacitive current of
all three lines is leading the respective line to
neutral voltage by 90, and the vector sum of
all three currents is zero.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

METAL ENCLOSURES
TO
LOAD

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

An
ungrounded system is one in which
there is no intentional connection between the
conductors and earth ground.
In any system, a capacitive coupling exists
between the system conductors and the
adjacent grounded surfaces.
The ungrounded system is,
in reality, a
capacitive grounded system by virtue of the
distributed capacitance.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

Under normal operating conditions, this

distributed capacitance causes no problems.
In fact, it is beneficial, because it establishes,
in effect, a neutral point for the system and
as a result, the phase conductors are stressed
at only line-to-neutral voltage above ground.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Problems can arise under ground fault conditions.

A ground fault on one line results in full line-to-line voltage appearing on
the other two phases.
A voltage 1 .73 times the normal voltage is present on all insulation on
the ungrounded phases.

Ungrounded Systems

Phase A and B are now at full

line-to-line
voltage above
ground.
B
A
Line-to-line voltage
B
A
C

Each phase is at
line-to-Neutral
voltage above ground..
C

Voltage relationships.

Neutral point
established
by distribution
capacitance..

(a)
NORMAL OPERATION

Phase C is now at ground

potential.

(b)
GROUND FAULT ON PHASE C

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5
In addition to the cost of equipment damage,
ungrounded systems present fault locating
problems.
This involves a tedious process of trial
and error; first isolating the correct feeder,
then the branch, and finally the equipment at
fault.
The result is unnecessarily lengthy and
expensive downtime.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Despite the drawbacks of an ungrounded system,

it does have one main advantage.
The circuit may continue in operation after the
first ground fault, assuming it remains as a single
fault.
This permits continued production, until a
convenient shutdown can be scheduled for
maintenance
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5
The interaction between the faulted system and
its distributed capacitance may cause transient
over-voltages (several times normal) to appear
from line to ground during normal switching of
a circuit having a line to ground fault (short).
These over-voltages may cause insulation
failures at points other than the original fault.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

In addition, a second fault on another phase

may occur before the first fault can be
cleared.
This can result in very high line to line fault
currents, equipment damage and disruption
of both circuits.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Lecture 5

When there is a short circuit on phase C; IC -->o

as its voltage to ground is zero.
The voltage of the unfaulted phases increase to
full line-to-line value with respect to ground,
and
their
charging
currents
increase
proportionally.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The charging currents shift accordingly and the

sum of the charging currents in the unfaulted
phases
is three times the normal value and
appears in the ground, returning to the system
through the fault.
If the fault can be interrupted, it will be at a
current zero, current zero occurs at the instant of a
voltage maximum, if the fault momentarily clears,
a H.V immediately appears across the fault, and
restrike of the fault will occur.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
In this
moment, the excessive voltage
charge of the capacitors on the unfaulted lines
has been trapped as a dc charge.
When the arc restrikes again, the capacitors
are again recharged by a line-to-line voltage
added to the trapped charge.
This will lead to an insulation failure on
another phase and a major two-ph-fault.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The capacitive current in the two healthy

phases increase to 3 times the normal
value.

The capacitive current in the faulty phase

is 3 times its normal value.

A capacitive fault current flows in the

ground. An arc is maintained in the
ionized path of the fault --->
arcing
ground
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Under fault: the voltage to earth of the

two healthy phases rises from their normal
phase to neutral voltage to full line value --->
insulation break down.
The protective relays may not operate due to
small fault current.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Grounded System
All power systems of today operate with grounded
neutrals.

It is important because:
1-The earth fault protection is based on the
method of neutral grounding.
2-The system voltage during earth fault
depends on neutral grounding.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
3-Neutral grounding
switchgear.

has

its

associated

4-Neutral grounding gives protection against

arcing ground, unbalanced voltage with
respect to earth,
and protection from
lightning.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The intentional connection of the neutral

points of transformers, generators and
rotating machinery to the earth ground
network provides a reference point of zero
volts.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
This protective measure offers many advantages
over an ungrounded system, including:
Reduced magnitude of transient overvoltages
Simplified ground fault location
Improved system and equipment fault protection
Reduced maintenance time and expense
Greater safety for personnel
Improved lightning protection
Reduction in frequency of faults.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Solidly grounded systems:

It is a simple and effective method of grounding
and inexpensive.
The neutrals of any star connected transformers,
generators are connected to ground.
It minimizes the magnitude of the overvoltage
that will appear on the unfaulted phases during a
ground fault, resulting in a reduction in the stress
on insulation.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Solidly Grounded Systems

(a) Three-wire grounded system
(b) Four-wire
grounded system
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Solidly Grounded Systems

(c) Three-wire multigrounded system
(d) Phasor diagram for normal operation
Professor
Ahdab Elmorshedy
(e) Phasor
diagram
for a ground fault

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Lecture 5
Solidly Grounding
A solidly grounded system is one in
which the neutral points have been intentionally
connected to ground with a conductor having no
intentional impedance.
This partially reduces the problem of transient
overvoltages found on the ungrounded system,
provided the ground fault current is in the range of 25
to 100% of the system three phase fault current.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

However; if the reactance of the generator

or transformer is too great, the problem of
transient over-voltages will not be solved.
While solidly grounded systems are an
improvement over ungrounded systems, and
speed the location of faults, they lack the
current limiting
ability of resistance
grounding.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

The destructive nature of arcing ground faults

in solidly grounded systems is well known and
are caused by the energy dissipated in the fault.
A measure of this energy can be obtained from
the estimate of Kilowatt-cycles dissipated in the
arc :
Kilowatt cycles = V x I x Time/1000.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Disadvantages: A solidly grounded system produces the

greatest magnitude of ground fault current
when a fault to ground occurs and the
destructive nature of arcing ground faults.
The solidly grounded system has the highest
probability of escalating into a phase-to-phase
or three-phase arcing fault, particularly for the
480 and 600V systems.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

A safety hazard exists for solidly grounded

systems from the severe flash, arc burning
and blast
hazard from
any phase-toground fault.
Controlling the fault current and clearing
the fault promptly, the amount of damage at
the fault will be reduced.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Resistive Grounded Systems

Resistance grounding is by far the most effective
and preferred method.
It solves the problem of transient overvoltages,
thereby reducing equipment damage.
It accomplishes this by allowing the magnitude
of the fault current to be predetermined by a
simple ohms law calculation.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Thus the fault current can be limited, in order

to prevent equipment damage.
I=V/R
Where: I = Limit of Fault Current.
V = Line-to-neutral Voltage of System
R = Ohmic Value of Neutral grounding
Resistor
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Limiting fault currents to predetermined

maximum values permits the designer to
selectively co-ordinate the operation of
protective devices, which minimizes system
disruption and allows for quick location of the
fault.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

There are two broad categories of resistance

grounding:
low resistance and high resistance.
In both types of grounding, the resistor is
connected between the neutral of the
transformer secondary and the earth ground.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

TRANSFORMER SECONDARY

NEUTRAL
SYSTEM VOLTAGE
LINE TO
NEUTRAL VOLTAGE

NEUTRAL
GROUNDING
RESISTOR

LINE TO NEUTRAL VOLTAGE EQUALS

SYSTEM VOLTAGE DIVIDED BY 1.732

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Low Resistance Grounding

Low resistance grounding of the neutral
limits the ground fault current to a high
level (typically 50 amps or more) in order to
operate protective fault clearing relays and
current transformers.
These devices are then able to quickly clear
the fault, usually within a few seconds.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The importance of this fast response time is

that it:
Limits damage to equipment,
Prevents additional faults from occurring,
Provides safety for personnel,
Localizes the fault.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
The limited fault current and fast response time
also prevent overheating and mechanical stress on
conductors.
Note that, like the solidly grounded neutral
system, the circuit must be shut down after the
first ground fault.
Low resistance grounding resistors are typically
rated 400 amps for 10 seconds, and are commonly
found on medium and high voltage systems.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

High Resistance Grounding

High resistance grounding of the neutral limits
the ground fault current to a very low level
(typically under 25 amps).
It is used on low voltage systems of 600 volts
or less, under 3000 amps.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

By limiting the ground fault current, the

fault can be tolerated on the system until it
can be located, and then isolated or
removed at a convenient time.
This
permits
continued
production,
providing a second ground fault does not
occur.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

High resistance neutral grounding can

be added to existing ungrounded systems
without the expense of adding fault clearing
relays and breakers.
This provides an economical method of
upgrading older; ungrounded systems.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

The resistor must be sized to ensure that

the ground fault current limit is greater
than the system's total capacitance -toground charging current.
If not, then transient overvoltages can
occur.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

By strategic use and location of ground

fault sensing relays, trouble shooting can
be greatly simplified.
High resistance neutral grounding
combined with sensitive ground fault
relays and isolating devices, can quickly
detect and shut down the faulted circuit.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
This provides operating personnel with
the added safety that's essential in this
environment.
High-resistance grounding helps insure
a
ground-fault current of known
magnitude, helpful for relaying purposes.
This makes it possible to identify the
faulted feeder with sensitive ground-fault
relays.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

High-resistance grounding provides the

same advantages as ungrounded systems
yet limits the steady state and severe
transient overvoltages associated with
ungrounded systems.
There is no arc flash hazard, as there is
with a solidly grounded system, since the
fault current is limited to approximately
5A.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
The reasons for limiting the current by
resistance grounding may be one or more of
the following.
1) to reduce burning and melting effects in
faulted electric equipment, such as
switchgear, transformers, cables and
rotating machines.
2) to reduce mechanical stresses in circuits
and apparatus carrying fault currents
3) to reduce electric-shock hazards to
personnel caused by stray ground fault
currents in theProfessor
ground
return path
Ahdab Elmorshedy

4) to reduce arc blast or flash hazard to

personnel who may have accidentally
caused or who happen to be in close
proximity to the fault current
5) to reduce the momentary line-voltage dip
occasioned by the occurrence and clearing
of a ground fault
6) to secure control of transient overvoltages
while at the same time avoiding the
shutdown of a faulty circuit on the
occurrence of the first ground fault
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
Strategy
System Type
Ungrounded
System

Solidly
Grounded
System

High
Low Resistance Resistance
Grounded
Grounded
System
System

Severe

None

Limited

Limited

Productivity Impact

Overvoltages
Equipment
Overcurrent - Damage
Damage
at point of fault
Maintenance Costs
Continuous Operation
with Ground Fault
Relay Co-ordination
Downtime
(Appropriate Equipment
Tripped, Ease of fault
location)
Personnel Safety to Personnel

Unknown
Severe
High
Reasonable
Possible but not
recommended
Not possible

Minimal
Reasonable

None
Low

Not possible

Ideal

Difficult
Poor

Good
Reasonable

Excellent
Excellent

Difficult
Good

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Reactance grounding system: Elimination of the fault current that could

cause the arcing ground condition.
Normally it does not carry current
During fault: reactive component of current I =
capacitive component of current I
No current at the fault, preventing restrikes
and eliminates the cause of voltage buildup
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Resonant grounding: Using Peterson coil which is a tunable iron cored

reactor connected between the neutral and ground.
The ground fault neutralizer is said to be effective in
70 to 80 % of the faults.
I=

Vph V ph
=
Xc 1 / c

In an ungrounded system arcing grounds takes

place (fault on phase C):
V
V ph

I =

Xc

ph

1/c

I C = 3I = 3Vphc
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
Problems can arise under ground fault conditions.
A ground fault on one line results in full line-to-line voltage appearing on
the other two phases.
A voltage 1 .73 times the normal voltage is present on all insulation on
the ungrounded phases.

Ungrounded Systems

Phase A and B are now at full

line-to-line
voltage above
ground.
B
A
Line-to-line voltage
B
A
C

Each phase is at
line-to-Neutral
voltage above ground..
C

Voltage relationships.

Neutral point
established
by distribution
capacitance..

(a)
NORMAL OPERATION

Phase C is now at ground

potential.

(b)
GROUND FAULT ON PHASE C

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5
XL = 2 f L

If grounding through

IL =

I L = IC

Vph V ph
=
X L L

(to cancel arcing grounds)

L=

1
3 2 c
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

I F = I A + I B = 3I C
I L = 3I C
IL =

EC
E
= 3 C = 3I C
XL
XC

XL =

L=

& IF + IL = 0

XC

1
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

3 2 c

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Lecture 5
Disadvantages of Ungrounded Systems:
Arcing Grounds:
A temporary fault caused by falling branch,
lightning surge, etc, creates an arc between
an overhead line and ground.
The arc extinguishes and restrikes in a
repeated, regular manner arcing ground.
Each line has an inherent distributed
capacitance with respect to earth.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The distributed capacitance discharges

through the fault when the gap between
point of fault and ground breaks down.
The capacitance again gets charged.
Such
repeated
charging and
discharging of line-to-ground capacitance
resulting in repeated arcs between line and
ground is called Arcing grounds.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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Lecture 5

Arcing grounds produce reverse voltage

oscillations reaching 3-4 times normal
value.

The voltage of a healthy line above earth

is increased by 3 times when an earth
fault occurs on a line.

This causes stress on the insulation of all

the machines and equipment connected to
the system.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The voltage rise of the line above

earth is sustained and thereby insulation
failure likely to occur through fault
current may be negligible.
The voltage of healthy lines above ground
becomes equal to line voltage which is 3
times the phase voltage.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

32

Lecture 5

Earth faults cannot be sensed and the earth

fault relaying becomes complicated.

The overvoltages due to induced static

charges are not conducted to earth in
ungrounded systems.

The voltages due to lightning surges do

not find path to earth.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

Advantages of Neutral Grounding:

Arcing grounds are reduced or eliminated.
The system is not subjected to overvoltage
surges due to arcing grounds.
The voltages of healthy lines with respect to
earth remain at harmless value. They do not
increase to 3 time normal value.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

33

Lecture 5
The life of insulation is long due to
prevention of voltages surges or sustained
overvoltages.
Thereby
reduced
maintenance, repairs, breakdowns and
improved continuity.
The earth fault relaying is relatively
simple. Useful amount of earth fault
current is available to operate earth fault
relay.
Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The overvoltages due

discharged to earth.

to

lightning

are

The earth fault current can be controlled.

Improved service reliability.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

34

Lecture 5

Greater safety for personnel or equipment

due to operation of fuses or
relays on
earth fault and limitation of voltages.
Life of equipment, machines
and
insulation is improved due to limitation of
voltages.

Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

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