Earthing

Earthing
Earthing of the system is connecting any one point of
our electrical system (for e.g. neutral for AC systems)
to ground.
Earthing is necessary for
• Discharging the accumulated charges to
ground to prevent hazard to man & machine.
• Stabilizing system voltage with respect to ground.
• Fast & efficient operation of protective gear in
case of a earth fault.
• Efficient return of fault / leakage current to it’s
source without causing any disturbance to the
running system.
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 Earthing

Types of Earthing
TN - S System
• Neutral is solidly earthed at source.
• Earth & Neutral are shorted only at a source.
• Two separate conductors (earth & neutral) run
throughout the system.
• It is necessary to have a separate protective
earth electrode in consumer’s premises.
R
L
Y
O
A
D
B
N
E
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 Earthing

Types of Earthing
TN - C System
• Neutral is solidly grounded at source.
• Single conductor does the function of Earth &
Neutral.
• Local earth electrode is required at consumer’s
premises.
R
Y L
O
A
D
B
N&E

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 Earthing
Types of Earthing
TT System
• Neutral is solidly grounded at source.
• Neutral conductor is not used for the function
of protective earthing.
• Separate local earth electrode is used for
protective earthing.
• Local earth point is not connected to the neutral.
• This system is not used in India.
R
L
Y
O
A
D
E
B
N
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 Earthing

Types of Earthing
IT System
• Neutral is either earthed through resistance /
impedance at source or is kept isolated.
• Separate local earth electrode is used for
protective earthing.
• Local earth point is not connected to the neutral.
R
Y L
O
A
D
B E
N

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 Earthing

Effects of using unearthed system

• Capacitive charging between conductors & ground.
• Transient overvoltage between system & ground
causing excessive stress on insulation.
R
Y L
239 V O
A
415 V D
B
N
?? V ?? V

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 Earthing

Effects of using unearthed system

• No operation of earth fault protection in case of
single phase to earth fault.
• √3 times higher voltage between other two phases
& earth if one phase has earth fault developed.
• Earth fault developed in second phase causes √3
times higher fault current for same fault resistance.
R
Y L
O
A
D
B
415 V N

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 Earthing

Types of Neutral Earthing for Alternator

Basis of calculation -
Capability of alternator of carrying the fault
current.
Based on the permissible current & type of earth
fault protection used following are the types.
• Solid Grounding
• Medium Resistance Grounding
• High Resistance Grounding
• Grounding through PT (inductance)
It is also necessary to study other NGR’s used
in same system (Grid / paralleling transformer).

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 Earthing

Types of Neutral Earthing for Alternator

G G G G

High
Resistance Medium / Low
Resistance
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 Earthing
Precautions
• Proper operation of NGR’s, during parallel
operation of DG sets.
• Neutral & protective grounding should not be
mixed with each other.
• Interconnection of all earth pits including neutral
earth pits.
• Earthing the Armour of power cable at both
ends.
• Taking the earthing lead back through CBCT (if
used), to avoid false operation of earth fault
relay.

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 Earthing
Precautions
• Grounding of shield only at one end.
• Connecting all shields to a separate bus &
earthing the bus in a dedicated pit.
• Grounding of Alternator shaft at DE & insulating
it on NDE.
• Insulating all pipelines for bearing lubrication.
• Providing return path while welding & not using
earth as a return path.
• Strictly avoiding looping of earth & neutral at
any point other than source.

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 Earthing
Precautions
• Checking of earth resistance at least once a
year on a dry day.
• Following is the guideline specifying the values.
• Large Power Stations 0.5 Ω
• Major Substations 1.0 Ω
• Small Substations 2.0 Ω
• In all other cases 8.0 Ω
• Earth continuity 1.0 Ω
• (From earth plate to any other point)
• Avoid using earth as a return path for any
charge. Earthing is done for the efficient return
of electrical energy to it’s source & earth will
not soak up all electrical noise.
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