IEEE Baton Rouge

Grounding for Electrical Power Systems

(Low Resistance and High Resistance
Design)
➢ Low Resistance Grounding
➢ Advantages/Disadvantages
➢ Design Considerations
➢ High Resistance Grounding
➢ Advantages/Disadvantages
➢ Design Considerations
➢ Generator Grounding
➢ Single/Multiple arrangements
➢ Impedance selected to limit line-
to-ground fault current (normally
between 100A and 1000A as
defined by IEEE std. 142-2007
section 1.4.3.2)
➢ Advantages ➢ Disadvantages
➢ Eliminates high transient overvoltages ➢ Some equipment damage can still occur
➢ Limits damage to faulted equipment ➢ Faulted circuit must be de-energized
➢ Reduces shock hazard to personnel ➢ Line-to-neutral loads cannot be used.

Source 3Ø Load
or Network

AØ BØ
N

CØ
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor

Ir Ic
c
c
Ib Ic
a
➢ Most utilized on Medium Voltage
➢ Some 5kV systems
➢ Mainly 15kV systems
➢ Has been utilized on up to 132kV systems (rare)
➢ Used where system charging current may be
to high for High Resistance Grounding

Source 3Ø Load
or Network

AØ BØ
N

CØ
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor

Ir Ic
c
c
Ib Ic
a
➢ Resistor Amperage (ground fault let through current)
➢ System Capacitance
➢ System Bracing
➢ System Insulation
➢ Relay Trip points (Time current curve)
➢ Selective tripping
➢ Resistance increase with temperature
➢ Resistor time on (how long the fault is on the system)
➢ Single Phase Loads
Every electrical system has some natural capacitance. The capacitive
reactance of the system determines the charging current.

Conductor

Cable
insulation

Cable tray

106
Zero-sequence Capacitance: 𝐶0 = µF/phase
2𝜋𝑓𝑥0

2 3𝜋𝑓𝐶0 𝐸
Charging Current: 3𝐼𝐶0 = A
106
 During an arcing or intermittent
fault, a voltage is held on the system
capacitance after the arc is
extinguished. This can lead to a
significant voltage build-up which
can stress system insulation and
lead to further faults.

In a resistance grounded system, the

resistance must be low enough to
allow the system capacitance to
discharge relatively quickly.

Only discharges if R o < X co, so I r > I xco

( per IEEE142-2007 1.2.7)
That is, resistor current must be greater than capacitive charging current.
➢ Total Fault current is the vector sum of capacitive charging current
and resistor current

𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼𝑅2 + 𝐼𝐶0
2

So, if IR = IC0, then IF = 1.414 IR

➢ Total fault current must not exceed the value for which the system is
braced.
➢ In many cases, the system is already braced for the three-phase fault
current which is much higher than the single line-ground fault
current of a resistance grounded system.
➢ Resistance grounded systems must be insulated for full line-line
voltage with respect to ground.
➢ Surge Arrestor Selection: NEC 280.4 (2) Impedance or Ungrounded
System. The maximum continuous operating voltage shall be the
phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
➢ Cables: NEC Table 310.13E allows for use of 100% Insulation level,
but 173% is recommended for orderly shutdown.

VAG
VAG

VCG VBG VBG

Un-faulted Voltages to ground Faulted Voltages to ground (VCG = 0)

➢ Properly rated equipment prevents Hazards.
480V Wye Source
0V 3Ø Load

AØ BØ
4160V
N
2400V
CØ
HRG
NGR
4160V

0V Cables, TVSSs, VFDs, etc. and other

equipment must be rated for
elevated voltages. Ground ≈ AØ
➢ CTs and relays must be
designed such that system
will trip on a fault of the
magnitude of the ground N
fault current, but not on GR
transient events such as
large motor startup.
➢ Network protection scheme
should try to trip fault
location first, then go
upstream.
Residual connected CT’s Zero Sequence CT
➢ Widely varying use of resistance material in the industry.
➢ Different coefficients of resistivity for these materials.
➢ Coefficient of resistivity typically increases with temperature of the material, thus
resistance of the NGR increases while the unit runs.
➢ As resistance increases, current decreases.
➢ Relay current trip curve must fall below the current line in the graph below.

NGR Resistance vs Current

400 7.5

380
7

360
6.5 Current
340
Resistance
6
320

300 5.5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 IEEE Std 32
➢ Normally, protective relaying will trip
within a few cycles. Time Rating and Permissible
➢ IEEE 32 defines standard resistor on Temperature Rise for Neutral
times. Lowest rate is 10 seconds, but Grounding Resistors
could potentially go less to save
material/space. Time Rating Temp Rise (deg
(On Time) C)
➢ Can go as high as 30 or 60 seconds
as required (rare). Ten Seconds
760oC
(Short Time)
➢ Extended or Continuous ratings are
One Minute
almost never used in this application 760oC
(Short Time)
due to the relatively high fault
currents. Ten Minutes
610oC
(Short Time)
Extended Time 610oC
Continuous 385oC
➢ No line-to-neutral loads allowed, prevents
Hazards. 480V Wye Source
3Ø Load

AØ BØ
N

CØ
NGR
HRG

Phase and Neutral wires in same conduit.

If faulted, bypass HRG, thus, Φ-G fault.
Add small 1:1
transformer and solidly
ground secondary for 1Φ
loads (i.e. lighting).
 ➢ Impedance selected to limit line-
Source
to-ground fault current (normally
(Wye) < 10A as defined by IEEE std.
AØ BØ
142-2007 section 1.4.3.1)
➢ Ground detection system required
N
➢ System is alarm and locate instead
HRG
of trip.
CØ
➢ Advantages ➢ Disadvantages
➢ Eliminates high transient overvoltages ➢ Nuisance alarms are possible.
➢ Limits damage to faulted equipment ➢ Line-to-neutral loads cannot be used.
➢ Reduces shock hazard to personnel
➢ Faulted circuit allowed to continue
operating
Source 3Ø Load
or Network

AØ BØ
N

CØ
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor

Ir Ic
c
c
Ib Ic
a
➢ Most utilized on Low Voltage
➢ Many 600V systems
➢ Some 5kV systems
➢ Has been utilized on up to 15kV systems (rare)

Source 3Ø Load
or Network

AØ BØ
N

CØ
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor

Ir Ic
c
c
Ib Ic
a
➢ Resistor Amperage (ground fault let through current)
➢ System Capacitance
➢ Alarm notification
➢ Fault Location
➢ Pulsing
➢ Data Logging
➢ Relay Coordination (What to do if there is a second fault)
➢ System Insulation
➢ Personnel training
Every electrical system has some natural capacitance. The capacitive
reactance of the system determines the charging current.

Conductor

Cable
insulation

Cable tray

106
Zero-sequence Capacitance: 𝐶0 = µF/phase
2𝜋𝑓𝑥0

2 3𝜋𝑓𝐶0 𝐸
Charging Current: 3𝐼𝐶0 = A
106
 During an arcing or intermittent
fault, a voltage is held on the system
capacitance after the arc is
extinguished. This can lead to a
significant voltage build-up which
can stress system insulation and
lead to further faults.

In a resistance grounded system, the

resistance must be low enough to
allow the system capacitance to
discharge relatively quickly.

Only discharges if R o < X co, so I r > I xco

( per IEEE142-2007 1.2.7)
That is, resistor current must be greater than capacitive charging current.
➢ Major Contributors to system capacitance:
➢ Line-ground filters on UPS systems
➢ Line-ground smoothing capacitors
➢ Multiple sets of line-ground surge arrestors
➢ All of these can make implementation of
HRG difficult
➢ HRG systems are alarm and
locate systems
➢ Alarm methods:
➢ Audible horn
➢ Red “fault” light
➢ Dry contact to
PLC/DCS/SCADA opens
➢ DCS/SCADA polling of
unit via Modbus
➢ RS-485
➢ Ethernet
 480V Wye Source
➢ Operator controlled
contactor shorts out
part of the resistor
➢ Ideally, the increase
in current is twice
A Ø B Ø

that of the normal

fault current, unless
that level is unsafe. C Ø

HRG
55.4
ohms
NOTE: Tracking a ground fault can only be done on an
energized system. Due to the inherent risk of
electrocution this should only be performed by trained
and competent personnel.
Alternatives to Manual location:
➢ Add zero sequence CTs & ammeters to each feeder
➢ Use metering inherent to each breaker (newer equipment only)

480V Wye Source

85A 55A Meter reading will alternate
5A from 5A to 10A every 2
AØ
seconds.
BØ 80A 50A

CØ
HRG
55.4 80A 50A
ohms
30A 30A 30A 55A 50A 50A
0A 5A
ZSCT ZSCT
5A

Meter Meter

5A

0A
ZSCT

30A 30A 30A 50A 50A 50A Meter

Motor Motor
➢ HRG systems with data logging can be used to locate
intermittent ground faults
➢ Example:
➢ Heater with ground fault comes on at 11:00am and then
turns off at 11:01am
➢ Normal Pulsing will not locate since the fault will be “gone”.
➢ HRG Data logging can help locate faulted equipment in
conjunction with DCS/SCADA data records

Fault time
frame
Equipment
On
➢ If there is a second ground
fault on another phase, it
is essentially a phase-
phase fault and at least
one feeder needs to trip
➢ Network protection
scheme should be
designed to trip the lowest
priority feeder first, then
the next, and then move
upstream.
➢ Check MCC GF pickup ratings to be sure the small ground fault current
values do not trip off the motor on the first ground fault.
➢ Also, fusing on small motors can open during a ground fault. Consult
NEC Table 430.52 for Percentage of full load current fuse ratings. Most
are 300% FLC.
➢ Resistance grounded systems must be insulated for full line-line
voltage with respect to ground.
➢ NEC 285.3: An SPD (surge arrestor or TVSS) device shall not be
installed in the following: (2) On ungrounded systems, impedance
grounded systems, or corner grounded systems unless listed
specifically for use on these systems.

VAG
VAG

VCG VBG VBG

Un-faulted Voltages to ground Faulted Voltages to ground (VCG = 0)

 Properly rated equipment prevents Hazards.
480V Wye Source
0V 3Ø Load

AØ BØ
480V
N
277V
CØ
HRG
480V

0V Cables, TVSSs, VFDs, etc. and other

equipment must be rated for
elevated voltages. Ground ≈ AØ
➢ Common Mode Capacitors provide path
for Common-mode currents in output
motor leads
➢ MOVs protect against Transients
Ground fault in Drive #1
caused Drive 2 to fault on
over-voltage
Drive 3 was not affected
 Factory option
codes exist to
remove the internal
jumpers
➢ Per NEC 250.36, personnel must be trained on
Impedance Grounded systems.
➢ Training should:
➢ Establish seriousness of a fault
➢ Discuss location methods
➢ Familiarize personnel with equipment
➢ Fault current
➢ Paralleled generators
➢ Common Ground Point
➢ Separate Ground Point
➢ Inmost generators, the zero-sequence
impedance is much less than the positive or
negative sequence impedances.
➢ Due to this, resistance grounding must be
used unless the generator is specifically
designed for solid grounding service.
➢ Generators Grounded through a single impedance must be the same
VA rating and pitch to avoid circulating currents in the neutrals
➢ Each Neutral must have a disconnecting means for maintenance as
generator line terminals can be elevated during a ground fault.
➢ Not recommended for sources that are not in close proximity
➢ Separately grounding prevents circulating currents
➢ Multiple NGR’s have a cumulative effect on ground fault current i.e.
the total fault current is the sum of all resistor currents plus
charging current.
➢ Can be difficult to coordinate tripping or fault location
➢ If total current exceeds about 1000A, single ground point should be
considered.
 IEEE 242-2001
 IEEE 142-2007
 NEC
 IEEE 32