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Handbook for Power Engineers

Earthing in an electric power system

It is pertinent to mention that Earthing plays an important role in proper operation of generation,
transmission and distribution systems. The function of earthing in an electric power system is to
maintain the potential of current carrying as well as non-current carrying parts of equipment,
apparatus and appliances connected to the system, and to ensure safety of equipment and personnel
and correct operation of protective devices during earth faults.

Practical Earthing Handbook for Power Engineers

Earthing also provides safety during lightning strikes on equipment or structures and on occurrence of
induced voltage and current on electric equipments of an electric system. Moreover, proper earthing
system provides easy and shortest path to the low of earth fault current without adversely affecting
the continuity of service.

The eficacy of an earthing system depends on various factors like resistivity of general mass of
earth in and around the area where earth grid is buried and also that of surface layer of soil, duration
and magnitude of fault current and grid current, shock duration, the maximum safe current that a
human body can tolerate and the permissible values of dangerous voltages that shall arise due to the
low of grid current.
Earthing of fence is another issue of importance.

Figure 1 – Overall step voltage plot for non-uniformly spaced grid

Figure 1 – Overall step voltage plot for non-uniformly spaced grid

Execution, Field Practices, Monitoring

and Maintenance of Earthing Systems
Earthing system of a station should provide reliable performance during the life of the station. The
earth electrode, being underground, can be the case of out of sight out of mind. It is of utmost
importance that construction of earth electrode is carried out by strictly adhering to the design.

Once the earthing system is installed, it is important to carry out periodic inspections and
testing and take remedial measures to maintain its performance.
This will ensure that the earthing system shall continue to fulill its objectives of providing safety and
proper operation.
In this book, various aspects related to construction and maintenance of earthing systems are
brought out.

Execution of Earthing System

A station earthing system is typically composed of ive key components, namely

1. The soil,
2. Vertically installed bare metallic rods / pipes / plates and horizontally installed bare conductors in
the soil,
3. Overhead shield wires and lightning masts,
4. Layer of high resistivity gravel on top of the soil, and
5. Bare / insulated conductors which connect all metallic structures, enclosures of all equipment
including metallic conduits and cable trays, etc. with underground, buried vertical rods / pipes /
plates and/or horizontal conductors.
The underground buried vertical rods / pipes/ plates and horizontal conductors, to which all metallic
structures, enclosures of all equipment including metallic conduits and cable trays, etc. in the
switchyard are connected, form the grid earth electrode.
The effectiveness of the earthing system depends on the condition of the buried conductors and the
integrity of the connections between earth conductors and between earth conductors and the
structures.

Figure 2 – Current Injection method using external source of power

Figure 2 – Current Injection method using external source of power

Construction of Grid Earth Electrode
The construction of earthing system depends on a number of factors, such as size of grid electrode,
its depth of burial, size of earth conductor, type of soil, availability of equipment, cost of labour, and
any physical or safety restrictions due to the presence of nearby, existing structures or energized
equipment.

Construction Sequence for Earthing System Installation

An earth grid is normally installed after the yard is graded, foundations are laid, and deeper
underground pipes and conduits are installed and backilled. It may be prudent to wait until
construction of plinths and other structures have been largely completed to avoid possible damage to
earth conductors.

The required connections to equipment and structures are made after the horizontal earth
conductors are placed in trenches.
The security fence may be installed before or after the earth grid installation. In cases where deeper
underground pipes and conduits are not installed before earth grid installation, an attempt should be
made to coordinate the trenching procedure in a logical manner.

Figure 3 – Fence contact voltage for uniformly and non-uniformly spaced grid of conductors
 Figure 3
– Fence contact voltage for uniformly and non-uniformly spaced grid of conductors
General Practices for Construction of Grid Earth Electrode
Practice №1
The bare MS conductors forming grid electrode are generally laid at a depth of about 300 mm to 600
mm below ground level. The minimum depth is recommended for protection of conductors and
connections against mechanical damage during subsequent excavation works.

Actual depth of horizontal grid conductors should be in accordance with design calculations to keep
dangerous voltages and EPR within acceptable limits.

Practice №2
At large substations, it will be advantageous if earth conductors are laid on one side of excavations
made for cable trenches, field drains, and other civil works.
However, spacing between horizontal grid conductors should be in accordance with design
calculations to keep dangerous voltages and EPR within acceptable limits.

Practice №3
The conductors should be surrounded by 150 mm of non-corrosive soil of ine texture, firmly rammed.
Practice №4
The connection between vertical rods and horizontal conductors can be made using various methods.
However connections between horizontal grid conductors should be welded/brazed / exothermic type,
as assumed for calculation of their area of cross-section to carry the maximum fault current during
earth fault conditions in the system.
Bolted type connections are generally provided between earthing (lead) conductors and
equipment / enclosure earthing terminals to facilitate the removal /replacement of equipment.
Similarly, bolted type connections are also provided between earthing conductors and vertical rod /
pipe /plate electrodes to facilitate testing / repair / replacement of vertical electrodes.

Practice №5
Where bare earth conductors cross over or are laid touching power or multi core cables, they should
be insulated with PVC tape or sleeve to counteract possible puncturing of cable sheath arising from
high voltage transients on earth conductors.

However metallic sheath / armour of cables are to be bonded with the earthing system in accordance
with the recommendations given in the design and speciications for the earthing system of the
stations.

Practice №6 – Speciic guidelines / recommendations for earthing of equipment / structures are given
under section 8.3.
Figure 4 – An example of earthing arrangement of surge arrestor
 Figure 4 – An
example of earthing arrangement of surge arrestor

Measurements And Field Quality

Checks
Visual inspections, field tests and measurements should be carried out to ensure that the earthing
system is installed in accordance with the applicable standard(s), design, technical speciications, and
well accepted practices.
For conducting field tests and measurements, proper equipment and facilities are required.

Measurement of Substation Earth Resistance

and Earth Impedance
Measurements shall be carried out after construction, where necessary, to verify adequacy of the
earthing design. Measurements may include earthing system impedance / resistance, prospective
touch and step voltages at relevant locations and transferred potential, if appropriate, as per
procedures given in Chapter 10.
Although the measurements may pose some dificulties, if properly done, measured values are more
exact than calculated values. When the soil is non-uniform and the earthing system is large and
complex, measurements to check the theoretical calculations are advisable.

Measurements are also recommended after major changes affecting the basic parameters and as
per the schedule of maintenance prescribed for power installations in this chapter.
Records shall be kept of the initial measured earth resistance of substation and/or generating
station earth electrodes and of tests carried out subsequently. Adequate safety and precautionary
measures are to be taken during the test and measurements as discussed in Chapter 10.
All tests / measurements recommended under section 8.4 for periodic monitoring of earthing system /
earth electrodes must be carried out after the completion of respective construction / erection works.
Results of these and all other tests / measurements shall be documented to serve as reference for

1. Acceptance of design and construction of earthing system, and

2. Monitoring and maintenance of earthing system.
Good Reading – Electrical thumb rules for switching, isolating and earthing

Field Quality Checks / Inspections

All physical checks / inspections that are recommended under this section and section 8.4
for monitoring and inspection of earthing system / electrodes are to be carried out after the
completion of respective construction / erection works. Results of all physical checks / inspections
shall be documented to serve as reference for:
1. Acceptance of design and construction of earthing system, and
2. Monitoring and maintenance of earthing system.
Field quality checks / inspection are to be carried out during the erection and construction activities to
ensure that the following general and all other details are in accordance with design/ speciications of
station earthing system and well accepted practices:

1. Material, dimension and physical condition of horizontal conductors and vertical electrodes,
2. Layout, spacing and depth of horizontal conductors of earth electrode,
3. Dimensions, locations and depth of vertical electrodes including construction of their chambers /
pits, application and compaction of backill around electrodes, watering arrangement and
connections between vertical electrode and (a) main conductors of earth electrode and (b)
earthing lead conductors from equipment /structures,
4. All welded / brazed / exothermic connections between horizontal grid conductors and equipment /
structure earthing lead conductors and horizontal conductors of main earth electrode,
5. Quality and reliability of all bolted connections between earthing lead conductors and earthing
terminals of equipment / structures, and
6. Quality and spacing of cleats for ixing of earth lead conductors on aboveground supporting
structures.
Earthing and bonding connections to transformers, switchgear, cable sheaths, support frameworks,
pillars, cubicles, metal clad chambers, bases of insulators and bushings and their associated
metalwork etc. should be in accordance with the speciications / accepted practices and should be
checked to ensure that they are properly made and are intact.
Material and size of flexible bonding braids or laminations should be in accordance with the
speciications / accepted practices and also should be inspected for signs of fracture and corrosion;
these should be changed as required. Earth mat connections should be verified as secure and
buried installations should be checked to ensure that they have not been disturbed.
On switchboards itted with frame leakage protection, visual inspection should be carried out to ensure
that the insulation segregating the switchgear frame from the main earth bar and the cable sheath is
not short circuited by inadvertent paths.

Neutral Links / Connections

Neutral links should be checked to ensure that they are tight, the neutral earth connection is
intact and, where appropriate, the value of resistance is correct. In substations where the neutral
connections and cable sheaths are isolated from the substation earth, visual checks should ensure
that this isolation is not short-circuited.
If there are any buildings within the earth grid area, earthing of such buildings is to be integrated with
the earth grid as per design.

Ground Grid Integrity Test

Many times, protective relays, telephone equipment, power supply unit etc. in the control house get
damaged due to lightning surge or fault if the substation has a poor earthing system. Typically, the
earth grid integrity test is performed following such an event.
Sometimes after installation of a large grid electrode, this test is performed to ensure the
integrity before the substation is approved for operation.
The integrity test may consist of one or more of the measurements like earth impedance, earth
resistance, earth fault loop continuity, touch voltage and or earth resistivity in order to detect any open
circuit or isolated structure or equipment or any other inadequacy of the earthing system in a
substation.

Procedure of such tests is given in Chapter 10.

Title: Practical Earthing Handbook for Power Engineers – Central Board Of Irrigation & Power, New
Delhi
Format: PDF
Size: 5.9 MB
Pages: 230
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