Substation Earthing

Presented By
Mohammed Nurul Absar
Manager
Chandpur 150 MW CCPP
 What is Earthing?
The process of connecting metallic bodies of all the electrical
apparatus and equipment to huge mass of earth by a wire
having negligible resistance is called Earthing.
In an electrical installation an earthing system or grounding
system connects specific parts of that installation with the
Earth's conductive surface for safety and functional
purposes.
The term earthing means connecting the neutral point of
supply system or the non current carrying parts of the
electrical apparatus to the general mass of earth in such a
manner that all times an immediate discharge of electrical
energy takes place without danger
 Objective of Earthing?
1. To provide safety to personnel during normal and fault
conditions by limiting step and touch potential.
2. To assure correct operation of electrical/electronic
devices.
3. To prevent damage to electrical/electronic apparatus.
4. To dissipate lightning strokes.
5. To stabilize voltage during transient conditions and to
minimize the probability of flashover during transients.
6. To divert stray RF energy from sensitive audio, video,
control, and computer equipment.
 Objective of Earthing?
The PRIMARY goal of the grounding system
throughout any facilities is
SAFETY.
Why ground at all?
PERSONNEL SAFETY FIRST
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION SECOND
 What is Grounding?
In grounding, the current carrying parts are
directly connected to the ground. The grounding
provides the return path for the leakage current
and hence protect the power system equipment
from damage.
When the fault occurs in the equipment, the
current in all the three phases of the equipment
become unbalance.The grounding discharges the
fault current to the ground and hence makes the
system balance
Difference between Earthing & Grounding

One of the major difference between the

grounding and the earthing is that in
grounding, the current carrying part is
connected to the ground whereas in
earthing the non-current carrying parts is
connected to ground. The other differences
between them are explained below in the
form of the comparison chart.
 Difference between Earthing & Grounding
Points Grounding Earthing
Definition The current carrying part is The body of the equipment is
connected to ground. connected to ground.
Location Between the neutral of the Between the equipment body and
equipment and ground earth pit which is placed under the
earth surface.
Zero Potential Does not have Have
Protection Protect the power system Protect the human from electric
equipment. shock.
Application Provide the return path to the It discharges the electrical energy
current. to the earth.
Color of wire Black Green
Use For balancing the unbalance For avoiding the electrical shock.
load.
Examples Neutral of generator and power The enclosure of the transformer,
transformer is connected to generator, motor etc. are
ground. connected to the earth.
SIX (6) GROUNDING SYSTEMS IN USE
1. Equipment grounds,
2. Static grounds,
3. Systems grounds
4. Maintenance grounds
5. Electronic grounds
6. Lightning grounds.
 1. Equipment grounds
An equipment ground is the physical connection to
earth of non-current carrying metal parts. This type
grounding is done so that all metal part of equipment
that personnel can come into contact with are always
at or near zero (0) volts with respect to ground. All
metal parts must be interconnected and grounded by
a conductor in such away as to ensure a path of
lowest impedance for flow of ground fault current.
Typical items (equipment) to be grounded are;
electrical motor frames, outlet boxes, breaker panels,
metal conduit, support structures, cable
tray, to name a few.
 2. Static Grounds
A static ground is a connection made
between a piece of equipment and the
earth for the purpose of draining off static
electricity charges before a flashover
potential is reached. This type grounding
system is utilized in dry materials handling,
flammable liquid pumps and delivery
equipment, plastic piping, and explosive
storage facilities.
 3. System Grounds
A system ground refers to the point in an
electrical circuit that is connected to earth.
This connection point is typically at the
electrical neutral. The sole purpose of the
system ground is to protect equipment. This
type ground also provides a low impedance
path for fault currents improving ground
fault coordination. This ensures longer
insulation life of motors, transformers and
other system components
 4. Maintenance Grounds
This type ground is utilized for safe work
practices, and is a temporary ground.
 5. Electronic & Computer Grounds
Grounding for electronic equipment is a special
case in which the equipment ground and the
system ground are combined and applied in
unity. Electronic equipment grounding systems
must not only provide a means of stabilizing
input voltage levels, but also act as the zero (0)
voltage reference point. Grounding systems for
the modern electronics installation must be able
to provide effective grounding and bonding
functions well into the high frequency
megahertz range.
 6. Lightning Protection
Lightning protection grounding
requirements are dependent upon the
structure, equipment to be protected,
and the level of lightning protection
required of desired.
 Fault?
What happens during a fault?
During a fault, fault current flows from the
live conductor to non conducting metal parts.
This may be outer side metal casing or metal
supports. With the help of earthing, fault
current flows to earth grid.
Why fault takes place?
A fault takes place when insulation fails,
when supports to the live parts fails, when
conductor falls on the ground etc
 Fault?
What happens when current flows to
ground or earth?
When ever a current flows in the
resistive path, then there is a voltage
drop. When current flows non-
conducting metal part to earth grid, the
potential between non-conducting metal
part to earth rises. When some one
touches that he receives a shock.
 Electric Shock?
When the electrical contact is such that the
circuit path through the body is across the
heart, you have the greatest potential for
death.
the human body’s resistance varies from
as low as 500 ohms to as high as 600,000
ohms.
 What happens during a shock?
When a person touches a faulty metalic
surface, some amount of current flow through
their body. Flowing of current causes several
effects which depends on magnitude of
current
Current in mA Effect
1 Perception, Sensation
9-25 Pain and cannot move the hands
60-100 Death
Paths in which current can flow into human body

1. Hand to Feet
2. Feet to Feet
3. Hand to hand. (very rare)
 Why Earthing Necessary?
Earthing is used to protect you from an
electric shock. It does this by providing a
path (a protective conductor) for a fault
current to flow to earth. It also causes
the protective device (either a circuit-
breaker or fuse) to switch off the electric
current to the circuit that has the fault.
Typical View of Earthing?
 Methods of Earthing
Earthing Electrode
In this type of earthing any
wire, rod, pipe, plate or a
bundle of conductors, inserted
in the ground horizontally or
vertically. In distributing
systems, the earth electrode
may consist of a rod, about 1
meter in length and driven
vertically into the ground. In
generating substations,
grounding mat is used rather
than individual rods.
 Methods of Earthing
Ground rod group

typically for lightning

protection on larger
structures or protection
around potential
hotspots
such as substations.
 Methods of Earthing
Ground Plate

For areas where there is

In Plate Earthing an
earthing plate either of
copper of dimension
60cm×60cm×3m of
galvanized iron of
dimensions 60 cm× 60
cm×6 mm is buried into
the ground with its face
vertical at a depth of not
less than 3 meters from
ground level.
 Methods of Earthing
Earthing Mat

Earthing mat is made by

joining the number of rods
through copper
conductors. It reduced the
overall grounding
resistance. Such type of
system helps in limiting
the ground potential.
Earthing mat is mostly
used in a placed where
the large fault current is to
be experienced.
 Methods of Earthing
Earthing Through water main
In this type of earthing the GI or
copper wire are connected to the
water mains with the help of the
steel binding wire which is fixed
on copper lead as shown
The water pipe is made up of
metal, and it is placed below the
surface of the ground, i.e. directly
connected to earth. The fault
current flow through the GI or
copper wire is directly get earthed
through the water pipe.
 Soil Characteristics

Soil type. Soil resistivity varies widely depending on

soil type, from as low as 1 Ohmmeter for moist
loamy topsoil to almost 10,000 Ohm-meters for
surface limestone.
Moisture content is one of the controlling factors in
earth resistance because electrical conduction in soil
is essentially electrolytic.
Soil Characteristics
 Earth Reistance
The resistance of the earthing electrode is not concentrated
at one point, but it is distributed over the soil around the
electrode. Mathematically, the earth resistance is given as
the ratio of the voltage and the current shown below.
At 0ºC the water in the soil starts freezing which
increase their resistivity. The resistivity of the earth is also
affected by the composition of some soluble salts
The resistance of the earth varies from layer to layer. The
lower layer of soil has more moisture and lower resistivity.
If the lower layer contains hard and rocky soil, then their
resistivity increases with depth.
Recommended Value of Earth Reistance
System Earth Resistance
Light Current 0.5—1.0

Low Voltage 5

Medium Voltage 2.5

High Voltage 0.5

 Step and touch voltages
Step Potential: Voltage between the feet of a person
When current is flowing from the tower to the earth
ground, the ground potential rises at the tower and
a voltage gradient will occur based on the resistivity
of the soil, resulting in a potential difference
between two points on the ground. This is called a
Step Potential as it can cause voltage between a
person’s feet.
 Step and touch voltages
Touch Potential: Voltage between energized object and feet
of a person
If the ground connection between the tower and the
soil is high resistance (common with some soil
conditions), the tower itself (and any conductive
item touching the tower) can be energized. Touch
potential is the voltage between the energized
object and the feet of a person in contact with the
object.
 Step potential
“Step potential” is the voltage between the
feet of a person standing near an energized
grounded object.
It is equal to the difference in voltage, given by
the voltage distribution curve, between two points
at different distances from the “electrode.”
A person could be at risk of injury during a fault
simply by standing near the grounding point.
 Touch potential
“Touch potential” is the voltage between the
energized object and the feet of a person in contact
with the object.
It is equal to the difference in voltage between
the energized object and a point some distance
away.
The touch potential could be nearly the full voltage
across the grounded object if that object is
grounded at a point remote from the place where
the person is in contact with it.
 What effects Grounding Resistance?
1. Length/depth of the ground electrode
One very effective way of lowering ground resistance is to drive ground
electrodes deeper. Generally, by doubling the length of the
ground electrode you can reduce the resistance level by an additional 40
%.
2. Diameter of the ground electrode
Increasing the diameter of the ground electrode has very little effect in
lowering the resistance. For example, you could double the diameter of a
ground electrode and your resistance would only
decrease by 10 %.
3. Number of ground electrodes
Another way to lower ground resistance is to use multiple ground electrodes.
4. Ground system design
Simple or Complex Grounding system , What type you need?