Analysis of pole-mounted MV/LV transformer grounding

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Analysis of pole-mounted MV/LV transformer grounding (on photo: Pole-mounted distribution; credit: ee.co.za)

MV/LV transformer grounding philosophy //

Lets discuss in some detail the reasons for the grounding philosophy adopted for pole-mounted MV/LV transformer
substations illustrated in Figure 0.
LV grounding
MV grounding
Combined MV/LV grounding
Separate MV/LV grounding
MV electrode
LV electrode
Pole transformer basics (VIDEO)

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Figure 0 Pole-mounted MV/LV transformer grounding

LV grounding
The purpose of LV system grounding is as follows:
To maintain the LV neutral potential to as close to earth potential as possible thereby prospective touch
voltages in all the grounded metal parts of equipment
To provide a low-impedance return path for any LV ground faults
To ensure operation of MV protection in the event of an inter-winding fault (MV and LV) within the transformer.
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MV grounding
The surge arrestors of MV lines are connected to the transformer tank, which in turn is grounded through the MV,
ground electrode. This limits the voltage between the tank and the lines to the voltage drop across the arrestors in
the event of a surge.
In case the arrestors are connected by a separate lead to the ground, the voltage drop across the resistor would also
additionally appear between lines and tank and cause insulation failure.
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Combined MV/LV grounding

Though it is theoretically possible to have a combined ground at the transformer for both MV and LV, such a practice
may lead to unsafe conditions in the event of an MV to LV fault. Figure 1 shows the reason.

Figure 1 Equivalent circuit for combined MV/LV grounding

The total impedance for a fault between HV and MV winding (neglecting the line impedance and the leakage
impedance of the transformer windings) is the substation ground mat resistance of 10 , the NGR (neutral
grounding resistance) value and the MV/LV combined ground electrode resistance assumed as 1 .
For a 22 kV system (with line to ground voltage of 12 700 V) the current flow is:
IG = 12 700 / (10 + 35 + 1)
Where 35 being the NGR (neutral grounding resistance) value for a 22 kV system.
This gives a figure of 276 A. This current will cause the potential of 276 V to appear on the transformer tank and
through the neutral lead to the enclosures of all equipment connected in the LV system with respect to true earth
potential (this is because in TN-C-S type of systems, which we saw in the last chapter, the neutral and equipment
ground are one and the same).

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This value is unacceptably high. In actual practice, the line and transformer impedances come into
play and the value will therefore get restricted to safe values. Use of combined MV and LV grounding is
therefore possible only if the ground resistance can be maintained below 1 .

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Separate MV/LV grounding

MV electrode
In view of the difficulty of maintaining a very low combined ground resistance arrived at above, the code allows the
use of a separate ground for the LV neutral away from the transformer . The only point of connection between the
LV system and the transformer tank is the LV neutral surge arrestor whose grounding lead is connected to
the transformer tank (refer Figure 2 below).

Figure 2 Equivalent circuit for separate MV ground

The problem with this connection is that a fault within the transformer (MV winding to core fault) resulting in rise of
voltage can cause a high enough voltage to ground causing the neutral surge arrestor to fail and communicate the
high voltage into the LV system.
Assuming a maximum LV voltage of 5000 V for withstand of neural surge arrestors, the voltage rise across the MV
ground electrode resistance should not be greater than this value.
For a 22 kV system (with line to ground voltage of 12 700 V) the ground electrode voltage can be calculated
using the potential division principle as follows:
5000 / 12 700 = R m / (R m + 10 + 35)

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where Rm is the resistance of MV ground electrode. It can be calculated that Rm can have a value of 29 to be
able to limit the voltage.
For 11 kV system, a value of 100 is permissible. The limit for the electrode resistance should also consider the
ground fault current so that the MV ground fault relay can operate reliably to isolate the fault. A value of 30 is taken
as the limit for ground electrode systems for all MV systems. Standard configurations are available in the code for 30
electrodes and can be used in the design.
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LV electrode
The LV electrode resistance should be normally expected to permit sufficient fault currents for detection. Since with
the LV line to neutral voltage of 240 V, the resistance limit works out to 2.4 if a ground fault current of 100 A is to be
obtained.
However, with the TN-C-S type of system, all equipment enclosures are directly connected to the neutral at the service
inlet itself and thus the current flow does not involve the ground path at all.

So, the limit of LV grounding resistance is decided by the criteria of obtaining sufficient fault current
when there is an MV to LV fault without involving the tank or core (refer Figure 3).

Figure 3 Equivalent circuit for separate LV ground

Assuming an MV earth fault protection setting of 40 A , the ground loop resistance can be arrived at 318 (12 700/40)
for 22 kV system. The permissible ground electrode resistance works out to 273 (after taking off the values of NGR

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(neutral grounding resistance) and substation ground resistance).

If we consider a safety factor of 400%, the maximum value of LV ground resistance can be taken as 68 . The safety
factor will ensure that the seasonal changes of soil resistivity will have no adverse effect on protection operation.
Standard configurations are available in the code for 70 electrodes and can be used in the design.
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Pole Transformer (VIDEO)

Very basic, points out components and discusses current flow.
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Reference: Practical Grounding, Bonding, Shielding and Surge Protection G. Vijayaraghavan, Mark Brown and
Malcolm Barnes (Buy hardcopy from Amazon )

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