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ELECTRICITY

Benefits of electricity are Numerous Mishandling can cause damages to properties, human Under estimation of protection equipment can further aggravate the risk In all cases earthing is one of the important factor during design and operation

WHAT IS EARTHING?
Earthing is a connection done through a metal link between the Earthing body of electrical appliance or neutral,into the deeper ground. The metal link is normally MS flat or GI wire which is penetrated to ground.

Via

Reference Earth: Part of earth which is considered as conductive and which Electrical Potential is zero.

EARTHING
People often assume that any grounded object is safe to touch A low ground resistance, itself is not a guarantee to safety Step and touch potential have to be assessed in the vicinity of substation also A serious hazard may arise due to transfer of potential from station grid and outside locations Transfer of potential may be due to communication wire, conduits, pipes etc. The danger is usually from contact i.e. touch

OBJECTIVE
To provide personal safety and vital equipment protection

Improving system performance


To increase equipment life- protection against surges and lightening To minimize interruption of service and costly downtime.

CONNECTION WITH EARTHIn the case of star-connected system with earthed neutrals or delta connected system with earthed artificial neutral point: The neutral point of every generator and transformer

shall be earthed by connecting it to the earthing system as defined in rule 61(4) by not less than two separate and distinct connections. The neutral point of a generator may be connected to the earthing system through an impedance to limit the fault current to the earth.

EARTHING TO BE DONE:Neutral of Transformer Lightning Arrester Body of all equipments Cable sheathe Earthing Structures in substations, Pole Earthing Control Panel Earthing, Battery mid-point Fencing of Substation

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Guiding standards IEEE 80, IS 3043, CBIPPublication No.223 & 302 Estimation of fault current flowing between the grid and earth (SLG or LLG fault) Basic Objectives: Adequacy of Ground conductor for fault current (considering corrosion) Step potential within tolerable Touch (Mesh) Potential limit Minimum Ground Resistance

o Area covered by substation o Resistivity of soil at site and depth of surface layer Type of earth (Like corrosive) Maximum earth fault current Maximum fault current Fault clearing time Maximum Touch and Step potential

TOUCH POTENTIAL

Touch potential is a potential difference between the fingers of raised hand touching the faulted structure and the feet of the person standing on the substation floor. The person should not get a shock even if the grounded structure is carrying fault current, i.e, The Touch Potential should be very small. As per IE rules one has to keep touch potential less than 523 volts

STEP POTENTIAL

Step potential is the potential difference between the feet of a person standing on the floor of the substation, with 0.5 m spacing between the feet (one step), through the flow of earth fault current through the grounding system.

Touch Potential And Step Potential

COMPONENTS OF EARTHING SYSTEM

Conductor material, size Copper, MS, GI (minm. Cross section 100 sq mm, 200 sq mm (corrosive) Earthmat, Grid spacing- 3 to 8 mtr
Risers for equipment

Earth Electrodes (high conductivity with low underground corrosion)- 3 to 5 mtr Adequacy for 30-50 years of service

Earth Electrodes
ROD ELECTRODE

PIPE ELECTRODE

CALCULATION OF RESISTANCE OF ROD / PIPE


ELECTRODE

100 4L R log e ohms 2L d where resistivity of soil in ohmmeter L length of rod in cm d dia of rod in cm R resistance in ohms

Installation of Typical Plate Electrode

CALCULATION OF RESISTANCE OF PLATE


ELECTRODE R= [(/A)]/4 Where

R = Resistance in ohms

= resistivity of soil in ohm-metre


A = Area on both sides of plate in m2.

MEASUREMENT OF EARTH RESISTANCE


The measurement of earth resistance is done using three terminal or four terminal methods
Four Terminal: Four spikes are driven in straight line into the ground at equal intervals. The two outer spikes are connected to current terminals of earth meggar and the two inner spikes to potential terminals of the meggar. Then the earth resistance is measured by rotating the meggar till a steady value is obtained. Three Terminal: Two temporary electrodes are spikes are driven in straight line one for current and the other voltage at a distance of 30 mtr and 15 mtr from the earth electrode under test

Measurement of Earth Resistivity

Three Terminal Method

Permissible values of earth resistance


a) Power stations b) EHT Stations c) 33KV SS - 0.5 ohms - 1.0 ohms - 2 ohms

d) DTR Structures

- 5 ohms

e) Tower foot resistance - 10 ohms

Earthing Audit
Measure

of Earth Resistance every year 10-15% of earth mat is to be inspected after 15 years of service

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