Concepts and Practices

in
Earthing
in in
Electrical Installation
By
Mr. A K Bhattacharyya
What is Earthing?
Earthingmeans making an electrical
connection to a general Mass of Earth.
Earthing in the substation must conform to the
requirements of Indian Electricity Rules 1956 and
follow the directives laid down in IS:3043 of 1987 and its
revisions.
Earthing is a connection done
through a metal link between the
body of any electrical appliance, or
neutral point, as the case may be,
What is Earthing?(contd)
neutral point, as the case may be,
to the deeper ground soil. The
metal link is normally of MS flat, CI
flat, GI wire which should be
penetrated to the ground earth grid.
Why Earthing?
Safety of People
Safety of Equipment
Avoid Fire Hazards
CEA Regulations,2010 CEA Regulations,2010
Earthing also increases the reliability of supply
as it helps to provide stability of voltage
conditions.
Prevents excess peak voltage disturbances and
also as a means of providing a measure of
protection against lightning.
Qualities of a Good Earthing
v Must be of low electrical resistance,
v Keep touch voltage and Step potential
with in limits,
v Must be of good corrosion resistant v Must be of good corrosion resistant
v Must be able to dissipate heat due to
high fault current repeatedly
Classification of Earthing
The earthing is broadly divided as
a) System earthing (Connection between part of
plant in an operating system like LV neutral of a power
Transformer winding and earth).
b) Equipment earthing (Safety grounding) b) Equipment earthing (Safety grounding)
Connecting body of equipments (like motor
body, Transformer tank, Switch gear box, operating rods
of air break switches, LV breaker body, HV breaker body,
Feeder breaker bodies etc) to earth.
Connection with earth-
(A) All non-current carrying metal parts associated
with HV/EHV installation shall be effectively
earthed to a grounding system or mat which will: -
(a) Limit the touch and step potential to tolerable
values;
(b) Limit the ground potential rise to tolerable values (b) Limit the ground potential rise to tolerable values
so as to prevent danger due to transfer of
potential through ground, earth wires, cable
sheath, fences, pipe lines, etc.;
(c) Maintain the resistance of the earth connection
to such a value as to make operation of the
protective device effective.
Connection with earth-
(B). In the case of star-connected system with
earthed neutrals or delta connected system with
earthed artificial neutral point: -
(a)The neutral point of every generator and
transformer shall be earthed by connecting it to
the earthing system as defined in rule 61(4) and the earthing system as defined in rule 61(4) and
herein above by not less than two separate and
distinct connections;
(b)Provided that the neutral point of a generator
may be connected to the earthing system through
an impedance to limit the fault current to the
earth;
What to earth?
Neutral of Transformer
Lightning Arrester
Body of all equipments
Cable sheathe Earthing Cable sheathe Earthing
Structures in substations, Pole Earthing
Control Panel Earthing, Battery mid-point
Tertiary winding Earthing
Fencing of Substation
Earth is a poor Conductor of Electricity,
Typical Resistivity () of soil is 100 ohm-metre,
and for copper is 1700 micro ohm-metre,
Two main constituents of soil are silicon oxide and
Aluminium oxide which are insulators,
Soil becomes conductive due to salts and
Soil Properties
Soil becomes conductive due to salts and
moisture embedded in between them,
Surface of soil layers-clay and moisture with
decayed vegetable material. When dry this does
not conduct. With moisture contain, it conducts.
Soil under the surface of earth is non-
homogenous, hence resistivity values in wide
range between 1 ohm metre to 1,00,000 ohm
metres. Depending on type, nature of soil &
physical and Chemical Properties.
Sandy soil drains faster, solid rock does not retain
Soil Properties(contd)
Sandy soil drains faster, solid rock does not retain
water and have high ,
Black cotton soil or soil with organic contains
moisture and have lower ,
Soil resistivity measurement is important for
design of earthing system,
Moisture in the soil is the most important element
determining its conductivity / resistivity. Conditions
which increase / decrease distribution of moisture
content in the soil result corresponding changes,
Resistivity goes seasonal changes as per moisture
in the soil, due to climate conditions,
Variation of soil resistivity
in the soil, due to climate conditions,
Values of resistivity are minimum in rainy season
and maximum in summer / dry season,
For safe design of earth mat, measurements in dry
season are adopted.
Effect of Moisture on Soil resistivity
Effect of salt on Soil resistivity
Effect of Salt on Soil resistivity
Salt percentage, by
weight of moisture
(moisture in the soil is
15%)
Resistivity
Ohm-m
Resistivity as
a % of original
value
0 107 100
0.1 18.0 16.8
1.00 4.6 4.3
5.00 1.9 1.8
10.00 1.30 1.2
20.00 1.0 0.95
Effect of Temperature on Soil resistivity
Conventional:
Salt,
Charcoal,
Water
Disadvantage: electrode corrosion.
Material to reduce soil resistivity
Bentonite:
High moisture,
Swelling to High volume,
Moisture retains to long time,
No maintenance required.
Earthing Electrodes
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What is Skin effect?
Contact between
soil and electrode!
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Pipe Electrode Rod Electrode
Earth Electrodes
ohmmeter in soil of y resistivit where
ohms
d
L
e
=
=
=
4
log
L 2
100
R
p
r
Rod / Pipe Electrodes
Calculation of Resistance for rod / pipe electrode
ohms in resistance R
cm in rod of dia d
cm in rod of length L
=
=
=
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Plate Electrodes
Calculation of Resistance for Plate electrode
R= [(/A)]/4
Where R =Resistance in ohms
=resistivity of soil in ohm-metre =resistivity of soil in ohm-metre
A =Area on both sides of plate in M
2
.
Plate Electrode
Electric Shock
Charles Dalziel (1904-1986) studied the effects of electricity on animals and
humans. He wrote The Effects of Electric Shock on Man, a book in which he
explains the effects of different amounts of electricity on human subjects. He is
also the inventor of theground-fault circuit interrupter or GFCI which he invented
in 1961. The GFCI is commonly found in home bathrooms or kitchens. The
outlet operates normally until 5 milliamps passes from the appliance to the
ground. Charles Dalziel was a pioneer in understanding electric shock in
humans.
Minimum voltage placed across the arms that would produce a current
that could be felt by a person.
The damage caused by electric shock depends on the current flowing
through the body; 1 mA can be felt and 5 mA is painful. Above 15 mA, a
person loses muscle control, and 70mA can be fatal. A person with dry skin
has a resistance from one arm to the other of about 50000 ohms. When
skin is wet, the resistance drops to about 5900 ohms.
dry skin resistance = 50 k, and V = A x R, { Volts = amps x resistance }
with dry skin, the least voltage that can be felt = 50 k x 1 mA = 50 Volts.
wet skin resistance = 5.9 k, (ohmns)
with wet skin, the least voltage that can be felt = 5.9 k x 1 mA = 5.9 Volts
At the potential of 50 volts on wet skin the current felt would be =
= 50 / 5900 = 8.47 mA , which is considered painful on wet skin.
Tolerable current for human body
As per studies by Dalziel, 99.5% of all persons can safely withstand without
ventricular fibrillation, the passage of current (I
B
) for duration ranging from 0.03
to 3.0 sec and is related to energy absorbed by the body as per formula: S
B
=
(I
B
)
2
xRx t
s
Value of S
B
=0.0135 for person weighing 50 kg
i.e. I
B
=116 mA for 1 sec.&
B
S
B
=0.0246 for person weighing 70 kg
i.e. I
B
=157 mA for 1 sec.
ts I
B
(50 kg) I
B
(70 kg)
0.2 sec 259 mA 351 mA
0.5 sec 164 mA 222 mA
1.0 sec 116 mA 157 mA
As per the Indian Electricity Rule no. 67 (1) in every
E.H.V./ H.V. installations :
(a) Touch voltage and step voltage shall be kept
within limits.
To Provide high resistivity Layer
within limits.
(b) The ground potential shall be limited to a
tolerable value.
Understanding Important definitions
Touch potential
Step potential
Equipotential
Touch and Step Potential
Touch & Step Potential
Basic Shock Situations in Substations
(a)Touch potential : Touch potential is thedifference
in voltage between the object touched and the ground
point just below the person touching the object when
groundcurrentsareflowing.
Definitions
As per IE rules one has to keep touch potential less than 523 volts
(b) Step Potential : Step Potential is the difference in
voltage between two feet, which are one metre apart
alongtheearthwhengroundcurrentsareflowing.
Continue.
(c) Equipotential: Two separate points (at same
potential)
(d) Mesh Voltage: It isthemaximumtouchvoltageto
befoundwithinameshof groundgrid.
Definitions
befoundwithinameshof groundgrid.
(e) Transferred voltage: It is aspecial caseof touch
voltage where voltage is transferred into or out of the
substation.
Arc Zone around
earthing electrode
when a large
current flows away current flows away
from it to ground
Earth surface potential around ground rod
during current flow
To avoid formation of pools of oil in case of
leakages from
Transformers and
Circuit Breakers
to eliminate spreading of fire
to keep reptiles away
To provide high resistivity layer
Continue.
to keep reptiles away
to control the growth of grass and weeds
to maintain moisture in the soil
to discourages persons running in the switch-yard
and saves them of the risk of being subjected to
possible high step voltage
The value of tolerable touch voltage in
respect of human body is less than the
value of tolerable step voltage. Also, a
person in the switchyard may be exposed
To Provide high resistivity Layer(contd)
person in the switchyard may be exposed
to touch voltage most often than to the
step voltage. The touch voltage, being
predominant must be considered for the
purpose of analysis than the step voltage.
Continue ,.
Following is the formula of permissible
touch voltage.
E Touch =(116+0.174)
t
To Provide high resistivity Layer
where, =The soil resistivity where the
person is standing.
t =Fault clearing time.
Continue ,..
The above formula clearly indicates that it is
essential to provide high resistivity layer
under the feet of the person standing in the
switch-yard so as to keep the value of the
touchpotential within permissible limits. touchpotential within permissible limits.
In practice: the touch voltage should be less
than 523 volts, the step voltage should be
less than 1510 volts.
Crushed Stone
The Crushed Stone serves the purpose.
The resistivity of the Crushed Stone is
taken as 3000 Ohm-m for calculation of the
tolerable touch voltages in most of the tolerable touch voltages in most of the
designs of earth mat of sub-station. Crushed
stone, of the size of 30 to 40 mm for a layer
of 100 mm is recommended by the CBIP.
Granite, Gneiss - 25000 Ohm-metre
Bolder Gravel - 15000 Ohm-metre
Lime Stone - 5000 Ohm-metre
Moran Gravel - 3000 Ohm-metre
Base Rock Hard - 1190 Ohm-metre
Rock, Hard - 1150 Ohm-metre
The values of resistivity of the different types
of rocks are given below:
Rock, Hard - 1150 Ohm-metre
Boulders - 477 Ohm-metre
The range of the values of the resistivity is wide. It is,
therefore, essential to know the source of the rock from
which theblack metal is obtained so that theideaof the
resistivity of theblack metal canbehadprior tolayingof
themetal.
MEASUREMENT OF EARTH RESISTANCE
The measurement of earth resistance is done using three
terminal earth meggars or four terminal earth meggars.
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 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 150 feet and 75 feet fromthe earth electrode
under test and ohmic values of earth electrode is read in the
meggar.
Measurement of Earth Resistivity
Combined earth resistance shall be the same at every
earth pit unless it gets disconnected fromthe earth mat
Permissible values of earth resistance
a) Power stations - 0.5 ohms
b) EHT Stations - 1.0 ohms
c) 33KV SS - 2 ohms
d) DTR Structures - 5 ohms d) DTR Structures - 5 ohms
e) Tower foot resistance - 10 ohms
a) Soil isapoor conductor
b) Purewater isapoor Conductor,
c) Add (NaCl) salt andMoisturetoreduceearthconductivity,
d) Excesswater will not helpinreducingearthresisitivity,
e) Charcoal helpinholdingmoisture,
SUMMARY
f) Pipeearthingwill helpindistributionof currentinall directions
g) Transformer neutral requirestwoearthingelectrodes,
h) Lightningarresters shouldhaveindependent earthpit, whichshouldinturn
beconnectedtostationgroundmat.
i) Body(metal) earthing,
j) All extraneousmetallic frameworksnot associatedwithequipment (towers,
structures, sub-stationgantries, buildingetc.) areconnectedtoEarthmat.
h) Earthing of sub-station fence is also equally important from
viewpoint of touch and step potentials in theareaoutsidethefence.
Normally earthmat hastobeextendedupto2mbeyondthefenceso
astoensurethat theareainthevicinityof sub-stationfenceissafe, if
SUMMARY(contd)
somebodyhappenstocomeincontact withit under fault conditions.
i) Earthing in the sub-station must conformto the requirements of
Indian Electricity Rules 1956andfollowthedirectives laiddown in
I.S:3043of 1987anditsrevisions.
Questions and Answers