Earthing practices for LV and MV

Installations
PRESENTED BY
S.APPAVOO, Former CEIG/TN

appavoo_s@yahoo.
com

9962356002
 Contents
• Necessity of earthing – statutory provisions – basic earthing systems
• Co-ordination between the fault clearing device, load and conductor to
 achieve protection for the cable by the fault clearing device
 avoid any operation of different types of fault clearing device as demanded by a typical load for
a short time
• Permissible disconnection time of fault clearing device for personal protection
• Fault loop impedance
• Permissible value and duration of let through Current for personal protection
• Earthing conductor sizing
• DISCOM and Consumer’s earthing - interconnection or not
• Inspection and testing

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 Clearance from buildings (650 V & above lines) (R-60 & 61)

An overhead line shall not cross over an existing building and no

building shall be constructed under an existing overhead line.

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 Planning and Design
Schematic Lay Out
Plan Elevation

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 Purpose of earthing
• Provide a low impedance earth fault return path to clear the earth
fault and to achieve protection.

• Limit the step and touch voltages on the accessible equipment and
surfaces both during normal operation and during transients to safe
levels.

• Minimise the effect of lightning strikes on personnel equipment and

structures.

• Minimise electrical noise interference in control & instrumentation

and IT systems 5
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(XV)

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BIS-732: Fig 15 TN-C With neutral and Protective Conductor
Functions Combined in a Single Conductor Throughout the
System

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 TT and TNS Earthing Systems
Source

Fault Clearing Device

R
N
Y

Protective Conductor
TNS System- the missing link?

TT System

Source ( Protective Earthing

Equipment
Neutral
Earthing) 9
 Re-bar (foundation) earthing for equipotential bonding Cl. 4.5 of IS 732
 The atmospheric and electrostatic discharges can elevate whole building any build
up of the dangerous potential differences at the equipment and personal will also
be avoided by these supplemental earthing.
 The concrete foundations reinforced with steel bars provides ready-made
grounding electrodes.

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Earth Fault Current Paths

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 Tripping Characteristics of MCB

IEC 60898-1
classifies the
rating of
MCBs based
on the
instantaneou
s tripping
current (i.e.,
in less than
100 ms) as
type "B", "C" , "
D" "K" or "Z"
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14
Fault loop impedance in TNS System

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mA s

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 of MCBs

Maximum duration for the automatic disconnection of circuit protection device for the final circuits during earth fault in TNS and TT
system as per cl 4.2.11.3.2.2.to 4 in seconds
Nominal phase
Nominal phase to Nominal phase to Nominal phase to to earth
Earthing earth Voltage earth Voltage earth Voltage Voltage Uo >
System 50V<Uo<_ 120V 120V<Uo<_ 230V 230V<Uo<_ 400V 400V
For distribution
circuits
TN 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 5
TT 0.3 0.2 0.07 0.04 1 17
 Co-ordination between Load, MCB and cable
Connected 240 V Load in W 1000 1500 2000
Load Current Ib 5.63 8.45 11.27

Condition 1:
Ib ≤ In ≤ Iz
MCB Rating In 6 10 10 16 16 20

Cable rating Iz (1.5, 2.5, 4 sqmm

cu in PVC conduit) 11 14 14 19 19 19

Starting current of equipment 33.81 50.71 67.61

Tripping current of MCB during

starting for C type 30 50 50 80 80 100

Condition 2:
I2 ≤ 1.45XIz
Conventional trip current of MCB
I2 8.70 14.50 14.50 23.20 23.20 29.00

Cable over load rating 1.45 X Iz 15.95 20.30 20.30 27.55 27.55 27.55
Permissible Fault loop
impedance 4.00 2.40 2.40 1.50 1.50 1.20 18
Size of earthing conductors

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Sizing of earthing conductors when phase conductor size exceeds 35
sq mm e.g. Area of cross section of conductor, S=6 sq mm

Type of earthing conductor :PVC copper

Value of k for the above conductor =136 A/Sq mm

Operating time of disconnecting device = 1 s

Hence the value of fault current that can be safely

handled by the conductor=K X S/sq rt(1)= 136 X 6/1
=821 A

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 IS 732: Effect of DISCOM earthing in consumer's premises
U1 U2

IE RE R Ur
B

22
 IS 732: Effect of DISCOM earthing in consumer's premises
U1 U2

IE RE R Ur
B

23
 U1 U2

IE R Ur
RE
B

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 U1 U2

RE R Ur
IE
B

Note:
Read Cl. 4.5.2.2.3 of IS 732:
1. Co-ordination between DISCOM and Contractor
2. Mitigation requires HV and MV earth connection or separation and Reduction of RE
3. Type of earthing alone is the responsibility of the consumer
4. Responsibility is with the DISCOM 25
Cl. 4.5.4.4.7 of IS 732

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Surge Protection Device

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 Inspection and Testing

1 Inspection for the mechanical and environment conditions – Chances

for Ingress, abrasion, Controls connected to phases- colour coding-
2 Type tested switchboard, complying with IEC 60439-1

Tests for:
1 Continuity
2 Polarity
3 Insulation Resistance
4 Earth Electrode Resistance
5 Earth Loop Impedance
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 LT Installations-Important points
Clearance from the OH lines of distribution company
Approval of local body
Engaging licenced contractor, method of wiring, distribution arrangement,
emergency mains, ingress protection for equipments
Selection of
 cable for design load, earth loop impedance, fault level and voltage drop
 Selection of circuit protection devices for the fault level and load type
Co-ordination between the circuit protection devices for equipment and personal
protection
Earthing and conductor sizing for earth resistance and Earth leakage protective
device (RCBO, CBCT with EFR) and neutral failure relay, SPD and lightning protection
Testing for Insulation resistance, earth loop impedance, earth leakage, earth
resistance and periodical maintenance.

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pl. send your comments to
Mail: appavoo_s@yahoo.
com
WhatsApp: +919962356002

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SCOPE

Points
3 Crore consumers, 1784 Substations, 3.27 lakhs DTs, 6.35 lakh km LT lines, 1.81 lakh km HT lines, 35000 km
EHV Lines
Disconnection times – relate it and MCB co-ordination with earth design
Earth loop impedance
TT ultimately results into an ineffective TNS system

IS 732, IS 3043, Related Planning and design, General safety

Global Rating Factors
Maximum continuous operating conductor temperature 90 Deg C
Rating factor for ground temperature
Ambient Air temperature
Thermal Resistivity of soil
Rating factors for Depth of laying of cables in ground
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Grouping and method of laying
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