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How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) - part 1
Introduction
Number of Earthing Electrode and Earthing Resistance depends on the resistivity of soil and time for fault current to
pass through (1 sec or 3 sec). If we divide the area for earthing required by the area of one earth plate gives the
number of earth pits required.
There is no general rule to calculate the exact number of earth pits and size of earthing strip, but discharging of
leakage current is certainly dependent on the cross section area of the material so for any equipment the earth strip
size is calculated on the current to be carried by that strip.
First the leakage current to be carried is calculated and then size of the strip is determined.
For most of the electrical equipment like transformer, diesel generator set etc., the general concept is to have 4
number of earth pits. 2 nos for body earthing with 2 separate strips with the pits shorted and 2 nos for Neutral with 2
separate strips with the pits shorted.
The Size of Neutral Earthing Strip should be capable to carry neutral current of that equipment.
The Size of Body Earthing should be capable to carry half of neutral Current.
For example for 100kVA transformer , the full load current is around 140A.
The strip connected should be capable to carry at least 70A ( neutral current) which means a strip of GI 25x3mm
should be enough to carry the current and for body a strip of 253 will do the needful. Normally we consider the strip
size that is generally used as standards.
However a strip with lesser size which can carry a current of 35A can be used for body earthing. The reason for using
2 earth pits for each body and neutral and then shorting them is to serve as back up. If one strip gets corroded and
cuts the continuity is broken and the other leakage current flows through the other run thery by completing the circuit.
Similarly for panels the no of pits should be 2 nos. The size can be decided on the main incomer circuit breaker.
For example if main incomer to breaker is 400A, then body earthing for panel can have a strip size of 256 mm which
can easily carry 100A.
Number of earth pits is decided by considering the total fault current to be dissipated to the ground in case of fault and
the current that can be dissipated by each earth pit. Normally the density of current for GI strip can be roughly 200
amps per square cam. Based on the length and dia of the pipe used the number of earthing pits can be finalized.
Example:
Calculate isolated earthing rod resistance. The earthing rod is 4 meter long and having 12.2mm diameter, soil
resistivity 500 meter.
R=500/ (23.144) x (Loge (84/0.0125)-1) =156.19 .
The earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per IS 3040:
R=100x/23.14xL (loge(4xL/d))
Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
Example:
Calculate number of CI earthing pipe of 100mm diameter, 3 meter length. System has fault current 50KA for 1 sec and
soil resistivity is 72.44 -Meters.
Current Density At The Surface of Earth Electrode (As per IS 3043):
Max. allowable current density I = 7.571000/(xt) A/m2
Max. allowable current density = 7.571000/(72.44X1) = 889.419 A/m2
Surface area of one 100mm dia. 3 meter Pipe = 2 x 3.14 x r x L = 2 x 3.14 x 0.05 x3 = 0.942 m2
Max. current dissipated by one Earthing Pipe = Current Density x Surface area of electrode
Max. current dissipated by one earthing pipe = 889.419x 0.942 = 837.83 A say 838 Amps
Number of earthing pipe required = Fault Current / Max.current dissipated by one earthing pipe.
Number of earthing pipe required = 50000/838 = 59.66 Say 60 Nos.
Total number of earthing pipe required = 60 Nos.
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 100x/23.14xLx(loge (4XL/d))
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 10072.44 /23.14x300x(loge (4X300/10)) = 7.99 /Pipe
Overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipe = 7.99/60 = 0.133 .
Top
Example:
Calculate GI strip having width of 12mm , length of 2200 meter buried in ground at depth of 200mm, soil resistivity is
72.44 -meter.
Resistance of earth strip(Re) = 72.44/23.14x2200x(loge (2x2200x2200/.2x.012)) = 0.050
From above calculation overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipes (Rp) = 0.133 .
And it connected to bury earthing strip. Here net earthing resistance = (RpxRe)/(Rp+Re)
Net eatrthing resistance = (0.1330.05)/(0.133+0.05) = 0.036
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Factor ()
1.0
1.66
2.15
2.54
2.87
3.15
8
3.39
3.61
10
3.8
For electrodes equally spaced around a hollow square, e.g. around the perimeter of a building, the equations given
above are used with a value of taken from following table.
For three rods placed in an equilateral triangle, or in an L formation, a value of = 1.66 may be assumed.
Factors for electrodes in a hollow square (BS 7430)
Number of electrodes (n)
Factor ()
2.71
4.51
5.48
6.13
6.63
7.03
7.36
7.65
10
7.9
12
8.3
14
8.6
16
8.9
18
9.2
20
9.4
Example:
Calculate Total Earthing Rod Resistance of 200 Number arranges in Parallel having 4 Meter Space of each and if it
connects in Hollow Square arrangement. The Earthing Rod is 4 Meter Long and having 12.2mm Diameter, Soil
Resistivity 500 .