Importance of Grounding in Power

System

Presented by
Mr. H Jayakumar
Ex- Joint Director CPRI

OBJECT OF EARTHING
Prime Object of Earthing is to Provide
a Zero Potential Surface in and
around and under the area where the
electrical equipment is installed.
Earthing is essential at every stage of
electricity generation, transmission
and utilization

IMPORTANCE OF EARTHING
Personal Safety
Protection of Equipment :
Prevent or at least minimize damage to
equipment as a result of heavy fault current
and lightning thus improve the reliability of
equipment
Protection of System : Improve the reliability
of power supply.

STANDARDS FOLLOWED
IS: 3043 : 1966, 1987 reaffirmed 2006 Code of Practice for
Earthing.
Indian Electricity rules 1956 ( as ammended up to 2000)
IS: 2309 1989 ( reaffirmed 2005 )Protection of Buildings and
allied Structures against lightning Code of Practice.
Manual on Earthing of AC Power Systems : CBIP Publication
No.302 : 2007
BS: 7430 : 1991, Code of Practice for Earthing.( formerly CP
1013: 1966) British Standard Institution London 1992
IEEE :80 : 2000( Revision of IEEE Std 80: 1986) Guide for
Safety in AC Substation Grounding
IEEE :142 :2007(Revision of IEEE Std 142 :1991) Grounding of
Industrial and Commercial Power System.
IEEE 1100 : 2005 (Revision of IEEE Std 1100 : 1999) Powering
and Grounding Electronic Equipment

TYPE OF EARTHING
1. Plate Earthing
Rg =

ohms

2. Pipe / Rod Earthing

100
4l
Rg =
log e
2l
d

ohms

Doubling the Diameter Decrease the Resistance by 10 to 12%

Doubling the Length Decrease the Resistance by 40%

TYPE OF EARTHING
3.

Strip Earthing

100
2l 2
Rg =
log e
2l
wt

ohms

4.

Combination of 1 & 3 and 2 & 3

5.

Mat Earthing
Rg =

4r

ohms

TYPE OF EARTHING
R = Station ground

resistance in ohms

r = is the radius of a circle having the same area or that occupied by grid in meters
L = Total buried length of conductors in meters
= Resistivity of the soil (assumed uniform) in ohm-m
A = Area of both sides of the plates in m
L = Length of the rod or pipe (in cm)
d = diameter of rod or pipe (in cm)
l = length of the strip (in cm)
w = depth of burial of the electrode in cm
t = width (in the case of strip) or twice the diameter (for round conductor) in cm

In the above formula no where type of material used for

grounding is mentioned. So, as far as grounding is
concerned material is immaterial since the ground
resistance is the resistance offered to the nearest ground
hence, ground (Soil Resistivity) plays a very important role.

Type of Earth Tester

Which type of earth tester should be used for measuring the
Soil Resistivity and Ground Resistance Digital meter or
Analog meter?
Digital meter of reputed make. Ground resistance is directly
proportional to the soil resistivity, hence measurement of soil
resistivity by accurate meter of reputed make is very
important. In grounding the value of soil resistivity is most
important for estimating the ground resistance and surface
potentials (mesh, step and touch).

Make
Megger
Fluke
Chauvin Arnoux
Kew (Kyoritsu)

Model
DET 2/2 UK
1623 & 1625 USA / UK
6460, 6462 & 6470 FRANCE / UK
4106 JAPAN

Comparison of Analog & Digital Earth Tester

Why there is always a difference in the measured resistance
values if measured with different earth testers even if all are
calibrated ones?
This is not true in case of reputed make digital earth
testers. This may be true when compared with analog to
digital earth testers of reputed make.
PARAMETERS
Accuracy

ANALOG METER
DIGITAL METER
5% of full scale and shall be effective 2% of reading in entire range hence
above 25% of full scale. At 25% of very accurate and high resolution
reading absolute error is 20%. Not
accurate and low resolution

Voltage

250V hand cranking

Micro processor based 30 to 50 V

automatic reading

Frequency

Fixed (60 to 90 HZ)

Variable. In automode it selects test

frequency with least amount of noise

High Spike resistance

Do not indicate

Displays the high spike resistance.

Open circuit

Do not indicate

Displays current circuit open/potential

circuit open

Measurement of Soil Resistivity

How to check the soil resistivity? Minimum how may readings should be
taken and at what points for a correct measurement of soil resistivity
value ?

a) Equally spaced or Dr. F.Wenner Arrangement

= 2 AR

-M

Measurement of Soil Resistivity

b) Unequally spaced or Schelumberger Palmer Arrangement

= C ( C+d) * R / d

-M

Measurement of Soil Resistivity

A set of readings taken with various probe
spacings (2m, 5 m, 10 m, 25 m, 50m) gives a set
of resistivity which, when plotted against spacing,
indicates whether there are distinct layers of
different soil or rock and gives an idea of their
respective resistivities and depth. This has to be
repeated in all directions of the site i.e., horizontal,
vertical and diagonal.
The mean value is calculated. In case the values
lies within +/- 30% of mean value (70% to 130%)
the soil is considered to be uniform (Homogenous
soil).

CASE STUDY
= 2 AR -M
A= Distance between adjacent electrode (M),
R = Earth tester reading
SL.NO
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

a
Meters
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

4.33
2.60
2.35
1.986
1.652
1.462
1.305

Ohm-Meters
54.412
49.009 min
59.062
62.392
62.279
64.301
65.593 max

Average 59.579
130% of Ave = 1.3 x 59.579 = 77.453
70% of Ave = 0.7 x 59.579 = 41.705
Minimum & Maximum value lies within 41.705 and
77.453
The Soil is Homogeneous.

Measurement of Ground Resistance

What is the principle for measuring the earth resistance
value?
The fall of potential method: Consisting of injecting a known
alternating current through the electrode under test and an
auxiliary current probe and plotting the ratio of V/I = R as a
function of probe spacing x. The potential electrode is
moved away from the ground under test in steps of 10%. A
value of resistance is obtained at each step. The resistance
is plotted as a function of distance in ohms at which this
plotted curve appears to level out is taken as the resistance
value of the ground under test. This level out will be
potential electrode at 61.8% of distance between ground
electrode under test and auxiliary electrode. This was
established by E.B.Curdts for small hemispherical electrode

Measurement of Ground Resistance

Measurement of Ground Resistance

Measurement of Ground Resistance

Distance between station
earth (P1C1) and potential
electrode (P2) mtrs

Earthing tester reading

Earth Pit No 1

Earth Pit No:2

Earth Pit No3

5.59
7.04
7.64
8.06
8.34
8.69

4.46
5.00
5.43
5.77
6.10
6.40

18.54(61.8%of30)

8.78

6.47

14.92
16.12
16.68
17.09
17.19
17.37
17.40

21
24
27

9.00
10.08
11.14

6.73
7.02
7.84

17.60
17.93
18.56

30m

30m

30m

Ave. Of
8.06+8.34+8.78
+
9.00= 8.545

Ave. Of 5.43+5.77+
6.10+6.40+
6.73+7.02
=6.242

Average of
17.09+17.19+17.37
+17.60=17.46

8.545

6.242

17.46

3
6(20% R1)
9
12(40%R2)
15
18(60%R3)

Remote Electrode(C2) from

station ground
(C1P1)
Result:

Fall of Potential Method

Measurement of Ground Resistance

E.B Curds Method

8.78
(R3-R2)
(R2-R1)
8.69-8.06
8.06-7.04
0.69
1.02
0.6765

6.47
(R3-R2)
(R2-R1)
6.40-5.77
5.77-5.00
0.63
0.77
0.8102

From the chart Value =

0.6013

0.5785

Remote electrode
(RE)30m =

60.13% of RE(30)

57.85% of RE(30)

Value =

18.039m
8.69

17.355m
6.40

Analysis of Result
Fall of Potential
E.B Curdts
Slope Method

8.545
8.780
8.690

Slope Method =

6.242
6.470
6.400

17.40
(R3-R2)
(R2-R1)
17.37-17.09
17.09-16.12
0.28
0.97
0.28
-

17.46
17.40
-

Remote electrode (C2) at 30 mtrs from earth pit (C1P1).

Earth Pits are conventional type back filled 2Ft all around the electrodes.
Earth Pit No1: Located at A & B colony 50mm dia 3mtrs Long GI Pipe.
Earth Pit No2: Located in 33KV Substation 100mm dia 3mts Long GI Pipe.
Earth Pit No3: Near DG Set New 60mm dia 2mtrs Long GI pipe.

Calculation of Earth Resistance of Multiple

Electrodes
How to calculate the resultant earth resistance value of the earth

electrodes if more than one pits are required to be installed?

Multiple electrodes in parallel yield lower resistance to ground than a
single electrode. Multiple rods are commonly used to provide the
low
grounding
resistance
required
by
high
capacity
installations. Adding a second rod does not however provide a total
resistance of half that of a single rod, unless the two are several rod
length apart. A useful rule is that grounding systems of 2-24 rods
placed one rod length apart in a line, hollow triangle, circle or square
will provide a grounding resistance divided by number of rods and
multiplied by the factor F.
No.of Rods
Multiplying
Factors for
F Multiple Rods:
2
3
4
8
12
16
20
24

1.16
1.29
1.36
1.68
1.80
1.92
2.00
2.16

Current carrying Capacity of Earth

Electrode
How to calculate current carrying capacity of an earth
electrode?
Current caring capacity of an earth electrode depends on
1. The total surface area of the electrode in contact with
earth
2. Resistivity of the soil and
3. Duration of fault in seconds.
The formula for current caring capacity (Current
density) is:
Current density = 7.57 X 10
t

Amp / Sq-m

= Resistivity of the soil (assumed uniform) in ohm-m.

t = Duration of fault in seconds.

Geometry & No. of Electrodes Required

7. How does earth electrode geometry affects the earthing system?
The total surface area coming in contact with earth is the criteria.
8. How to calculate the number of earth electrodes required for any
particular application?
This depends on the fault level the calculation is as follows:
Calculation of No.of Plates required:
For Example:
The total surface area = 0.6 x 0.6 x 2 sq.m = 0.72 sq.m
Fault current = 6 kilo amperes
Duration of Fault = 1 sec.
Soil Resisitivity = 100 ohm - m
Current density = 7.57 X 10 Amp / Sq-m
t
= 7.57 X 10 = 757 Amp /Sq-m
100X1
One Plate will carry 757 X 0.72 = 545.04 Amperes

Geometry & No. of Electrodes Required

To carry 6 kilo amperes

No.of plates required = 6000 / 545.04 =

11 Nos.
Calculation of No.of Pipes required:
For Example:
The total surface area of a 3 mtr long 80 mm dia = x 0.08 x 3 sq.m
= 0.754 sq.m
Fault current = 6 kilo amperes
Duration of Fault = 1 sec.
Soil Resisitivity = 100 ohm - m
Current density = 7.57 X 10 Amp / Sq-m
t
= 7.57 X 10 = 757 Amp /Sq-m
100X1
One Pipe will carry 757 X 0.754 = 570.778 Amperes
To carry 6 kilo amperes No.of plates required = 6000 / 570.8 = 10.5 =
11 nos.

Minimum Accepted Earth Resistance

What is the minimum accepted earth resistance value for different
applications? Are these resistance values mentioned in any
standard?
References: US AID INDIA Book
The earth resistance shall be as low as possible and shall not
exceed the following limits
Power stations (generating station)
0.5 ohms
EHT Sub-station
1.0 ohms
33 KV Stations
2.0 ohms
D/t Structure
5.0 ohms
Tower Foot resistance
10.0 ohms
Page 92 Modernisation of power distributions Same as above.
IEEE standard 142-2007 chapter 4 page 164 Resistance in the 1
ohm to 5 ohms range are generally found suitable for industrial plant
sub-station and buildings and large commercial installations.
Lightning arrestors ground resistance for protection of buildings and
allied structures Less than 10 ohms Clause 12.3.1 Page 32
IS 2309 : 1989.

Precaution to Be Taken For Measuring Ground

Resistance
10. Precaution to be taken while measuring ground resistance.

Precautions to be taken during resistance measurement.

a. Avoid taking measurement during cloudy day.
b. There is a possibility of lethal potential existing between a station ground & a
remote Ground. If a system fault involving the station ground occurs while
ground resistance is being measured. The use of Rubber gloves is advisable
while making connections to the test electrode. Under no circumstances
should the two hands or other part of the body of the testing personal should be
allowed to complete the circuit between the points of possible high potential
difference.
c. An isolated lightening arrester ground should never be tested with the arrester
in service , because of the possible high potential gradients around the ground
connection.
d. Since the resistivity of the upper soil layers is greatly influenced by weather , a
day test should be chosen which is free from extreme weather conditions.
11. How many times is year we have to check the Earthing point .
IS: 3043: 1987. Clause 34.42 (page76): Normally annual measurement of
earth resistance of substations shall be carried out but local circumstances in
the light of experience may justify increase or decrease in this interval but it
should not be less than once in two years. This shall be compared with the
internal record.
Allthough resistance to ground will change seasonally and over time any
increase of the resistance > 20% or more should be investigated and
corrective action taken to lower the resistance.