Grounding System

Types of SCs and SC Current

Calculation Method
• Short-circuit current
calculation according to
IEC 60909-0 is carried out
based on the method of
‘equivalent voltage
source at the short-
circuit location
Grounding
• Utility Service – The system grounding is usually determined by the
secondary winding configuration of the upstream utility substation
transformer.
• Generator – The system grounding is determined by the stator winding
configuration.
• Transformer – The system grounding on the system fed by the transformer
is determined by the transformer secondary winding configuration.
• Static Power Converter – For devices such as rectifiers and inverters, the
system grounding is determined by the grounding of the output stage of
the converter.
Ungrounded System
Ungrounded System
• An ungrounded system is a system where there is no intentional
connection of the system to ground.
• The term “ungrounded system” is not actually correct, since every
system is grounded through its inherent charging capacitance to
ground.
Ungrounded System during SLG-Fault
Ungrounded System during SLG-Fault
• The net result of a ground fault on one phase of an ungrounded delta system is a
change in the system phase-to-ground voltages.
• The phase-to-ground voltage on the faulted phase is zero, and the phase-to-
ground voltage on the unfaulted phases are 173% of their nominal values.
• This has implications for power equipment – the phase-to-ground voltage rating
for equipment on an ungrounded system must be at least equal the phase-to-
phase voltage rating.
• The ground currents with one phase is faulted to ground are essentially
negligible.
• Because of this fact, from an operational standpoint ungrounded systems have
the advantage of being able to remain in service if one phase is
faulted to ground.
Ungrounded System Detection Principles
Artificial Grounding for Ungrounded System
High Resistance Grounding System
• This arrangement typically consists of a wye winding arrangement
with the neutral connected to ground through a resistor.
• The resistor is sized to allow 1-10 A to flow continuously if a
ground fault occurs.
High Resistance Grounding System
HRG during Fault
HRG During Fault
• The ground fault current is limited by the grounding resistor.
• The faulted phase voltage to ground in that case would be zero and
the unfaulted phase voltages to ground would be 173% of their values
without a ground fault present.
• This is the same phenomenon exhibited by the ungrounded system
arrangement, except that the ground fault current is larger and
approximately in-phase with the phase-to-neutral voltage on the
faulted phase.
High Resistance Grounding
• Limits phase-to-ground currents to 5-10A.
• Reduces arcing current and essentially eliminates arc-flash hazards associated with phase-to-
ground arcing current conditions only.
• Will eliminate the mechanical damage and may limit thermal damage to shorted transformer and
rotating machinery windings.
• Prevents operation of overcurrent devices until the fault can be located (when only one phase
faults to ground).
• Requires a ground fault detection system to notify the facility engineer that a ground fault
condition has occurred.
• May be utilized on low voltage systems or medium voltage systems up to 5kV. IEEE Standard 141-
1993 states that “high resistance grounding should be restricted to 5kV class or lower systems
with charging currents of about 5.5A or less and should not be attempted on 15kV systems,
unless proper grounding relaying is employed”.
• Conductor insulation and surge arrestors must be rated based on the line to-line voltage. Phase-
to-neutral loads must be served through an isolation transformer.
Low Resistance Grounding
• Limits phase-to-ground currents to 200-400A.
• Reduces arcing current and, to some extent, limits arc-flash hazards
associated with phase-to-ground arcing current conditions only.
• May limit the mechanical damage and thermal damage to shorted
transformer and rotating machinery windings.
• Does not prevent operation of overcurrent devices. 5. Does not require a
ground fault detection system.
• May be utilized on medium or high voltage systems. GE offers low
resistance grounding systems up to 72kV line-to-line.
• Conductor insulation and surge arrestors must be rated based on the line
to-line voltage.
• Phase-to-neutral loads must be served through an isolation transformer.