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Earthing in
Electrical Substations

J N KARAMCHETTI, M.Tech., DBF, FIE.

Senior Faculty (Power & Energy Divn.)

Engineering Staff College of India.

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What is Earthing?
!Earthing means making an electrical
connection to a general Mass of Earth.

Earthing in the sub–station must conform to the

requirements of CEA (Measures relating to safety
and Electricity supply) Regulations 2010 and
follow the directives laid down in IS:3043 of 1987
and its revisions.

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 What is Earthing?
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Earthing is a connection done through

a metal link between the body of any
electrical appliance, or 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.

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Why Earthing?

" Safety of People

" Safety of Equipment
" Avoid Fire Hazards
" 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.

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 Classification of Earthing
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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)
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.

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Connection with earth-
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
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.

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Connection with earth-

(IA). 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
hereinabove 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;

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What to earth?

! Neutral of Transformer
! Lightning Arrester
! Body of all equipments
! Cable sheathe Earthing
! Structures in substations, Pole Earthing
! Control Panel Earthing, Battery mid-point
! Tertiary winding Earthing
! Fencing of Substation

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# CASE Study

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Soil Properties
! Earth is a xxxxxx conductor,
• Bad Conductor,
• Poor Conductor,
• Good Conductor.

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Soil Properties
• Earth is a poor Conductor of Electricity,
• Typical Resistivity (ρ) 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
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,
Cont..

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 Soil Properties
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• 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
water and have high ρ,
• Black cotton soil or soil with organic contains
moisture and have lower ρ,
• Soil resistivity measurement is important for
design of earthing system,
• Variation of soil resistivity,
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Soil Properties
• 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,
• 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.
cont..

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Effect of Moisture on Soil resistivity

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Effect of salt on Soil resistivity

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Effect of Temperature on Soil resistivity

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 Material to reduce soil resistivity
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Conventional:
• Salt,
• Charcoal,
• Water

Disadvantage: electrode corrosion.

Bentonite:
• High moisture,
• Swelling to High volume,
• Moisture retains to long time,
• No maintenance required.

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Applications

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 Earthing of DTC
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To main earth ring

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 Flexible Jumper for neutral earthing
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NGR earthing –
Split to two Earth electrodes stations

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Qualities of a Good Earthing
# Must be of low electrical resistance,
# Keep touch voltage and Step potential with in
limits,
# Must be of good corrosion resistant
# Must be able to dissipate heat due to high fault
current repeatedly
# Good Quality Job

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Good Earthing

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Good Earthing

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SUMMARY

a) Soil resistivity should be low,

b) Material of Electrode immaterial,
c) Size of material is based on short circuit
current and duration of short circuit and
Corrosion,
d) Neutral earthing,
a) Double conductor,
b) Direct to electrode and
c) Electrode to earth mat,
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SUMMARY

e) Lightning arresters should have independent

earth pit, which should in turn be connected to
station earth mat.
f) Double earthing to metallic body,
g) All extraneous metallic frameworks not
associated with equipment (towers, structures,
sub-station gantries, building etc.) are
connected to earth mat.

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