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5.7 METHODS OF GROUNDING

5.7.1 Grounding - Introduction

In power system, grounding or earthing means connecting frame of electrical equipment
(non-current carrying part) or some electrical part of the system (e.g. neutral point in a
star- connected system, one conductor of the secondary of a transformer etc.) to earth i.e.
soil. This connection to earth may be through a conductor or some other circuit element
(e.g. are resistor, a circuit breaker etc.) depending up on the situation, grounding or
earthing offers two principal advantages. First, it provides protection to the power
system. For example, If the neutral point of a star-connected system is grounded through
a circuit breaker and phase to earth fault occurs on any one line, a large fault current will
flow through the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker will open to isolate the faulty line.
This protects the power system from the harmful effects of the fault. Secondly, earthing
of electrical equipment ensures the safety of the persons handling the equipment. For
example, if insulation fails, there will be a direct contact of the live conductor with the
metallic part (i.e. frame) of the equipment. Any person in contact with the metallic part
of this equipment will be subjected to a dangerous electrical shock which can be fatal.
In this chapter, we shall discuss the importance of grounding or earthing in the line of
power system with special emphasis on neutral grounding.

Concept of Grounding
The process of connecting the metallic frame (i.e. non-current carrying part) of electrical
equipment or some electrical part of the system (e.g. neutral point in a star- connected
system, one conductor of the secondary of a transformer etc.) to earth (i.e. soil) is called
grounding or earthing. It is strange but true that grounding of electrical systems is less
understood aspect of power system. Nevertheless, it is a very important subject. If
grounding is done systematically in the line of the power system, we can effectively
prevent accidents and damage to the equipment of the power system and at the same
time continuity of supply can be maintained. Grounding or earthing may be classified
as:(i) Equipment grounding (ii) System grounding. Equipment grounding deals with
earthing the non-current-carrying metal parts of the electrical equipment. On the other

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hand, system grounding means earthing some part of the electrical system e.g. earthing
of neutral point of star-connected system in generating stations and substations.

5.7.2 Neutral Grounding

The process of connecting neutral point of 3-phase system to earth (i.e. soil) either
directly or through some circuit element is called neutral grounding. Neutral
grounding provides protection to personal and equipment. It is because during earth fault,
the current path is completed through the earthed neutral and the protective devices (e.g.
a fuse etc.) operate to isolate the faulty conductor from the rest of the system. This point
is illustrated in Fig.

Figure 5.7.1 Neutral Grounding

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 593]

Fig.5.9.3 shows a 3-phase, star-connected system with neutral earthed. Suppose a single
line to ground fault occurs in line R at point F. This will cause the current to flow through
ground path as shown in Fig.1. Note that current flows from R phase to earth, then to
neutral point N and back to R-phase. Since the impedance of the current path is low, a
large current flows through this path. This large current will blow the fuse in R-phase
and isolate the faulty line R. This will protect the system from the harmful effects of the
fault. One important feature of grounded neutral is that the potential difference between
the live conductor and ground will not exceed the phase voltage of the system i.e. it will
remain nearly constant.

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Advantages of Neutral Grounding

The following are the advantages of neutral grounding
(i) Voltages of the healthy phases do not exceed line to ground voltages i.e. they remain
nearly constant.
(ii) The high voltages due to arcing grounds are eliminated.

(iii) The protective relays can be used to provide protection against earth faults. In case
earth fault occurs on any line, the protective relay will operate to isolate the faulty line.
(iv) The over voltages due to lightning are discharged to earth. (v) It provides greater
safety to personnel and equipment.
( vi ) It provides improved service reliability.
(vii) Operating and maintenance expenditures are reduced

5.7.3 Methods of Neutral Grounding

The methods commonly used for grounding the neutral point of a 3-phase system are :
( i ) Solid or effective grounding
( ii ) Resistance grounding
(iii) Reactance grounding
(iv) Peterson-coil grounding
The choice of the method of grounding depends upon many factors including the size of
the system, system voltage and the scheme of protection to be used.

(i)Solid Grounding

Figure 5.7.2 Solid Grounding

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 594]

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When the neutral point of a 3-phase system (e.g. 3- phase generator, 3-phase transformer
etc.) is directly connected to earth (i.e. soil) through a wire of negligible resistance
and reactance, it is called solid grounding or effective grounding. Fig. shows the solid
grounding of the neutral point. Since the neutral point is directly connected to earth
through a wire, the neutral point is held at earth potential under all conditions. Therefore,
under fault conditions, the voltage of any conductor to earth will not exceed the normal
phase voltage of the system.

Figure 5.7.2 Solid Grounding – Fault Current

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 594]

Advantages
The solid grounding of neutral point has the following advantages:
(i) The neutral is effectively held at earth potential.
(ii)When earth fault occurs on any phase, the resultant capacitive current IC is in phase
opposition to the fault current IF . The two currents completely cancel each other.
Therefore, no arcing ground or over-voltage conditions can occur. Consider a line to
ground fault in line B as shown in Fig. The capacitive currents flowing in the healthy
phases R and Y are IR and IY respectively. The resultant capacitive current IC is
the phasor sum of IR and IY . In addition to these capacitive currents, the power source
also supplies the fault current IF . This fault current will go from fault point to earth,

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then to neutral point N and back to the fault point through the faulty phase. The path of
IC is capacitive and that of IF is *inductive. The two currents are in phase opposition
and completely cancel each other. Therefore, no arcing ground phenomenon or over-
voltage conditions can occur.
(iii)When there is an earth fault on any phase of the system, the phase to earth voltage of
the faulty phase becomes zero. However, the phase to earth voltages of the remaining
two healthy phases remain at normal phase voltage because the potential of the neutral is
fixed at earth potential. This permits to insulate the equipment for phase voltage.
Therefore, there is a saving in the cost of equipment.
(iv) It becomes easier to protect the system from earth faults which frequently occur on
the system. When there is an earth fault on any phase of the system, large fault current
flows between the fault point and the grounded neutral. This permits the easy operation
of earth fault relay.

Disadvantages
The following are the disadvantages of solid grounding :
(i) Since most of the faults on an overhead system are phase to earth faults, the system
has to bear a large number of severe shocks. This causes the system to become unstable.
(ii) The solid grounding results in heavy earth fault currents. Since the fault has to be
cleared by the circuit breakers, the heavy earth fault currents may cause the burning of
circuit breaker contacts.
(iii) The increased earth fault current results in greater interference in the neighboring
communication lines.

Applications
Solid grounding is usually employed where the circuit impedance is sufficiently high so
as to keep the earth fault current within safe limits. This system of grounding is used for
voltages up to 33 kV with total power capacity not exceeding 5000 kVA.

(ii)Resistance Grounding
In order to limit the magnitude of earth fault current, it is a common practice to connect

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the neutral point of a 3-phase system to earth through a resistor. This is called resistance
grounding. When the neutral point of a 3-phase system (e.g. 3-phase generator, 3- phase
transformer etc.) is connected to earth (i.e. soil) through a resistor, it is called resistance
grounding. Fig.shows the grounding of neutral point through a resistor R . The value of
R should neither be very low nor very high. If the value of earthing resistance R is very
low, the earth fault current will be large and the system becomes similar to the solid
grounding system.

On the other hand, if the earthing resistance R is very high, the system conditions
become similar to ungrounded neutral system. The value of R is so chosen such that the
earth fault

Figure 5.7.3 Resistance Grounding

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 596]

current is limited to safe value but still sufficient to permit the operation of earth fault
protection system. In practice, that value of R is selected that limits the earth fault current
to 2 times the normal full load current of the earthed generator or transformer.

Advantages
The following are the advantages of resistance earthing:
i)The earth fault current is small due to the presence of earthing resistance. Therefore,
interference with communication circuits is reduced.
ii)It improves the stability of the system.

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Disadvantages
The following are the disadvantages of resistance grounding :
( i ) Since the system neutral is displaced during earth faults, the equipment has to be
insulated for higher voltages.
(ii)This system is costlier than the solidly grounded system.
(iii)A large amount of energy is produced in the earthing resistance during earth
faults. Sometimes it becomes difficult to dissipate this energy to atmosphere.

Applic ations
It is used on a system operating at voltages between 2.2 kV and 33 kV with power source
capacity more than 5000 kVA.

(iii)Reactance Grounding

Figure 5.7.3 Reactance Grounding

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 597]

In this system, a reactance is inserted between the neutral and ground as shown in Fig.
The purpose of reactance is to limit the earth fault current. By changing the earthing
reactance, the earth fault current can to changed to obtain the conditions similar to that of
solid grounding. This method is not used these days because of the following

Disadvantages
( i ) In this system, the fault current required to operate the protective device is higher
than that of resistance grounding for the same fault conditions. (ii)High transient

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voltages appear under fault conditions.

(Iv)Arc Suspension Grounding (Or Resonant Grounding)

We have seen that capacitive currents are responsible for producing arcing grounds.
These capacitive currents flow because capacitance exists between each line and earth.
If inductance L of appropriate value is connected in parallel with the capacitance of the
system, the fault current IF flowing through L will be in phase opposition to the
capacitive current IC of the system. If L is so adjusted that IL= Ic then resultant current
in the fault will be zero. This condition is known as resonant grounding. When the value
of L of arc suppression coil is such that the fault current IF exactly balances the
capacitive current Ic, it is called resonant grounding

Figure 5.7.3 Reactance Grounding

[Source: “Principles of Power System” by V.K.Mehta Page: 597]

Value of L for resonant grounding . For resonant grounding, the system behaves as an
ungrounded neutral system. Therefore, full line voltage appears across capacitors CR
and CY

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Advantages. The Peterson coil grounding has the following advantages:

(i) The Peterson coil is completely effective in preventing any damage by an arcing
ground.
(ii) The Peterson coil has the advantages of ungrounded neutral system.

Disadvantages.
The Peterson coil grounding has the following disadvantages :
(i) Due to varying operational conditions, the capacitance of the network changes from
time to time. Therefore, inductance L of Peterson coil requires readjustment.
(ii) The lines should be transposed.

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