Earthing

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,
butdischarging 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.
The Size of Neutral Earthing Stripshould 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 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.

1. Calculate numbers of pipe earthing

A. Earthing resistance and number of rods for isolated earth pit
(without buried earthing strip)
The earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per BS 7430:
R=/23.14xL (loge (8xL/d)-1)
Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
L = Length of electrode (meter),
D = Diameter of electrode (meter)
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),
L = Length of electrode (cm),
D = Diameter of electrode (cm)

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 .

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B. Earthing resistance and number of rods for isolated earth pit

(with buried earthing strip)
Resistance of earth strip (R) As per IS 3043:
R=/23.14xLx (loge (2xLxL/wt))

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