SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON EARTHING SYSTEMS

Presented By:
SANDEEP KUMAR PARIDA REGD NO:0501227577 ELECTRICAL ENGG. C.V.RAMAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION
EARTHING
The term Earthing means connecting the non current carrying parts of the electrical equipment or the neutral point of the supply system to the general mass of earth in such a manner that at all times an immediate discharge of electrical energy takes place without danger.

PURPOSE OF EARTHING
The main objectives of the earthing are to :

Provide an alternative path for the fault current to flow so that it will not endanger the user . Ensure that all exposed conductive parts do not reach a dangerous potential. Maintain the voltage at any part of an electrical system at a known value so as to prevent over current or excessive voltage on the appliances or equipment .

COMPONENTS TO BE EARTHED
In electrical installations the following components must be earthed:

The frames, tanks and enclosures of electric machines, transformers, lighting fittings and other items of equipment. The frame work of the switch boards, control boards, individual panel boards. The operating mechanism of the switch gear. The structural steel work of indoor and outdoor substations, metal cable joining boxes and metal sheaths of the cable. The metal casing of all portable apparatus.

TYPES OF EARTHING

System Earthing : It deals with earthing of the neutral to ensure

system security and protection.

Equipment Earthing : It deals with earthing of non current

carrying parts of the equipment to ensure safety of personnel.

SOIL RESISTIVITY

The chief requirement of good earthing is low soil resistivity.

Soil resistivity varies greatly from one location to another. Some typical values are shown

Type
Sea

Resistivity in -m
2.5 20 50 100 2000 100 10,000 10,000

in the following table.

water Tap water Clay Sand clay mixture Sand Wet concrete Dry concrete Rock

PRINCIPAL FACTORS AFFECTING SOIL RESISTIVITY

Type of soil :The soil composition can be clay, gravel, loam, rock,
sand, stones, etc. Very often, the soil composition is in layers or strata, and it is the resistance of the varying strata, especially at sub-soil level where the moisture content is not subject to drying out, that is important in securing a good electrical path. Climate: Arid and good rainfall climates are at opposite extremes for conditions of soil resistivity. Seasonal conditions: The effects of heat, moisture, drought and frost can introduce wide variations in normal soil resistivity. Soil resistivity usually decreases with depth and an increase in moisture content in a normally dry soil will decrease soil resistivity. Conversely soil temp below freezing greatly increases soil resistivity.

MEASURING SOIL RESISTIVITY

Resistivity of the soil is usually measured by the four-spike method, in which four spikes arranged in a straight line are driven into the soil at equal distances. A current is passed between electrodes C1 and C2 and potential drop V is measured across electrodes P1 and P2.The current I develops an electric field which is proportion four terminal instrument is required for soil resistivity. The probes are installed in a straight line with an equal spacing of a metres and inserted to a depth of no more than a/20 metres, i.e.. for spacing of 2 metres, depth must be less than 100mm. Now keeping the centre position the same, resistance measurements are taken at increasing spacing .Always ensure that the spacing between individual test probes is identical .The soil resistivity can be obtained from the following formula, r = 2aR (Ohm metres) where r = apparent soil resistivity a = spacing of probes in metres R = resistance value in Ohms

MEASURING SOIL RESISTIVITY

THE EARTH PATH

The resistance of the earth path is determined By the resistance of the soil surrounding the earth rod, By its contact resistance between the earth rod and the surrounding soil, By the resistance of the earth rod and connecting conductors. When an electrical current passes from a buried earth rod, it passes from a low resistance metal into an immediate area of high resistance soil. The areas of resistance can be described as being that of a no. of sheaths of ever increasing diameter. The current path passes into the 1st sheath adjacent to the earth rod and then into the 2nd sheath which is of a larger cross section with a greater area for current flow and, therefore, of lower resistance than the 1st sheath, and so on into a succession of sheaths of increasing area and, because of this, of ever decreasing resistance. It is this resistance at the interface where the current leaves the earth rod and flows into the main body of the earth.

FACTORS INFLUENCING EARTH RESISTANCE

1.
2. 3. 4.

5.
6.

Condition of soil. Temperature of soil. Moisture content of soil. Size and spacing of earth electrode. Depth at which the electrode is embedded. Material of conductor.

MEASUREMENT OF EARTH RESISTANCE

The resistance area of an earth electrode is the area of soil around the electrode within which a voltage gradient measurable with commercial instruments exists. This measurement is made by the potential fall method. E is the earth electrode under test. A is an auxiliary earth electrode. B is a second auxiliary electrode. An a.c. of steady value is passed through the earth path from E to A and the voltage drop between E and B is measured.

METHODS OF REDUCING EARTH RESISTANCE OF THE SYSTEM

The earth resistance can be reduced by digging the earth electrode to a depth of 1.5 or 2m,cleaning the surface of the earth plate of all rust and then filling with charcoal soaked in salt solution. Pouring of fresh salt water through pipe over all the coal bed will reduce the earth resistance. The earth resistance can also be reduced by : increasing the plate area, increasing of pit depth, increasing number of electrodes in parallel.

SIZE OF THE EARTHING CONDUCTOR

Minimum cross section of the earthing conductor which should have thermal stability can be calculated from the relation, A (min) =[ I *(t)^ ]/c Where A (min) = minimum required section of the conductor in mm2 I = fault current in ampere t = time in sec c = is a CONSTANT For steel conductor at 400c,it is 70mm2 For copper conductor at 300c,it is 166mm2

METHODS OF EARTHING
1.

Strip or Wire Earthing : This type of earthing is used at places which have rocky soil earth bed.
Rod Earthing : This system of earthing is suitable for areas which are sandy in character. Pipe Earthing : It is the best form of earthing and is very cheap in cost.

2.

3.

EARTHING MAT

A number of rods when joined together through copper conductors constitute an Eathing Mat. It reduces overall grounding resistance. Such a mesh of conductors laid near the grounding surface helps in limiting the potential gradient. In a substation, it is bonded to the local supporting metal structure and to the handle of the switchgear, so that the operator will not be exposed to a high differential voltage due to a fault in the substation. In systems where large fault currents are to be experienced, it is preferable to take care of the potential gradients by laying the earthing mat.

CONCLUSION
In an electrical installation, if a metallic part of an electric appliance comes in direct contact with a live wire, the metal being a good conductor of electricity is charged. If any person comes in contact with this charged metallic part, he will get a severe shock. But if the metallic parts of the appliances are earthed, the charge will be transferred to the earth. As discharge takes place to earth, the impedance of path of the current is low, a large amount of current flows to earth, the current exceeds the limiting value, the fuse provided in the circuit will blow off and cut off the appliance from supply. Thus, earthing of metallic parts of electrical equipments and appliances provide safety.

THANK YOU ! ! !