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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

Electrotechnik.net
The online magazine for Electrical Engineers

Grounding
in
Three Phase Systems

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The Online Magazine on Electrical Engineering
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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

Preface

Grounding is a vital component of any Three Phase Electric System. A proper

earthing system helps in maintaining the system voltages at the desired level and
helps identify a fault when it occurs and in limiting the impact of a earth fault.

There are many ways of grounding a system. This Ebook strives to explain the basic
concepts behind each system of Grounding.

It is our hope that Electrical Engineers will benefit from this publication.

Do also visit www.electrotechnik.net , an online magazine for Electrical Engineers

where you will find articles such as these of interest to the Electrical Engineer as well
as news from the field.

Editor
Electrotechnik.net

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

The Need for Grounding

A proper grounding scheme is vital component of any power system.

Improperly grounded systems can result in equipment failures, overvoltages, and
flashovers. Grounding uses the earth as a return conductor in the event of a fault.
This helps to identify the fault Grounding ensures system stability and prompt
identification and clearing of faults. . Resistances can be used to limit the fault
current to desired levels.

In three phase systems, the neutral of the Star Point is usually grounded. In the case
of delta connected systems, a special grounding arrangement such as Earthing
Transformers or Zig-zag transformers are used.

On the basis of the grounding used, Power Systems can be classified into

• Ungrounded Systems
• Solidly Grounded Systems
• Low Resistance Grounded Systems
• High Resistance Grounded Systems
• Petersen Coil Grounded Systems
Zig Zag Transformer Grounded Systems

Ungrounded Systems

Ungrounded Systems can function normally in the healthy condition. In the

fault condition, as one phase gets earthed, the voltage between the other two
phases and the ground increases to the line voltage (phase to phase voltage). This
places the insulation of the equipment connected to the system under excessive
electrostatic stress. Ungrounded systems are the most expensive for this reason as
the insulation for all the conducting cables and connecting equipment have to be
rated for the line voltage..

Electric Equipment connected to ungrounded systems need to have insulation

rated for the line voltage. In the event of a fault on one phase, the fault current is
fed by the capacitance charging current flowing the other two un-faulted phases.

This current is usually less and power can continue to flow in the other two
phases. However, if the fault is intermittent and the contact with the ground is of
the make-break type, the capacitances which form in the other two phases may
charge and discharge into the system causing high over voltages, sometimes 5 to 7
times the normal voltage. This can cause extensive damage to other devices
connected elsewhere in the system.

While the ungrounded system can run with the other two phases even when
one phase is faulty, a fault in any of the other two phases can cause a phase-to-
phase short circuit via the ground.

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

Resistance Grounding

In Resistance Grounding, the three phase power system is grounded through

a series resistance. This resistance is intended to limit the fault current when there
is an earth fault. Resistance grounded systems are ideal as they enable quick
identification of a fault and clearance. The series resistors used to limit current are
designed for thermal stability during fault conditions. The resistors also have a time
rating. They are designed to be in circuit for a particular period of time till the fault
is cleared.

Resistance grounded systems can be classified into

• High Resistance Grounding and

• Low Resistance Grounding

High Resistance Grounding restricts the ground fault current to less than 10A.
These systems are advantageous because the system can continue to run when
there is a fault between a phase and the earth. This ensures the system reliability
and the system continues to run while the fault can be identified and rectified.
However, care must be taken to ensure that the permitted ground fault current is
greater than the charging current of the line capacitances.

Thus a three phase system rated for 11kV can have a Grounding Resistor
rated for 635 ohms (The fault voltage during a ground fault will be the phase voltage
11kV/ 3 = 6350V; according to Ohm’s law, for a current of 10A to flow we need a
resistance of 635 ohms.)

This is essential to ensure that there are not transient overvoltages during
intermittent earth faults. The series resistors used in High resistance grounding are
designed for longer time rating as they may have to be in circuit as long as the
system is running with the fault still present.

High Resistance grounding Systems are not permitted in systems which feed
single phase loads.

Modern High Resistance Grounding Systems are equipped with a pulser circuit
which is activated when a ground fault is detected. This pulser circuits generates a
pulsating current which can be used to identify the exact location of the ground fault

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

with a handheld device. This is extremely useful in identifying the fault within a
short period and restoring the system.

Low Resistance Grounding

Low Resistance grounding involves connecting a low resistance in series with

the grounded neutral of the three phase system. Low Resistance grounding limits
permits a fault current above 10A but limits it to around 50A

Low resistance Grounding is used in situations where quick operation of

ground fault relay is required. This form of earthing is used when faults need to be
cleared quickly.

Low resistance grounding resistors have a time rating beyond which they may
not be able to maintain thermal stability due to the heat generated by the fault
currents.

Low resistance grounding ensures that equipment and conductors are not
exposed to the electric and mechanical stresses during an earth fault.

However, the downside of low resistance grounding is that the system needs
to be de-energized after a ground fault.

These are usually used in medium and high voltage Systems

Grounding Resistors - An Introduction

Grounding Resistors are used to limit the fault current in Transformers and
Alternators. When a phase to ground fault occurs, the fault current is limited only by
the soil resistance. This current, which can be very high, can damage the windings.

Grounding resistances can be classified into high and low resistances.

In high resistance grounding, the fault current is limited to less than 10

amperes. While, in low resistance grounding, the current is limited to a value from
25 amperes or more.

The resistances are also categorized on the basis of time they can withstand
the fault current. Typical durations are 1 second, 10 second, one minute and 10
minute rating.

The Extended Time rating resistor is used in systems where the reliability of
the system is critical. This is true in petroleum industries, mines etc. In these
situations, a high resistance which can sustain the fault for a long period is used.
When an earth fault occurs of one phase, an alarm is generated. However, the
system continues to run until the next scheduled shutdown.

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

Resistance grounding is not used in systems where the phase voltage exceeds
15kV for cost reasons

Solidly Grounded Systems

Solidly Earthed Systems are used usually in Low voltage applications upto
440V.

High Voltage electric systems connected to transformers or generators that

are solidly grounded may experience transient overvoltages during fault conditions
due to the line capacitances getting charged and discharged.

Besides, the intensity of a ground fault will be greater and will be

accompanied by a flashover. This may be dangerous to personnel who are in the
vicinity.

The damage to the equipment is also extensive as higher current flows in

solidly grounded system. The conductors carrying the current are subjected to
extensive electrical and mechanical stresses.

The ground current which flows through the soil can pose a danger to people
if the step potential exceeds the safe limits.

Petersen Coils

Peterson coils are used to in ungrounded 3-phase grounding systems to limit the
arcing currents during ground faults. The coil was first developed by W. Petersen in
1916.

Application:

When a phase to earth fault occurs in ungrounded 3 phase systems, the phase
voltage of the faulty phase is reduced to the ground potential. This causes the phase
voltage in the other two phases to rise by 3 times. This increase in voltage causes
a charging current, Ic between the phase-to-earth capacitances. The current Ic,
which increases to three times the normal capacitive charging current, needs to

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

complete its circuit. This causes a series of restrikes at the fault locations known as
arcing grounds. This can also lead to overvoltages in the system.

A Petersen coil consists of an iron-cored reactor connected at the star point of a

three phase system. In the event of a fault, the capacitive charging current is
neutralized by the current across the reactor which is equal in magnitude but 180
degrees out of phase. This compensates for the leading current drawn by the line
capacitances. The power factor of the fault moves closer to unity. This facilitates the
easy extinguishing of the arc as both the voltage and current have a similar zero-
crossing.

IC=3I=3Vp/(1/ C) =3Vp C

Where IC is the resultant charging current that is three times the charging current of
each phase to ground.

Consider a Petersen coil connected between the star-point and the ground with
inductive reactance L, then

The current flowing through it is given by

IL =Vp/ L

To obtain an effective cancellation of the capacitive charging currents, IL to be equal

to IC.

Therefore,
Vp/ L=3Vp C

From which we get,

L=1/ (3 2C)

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Grounding in Three Phase Systems

The value of the inductance in the Petersen coil needs to match the value of the line
capacitance which may vary as and when modifications in the transmission lines are
carried out. Hence, the Petersen coil comes with a provision to vary the inductance.

Zig Zag Transformers

Ungrounded systems that need protection against earth faults usually need a
grounding transformer. This is usually a delta-star transformer whose neutral can be
earthed. An alternative way of grounding the system is by using a zig-zag
transformer.

The Zig-zag Transformer generally has a ratio of 1:1. It consists of six windings, two
for each phase – . The two windings for each phase(outer and inner windings) are
wound on the same core but in opposite directions.

The windings are connected in a zig-zag fashion. For instance, the primary winding of
R phase may be connected to the secondary of Y, the primary of Y phase would be
connected to the secondary of B. In a perfectly balanced condition, the magnetic
fluxes in the primary and the secondary are able to cancel each other; therefore,
their magnetic fluxes cancel each other out. However, in a fault condition, the
magnetic fluxes may not be equal and hence afault current may flow through the
neutral of the secondary winding.

Zig-zag Transformers are used to provide earthing for

ungrounded systems. They are advantageous over delta-wye
systems due to their low internal impedance and lower cost.

Apart from providing earthing to ungrounded systems, zig-zag transformers can be

used to filter harmonic currents. Zig-zag transformers are connected close the loads
that cause heavy harmonics. Since the transformer has opposing windings, the
harmonic currents get cancelled.

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