S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.

Joseph's Chennai

Isolated Neutral Grounded Neutral

NEUTRAL EARTHING

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

ISOLATED OR UNGROUNDED SYSTEM

Favor Problems

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

ARCING GROUND
If a capacitive fault current of around 4 to 5 mA flows into the earth which is sufficient to maintain a arc in the ionized path of the fault , even though the medium causing the fault has cleared itself. Charging and discharging of system due to capacitive currents gives rise to persistency of arc. Very high voltages build up which can cause insulation break down.

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

SALIENT POINTS OF ISOLATED NEUTRAL

No zero sequence current Little interference with communication line. Phase voltage rise to the value of line voltage and cause insulation failure. Capacitive current in the faulty phase increase to three times the normal value. Earth fault relaying is complicated Voltage surges do not find a path to ground.

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

ADVANTAGES OF EARTHED NEUTRALS

Arcing grounds are eliminated. Voltage of healthy phase remains at normal value. Earth fault relaying can be effectively used. Induced static charges find a way to the ground. Fault current can be controlled. Greater safety to personnel and equipment. Insulation failures are reduced and life span increases Overall economy is achieved.

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

Solidly Grounded Resistance Grounding Grounded neutral system Reactance Grounding

Below 3.3 kV and above 33 kV Between 3.3 kV and 33 kV Between 3.3 kV and 33 kV

Petersons Coil Voltage Transformer Grounding

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

EFFECTIVELY GROUNDED
Ratio of zero sequence reactance to positive sequence reactance must not be greater than 3 Ratio of zero sequence resistance to positive sequence resistance must not be greater than 1 for any condition of operation

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

FAVOR

PROBLEM

Arcing grounds and over voltages are eliminated. Ground fault relaying is simple and satisfactory. Voltage of the healthy phases does not exceed 80% of the normal voltage Less cost of insulation

Heavy flow of fault current. Danger to personnel. Transient fault may also be converted in to short circuit fault. Interference with communication circuit. Current handling by circuit breakers are difficult.

SALIENT FEATURES OF SOLID GROUNDING

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

RESISTANCE GROUNDING
Grounding of system through low value of resistance allows the use of discriminative relaying. Limits the fault current. Less interference with communication circuits. Transient ground faults are converted to controlled current faults. Enormous energy loss in the resistor. Extra investment and shift of system neutral.

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

RESONANT GROUNDING
Iron core tapped reactor tuned to system capacitance. Arcing grounds are self extinguished and to reduce ground fault currents. Medium voltage overhead lines and radial lines employ resonant grounding. During normal operation losses are minimal. Less interference with communication circuits. Continuity of supply can be maintained until fault is cleared

S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's Chennai

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER GROUNDING

Arcing grounds are eliminated. Transient over voltages owing to switching are reduced. Operates like an isolated neutral system because of large reactance of the transformer. Reflection of travelling waves and build up of voltage. Extent of fault can be measured on the secondary.