INTRODUCTION

Earthing is topic generally known to everybody and I hope importance of

earthing in our electrical system is also known. Still I have chosen to discuss
this topic, as I will like you to introspect:
a) Do we really know new concepts, which are being introduced in earthing
practices world wide
b) Do we really abide by the earthing re!uirements
c) Do we really understand comple"ity of earthing # give due importance to
it
$y e"perience shows that due importance is not given to earthing practice
and many a times it is done to complete a formality for getting electrical
inspectors approval. %ence a discussion on general earthing practices is
essential.
I. WHY EARTHING IS REQUIRED?
&.& Everybody knows earthing is re!uired to be done for safety, to
avoid shocks and to protect life. 'his becomes possible due to
the solidly earthed neutral system adopted by us for distribution.
'his also provides reference (ero potential for the system # make
preserves the safety and security of the system by ensuring that
potential of conductor is restricted to a rated value consistent with
level of inculation.
In addition to prohibiting shocks dose earthing have any other
function in the electrical system )es, it provides convenience of
effective way of tripping circuits using relays under fault conditions
this protecting precious e!uipment in the system and earthing
fi"es the system neutral voltage. Earthing also provides effective
way of dissipating lightening energy without damage to buildings *
structures.
'hus earthing improves service continuity, avoids damage to
e!uipment # danger to human life.
+f course, even proper and effective earthing may not provide
protection against faults other than earth faults and tripping in
such cases is dependant on over current trips.
1.2 Comparison of Eart!" # Un!art!" S$st!m
,nearthed systems are utili(ed in some areas based on thought
of gaining additional service continuity as earthed systems are
designed to remove faulty circuits from system.
%owever it is a common e"perience world over that better service
continuity is possible with earthed system. -onsider following
points.
&...& $ultiple /round 0aults:
1hile service continuity is ensured in unearthed system
in one ground fault condition in case of occurrence of
another ground fault before removal of first fault results in
outage and possible damage to the e!uipment.
$any times such single ground faults are not located
unless a comprehensive # organi(ed maintenance
program is in place.
&.... 2rcing 0aults :
0ault currents caused due to arcing faults in phases or
phase and ground can be low and may not the sufficient
to trip over current devices in unearthed system. 3ut
detecting leakage currents # tripping due to even low
leakage currents is possible in earthed system*
&...4 /round 0ault identification and locating fault is easy in
earthed system.
&...5 In both cases earthing of e!uipment and structures is
essential for protection of life and property.
%igh fault currents in earthed system can cause %a(ard
to workers due to heat generated.
&...6 Earthed system essentially tries to keep voltages of
phases to the desired levels, which are not possible in
case of unearthed system and fre!uent over voltages,
and imbalance can cause fre!uent failure of e!uipment #
insulation in unearthed system.
II. EARTHING C%ASSI&ICATIONS :
Earthing schemes are classified in per IE- 758 and IS 4954 based on
various methods adopted as:
&) '' System
.) ': System
4) I' System
;et us now look in to details of connections used for each system.
1' TT S$st!m
+ne point at the supply source generally the star point is
connected directly to earth and all e"posed conductive metal
parts <:on live = body) are connected to separate earth
electrode near the installation.
'his electrode may or may not be electrically independent of the
source star point earthing.
2' TN S$st!m
In this case also one or more points of sources generally star
point is connected directly to earth and e"posed parts <body) are
connected to source earth by means of protective earth
conductor. 'here are various versions of this system.
..& ': = - Scheme:
:eutral conductor is also used as protective conductor and
used as earth. 'his is identified as >E: conductor.
'his scheme re!uires efficient e!uipotantial conductor using
dispersed earth electrodes. 'his scheme is not suitable for
portable e!uipment and conductors less than &9 s!.mm.
... ': = S Scheme
In this scheme protective conductor and neutral conductors
are separate <6 conductors) 'his can be used in case of
mobile e!uipment also.
..4 ': = - = S
-ombination of ': = - # ': = S schemes is used at some
places. 'hough no separate >E conductor originates from
source earth it is separated at start of installation.
(' IT S)!m!
'here is no connection between earth and source neutral.
E"posed parts are connected to direct earth. :eutral can be
taken if re!uired. 'hese are generally 4 phase 4 wire system.
1e generally use some %ybrid scheme for earthing in ':. I' Scheme is
generally not used in our distribution scheme.
II. TY*ES O& EARTH E%ECTRODES :
i. *ip! + Ro" Eartin,-
$etallic pipe * rod of appropriate diameter are used as earth electrodes
in this scheme. /enerally rods are directly driven in ground up to a
depth of minimum ..9 mtrs. rods can be &4 or &7 mm dia. steel cored
copper pipes are minimum ..6 mtr. length either /I &99 mm dia or 59
mm /I.
;onger length pipes are used as earth electrode by boring in hard
strata where soil resistance is high to reach low soil resistance earth.
'he diameter of pipe dose not make ma?or difference in earth
resistance, as can be seen from attached graph.
ii. *.at! E.!)tro"!-
>late electrodes of -I, -,, or /I are used for plate earthing. 'he
recommended si(es are at least @99 " @99 mm and thickness of
&. mm in case of -I, @ mm incase of /I and 4.&6 mm in case of
copper.
'he plates are generally not larger than &.. " &.. mtr. as re!uired
earth reasistance can be obtained by using multiple small electrode
plates than by using larger plates. 'he plates are generally buried at
atAleast &.6 mtr. below normal /; with watering pipe. 'o get best
results a separation of &9 mtrs. is re!uired but for @99 " @99 mm plate
si(e a clearance of ..9 mtrs. between two electrodes is also
sufficient.
iii. /att or Strip E.!)tro"!-
In areas where very shallow low resistance soil is available an earth
mat using strips of appropriate si(e can be done to get re!uired earth
resistance value.
III. SOI% TREAT/ENT
'he soil resistance play ma?or role in the earthing system. In certain
strata even multiple earth electrodes do not provide ade!uately low
earth resistance. In such cases to reduce the soil resistively highly
conductive waterAsoluble materials like salt are used for artificial
treatment of soil.
;ot of water is also used so that such waterAsoluble material also
spreads in surrounding soil to provide permanent conditions of lower
soil resistance.
In very hard strata slurry of bentonite is also recommended to provide
proper earth contact and conducive surrounding.
'he effectiveness of artificial soil treatment remains for longer duration
in close te"ture soils but can reduce in loose soils and water logged
areas. %ence it is advisable to check earthing resistance of such
earthing stations regularly.
In case of artificial treatment as salts are used it propagates corrosion
of earth electrodes. 'his has to be considered while selection of
electrodes.
I0. /ATERIA% &OR EARTH E%ECTRODE
$ain criteria for selection of material for earth electrode will be soil
resistance and chemical composition, which can create corrosion.
'hough material dose not affect initial earth resistance it can give
varied results in longer runs. /enerally copper earth tinned or not
provides most satisfactory results where average weight * volume loss
is not more than 9..B per year.
'his is followed by galvani(ed iron where loss is about 9.6B a year.
;oss in other forms of Iron like cast iron or mild steel is more than ...B
a year.
0. EARTHING CONDUCTOR-
@.& Selection and connection of earthing conductors is also very
important in view of providing minimum resistance in path
between earth electrode and the load.
'he cross section of earth conductor should be suitable for
carrying the fault currents of the system without getting heated
or creating sparks that can lead to fire. 'he conductor crossA
section is generally determined by following formula
I C D &
S E t
I C 0ault current in amps
S C -ross section in mm
.
t C 'ime re!uired for operation of tripping * disconnection
device.
D C 0actor dependent on material of protection conduit.
It is also important that all the earth conductors are
properly connected to electrode and to each other and
?oints coated by bituminous paint or grease. 2 typical
recommended connecting method is given below which
also satisfies the re!uirement of test link for testing
earthing electrode.
@.& Do we form a grid of all earth station If we follow
recommendation of ->FI earthing committee, answer is )es.
'hese committee has recommended to grid of all earthing
stations including ;2 and electronic earths through separate
connecting conductor.<e!uipotantial -onductor)
2lternator * /enerator neutral earthing generally do not form
part of grid due to operating re!uirements.
0I. CHOSING SITE &OR EARTHING-
;ow earth resistance depends mainly on the soil resistance at the
station hence choosing proper site for earthing site.
Soil resistance depends on chemical composition and concentration of
dissolved salts and moisture content in soil.
%ence sites as far as possible chosen in
i) 1et marshy /rounds.
ii) 3lack cotton soil area.
iii) -lay and loam mi"ed soil with some sand gravel.
iv) Damp and wet sand peat.
Sites should not be as far as possible chosen in
i) Dry sand and gravel
ii) ;ime stone area.
iii) :atural rocky area.
iv) 1ell drained site or area where water flow is there.
v) :ewly filled area.
In case there is no alternative but to make earthing in rocky area it is
advisable to determine the soil resistance by taking test bores at multiple
places. 3ase on the soil resistance depth and no of earthing can be decided
to get desired results.
0II. STATUTORY REQUIRE/ENTS O& EARTHING -
.) Earthing shall generally be carried out in accordance with
re!uirements of Indian Electricity Fules &76@ with up to date
amendments, ISS and Felevant regulations of Electricity Supply
2uthority.
4) 2ll medium voltage e!uipment shall be earthed with two distinct
# separate earth connections.
5) In %igh and E"tra %igh voltages neutrals shall be earthed by not
less than two separate and distinct connections each having
separate earth electrode in generating station or substations and
at any other earth point provided it dose not cause interference.
6) In cases where direct earthing is harmful like high fre!uency or
cordless induction furnaces rela"ation may be obtained from
competent authority.
@) Earth electrodes shall be provided in accordance with IS 4954.
8) 2ll earthing connection shall be as far as possible visible for
inspection.
G) 'he provisions shall be made in earthing systems such that
testing of each earth electrode is possible
7) Earth resistance shall be such as to confirm with degree of shock
protection desired.
&9) Each earth station shall in any case be tested for earth
resistance on a dry day at least once in two years and record of
such tests shall be kept.
&&) It is recommended that drawing showing main earth connection
# electrodes shall be prepared for each installation.
&.) :o cutout, switch or link other than linked switch arrangement to
operate on earthed neutral and phase <live) conductors shall be
inserted on earthing conductor in a supply system.
'his however dose not include generators and transformers
where operation re!uires earth isolation facility.