1.

5 Neutral point connection

In three-phase mains systems, the neutral point can be earthed in various ways. A
distinction is drawn between systems with an isolated neutral system (i.e. unconnected),
systems with earthed-neutral system and those with low-resistance or temporary low-
resistance neutral earthing.

Neutral earthing is described as direct if it contains no additional resistors other than

the resistance of the earthing system. In another case - if current limiting resistors or
inductors are connected into the earth conductor - it is called indirect earthing. On the other
hand, the neutral point systems still considered as isolated, if it is earthed via high ohmic
measurement and protective devices or surge voltage protectors.

The manner in which the neutral point is connected does not play a role in the normal
operation of networks with symmetrical voltages and currents, since the return conductor
(neutral line or earth) is then constantly without current. Only when an asymmetrical fault
with earth contact (so-called earth fault or earth short-circuit, depending on the method of
earthing) occurs, does the actual method, in connection with the voltage levels of the
network, on which the performance during the duration of the fault and the consequent
dangers depend, become more significant. This is especially applicable with respect to the
magnitude of the fault current in the case of fault to earth or short-circuit to earth and the
voltage increase of the "healthy" phases unaffected by the fault.

Since the most common faults occurring are fault to earth and short-circuit to earth,
the effects of the various possibilities of neutral point connection preferred for this case
should be considered and compared to each other.

Quantitatively, the connection of the neutral point systems described by the so-called earth
fault factor δ: the factor δ is the quotient of ULE (voltage between an unaffected outer
conductor and earth when there is fault to earth of a conductor) and UN / √3 (phase voltage at
the same location of the network in disturbance free operation), as indicated in the following
Fig.1.

Fig.1 – Voltages for definition of the factor 

 The greater the earth fault factor, the higher the voltage stress on the unaffected
phases in a singleline to earth fault.
Due to the increased insulation requirement, an effort is made to keep the earth fault factor as
small as possible at least in the field of ultra high voltage systems. On the other hand, a small
earth fault factor results in a high fault current, which must be detected by the network
protection and disconnected as soon as possible.
Networks connected via transformers are galvanically isolated from each other and
consequently permit various neutral point connections. Separate partial networks constructed
in this manner with individual neutral point connection is described as partial network.
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1.5.1 Isolated neutral point system

In power systems with isolated neutral point connection only a low current flows in
the case of earth fault. This is described as fault-to-earth current. The system can still be
operated for a short period with fault-to-earth; in systems with overhead lines, an arc which
has caused the fault is extinguished, often automatically. The voltage increase in the
unaffected phases during the fault is a disadvantage. As the following Fig. 2 shows, the
magnitude of the fault-to-earth current is essentially determined by the earth capacitance CE
of the line alone.

Fig. 2 Fault-to-earth in a network with isolated neutral point

Under the condition that the equivalent resistance of the power line is disregarded, the
following is applicable for the amount of the fault-to-earth current.

with U = UN = voltage at the fault location before the fault occurs. (Any inference regarding
this relationship is only possible using the method of the symmetrical components. This
method is introduced in the next chapter and is applied during the examination of
asymmetrical faults).

Since the earth capacitance is proportional to the length of the line, the earth fault
current increases with increasing extent of the power system (the capacitances of
transformers and consumers can be disregarded in this context). As a result, systems with
isolated neutral point connection may only have a limited extent.
A typical example for application of this type of neutral point connection are the auxiliary
systems in power stations, to which the above mentioned requirement applies.
1.5.2 Earth fault neutralizer

As shown in the previous section, in the case of earth fault current a practically pure
capacitive current is dealt with, which can assume dangerously high values in extended
power systems. If a supply inductor with a specific value XE is connected into the fault
circuit, then the fault-to-earth current is neutralized or "extinguished"; i.e. practically
disappears. The inductor is called an earthfault neutralizer, or Petersen suppression coil after
its inventor.

Fig. 3 Earth fault in a network with Petersen coil

Since the earth capacitances vary in the case of varying power system relationships
(connection and disconnection of lines),the inductance of Petersen coil must be also variable.
Therefore, plunger coils or coils with taps are used, which are connected into the earth line to
neutral point connections of the transformers at selected locations of the power system.

The mathematical determination of the inductance required for neutralization is again only
possible using the method of symmetrical components.

The following condition applies for the reactance of the earth fault neutralizer:

Since the fault current also has an active component due to the constantly present line
resistances, total compensation is not possible.
The active component amounts to approximately 10% of the fault current and is described as
the unbalanced residual earth current
If an arc is located at the fault location in an overhead power system, then this is extinguished
automatically when there is sufficiently small residual current present, and the partial
network affected does not need to be switched off. Here lies the great technical and economic
importance of earth-fault neutralizes in overhead lines and combined overhead lines and
cable networks. In pure cable networks there in no possibility of arc extinguishing in the case
of a fault; only a limiting of the fault current can take place.
At the same time the danger of a fault spreading through the system is reduced.
At a certain voltage amplitude the unbalanced residual current is in any case so great that
extinguishing of the arc can no longer take place. Consequently, Petersen coils are normally
used in the medium and high voltage power systems.
ISOLATED NEUTRAL POINT SYSTEM: FAULT-TO-EARTH

Objectives:
Investigating the performance of a transmission line with isolated neutral point connection
in the case of a fault to earth.
Carrying out measurements of the earth-fault current and the voltage rise of the healty
phases.

Equipments:
1 DL 2108TAL Three-phase power supply unit
1 DL 2108T02 Power circuit breaker
1 DL 1080TT Three-phase transformer
1 DL 7901TT Overhead line model
1 DL 2109T2A5 Moving-iron ammeter (2,5 A)
1 DL 2109T1PV Moving-iron voltmeter (600 V)

Experiment procedure

Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram. Set the primary-
side of three-phase transformer in delta connection 380 V and using bridging plugs set the
secondary-side to star UN – 15%.

DO NOT CONNECT the neutral star point to neutral N conductor.

Insert all bridging plugs connecting the capacitances to overhead line model. Set the supply
voltage to UN = 380 V.
Measure the earth-fault current Ie as well as the voltages on both healthy phases L2 and L3
with respect to earth :
IE = …………… (A) U2 = …………… (V) U3 = …………… (V)

Compare the earth-fault current measured to the value which would be expected according to
the theory:

where U is the voltage present at the fault location during normal operation.
NEUTRAL POINT CONNECTION
Objectives:
Investigating the performance of a transmission line with isolated neutral point connection
in the case of a fault to earth.
Carrying out measurements of the earth-fault current and the voltage rise of the healty
phases.

Equipments:
1 DL 2108TAL Three-phase power supply unit
1 DL 2108T02 Power circuit breaker
1 DL 1080TT Three-phase transformer
1 DL 7901TT Overhead line model
1 DL 2109T2A5 Moving-iron ammeter (2,5 A)
1 DL 2109T1PV Moving-iron voltmeter (600 V)

Experiment procedure

Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram. Set the primary-
side of three-phase transformer in delta connection 380 V and using bridging plugs set the
secondary-side to star UN – 15%.

DO NOT CONNECT the neutral star point to neutral N conductor.

Insert all bridging plugs connecting the capacitances to overhead line model. Set the supply
voltage to UN = 380 V.
Measure the earth-fault current Ie as well as the voltages on both healthy phases L2 and L3
with respect to earth :
IE = …………… (A) U2 = …………… (V) U3 = …………… (V)

Compare the earth-fault current measured to the value which would be expected according to
the theory:

where U is the voltage present at the fault location during normal operation.
PETERSEN SUPPRESSION COIL

Objectives:
Determining the inductance of an earth-fault neutralizer for the overhead line model.
Investigating the performance of a transmission line with a fault and comparing the current
value with those determined during earth-fault with isolated neutral point system in
experiment 2.

Equipments:
1 DL 2108TAL Three-phase power supply unit
1 DL 2108T02 Power circuit breaker
1 DL 1080TT Three-phase transformer
1 DL 2108T04 Petersen coil
1 DL 7901TT Overhead line model
1 DL 2109T2A5 Moving-iron ammeter (2,5 A)
1 DL 2109T1PV Moving-iron voltmeter (600 V)

Experiment procedure

Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram. Set primary-side
of three-phase transformer in delta connection 380 V and using bridging plugs set the
secondary-side to star UN - 15%.

CONNECT THE NEUTRAL STAR POINT TO NEUTRAL N CONDUCTOR VIA THE

PETERSEN COLL.

Insert all bridging plugs connecting the capacitance to overhead line model.

Set the supply voltage to UN = 380 V.

In order to determine the required inductance for the compensation coil, the earth-fault
residual current as a function of the inductance used has to be measured for the following
values listed in the table (To achieve more precise measurement results it is recommended
that you use a sensitive ammeter with mA-measurement range).

Sketch the curve of the earth-fault residual current as a function of the compensation coil
inductance used