Scribd
Upload
131 views17 pages

4.0 Neutral Grounding

Uploaded by

Khondwani Banda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
131 views17 pages

4.0 Neutral Grounding

Uploaded by

Khondwani Banda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17
NEUTRAL GROUNDING OR SYSTEM EARHING 1.0 INTRODUCTION ‘The 3-@ 50 Hz AC power system with neutral ground at every voltage level are used for generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation. The neutral points (star points) of star connected 3 phase winding of power transformers, generators, motors, earthing, transformers are connected either directly or through some circuit element (e.g. resistance, reactance ete.) to low resistance ground. Such connection is called Neutral Grounding (Neutral Earthing). Before 1950s, the power systems were often without neutral grounding.Such systems were called ungrounded systems.Such systems experience repeated arcing grounds.In ungrounded systems, insulation failures occur in several equipment, during single to ground faults elsewhere. The earth fault protection of ungrounded systems is difficult, Insulation failures may occur in several equipment and machines over entire voltage level during a single earth fault at remote location. The ungrounded systems must necessarily have equipment insulation withstand level corresponding to next higher system voltage to avoid casacade insulation failures.The unground neutral system needs a costlier insulation system of next higher voltage level 1.1 GROUNDING OR EARTHING ‘The process of connecting the metallic frame( i.e. non-current carrying part) of electrical equiment or some electrical part of the system(e.g. neutral point in star-connected system, one conductor of the secondary tramsformer etc.) to earth is called grounding ot earthing. If grounding is done systematically in the line of a power system, accidents and damage to equipment of the power system can be effectively prevented and at the same time continuity of supply can be maintained.Grounding or earting may be classified as ( Equipment grounding and (ii) System grounding. Equipment grounding is different from neutral grounding. Equipment grounding is the connection between non-current carrying metallic parts in electrical installation to earth.By earthing the part, the voltage is within safe value even during earth fault Equipment grounding is for safety and for discharging earth fault currents effectively.On the other hand, system grounding means earthing some part of the electrical system e.g, earthing of neutral point of star connected system in generating stations and sub-stations, The system grounding has assumed considerable importance in the fast expanding power system.By adopting proper schemes of system grounding, many advantages can be achieved including protection, reliability and safety to power system network. 1.2 UNGROUNDED NEUTRAL SYSTEM Im an ungrounded neutral system, the neutral is not connected to the ground i.e. the neutral is isolated from ground, Therefore, this system is also called isolated neutral syst of free newtral system.Fig.1.1 shows ungrounded neutral system. oe Ne OO. Fig. The line conductors have capacitances between one another and to ground. The former are delta-connected while the latter is star connected. The delta-connected capacitances have little effect on the grounding characteristics of the system( i.e. these capacitances do not affect the earth circuit) and, therefore, can be neglected. The circuit then reduces to the one shown in Fig.1.2 (a). Oat se = Ce Vo @) (b) Fig.1.2 Circuit behaviour under normal conditions Let us discuss the behaviour of ungrounded neutral system under normal conditions(i.e under steady state and balanced conditions). The line is assumed to be perfectly transposed so that each conductor has same capacitance to ground.Therefore, C, =C, =C, =C (say). Since the phase voltages Vzy,Vyy and Vay have the same magnitude, the capacitive currents /,,/,and I, will have the same value i.e. ma "ey where V4, = Phase voltage X.. = Capacitance reactance of the line to ground. The capacitive currents Z,,f,and J, lead their respective phase voltages Vy.Vyy and Vy by 90° as shown in the phasor diagram in Fig.1.2(b). The three capacitive currents are equal in magnitude and are displaced 120° from each other. Therefore, their phasor sum is zero. As a result, no currents flow to ground and she potential of neutral is the same as the ground potential. Therefore, ungrounded neutral system poses no problems under normal conditions, However, currents and voltages are greatly influenced during fault conditions. Circuit behaviour under single line to ground-fault Suppose line to ground fault occurs in line B at some point F. The circuit then becomes as shown in Fig.1.3(@).. — R Vt y pe ai (tw f Ye te Cr Cy «| fe fale it kt ety, emer @ ) Fig.1.3 ‘The capacitive currents J, and J, flow through the lines R and Y respectively.The voltage driving I, and I, are Vgy and Voy respectively. Note that Vz, and Vyy are line voltages{See Fig.1.3(b)]. The paths of /, and 1, are essentially capac leads Vz, by 90° and J, leads V,, by 90° as shown in Fig.1.3(b). The capacitive fault current J,. in line Bis the phasor sum of J, and I,. fe + Ty --Phasor sum. ive. Therefore, I, Fault current in line B, J,. = V, ‘Now, Iya cow. ne a Voy Vo % oe Therefore, Iq =) = = V3 «Per phase capacitive current under normal conditions Capacitive fault current in line B is =Phasor sum of Z, and I, BV, BV, Mit, = Vien Therefore, J, = 3 x Per phase capacitive current under normal conditions. ‘Therefore, when a single line to ground fault occurs on ungrounded system, the following effects are produced in the system: (i) The potential of the faulty phase becomes equal to ground potential However, the voltages of the two remaining healthy phases rise from their phase voltage to fill line value. This may result in insulation breakdown. ‘The capacitice current in the two healthy phase increase to 3 times the normal value. The capacitive fault current( J.) becomes 3 times the normal per phase capacitive current. (iv) This systen cannot provide adequate protection against earth faults.tt is because the capacitive fault current is small in magnitude and cannot operate protective devices. (¥) The over-voltages due to induced static charges are not discharged to earth in ungrounded systems. The voltages due to lightning surges do not find path into earth. (vi) The capacitive fault current J,. flows into earth. Experience shows that J,. in excess of 4A is sufficient to maintain an are in the ionised path of the fault.1f this current is once maintained, it may exist even after the earth fault has been cleared.This phenomenon of persistant arc is called arcing ground. Due to arcing ground, the system capacity is charged and discharged in cyclic order. This sets up high-frequency oscillations on the whole system and the phase voltage of healthy conductors may rise to 5 to 6 times its normal value.The over-voltages in healthy conductors may damage the insulation in the line. Due to above disadvantages, ungrouned neutral system is not used these days.The modern high-voltage 3-phase systems employ grounded neutral owing to a number of advantages ‘Note: The ungrounded neutral has the following advantages: (i) Incase of earth fault on one line, the two healthy phases will continue to supply load for a short period. }) Interference with communications lines is reduced because of absence of zero sequence currents, The advantages of ungrounded neutral system are of negligible importance as compared to the advantages of the grounded neutral system.Therefore, modern 3-phase systems operate with grounded neutral points. 1.3 NEUTRAL GROUNDING ‘Neutral grounding provides protection to personel and equipment.It is because during ‘earth fault, the current path is completed through the earthed neutral and the protective devices operate to isolate the faulty conductor from the rest of the system. This point is illustrated in Fig.1.4. (7 : ¥ 6 Ae 4 % Fuse. + - | mi ; _ a Fig.14 Fig.1.4 shows a 3-phase, star-connected system with neutral earthed. Suppose a single line to ground fault occurs in line R at point F. This will cause the current to flow through path as shown in Fig.1.4, Note that current flows from R-phase to earth, then to neutral point N’ and back to R-phase. Since the impedance of the current path is low, a large current flows through this path.This large current will blow the fuse in R-phase and isolate the faulty line R. This will protect the system from harmful effects( e.g. damage to equipment, electric shock to personnel etc) of the fault. One important feature of grounded neutral is that the potential difference between live conductor and ground will not exceed the phase voltages of the system ic. it will remain nearly constant. Advantages of neutral grounding The following are the advantages of neutral grounding: (i) Voltages of the healthy phases do not exceed line to ground voltages i.e. they remain nearly constant. Gi) The high voltages due arcing grounds are eliminated. (iii) The protective relays can be used to provide protection against earth faults.In case earth fault occurs on any line, the protective relays will operate and isolate the faulty line. (iv) The overvoltages due lightning are discharged to earth. (v) _ Itprovides greater safety to personnel and equipment, (vi) It provides improved service reliability due to limitation of arcing grounds and prevention of unnecessary tripping of circuit breakers. (vii) The life of insulation is long due to prevention of yoltage surges caused by arcing grounds.Thereby reduced maintenace, repairs and breakdowns. (viii) Stable neutral (ix) Earth fault relaying is relatively simple.Useful amount of earth fault current is available to operate earth fault relay. (x) By employing resistance or reactance in earth connet current can be controlled. (xi) Life of equipment, machines,installtions is inproved due to limitation of over- voltages. Hence overall economy. ion, the earth fault 1.5 METHODS OF NUETRAL GROUNDING The methods commonly used for grounding the neutral point of a 3-phase system are: (W Solid or effective grounding Gi) Resistance grounding Reactance grounding (iv) Petersen-coil grounding The choice of the method depend on many factors including the size of the system, system voltage and the scheme of protection to be used. 1.5.1 SOLID GROUNDING When the neutral point of a 3-phase system is directly connected to earth through a wire of negligible resistance and reactance, itis called solid grounding or effective grounding. Fig.1.5 shows the solid grounding of neutral point.Since the neutral point is directly connected to earth through a wire, the neutral point is held at earth potential under all conditions. Therefore, under fault conditions, the voltage of any conductor to earth will not exceed the normal phase voltage of the system Fig.1.5 Advantages The solid grounding of neutral point have the following advantages: () The neutral is effectively held at earth potential. Gi) When earth fault occurs on any phase, the resultant capacitive current is in phase opposition to the fault current. The two currents completely cancel each ii) dy) other. Therefore no arcing ground or over-voltages conditions can occur. Consider a line to ground fault in line B as shown in Fig.1.6. The capacitive currents flowing in healthy phases R and Y are /,and J, respectively. The resultant capacitive current Z.. is the phasor sum of J,and J, In addition to these capacitive currents, the power source also supplies the fault current J, This fault current will go from fault point to earth, then to neutral point N and back to the fault point through the faulty phase. The path of J, is capacitive and that of J, is inductive. The two currents are in phase opposition and completely cancel each other. Therefore, no arcing ground phenomenon or over-voltage conditions can occur. r vr A Mb cos “ - i a i 5 pon - oF = hy i a ite oe 46 to Int hy i Gencemy Anica Fig.1.6 When there is an earth fault on any phase of the system, the phase earth voltage of the faulty phase becomes zero. However, the phase earth voltages of the remaining two healthy phases remain at normal phase voltage because the potential of the neutral is fixed at earth potential. This permits to insulate the equipment for phase voltage. Therefore, there is saving in the cost of equipment. It becomes easier to protect the system from earth faults which frequently ‘occur on the system. When there is an earth fault on any phase of the system, a large fault current flow between the fault point and the grounded neutral. This permits the easy operation of earth-fault relay. Disadvantages The following are the disadvantages of solid grounding: @ «i Since most of the faults on an overhead system are phase carth faults, the system has to bear a large number of severe shocks. This causes the system to become unstable. The solid grounding results in heavy earth fault currents. Since the fault has to be cleared by circuit breakers, the heavy earth fault current may cause burning of circuit breaker contacts. (ili) The increased earth fault current results in greater interference in the neighbouring communication lines. Applications Solid grounding is usually employed where the circuit impedance is sufficiently high so as to keep the earth fault current within safe limits. This system grounding is used for voltages upto 33 kV with total power capacity not exceeding 5 MVA. 1.5.2 RESISTANCE GROUNDING In order to limit the magnitude of earth fault current, it is common practice to connect the neutral point of a 3-phase system to earth through a resistor. This is called resistance grounding. Fig.1.7 1.7 shows the grounding of neutral point through a resistor R. The valye of R should , neither be very low nor very high. If the value of earthing R is very low, earth fault. current will be large and the system becomes similar to the solid grounding system. On the other hand, if the earthing resistance R is very high, the system conditions become similar to ungrounded neutral system. The value of R is so chosen such that the earth fault current is limited to safe value but still sufficient to permit the operation of earth fault protection system. In practice, that value of 2 is selected that limits the earth fault current to 2 times the normal full load current of the earthed generator or transformer. Advantages The following are the advantages of neutral grounding: (i) By adjusting the value of 2, the arcing grounds can be minimized. Suppose earth fault occurs in phase B as shown in Fig.1.8. The capacitive currents T,and J, flow in healthy phases R and Y respectively.The fault current 1, lags behind the phase voltage of the faulted phase by a certain angle depending on the earthing resistance R and the reactance of the system upto the point of fault.The fault current J, can be resolved into two components viz. (a) J, in phase with the faulty phase voltage. (i) Git) (©) I, lagging behind the faulty phase voltage by 90° ASEROTOO. R St cri. | rk aS ORIN Lp > ® ° fe hn Ib at Se 4 bint ie Texas te Int ly Fig 1.8 The lagging component J,. is in phase opposition to the total capacitive current Z,.. If the value of earthing resistance R is so adjusted that Z,. = I., the arcing ground is completely eliminated and the operation of the system becomes that of solidly grounded system. However, if R is so adjusted that Trq

You might also like