What is grounding ?

A conducting connection,
whether intentional or accidental
between an electrical circuit or
equipment and the earth

By
MHD Wimalaratne
Electrical Engineer
(mhdhammike@gmail.com)

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 Why ground ?
 To protect people from electrical
shock.
 To protect plant & equipment from
damage.
 To limit voltage due to lightning

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 Ground Electrodes
Consist of three basic
components :
2. Ground Conductor
3. The connection of the
conductor to the electrode
4. The ground electrode itself

The earth resistance (R) has three basic components :

RA -
The resistance of the ground electrode itself and the
connections to the electrode
RB - The contact resistance of the surrounding earth to the
electrode
RC - The resistance of the surrounding body of earth around
R = RA + RB + RC
the ground electrode
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(RA) - The electrode resistance depends on :
• Length/ depth of the ground electrode
• Electrode material
- Solid Copper, Stainless steel (High conductivity, high
corrosion resistance but low strength & high cost)
- Copper clad steel (high strength, high corrosion resistance
and low cost)
• The diameter of the rod
- Has little effect
- Resistance would only decrease by 10% by double the
diameter

(RB) - The contact resistance of the surrounding earth

to the electrode is negligible.

(RC)- The resistance of the surrounding body of earth

around the ground electrode
- depends on soil conditions such as soil resistivity

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 Soil Resistivity depends on
Soil type
Soil Resistivit Chemical Composition
Type y (Ωm) E.g. Effect of salt on Moisture
Marshy 2-2.7 resistivity for sandy
ground
ContentResistivit
Moistur
loam (15.2 % moisture)
e% by y
Sandy 300-500 weight
Added Resistivit (Ωm)
gravel
salt % y (Ωm) Sandy
Rock 1000 + 0% 10000000
by wt loam
of 2.5 % 1500
moistu 5% 430
0.0 107
Soil Temperature re
0.1 18 10 % 185
e.g. Effect of temperature
1.0 4.6 15 % 105
on resistivity for sandy
loam, (15.2% moisture ) 5.0 1.9 20 % 63
10.0 1.3 30 % 42
Temp Resistivit
y 20.0 1.0
(ºC) The earth electrode should
(Ωm)
Salt not be installed deep enough
20 72 recommended due to reach the water table or
10 99 to corrosion permanent moisture level
0 138
To increase/ retain moisture
0 300 content we use Soil
-5 790 Resistivity Reducing Agents
-15 3300 such as Bentonite or
Marconite 5
 Types of Grounding Systems
1. Single Rod 2. Multiple Rods

e.g.. Lot-1 : Used in resettlement sites, e.g.. Lot-2 : Powerhouse ground level
at E.L. 682

3. Copper Plates 4. Conductor mesh

e.g.. Lot-2 : 18 pieces of copper plates e.g. 1). Lot-2 : At each floor of power house
are embedded under 6m of there is a conductor mesh/grid
Switchyard surface 2). Lot-2 : On the Dam surface there is a
conductor mesh buried 6
 Picture -1
• Typical Section at EL 682.550
• 100pcs of Rods in parallel to
be installed
• Soil surrounding each rod to
be treated with soil resistivity
reducing agent.

•Side view of power house

•All ground rods are bonded
together Picture -2 7
A conductor mesh on the dam surface buried under the concrete

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Copper plates to be buried under switchyard surface

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 ( Bentonite + Water = Moisture Retaining Clay )

 This Moisture Retaining Clay used as an earth-electrode backfill

to reduce soil resistivity

 It can absorb moisture from surrounding soil

 It has the ability to hold its moisture content for a considerable

period of time

 (50kg packet = Rs. 3000/=) , (1 Rod = 1 kg = Rs. 60/=)

 ( Marconite in place of sand + Cement = Conductive

Concrete

 This conductive concrete is used as electrode backfill

 It increases effective electrode area thus reducing earth

resistance.

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Thank You

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