Electrical Grounding

Grounding: the intentional and permanent connection between neutral and ground Ground Fault: unintentional connection between an energized conductor and ground 90% electrical faults are ground faults

Grounding Terminology
Ground

A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the earth or to some conducting body of relatively large extent that serves in place of the earth. Ground Potential Rise (GPR) The maximum electrical potential that a grounding grid may attain relative to a distant grounding point assumed to be at the potential of remote earth. This voltage, GPR, is equal to the maximum grid current times the grid resistance.

Grounding Terminology
Grounding Grid

A system of horizontal ground electrodes that consists of a number of interconnected, bare conductors buried in the earth, providing a common ground for electrical devices or metallic structures, usually in one specific location. Touch Voltage The potential difference between the ground potential rise (GPR) and the surface potential at the point where a person is standing while at the same time having a hand in contact with a grounded structure. [Also the potential difference between two different surfaces being touched with two hands.]

Grounding Terminology
Step Voltage The difference in surface potential experienced by a person bridging a distance of 1 m with the feet without contacting any grounded object. Transferred Voltage A special case of the touch voltage where a voltage is transferred into or out of the substation from or to a remote point external to the substation site.

Grounding Terminology
Remote Earth

A point on earth located at an effectively infinite distance from the location being analyzed. The remote earth potential is the reference voltage for ground potential rise and other voltages developed during fault conditions.

Reasons for Grounding Personnel (human) safety by limiting

Touch Potential Step Potential Transferred Voltage Tolerable Current through the body

Improve Equipment Protection and Performance Reduce Liability Exposure

Substation Grounding Design - IEEE 80

In principle, a safe grounding design has the following two objectives:
To provide means to carry electric currents into the earth under normal and fault conditions without exceeding any operating and equipment limits or adversely affecting continuity of service. To assure that a person in the vicinity of grounded facilities is not exposed to the danger of critical electric shock.

Grounded power system

Grounded power system

Grounding through zigzag transformer

Protective Earth Connection (Earthing)

A protective earth (PE) connection ensures that all exposed conductive surfaces are at the same electrical potential as the surface of the Earth, to avoid the risk of electrical shock if a person touches a device in which an insulation fault has occurred. It ensures that in the case of an insulation fault (a "short circuit"), a very high current flows, which will trigger an overcurrent protection device (fuse, circuit breaker) that disconnects the power supply.

Functional Earth Connection

A functional earth connection serves a purpose other than providing protection against electrical shock. In contrast to a protective earth connection, a functional earth connection may carry a current during the normal operation of a device. Functional earth connections may be required by devices such as surge suppression and electromagnetic-compatibility filters, some types of antennas and various measurement instruments. Generally the protective earth is also used as a functional earth, though this requires care in some situations

 TN-S: separate protective earth (PE) and neutral (N) conductors from transformer to consuming device, which are not connected together at any point after the building distribution point TN-C: combined PE and N conductor all the way from the transformer to the consuming device TN-C-S earthing system: combined PEN conductor from transformer to building distribution point, but separate PE and N conductors in fixed indoor wiring and flexible power cords In a TT earthing system, the protective earth connection of the consumer is provided by a local connection to earth, independent of any earth connection at the generator

IT Network

TT Network

TN-S earthing system

TN-C earthing system

TN-C-S earthing system

 TN-S: separate protective earth (PE) and neutral (N) conductors from transformer to consuming device, which are not connected together at any point after the building distribution point TN-C: combined PE and N conductor all the way from the transformer to the consuming device TN-C-S earthing system: combined PEN conductor from transformer to building distribution point, but separate PE and N conductors in fixed indoor wiring and flexible power cords In a TT earthing system, the protective earth connection of the consumer is provided by a local connection to earth, independent of any earth connection at the generator