Project Report On

Earthing practice for underground equipment in underground mine

Submitted By

Sk Habibul Rahaman
M. Tech. (Mine Electrical Engineering)
Indian Institute Of Technology (Indian school of mines)
Dhanbad, Jharkhand

Project Guide

Dr. Gautam Banerjee

Chief Scientist
&
Head of Research Group
Mine Mechanisation and Technology Development,
CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad

Project Co- Guide

Sri, Virendra Kumar

Assistant Executive Electrical Engineer
CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad.

CSIR-CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF MINING AND FUEL RESEARCH

Barwa road ,Dhanbad(Jharkhand)-826001

MAY-JUNE 2017
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project with title “Earthing practice for underground
equipment in underground mine” submitted by Mr. Sk Habibul Rahaman, Department
of Mine Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines),
Dhanbad,Jharkhand in fulfilment of summer internship is carried out at CSIR-CIMFR,
Dhanbad under my guidance.
The work mentioned in this project report is done by Mr. Sk Habibul Rahaman. This
work has not been submitted anywhere for the award of any degree or otherwise to
the best of my knowledge.

(Dr. Gautam Banerjee)

Sri, Virendra Kumar
(Guide)
(co-guide)
Chief Scientist & Head of Research
Assistant Executive Electrical Engineer
Group, Mine Mechanisation and
CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad.
Technology Development,
CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I express my profound post gratitude and indebtedness to Dr.
Gautam Banerjee, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CIMFR for allowing me to carry out project work
on the topic “Earthing practice for underground equipment in underground mine” and
later on for his inspiring guidance, constructive criticism and valuable suggestions
throughout this project work. I am very much thankful to him for his able guidance and
pain taking effort in improving my understanding of this project.

I am also thankful to Sri, Virendra Kumar , Assistant Executive Electrical Engineer

and other staffs of Mine Mechanisation Section, CSIR-CIMFR for helping and guiding
me in every possible way during my vocational training. An assemblage of this nature
could never have been attempted without reference to and inspiration from the works
of others whose details are mentioned in reference section. I acknowledge my
indebtedness to all of them.

At the last, my sincere thanks to the Director, CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad, for allowing me to
carry out my training at CSIR-CIMFR.
 Earthing practice for underground equipment in underground mine

Outline
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Cause for connections to earth
4. Different types of earthing system
5. Earthing of underground mining equipment
6. Different types of electrode used in underground mine
7. Corrosion problem for the electrodes
8. Conclusion
9. Reference

Abstract:
In all methods of providing safety to operating personal and to the general public and to the equipment
against dangers associated with the use of electricity, earthing plays a very important role. It is more, so in the
case of mines because of the hazards of use of a large network of flexible cables for supply to portable apparatus,
risk of fires and explosion by the ignition of fire damp etc in gassy mines, electrical shock the risk of which is
accentuated damp condition below ground and the difficult conditions working to which of necessity, the
apparatus is subjected.

Introduction
In an electrical establishment or a supply system an earthing system or establishing system interfaces
particular parts of that establishment with the Earth's conductive surface for security and useful purposes.
The safety and electromagnetic compatibility of the installation are effected by the type of earthing system.
Directions for earthing frameworks shift impressively among nations and among various parts of electrical
frameworks, however many take after the proposals of the International Electro technical Commission which are
depicted beneath. Regulations for earthing systems vary considerably in different countries and different parts of
electrical systems, indian mines follow the instruction of the central elecricity authority regulation rule.
According to the rule Earthing(Central Electricity Authority Regulations)in an underground mine shall be
carried out by connection to an earthing system at the surface of the mine as per rule 99.
As per rule(Central Electricity Authority Regulations) 100, protective equipment is to be placed in the
mines for automatic disconnection of supply when there is earth fault exceeding 750milliampere in 250 V to 1000
Volt installations.
For open cast mine the limit is 50 ampere in installations of voltage exceeding 1100 V and up to 11 kV.
The earth leakage current is to be restricted by placing suitable neutral grounding resistance (NGR) in all the
distribution transformers.

Cause for connection to earth

In coal mine electrical energy is the main power source as it has high efficiency. When fault occurs,
sparking shock and fire hazard may occur and to minimize this extra precaution and safety should be maintained.
Control systems in mines are frequently of the computerized shape and of low magnitude. These can be
influenced by unsettling influence in the supply system as the earthing courses of action of both the power and

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control frameworks are ordinarily associated with the primary earth anode at the surface of the mine and to all
surface and underground plant.

The general conditions and requirements of electrical supply system for coal mine should have the following
desirable features:
 Reducing damage to equipment and danger of fire.
 Minimizing danger of electrical shock from exposed metal work or from touching live conductor.
 Achieving maximum series and parallel discrimination between faulty and health circuits.
 Attaining high reliability of protection schemes incorporated.
 Economics point

Types of electrical protection for which neutral grounding earthing is necessary:

The following types of faults are occurred, some Protective Devices are used which operate properly by using
different types of earthing:
 Instantaneous short circuit current
 Overcurrent
 Earth fault current
 Earth leakage current
 Earth leakage current
 Earth continuity
 Overload
 Over temperature

Different types of earthing system

There are five methods for Neutral earthing:
 Solid Neutral Earthed System.
 Resistance Neutral Earthing System.
 Unearthed Neutral System.
 Resonant Neutral Earthing System.
 Transformer Earthing.

Solid Neutral Earthed System

 This systems are mostly used in low voltage applications at 600 volts or less.
 The neutral point is directly connected to earth for solidly grounded system.
 Solidly Neutral Grounding slightly has less the problem of transient over voltages due to less capacitive
fault current and high inductive current and provided path for the ground fault current is in the limit of 25
to 100% of the system three phase fault current. However, if the reactance of the generator or
transformer is very high, the problem of transient over voltages will not be removed.
 Ungrounded systems are improved by solidly grounded systems, and increase the speed of remove the
location of faults, so that its lack the current limiting ability of resistance grounding and hence the extra
protection this provides.
 To keep up systems health and safe, neutral of the transformer is grounded and ground conductor must
be stretch out from the source to the farthest point of the system inside a similar raceway or channel. Its
purpose is to keep up low impedance to ground faults so that a generally large fault current will flow
accordingly and safeguarding that circuit breakers or fuses will clear the fault rapidly and along these lines
limit harm. It likewise extraordinarily lessens the stun peril to faculty.

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  On the off chance that the system is not determinedly grounded, the impartial purpose of the system
would "drift" concerning ground as an element of load subjecting the line-to-neutral burdens to voltage
unbalances and instability. The three phase fault current in a solidly earthed system may less the single-
phase earth fault current. The value of the fault current depends on the fault location and the fault
resistance.

under earth fault condition

Voltage across capacitance=Vp
Current =Ic
Fault current under fault
Condition=2Ic cos60=Ic
Current flowing through neutral
=In=Vnz/Z
Fault current=If=Ic+In
Advantages:
This type of neutral grounding system for graded insulation transformer.

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Disadvantages:
Due to high ground fault current, circuit breaker rating is higher capacities and no of circuit breaker are
increased.
It is not perfect system for neutral grounding to the study of balance among positive,negative and zero
sequence system impedance in order to get the most desirable result.
In india coal mines the maximum of the distribution systems have a neutral resistor select for this duty to limit
the phase-to-earth faults for maximum values are below:
3.3 kV : 150 A;
550V : 750m A.
protection relays and associated equipements must be used that the prospective the tripping current
earth fault shall be at least 1/3 of the tripping earth fault current , assuming zero fault impedance.

Resistance or restricted Neutral Earthing System:

Resistance grounding reduces the arcing ground hazards and it permits ready relaying of ground faults.
In certain situations resistance grounding has help in improving the stability of the system during ground fault by
replacing the power dropped as a result of flow voltage, with an approximately equal power loss in the resistance
thus reducing the advance in phase of the generators.
For this system a resistor connect between neutral to earth for sacrifices some of the system stability when a fault
occurs, since the neutral point voltage is same to earth potential under earth fault conditions as figure out on a
phasor diagram for a typical three phase distribution system with a 424 ohm neutral resistor and 750 mA earth
fault current flowing from the R phase. The voltages to earth developed show in the fig the line-to-earth insulation
has to be acceptable for the line-to-line voltage.

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Under fault condition
Voltage across capacitance= VL
Capacitance current=√3 IC
Current following neutral resistance
IR=VNB/R

Insulated or ungrounded neutral system:

If a distribution system has no direct connection to earth then it is said to be an insulated system. But in
this system, a capacitive coupling produce between the system conductors and the adjacent grounded surfaces.
The “ungrounded system” is, in reality, a “capacitive grounded system” is in virtulity of the distributed
capacitance.
This distributed capacitance causes no problems under normal operating conditions. So that it is
beneficial because it produces in effect a neutral point for the system; for this condition the phase conductors
are stressed at only line-to-neutral voltage above ground.
But problems can make in ground fault conditions. A ground fault on one line results voltage appearing
throughout the system in full line-to-line. Thus, a transient over voltage √3 times of the normal voltage is present
on all insulated system. For this situation can cause failures in older motors and transformers, due to breakdown
of insulation.
For this type of insulated grounding system the fault current is mainly capacitive nature and less in
inductive nature, hence there may be chance of arcing phenomena occur.

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 Under earth fault
conditions
voltage across
capacitance = V2
and current increases
to √3 Ic

Fault current
EF = 2. √3 Ic Cos. 30º
= 3. Ic

= 3 x charging current

Advantage:
Assuming it remains as a single fault for next the first ground fault, the circuit remains continue in
operation, allow continued production until a convenient shut down for maintenance which have be scheduled.
Disadvantages:
 Transient over voltage due to switching on to an earth fault line 5-6 times of normal operating voltage
may occur during respective earth fault.
 Shock hazards from live conductor is dangerous.
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  Chance of arcing grounding fault possible.
 More sensitive relay is necessary.
 Cost is high for this grounding.
 The stability of this systems which is isolated from earth is less good and the system may be effected by
the stray capacitance. Such systems are not favoured for use in India coal mines because of the above
problems.

Difference of different type of earthing system:

Condition Solidly neutral Restricted neutral Insulated neutral

grounded system grounded system grounded system
Earth fault realise at 700A to 1000A Approximate 750 mA 250 mA for 10
transformer rating at neutral resistance standard circuit
550v,300kv 424 ohm
Relay operating time Sluggish faster Faster
Selectivity In parallel yes; In parallel yes; In parallel no;
In series with time In series with time In series with time
gradient; gradient; gradient;
Earth fault condition At rated voltage of May be increase phase Rise voltage is 1.73
rise voltage between phase voltage times at rated
healthy and fault
phase
Transient over voltage Does not occur Does not occur 5-6 time at normal
during switching on at Rn<X operating voltage
earth fault
Earth fault lighting Maximum Not so adequate Poor
surge diversion
Damage to equipment High risk nil Nil
during earth fault
ARE relay use for earth No yes No
fault
Earth fault relay 5A 80mA 9mA
setting
Fire danger High risk nil Nil
Sock hazards from High risk nil Nil
equipment
Sock hazards from live High high High
conductor
Online insulation Not possible Not possible possible
monitoring
Chance of arcing Nil nil Possible
ground phenomena

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Earthing of underground mining equipment:
Equipment grounding is not placed in under grounding surface. In under grounding, surface is totally
covered by stone and coal which have high resistance specific (20-50k ohm) value. So that grounding resistance
is very high which is not good for grounding protection purpose .but on pit top, surface is covered by clay which
have low resistance specific value for that reason resistance is low which is most suitable for earth fault protection
purpose.

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Earthing of non-electrical apparatus
Accumulation of static electricity charge occur due to friction and movement of air containing
dust particle which can cause hazards when equipment is installed in the mines where potentially
explosive environment may exist. This hazard in electrical equipment can be minimized in the design
stage but proper and awareness should be taken care on site for non-electrical equipment. If a metal
plate is insulated from the earth it will act as a charge plate of a capacitor and hence may cause spark
when it tend to discharged. This spark can be eliminated or safety can be ensure by connecting metal
parts of nonelectrical equipment to earth. A high resistance between earth and metallic part can be
inserted to ensure discharge of static electric charge safely. Metallic covering of electrical supply system
provide effective earth for this purpose.

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Earthing of intrinsically safe apparatus and systems:
From last many year it was prohibited to earth signalling system because even partial earth fault
even a partial earth fault on the opposite line to the earthed line could prevent the signal bell from
ringing. But now connection of signalling system to earth is permitted provided that the system is
designed properly.
Nowadays the connection of intrinsically safe systems to earth is used to improve operational
safety and, in some cases, to ensure the intrinsic safety of the systems. No circuit should be connected
to earth at more than one point. If the certification documents permit a circuit to be connected to earth,
they will define how such connections are to be made.
.

Communication and control circuits

For communication and control circuit armoured wire is used in general to withstand rigorous
mining environment. These cables are normally connected to the system which already connected to
the power earthing system. For example: metallic enclosure of data transmission highway is connected
on parallel with protective conductor of power distribution system.
If the armouring of a data transmission cable are correctly made off then any rise in potential of
the exposed parts of the apparatus above that of earth due to an earth fault on the distribution system
will cause current to flow in the armouring of both the power and data transmission cable and no danger
arises.

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 If the data transmission cable armouring are not made off correctly then voltage will appear
across the gaps in the armouring and cable entry assemblies under conditions of an earth fault on the
associated distribution system and there is a distinct danger of open sparking.

Neutral earthing of transformer:

When there have no neutral point available for Neutral Earthing (ex : for a delta winding), then single
phase fault currents are passing through an earthing transformer.
In this cases the impedance of the earthing transformer may be measurable to use as effective earthing
impedance. If required additional impedance can be added with in series. For earthing delta windings to provide
a low zero-sequence impedance and sequence impedance and high positive negative of fault current, A special
‘zig-zag’ transformer is used.

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Different types of electrode use in underground mine:
The actual connection to earth, formerly called the earth plate, is now called the earth electrode.
Earthing resistance depend on bellow aspects:
 Contact resistance between earth electrode and soil
 Resistivity of the soil beyond earth electrode

Coke electrode
Generally a coke electrode is made by holding metal plates or pipes, or a large scrap welding size, which
is placed in a pit and surrounded by coke air. It has capable to produce the largest type of coal mines and long life
long advantages and heavy large cur
Coke electrode pit is dig and about 2 m or 2.75 m (6ft or 9ft) deep, and coke breeze laid at the bottom to
a depth of 0.3 m (1 ft) . Cast iron pipes(two or three), 0.15 m or 0.23 m (6in or 9in) diameter by 2 m or 2.75 m (6ft
or 9ft) long, are placed side by side standing on the bed of coke, and the pit is then filled by coke breeze (well
rammed) up to the ground level. The top flanges of the pipes, which will be projected 0.3 m (I ft) above the coke,
are bonded together using copper or brass strip and brass bolts and nuts, and this bonding are attached with the
earthing conductor.
Since the resistivity of coke breeze with well rammed, is of the order of 40 ohm-cm and the resistance of
contact between the metal electrodes and the coke will be very less, the important factor is the contact resistance
between the coke and the soil.

the resistance of a coke electrode is below:

R2=13.4p/(A*1000)

Where R = Total resistance in ohms

p = Resistivity of the soil in ohm-cm
A = Total area of contact between coke and soil in square metre

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Rod electrode
For this type of electrode12 mm to 25 mm diameter and 3 m or more in length copper or steel are used
into the soil, has increased greatly of recent years and is now standard practice for power stations and substations
,according to the indian electrical supply authorities.
Rods are easily availablity in market so that consequently are cheaper to install. When the sub-soil
consists of gravel or sand clay beneath it, it is an usefull to be able to drive rods through the upper layers into the
region of lower resistivity.
The resistance formula of a single rod:
R= p/(270L)* Log(4000L/d)
Where ,
p = soil resistivity in ohm- cm
L = length of rod, in metres
d = diameter of rod, in millimetres

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Effect of length of rode electrode on calculated
Resistance for soil resistivity of 100 Ω-m

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Strip electrode
When soil have higher resistivity than those lying beneath then It will usually be used for the
upper layers of the sub-soil possess. However, where there is a small layer of sub-soil over rock or sand,
and in these condition it may be tough to obtain the necessary low resistance about 0.5 m in one
continuous length or in separate lengths from a central earthing point.
The formulas of resistance is given:
For strip type

R= p/(275L)*Log(2000L^2/(wt)) Ω
for stranded conductor
R=p/(275L)*Log(1000L^2/(dt))
Where p = resistivity of soil, in ohm-cm
L = length of electrode, in metres
t = depth of burial, in metres

w = width of strip, in millimetres

d = diameter of standed conductor, in millimetres

Effect of length of strip electrode on calculated

Resistance for soil resistivity of 100 Ω-m
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Plate electrode
The cast iron or copper are used for plates, cover directly in the ground, is rapidly dying out. A 1 m x 1
m plate, with its centre 2 m below the surface of the ground in soil. The soil resistivity is 10 000 ohm-cm and will
have a resistance of about 27 ohm compared with 34 ohm for a single 3m long, 25 mm rod.
Copper plate thickness: 3.15mm (minimum)
Cust iron plate thickness: 12mm (minimum)
Steel plate thikness : 6.3mm (minimum)
Resistance value of plate electrode can be obtained from below formal:
𝜋
R=p/A*√( ) Ω
𝑎
Where ,
p= resistivity of soil ohm-m
A=area of plate in m2
Approximate value of resistance for 1.2 m *1.2 m plate
R=p/2.75 Ω
Where,
p= resistivity of soil ohm-cm

The main components of underground mine system

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Corrosion problem for the electrodes:
Steel corrodes about six times as fast as copper when placed in soil. The extend of corrosion depends
upon the soil. The generally accepted correlation between the resistivity of soil and its corrosively is as indicated
in the table below:

Soil resistivity and corrosion

Range of soil resistivity(Ω-m) Soil’s class
Less than 25 Severely corrosive
25-50 Moderately corrosive
50-100 Mildly corrosive
Above100 Very mildly corrosive

This following methods can be adopted to safeguard conductor against excessive corrosion:
 Use of cathodic protection and
 Use current conducting, corrosion resistant coating on steel
The zinc coating on the tubes shall be in accordance with IS 4736:1986 hot dip zinc coatings on mild steel
tubes
 With coating thickness 150 microns min.
 Use steel conductor with large cross section having allowance for corrosion.

Based on the result practical studies on rates of corrosion, the following in cross sectional area of earthing
conductor are recommended:

Recommended cross sectional area of the earthing conductor to take the effect of corrosion
Type of laying of the earth conductor Allowances to be considered in sizing
Conductors laid to soils having resistivity greater than Zero percent
100 ohm meters
Conductors laid to soils having resistivity from 25 to 15 percent
100 Ω- m
Conductors laid to soils having resistivity lower than 30 percent
25 Ω-m

Variation of soil resistivity with moisture content:

To reduce the soil resistivity, it is need to dissolve in the moisture, normally contained in the soil, some
material which have highly conductivity in its water solution. The most commonly used materials are sodium
chloride (NaCl) that means common salt, calcium chloride(CaCl2),sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), copper sulphate
(CuSO4),salt and soft coke, and salt and charcoal in suitable amount.
With average or high moisture content, these agents from a conducting electrolyte through-out a wide
region surrounding the earth electrode. Approximately 90℅ of the resistance between a driven rod and earth lies
within a radius of about two metres from the rod. This should be kept in the mind when applying the agents for
artificial treatment soil.

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 Variation of soil resistivity with moisture content

Variation of soil resistivity with salt content:

The decrease in soil resistivity effected by salt. The salt content is expressed in percent by weight of the
contained moisture. It will be noted that the curve flattens off at about 5% salt content and further increase in
salt gives but little decrease in the soil resistivity. The effect of salt will be different for different kinds of soil and
for various moisture contents but the curve will convey an idea of how the soil conductivity can be improved.
Decreasing the soil resistivity causes a corresponding decrease in the resistance of a driven electrode.

Variation of soil resistivity with salt content

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Soil resistivity testing:

For grounding installation soil resistivity testing is a necessary process to know for grounding resistance.
Normally we would find a location with the less possible resistance. But as we previous discussed, poor soil
conditions can be overcome with different grounding systems.
Moisture content changes with seasonally, varies according to the depth of the permanent water table
and the nature of the sub layers of earth. Because of soil and water are normally more stable at deeper strata, it
is recommended that the ground rods be placed as deep as possible into the earth, at the water table if possible.
Also, ground rods should be installed where there is a stable temperature, i.e. below the frost line
As we can see in picture four earth ground electrode are positioned in the soil in a straight line, there
placed at equal distance. The distance between earth ground electrodes should be at least three times greater
than the electrode depth. So if the depth of each ground electrode is one foot (.30 meters), make sure the
distance between electrodes is greater than three feet (.91 meters). The soil resistivity testing generates a known
current through the two outer ground electrodes and the drop in voltage potential is measured between the two
inner ground electrodes. Using Ohm's Law (V=IR), the soil resistivity tester automatically calculates the soil
resistance.

Picture of soil resistivity testing meter

Soil resistivity formula:

Soil resistivity calculated by following formula:

Where
R = resistivity
S = length
V = voltage
I = current

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Conclusion
The aim of doing earthing is mainly for system safety but also detect the earth fault current. The
magnitude of earth fault current should be as low as possible, so that any hazards could not take place. There
are various methods of limiting earth fault current such as solidly earthed neutral system, restricted neutral
system and insulated neutral system. If proper earthing is not given then system will remain in abnormal
condition, fault current cannot be detected, so there can be chance of shock hazards.
In future we can use a device in a gate end box which measure online insulation of trailing cable, this
device measure the leakage current and insulation resistance. At beyond limit value this device disconnect
trailing cable from main power supply. By using this device there are chance of utility of grounding system may
be decrease.

Reference:
 Electrical earthing in coal mines, originally produced by the National Coal Board
 IEEE Standard 141-1993, “Recommended Practice for Electrical Power Distribution for Industrial Plants”
 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION, 364-4-41 (1977) Chapter 41. ‘Protection against
electrical shock’. Geneva, 1977.
 Indian standard code for practice for earthing IS:3043-1987
 Central electricity authority regulation
 Central Electricity Authority-(Measures relating to Safety and
Electric Supply). Regulations, 2010; rule 41 and 42
 Michael D. LaGrega, Phillip L. Buckingham and Jeffery C. Evan. 1994. Hazardous Waste Management.
McGraw Hill, Inc

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