FOR CONSTRUCTION

1INT3 16.12.2020 J.W.SEO M.K.LEE Y.H.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION

1INT2 02.12.2020 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
1INT1 26.06.2020 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
1 10.06.2019 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
0INT2 22.05.2019 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
0INT1 19.04.2019 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
0 21.11.2018 S.J.OH J.S.WOO B.G.KANG FOR CONSTRUCTION
Rev Date Prepared Checked Approved Details of Revision
Owner

Owner’s Engineer

Contractor

DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES VIETNAM

Sub-Supplier

Project

NGHI SON 2 BOT THERMAL POWER PLANT PROJECT

Title

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING

Document No. Rev. Page-No.

NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003 1INT3 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

RECORD OF REVISION
Rev. Date Page Affected Description of Revision

0 2018.11.21 First Issue

0INT1 2019.04.19 Second Issue

0INT2 2019.05.22 Third Issue

1 2019.06.10 Forth Issue

1INT1 2020.06.26 Fifth Issue

1INT2 2020.12.02 Sixth Issue

1INT3 2020.12.16 Seventh Issue

Rev.1INT3 2 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

CONTENTS

1. GENERAL ............................................................................................................................ 4

2. CODE AND STANDARDS ................................................................................................. 4

3. SCOPE OF SUPPLY AND WORK ................................................................................... 4

4. EARTHING SYSTEM ........................................................................................................ 4

4.1 Types of Earthing System 4
4.2 Outdoor Earthing System 5
4.3 Indoor / Equipment Earthing System 5

5. LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM ........................................................................... 7

5.1 Design conditions of Lightning Protection System 7

APPENDIX #1. NS2 PLANT EARTHING SYSTEM

Rev.1INT3 3 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

1. GENERAL
This document is intended to cover the design criteria for earthing and lightning protection system for
Nghi Son 2 BOT Thermal Power Plant Project.

2. CODE AND STANDARDS

The earthing and lightning protection system shall be designed according to and shall comply with the
following standards:

IEEE 80 IEEE Guide for safety in AC substation grounding

IEEE 81 Guide for Measuring earth resistivity, ground impedance & earth surface
potential of a ground system
NFPA 780 Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
11TCN-18-2006 Vietnam electrical installation regulation-General Regulation
11TCN-21-2006 Vietnam electrical installation regulation-Protection and automation
TCXD 9385-2012 Protection of structures against lightning –Guide for Design, Inspection &
Maintenance
IEC62305-3 Protection against lightning - 3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard
IEC 60364-5-54 Low-voltage electrical installations - Earthing arrangements and protective
conductors
IEC 60227 Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages
IEC 60228 Conductors of insulated cables

3. SCOPE OF SUPPLY AND WORK

Complete design, supply and installation of the earthing system and lightning protection system for main
plant area including 500kV AIS substation.
Complete testing work of measuring grounding resistance, step voltage and touch voltage for main
earthing grid.

4. EARTHING SYSTEM
4.1 Types of Earthing System
a. System earthing: It is intended to protect the personnel from injury and property from
damage.These connections are made to the part of the system who are not usually energized but
may become live due to an abnormal condition.
b. Equipment earthing: This ensures low impedance return path for ground current should an
electrical fault occur between the Live conductor and equipment enclosure.
Three earth system are set up :
a. General earthing network: this consists of Under-ground & above ground earthing system. *All
metallic parts of equipment and structures shall be connected to this general earth network.
b. Electronic earthing network: the design of electronic earthing network shall confirm to the need
of I&C System of the plant & the guidelines of the DCS Manufacturer for DCS Earthing. PVC
insulated copper wire shall be used to connect the equipment to general earth network. Instrument
grounding system shall be connected to the main earthing grid. The electronic earthing system
shall be of low noise type.
c. Lightning protection: this comprises of air terminations and down conductor installed to protect
buildings like chimneys and other important areas. Each Down conductor shall be clamped and
directly connected to main earthing grid. Interconnecting conductors between air terminal rods
shall be provided.

Rev.1INT3 4 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

Plant earthing system shall comprise of a buried copper conductor ground grid enhanced by ground rods.
Typical spacing between parallel conductors shall be 30 m. The LV network system shall be TN-S.
The complete earthing system shall have a maximum earth resistance value of 0.5 ohm at any point of the
earthing system to minimize the potential rise in the event of a fault.
The earthing conductor size for grid shall be sized to carry maximum ground fault current for a duration of
1 second in order to ensure adequate cross-sectional area.
The main earth grid shall consist of bare copper conductors of 240 mm2 buried at a minimum depth of 0.8
m below ground level & then backfilled with soil. This system shall be installed uniformly over the entire
power plant with the mesh size calculated by IEEE 80.
All electrical equipment such as motors, transformers, switchboards, control boards, Tanks, Hoppers,
Conveyors and all other subsidiary electrical equipment, as well as all metal parts of the mechanical
equipment which might be subject to earth fault currents shall be connected to the main earth grid via
earthing terminals or directly as per IEC 60364-5-54. Above grounding conductors shall be PVC insulated
copper wire. For the purpose of safety and reliability, all equipment would be connected to the earthing
system .
All interconnections with the underground earth grid shall be made by cad-weld/Exothermic welding. All
connection points above ground shall be made by bolting or compression connection. All instrument boxes
shall be earthed at one point only.

Note
* : For the detailed earthing concept of LV motor(below 30kW) and MOV, please refer to criteria no. 4.3.5.

4.2 Outdoor Earthing System

Bare copper 240 mm2 shall be provided near the transformers and around the periphery of auxiliary
buildings. The distance to the foundation shall be 1 m wherever possible. These Bare copper 240 mm2
around the buildings shall be connected to the indoor earthing and lightning protection system (wherever
applicable) by the copper earthing bus provided at suitable places inside the building area.
For the connection of the outdoor earthing system (potential grading, connection to earth grid), several
copper-risers from the outdoor earthing system shall be provided and connected to the indoor earthing
system.
Metal ladder shall be earthed at one point as per earthing calculation document

4.3 Indoor / Equipment Earthing System

In buildings with electrical or I&C equipment several earthing terminals shall be installed at strategic
points, which shall be made from tinned copper strips of 1000mm/400mm x 40mm x 6mm. These shall be
linked by way of Copper conductor to the main earthing grid system.
Separate Earthing terminals for I&C equipment shall be provided and connected to the main earth grid.
Earthing for DCS, TCS,PLC etc shall be in accordance with the manufacturer recommendations.
Every second steel column for the Turbine and Boiler structures and all other buildings shall be connected
directly to the Main earth grid.

4.3.1 AIS Switchyard

Primary equipments such as CVT, CB, SA, DS and PI shall be connected via two(2) earthing conductor.
Size of earthing wire shall comply with manufacturer’s recommendation. Tower shall be earthed using
two conductors. All earthing conductors shall be connected to the main earthing Grid.

4.3.2 Tanks, Large bins, Hoppers, Conveyor houses etc.

Electrical equipment such as tanks, large bins, Hoppers, Conveyor Transfer Houses, steel structures etc.
shall be earthed using conductors with adequate cross section of 95 mm2(minimum). All earthing
conductors shall be connected to the main earthing Grid.

4.3.3 Transformers (GSUT & UAT)

The neutrals of 500 KV & 400 V windings shall be connected directly to the earth grid.
The neutrals of 11 KV windings shall be earthed via one neutral earthing resistor
Two earth connections shall be made to the transformer tank & the cooler of control cubicle

Rev.1INT3 5 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

According to the 11TCN-18, spacing between parallel conductors in transformer yard area shall be 6 m.

4.3.4 Lighting
MLDB/LDB shall be earthed at two distinct points to the main earth grid.
Posts for street lights, CCTV shall be earthed from main earth grid via a separate earthing conductor. But
if away from the main earthing grid, earthing rod shall be installed near the lighting/CCTV pole.
PE conductor shall be provided for lighting circuit suitable to TN-S network.

4.3.5 Motors
a. MV Motor : All medium voltage motors shall be connected to the general earthing system at two
points by earthing wire.
b. LV Motors : LV Motors(30kW and above) shall be earthed via the earth conductor of the power
cable where applying multi-core cable. Where applying single-core cable, LV Motors(30kW and
1INT3
above) shall be earthed via PVC wire bonded with barecopper earthing conductor running in
cable tray that is connected with earthing busbar inside SWGR/MCC. One(1) more earthing
connection to local earthing system shall be provided.
c. LV motors(below 30kW) and MOV shall be earthed via the earth conductor of the power cable
based on IEC 60364-5-54.

4.3.6 Cable Earthing

For the earthing of MV Power Cable, Single bonding shall be applied at screen or shield bonding
insulating sleeves shall be furnished and installed by fulfilling the following conditions.
a. Limit normal steady-state shield voltages to acceptable and safe levels
b. Significantly reduce or eliminate shield losses
c. Maintain a continuous sheath circuit to permit fault current return and adequate lightning and
switching surge protection

4.3.7 Cable Tray & Conduit

Cable tray shall be connected to the main earthing gird or earthing bar at both ends.
One (1) bare copper earthing conductor of 150sqmm shall be run on one cable tray at tray route.
Cable tray of more than 30 lengths shall be earthed at intervals of 30m to other tary by PVC insulated
earhting conductor.
All conduits used for electrical raceway system shall be grounded either to the tray ground or to the
equipment ground.These conduits shall be bonded to the enclosure or equipment grounds at the equipment
being serviced by the conduit or to the tray at the other end by the use of bonding jumpers, grounding
bushings or other approved methods as required.
When carrying power cables without a ground conductor in the conduit, the conduit shall be grounded to
the cable tray by terminating with a grounding type insulating bushing and bonding jumper.
A direct connection to the ground bus is not required for conduits or for the metallic armor of cables if
they are metallically connected to grounded apparatus. To establish proper ground continuity, all metallic
connections and joints of conduits must be clean and free from rust, paint, lacquer, etc., and shall be made
up wrench tight.

4.3.8 Isolated Phase Busduct

Earthing for IPB shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

4.3.9 Emergency Diesel Generator

The neutral point of EDG shall be connected to the Main Plant earth grid system with a dedicated
grounding electrode.The EDG body must be solidly earthed at 2 points separately.

4.3.10 Main Generator Earthing

The star point of generator shall be earthed through a high impedance system which shall limit the fault
current as manufacturer design concept. This high impedance system shall be via a Transformer loaded on
the LV side by a resistor.

Rev.1INT3 6 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

4.3.11 Switchboard Earthing

The earth bar installed in the switch gear shall be earthed by 2 separate earthing conductors & not less
than 120 mm2.

4.3.12 Generator Earthing

Earthing for Generator shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

4.3.13 Embedded Grounding Work

The station ground grid (above "mud" slab) shall consist of building steel (in steel portions of the
building) or ground cable embedded in the floors and walls (in concrete portions). The tray system will
also serve as a portion of the station ground grid.
Ground connections to be embedded in concrete or buried, ground connections to permanent outdoor
structures and ground connections otherwise made inaccessible shall be made using the Caldweld or
fusion process.

5. LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM

Lightning Protection shall be done in accordance with NFPA 780 and local regulation. Lightning
protection systems will broadly consist of a horizontal/vertical air termination network, down conductors
& earthed electrode system. Ordinary structures and miscellaneous structures in the zone of protection can
be regarded as immune from direct lightning strokes.
The various components of the lightning protection system are :
a. Air termination conductor
b. Down Conductors
c. Ground earthing network
d. Joints, bonds, test point, etc.

5.1 Design conditions of Lightning Protection System

a. An air termination network made of connected copper conductors shall be provided on the roof
for buildings as per rolling sphere method. Lightning protection system shall be applied for whole
power plant area including 500kV AIS substation and explosion hazardous areas.
b. Air terminals Rod shall be placed at suitable intervals around the perimeter of roofs.
c. For the zone of protection depicting rolling shere mothod, the radius of the rolling sphere for an
ordinary structure shall be 46 m based on NFPA 780. However, radius shall be 20m for explosion
hazardous areas and buildings/structures more than or equal to 20m based on B.5 of TCXD 9385.
d. The total number of down conductors on structures having flat or gently sloping roofs shall be
such that the average distance between all down conductors does not exceed 20 m based on
TCVD 9385. However, the spacing between the lightning conductors shall not be over 10m for
constructions more than 20m in height in compliance with sub clause 12.3, TCXD 9385.
e. Down conductors made of continuously connected copper conductors with a cross-section of 70
mm2 shall be provided. (Minimum size: NFPA 780: 58mm2, TCVD 9385: 50mm2)
f. In the case of metal structures or metal components,metal sheets with a minimum thickness in
accordance with clause 5.2.5, IEC 62305-3 may be considered as “natural” air termination
components requiring adequate grounding connection only provided. It is not necessary to prevent
puncture of the sheeting or to consider ignition of any combustible material underneath.
g. Down conductor shall be cleated on outer side of building wall at 900mm.
h. In case of steel structure, the steel beam can be used by natural compartment. In this case the
additional protection system is not necessary.
i. Supporting blocks of PCC/insulating compound will be used for conductor fixing at an interval of
1,500 mm.
j. The downconductors shall be strongly connected each other and with the Main earth system

Rev.1INT3 7 of 8
 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHING AND LIGHTNING
NS2-YR07-P0BAU-140003

k. Tanks con-structed so as to receive a stroke of lightning without damage shall require only
bonding to grounding electrodes.

End of Document

Rev.1INT3 8 of 8