WHITE

PAPER

Rami Hakam,
P. Eng., Applications Engineer,
Custom Products,
Littelfuse Startco

NGR
How to select the proper neutral-grounding resistor for
a high-resistance grounded electrical system
How to select the proper neutral-grounding resistor for
a high-resistance grounded electrical system
High-resistance grounding (HRG) makes a power distribution
system safer and more reliable than the alternatives.
High-resistance grounding can limit point-of-fault damage,
eliminate transient overvoltages, reduce the arc flash hazard,
limit voltage exposure to personnel, and provide adequate
tripping levels for selective ground-fault detection and
coordination. While the decision to use HRG may be a “no-
brainer,” implementing it is not. In particular, the selection of
a proper neutral-grounding resistor (NGR) requires a certain
amount of design knowledge. This article will explain how
an HRG system works and how to calculate the value of the
NGR for particular applications.
What is resistance grounding?
In a resistance-grounded system (Fig. 1) the neutral point
(either the center of a wye-connected transformer or, for a
delta-connected transformer, an artificial neutral created with
the aid of a zigzag transformer) is connected to ground via
a resistor (Fig. 2). When a ground fault occurs the unfaulted
phases will assume the phase-to-phase voltage with respect
to ground, the neutral point of the transformer will assume
the phase-to-ground voltage and ground-fault current will
flow through the NGR. The magnitude of this current is
determined by the voltage across the NGR divided by its
resistive value.
Fig. 1: In a resistance-grounded system the neutral point is connected to
ground via a neutral grounding resistor
Fig. 2: A typical neutral-grounding resistor.
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Where is HRG required?
High-resistance grounding is widely used in mining around
the world, including Canada, the U.S., Chile, Peru, Brazil,
China (open-pit), Mongolia, Australia, and India. It is a
recommended practice for use in mining as described
by the IEEE 3003 Standard: Power Systems Grounding
(formerly known as the IEEE Green Book). The electrical
codes for mining in Canada (CSA M421) and in the USA
(MSHA) both require the use of high-resistance grounding.
High-resistance grounding is also becoming widely applied
outside of mining; for example, the IEC/ISO/IEEE 80005-1
standard recommends the use of high-resistance grounding
for high-voltage connections feeding ships from shore. The
recommended use of high-resistance grounding is a frequent
topic of peer-reviewed papers, round-table discussions,
and presentations at IEEE events, including the Petroleum
and Chemical Industry Technical Conference and the
Pulp and Paper Industry Conference. Various regulations
and standards around the world also commonly require
monitoring the continuity of the NGR.
Designing a high-resistance-grounding
system
The main challenge in designing an HRG system is
determining the proper ohmic value for the neutral-grounding
resistor. The primary rule is that the NGR should be sized so
that ground-fault current is equal to or slightly greater than
the system charging current. But what is system charging
current (a), and how is it measured (b)?
Fig. 3: Each phase of a three-phase system exhibits capacitance to ground,
shown here as lumped capacitors. A charging current flows through these
capacitances, but does not show up on a current transformer connected to the
three phases because the three-phase currents sum to zero.
(a) As shown in Fig. 3 each phase of a three-phase system
exhibits a certain amount of distributed capacitance to
ground, shown here as three capacitors. A capacitive current
flows through these, but does not show up on a current
transformer installed around the three phases
(zero-sequence current transformer) because the three
phase currents sum to zero.
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How to select the proper neutral-grounding resistor for
a high-resistance grounded electrical system
If one of the phases shorts to ground causing a ground
fault, the charging current for the other two phases will flow
through the ground fault.
(b) This makes for a direct way to measure the charging
current: introduce a deliberate ground fault on an
ungrounded system and the resulting current through the
ground fault will be the charging current of the system, as
shown in Fig. 4. The shorting wire should be AWG 8 to
minimize its voltage drop. The grounding connection should
include a 5 to 10 A current-limiting fuse rated for the full
system voltage, a variable resistance, and a switch. At its
maximum value, the variable resistance should be such as to
limit the charging current to half of its estimated magnitude.
Set the resistor to its maximum value, and then close the
switch. Gradually reduce the resistor setting to zero; this
will help prevent transient overvoltages during the test.
Zero sequence ammeter A1 will continue to show zero, and
ammeter A2 will measure the charging current. After taking
the reading, gradually bring the resistor back to its maximum
value before opening the switch. Repeat the process on
each of the other phases, and choose the one with the
highest current for the rest of the calculations. Please note
that the system is isolated from ground during the test.
Fig. 4: To measure charging current, connect one phase to ground; the resulting
current through the ground fault will be the charging current of the system.
In a system that has not yet been built, charging current
must be estimated. For a quick estimate, use the following
typical values: 0.5 A/1000 kVA for low-voltage systems
and 1.0 A/1000 kVA for medium-voltage systems. For a
more precise estimate, use manufacturer’s data to sum up
the different circuit elements that contribute to charging
currents, such as cable capacitance per 100 feet, surge
arrestors, motors, etc.
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Calculating the value of the NGR
To detect high-impedance faults and provide machine-
winding protection, the desired ground-fault-current pickup
level for the ground-fault relay should be less than 20% of
the prospective ground-fault current. To put it another way,
a good rule of thumb is to multiply the desired ground-fault-
current pickup level by an acceptable tripping ratio (say, 5x),
and then use the next-largest available standard let-through
current rating for the neutral-grounding resistor. For low- to
medium-voltage systems, standard NGR current ratings are
typically 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 25 A.
For example, consider a system with a charging current of
0.5 A (which is quite common on a 480 V system) and a
desired ground-fault pickup level of 1 A. Using a trip ratio
of 5, the value of the NGR should be selected to allow five
times the desired pickup level current, or 5 A.
Another example: in potash mining the trailing cables can
become quite long, and as such will have correspondingly
large charging currents in the range from 1 to 2 A (or more).
The tripping current on each feeder must be above charging
current to avoid nuisance or sympathetic tripping; a tripping
value of 3 A would be reasonable. In this case the NGR
should be selected for a let-through current five times the
desired pickup level, or 15 A.
It is worth noting that the 2009 edition of Canadian Electrical
Code (CEC) rule 10-1102 says that for systems up to 5 kV the
system may continue to operate with NGR currents up to 10
A, but that a visual or audible alarm must be activated.
The case of mobile equipment in mining
In mining applications, a mobile or movable piece of
equipment is supplied power through a resistively grounded
system. What’s more, the ground-fault voltage must be
limited to a maximum of 100 V (M421 4.5.6.a & Annex A
Figure A1.) Ground-fault voltage is defined as the maximum
ground-fault current multiplied by the resistance in the
ground path from the equipment to the supply. Depending
on the size of the portable cabling used and the length of
that cable, the resistance of the ground wire will limit the
magnitude of the allowable ground fault current. For systems
with large charging current, this could cause what is known
as sympathetic tripping, and as such the method of selecting
the NGR value will have to be adjusted.
Sympathetic tripping
If the value of the charging current on a specific feeder is
higher than the tripping point on the ground-fault relay of that
feeder, sympathetic tripping occurs. Consider the example
shown in Fig. 5.
The charging current of the system is (I1+I2+I3). The value of
the NGR is calculated as Ir = 5 x (I1+I2+I3) and the set point of
the ground-fault relays on the feeders is 20% of Ir.
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 How to select the proper neutral-grounding resistor for
a high-resistance grounded electrical system

 
 

 
 

Fig. 5: If the value of the charging current on a feeder is higher than the trip
point of the ground fault relay, then sympathetic tripping occurs.

If a ground fault occurs on Feeder 3, then Feeders 1 and 2

will each see their charging currents I1 and I2 flow through
the current transformer. If I1, for example, is higher than 20%
of Ir , then the protective relay for that feeder will detect the
current and trip.
The obvious solution is to increase the value of the current
flowing through the NGR. However, due to the limit on the
ground-fault voltage, that is not always feasible. Thus the
solution is to calculate the NGR value based on the largest
charging current value among all the feeders. So let’s
assume the Feeder 1 has the largest charging current value,
I1, then the NGR is selected such as Ir = 5 x I1.

Summary
An HRG system can improve safety, aid in compliance with
regulations, and reduce downtime by providing a more stable
distribution system. The critical part to consider is that these
systems must be properly designed and receive proper
maintenance. The use of a dedicated NGR continuity monitor
is one recommended method to ensure a continuously safe
and reliable operation of the system.

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Additional technical information and application data for Littelfuse protection relays, generator and engine controls, fuses and other circuit protection
and safety products can be found on www.littelfuse.com. For questions, contact our Technical Support Group (800-832-3873). Specifications,
descriptions and illustrative material in this literature are as accurate as known at the time of publication, but are subject to changes without notice. All data
was compiled from public information available from manufacturers’ manuals and datasheets.

FORM: PFD769
REV: 1-B-030515