Neutral Grounding

Principles
 Agenda

Possible arrangements for the neutral point

Adverse effects of isolated systems

Advantages of resistive grounded systems

Ground fault protection in grounded systems

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |1

 Possible arrangements for the neutral point

Isolated Direct to ground Resistive grounding

Short-circuit at second fault High fault current Limited fault current

Risk of overvoltage No overvoltage Limited overvoltage

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |2

 Choice criteria

The choice between the different grounding modes is made

according to the following criteria :
 Limitation of the damages and disturbances caused by a
ground fault
 Sufficient damping of over-voltages
 Limitation of the ground fault current
 Reduced risks for the personnel
 Simple and selective protection devices
 Preservation of rotating machines iron core

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |3

 Isolated neutral point

No connection to the ground

Coupled to the ground via the capacitance of the system (windings,
cables …)

Normal operation
G

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |4

 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

Isolated neutral systems present three major risks,

specially for HV systems :

 in case of ground fault, there will be a higher voltage stress on

the healthy phases

 The leakage capacitors can accumulate charge, (DC offset

voltage) leading to phase over-voltage to ground, specially when
there is an intermittent fault.

 Both above factors increase the risk of a second ground fault on

the network, which will create a short-circuit through the ship.

This latter risk is a major one for a LNG ship, as potentially leading to disaster

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |5

 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

Ground fault on phase C

Phase A and B
submitted to :
3 Vn, to ground

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |6

  Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

REAL DANGER of very high OVER-VOLTAGES (6 to 8 times the phase

voltage) in case of intermittent fault :
When the fault disappears, DC offset voltage will remain on the
system capacitance to ground
When the fault reappears the system voltage to ground will equal the
sum of the DC offset and the AC component

14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
-20000,00 0,02 0,03 0,05 0,07 0,08 0,10
-4000
-6000
-8000

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |7

 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

These both factors increase the risk of a second ground fault on the
network, which will create a short-circuit through the ship.

Hazardous area

Short circuit possible on long distance,

through hazardous areas

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |8

 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

A fault current appears even at first fault, closing through the leakage
capacitors.
In case of direct fault, when all equipments are connected, this can lead
to a current between 15 A to 20 A.
This value depends on the network configuration; it will be low, possibly
undetected, when few equipments are connected, and higher, when
more equipments are connected.

G1 G2 G3 G4

M M M

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS |9

 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

Current circulation effect inside

a faulty rotating machine.

A 15 to 20 amps current leads to

serious damage of the iron core
of a rotating machine

Rules reminder :
in case of a ground fault over 5 Amps,
an action is to be taken to clear the fault
(LRS rule)
| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 10
 Isolated neutral point, adverse effects

Rules specifications:

IEEE 242
Ungrounded systems offer no advantage over high-resistance
grounded systems in terms of continuity of service, and have the
disadvantage of transient over-voltages, locating the first fault and
burn downs from a second ground fault. IEEE 242-1986 7.2.5

IEC60092-503
4.1.1 Insulated neutral systems
For insulated neutral systems, attention is drawn to the likelihood of
transient over-voltage to earth being higher than on an earthed system,
and special consideration should be given to the dielectric strength of
insulation

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 11

 Direct grounded neutral point

Advantages

 No over-voltage
 Protection selectivity is easy

Inconveniences

 High fault current : direct short-

circuit, current is not limited
 Risks for the personnel during the
time the fault persists

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 12

 Resistive grounded neutral point

 Over-voltages are damped

 Fault current is limited by the resistor
 The first fault is detected (and must be eliminated for HV systems)
 The leakage capacitors are discharged to ground through the
resistor
At the first fault, the line to neutral voltage
appears across the resistor
Resistor current :
Limited Ir
U
Ir =
fault current

3×R
Total ground current: Ic Ir

Ig = Ir ² + Ic ²
| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 13
Converteam advise:
 Not to use insulated neutral in high voltage systems,
particularly dangerous for LNG or chemical tankers
 At least, equipment must be STOPPED at the first fault
 Resistive grounding system is the safest
 This is particularly recommended in LNG environment

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 14

 Ground fault protection in grounded systems

Ground fault protection is provided :

 At switchboard level
 At converter / motor level
in the same manner, with a resistive connection of the neutral
point to the ship’s hull.
The first fault is detected and the corresponding equipment is
stopped

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 15

 Ground fault protection in grounded systems

Switchboard level CONVERTEAM recommends two systems :

1) Grounding each generator neutral point

In each case the

G1 G2 G3 G4 resistors are
sized so that the
OR : resistive fault
2) Grounding through homopolar transformers current is about
10 A

G1 G2 G3 G4

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 16

 Insulated systems and GPT

Can Ground Potential Transformer assure an equivalent protection ?

Ground potential transformers are used in 6.6 kV switch board to provide
measurement, and auxiliary supply (e.g 90 V)
GPT is electrically equivalent to HRG
BUT …
The protection CTs must be
Howdirectional
is the damping of transient
and sensitive
overvoltages ?
Voltage
Resistive fault current
Ic is limited to
measurement
around 350 mA, typically …(but can be
Tripping
even lower in some cases)
Auxiliaries zone
supply The protection C.T mustFaulty
have sufficient
Allowed
sensitivity to detect thisfeeder
value.
zone Ir
Ir
How toHealthy
discriminate with other feeders
having feeders
capacitive current ?
Ic
The protection CTs must be directional

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 18

 Electric Propulsion System

MV 7000 Quick Survey

June 2007
 From secondary side of EPS transformer

Two PIB701 are used to measure the DC bus voltage

One PIB701 is used to measure the DC bus insulation to ground

PIB

R123
701
R145

R127
PIB PIB
701 701

PEC PIB
Controller 102

| CUSTOMISED TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS | 22