SPECIAL GROUND CONNECTION ON

EQUIPMENT AND METAL STRUCTURES

(PART 1 - FOR SWITCHYARDS AND
SUB-STATIONS)
 Objectives
 Introduction

 General Fundamentals

 Effects of Electric Shock to Human Body

 Grounding and Bonding

 Ground and Bonding in Commercial and Industrial

Facilities

 Special Grounding Connection in Facilities Over 1000 Volts

(Switchyard and Sub-station Equipment and Structures)
 To be able to have comprehensive understanding on
the concepts of Grounding and Bonding

 To be able to understand the specific applications of

Grounding and Bonding

 To be able to understand the special grounding

requirements of equipment and metal structures in
switchyards and sub-stations

To be able to apply the proper grounding methods for

switchyard and sub-station equipment and structures
 What is
GROUNDING
SYSTEMS?
 GROUNDING SYSTEM
Defined by IEEE Std. 142-2007 (Green BooK) as:
•A system that consists of all interconnected
grounding connections in a specific power
system and is defined by its isolation from adjacent
grounding systems.
• The isolation is provided by transformer primary
and secondary windings that are coupled only
by magnetic means.
• Thus,the system boundary is defined by the
lack of a physical connection that is either
metallic or through a significantly high
impedance.
WHY INSTALL
GROUNDING
SYSTEMS?
 Purpose of Grounding System
• Personnel Safety
• Low impedance grounding and bonding
between metallic equipment, chassis, piping and
other conductive objects so that fault fault and
lightning currents do not result to voltages
that can cause a shock hazard

• Proper grounding facilitates operation of the

overcurrent protective device during ground
faults.
• Equipment and Building Protection
• Low impedance grounding and bonding
between electrical services, protective devices,
equipment and other conductive objects so that
fault and lightning currents do not result in
hazardous voltages inside the building.

• Proper operation of overcurrent protective

devices is frequently depended upon low
impedance current paths.
• Electrical Noise Reduction
• Proper grounding aids in electrical noise
reduction
• Ensures that:
1. The impedance between the signal ground
points throughout the building is minimized.
2. Voltage potentials between interconnected
equipment are minimized.
3. Effects of electrical and magnetic coupling
are minimized.
 General Types of Grounding
• Power System Grounding Including the Service
Entrance

• Bonding

• Grounding Electrical Equipment

• Lightning Protection

• Protection of Electronic Equipment

ELECTRICAL
CIRCUITRY
BASICS
 TRUE OR FALSE?

A. ELECTRIC CURRENT TAKES THE

PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
FALSE

B. ELECTRIC CURRENT WILL TAKE

ALL PATHS OR CIRCUITS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE
TRUE
OHMS LAW IN REVIEW
 RESISTANCE VS. IMPEDANCE
Resistance (R)
• The total opposition to current in a DC circuit.

Impedance (Z)
• The total opposition to current an AC circuit.
• Comprised of three components namely the
Inductive Reactance (XL), Capacitive Reactance
(XC), and the Resistance (R) added together
vectorially
• Frequency-dependent – changes in magnitude as
frequency changes
Inductive Reactance (XL) = 2πFL
• Where F = frequency (Hz); L = inductance (Henry)
• Directly proportional to frequency – increases in
magnitude while frequency increases

Capacitive Reactance (XC) = 1 / 2πFC

• Where F = frequency (Hz); C = Capacitance
(Farad)
• Inversely proportional to frequency – decreases in
magnitude while frequency increases
 CURRENT IN A CIRCUIT
• In any complete circuit or path that is available,
current—be it normal current or fault current—will
always try to return to its source

• Electrical current will take any and all available

paths to return to its source.
 CURRENT IN A CIRCUIT
• If several paths are available, current will divide and
the resistance or the impedance of each path
will determine the magnitude of current on
that particular path.

• Thus, if there is no complete circuit, then there

is no current.
 CURRENT IN A CIRCUIT
If several paths are available, current will divide and
the resistance or the impedance of each path
will determine the magnitude of current on
that particular path.
• Thus, if there is no complete circuit, then there
is no current.
 EFFECTS OF
ELECTRIC
SHOCK TO THE
HUMAN BODY
 WHAT IS
GROUNDING &
BONDING?
 GROUNDING
Defined as:
• Connecting to ground or to a conductive body
that extends the ground
• Connecting to a common point which is
connected back to the electrical source. It may
or may not be connected to earth (i.e. in aircrafts)
• Earthingis a common term outside the US and is
the connection between equipment and facilities,
grounds to mother earth (necessary for lightning
protection systems)
 SYSTEM GROUNDING
Defined as:
• the intentional connection to ground
through a ground electrode conductor (GEC) of
a phase or neutral conductor
• Purpose of System Grounding

• Controlling the voltage with respect to earth, or

ground, within predictable limits

• Providing for a flow of current that will allow

detection of an unwanted connection between
system conductors and ground.

• Such detection may then initiate operation of

automatic devices to remove the source of
voltage from these conductors.
 TYPES OF SYSTEM
NEUTRAL GROUNDING
• Ungrounded System or Capacitance
Grounded System
• Solidly-Grounded System
• Impedance Grounded System
1. Reactance Grounded System
2. Resistance Grounded System
3. Ground-Fault Neutralizer System
• Ungrounded System or Capacitance
Grounded System
• No intentional connection between the system
conductors and ground.
• Solidly-Grounded Systems
• the connection of a system conductor, usually the
neutral of a generator, power transformer, or
grounding transformer directly to ground, without
any intentional intervening impedance.
 BONDING
Defined as:

• Permanent joining of metallic parts to form an

electrically conductive path

electrical continuity and capacity to

• Ensures
conduct any current safely that is likely to be
imposed

• Minimize potential difference between

conductive components
• Equipment Grounding
• includes also the Equipment Grounding
Conductor

• refers to the interconnection (bonding) and

grounding of the nonelectrical metallic elements
of a system

• Such detection may then initiate operation of

automatic devices to remove the source of
voltage from these conductors.
• Equipment Grounding

1. To reduce electric shock hazard to personnel.

2. To provide adequate current-carrying capability,

both in magnitude and duration, to accept the
ground-fault current permitted by the overcurrent
protection system without creating a fire or
explosive hazard to building or contents.

3. To provide a low-impedance return path for

ground-fault current necessary for the timely
operation of the overcurrent protection system.
 OVERCURRENT DEVICE OPERATION
• Overcurrent devices operate because of more current
(amps) flowing than the device is rated to carry

• Overcurrent protection devices are designed to operate

in inverse time thus the more current through
overcurrent devices above their rating the faster
they open or operate;

• The higher the impedance of the path, the lower the

current through the overcurrent device and therefore
longer time to open.

• The lower the impedance of the path, the greater is

the current through the overcurrent device and faster
opening time.
Grounding and
Bonding for
Commercial and
Industrial
Facilities
TYPICAL PLANT GROUNDING SYSTEM
TYPICAL PLANT GROUNDING ELECTRODE
TYPICAL BONDING METHODS
INSTRUMENTATION GROUNDING SYSTEM
Grounding and
Bonding for
Systems Over
1000 Volts
BASIC SHOCK SITUATIONS
 Common
Misconceptions
about
Grounding &
Bonding
COMMON MISTAKES IN GROUNDING
AUXILIARY GROUNDING
ISOLATED GROUNDING