IEEE Baton Rouge

Grounding for Electrical Power Systems

(Low Resistance and High Resistance
Design)

Low Resistance Grounding
Advantages/Disadvantages
Design Considerations
High Resistance Grounding
Advantages/Disadvantages
Design Considerations
Generator Grounding
Single/Multiple arrangements

Impedance selected to limit line-
to-ground fault current (normally
between 100A and 1000A as
defined by IEEE std. 142-2007
section 1.4.3.2)

Advantages
Eliminates high transient overvoltages
Limits damage to faulted equipment
Reduces shock hazard to personnel

Disadvantages
Some equipment damage can still occur
Faulted circuit must be de-energized
Line-to-neutral loads cannot be used.

c c c
I
a b
I I
c
I
r
A
B
C
3 Load
or Network
Source
N
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor
Most utilized on Medium Voltage
Some 5kV systems
Mainly 15kV systems
Has been utilized on up to 132kV systems (rare)
Used where system charging current may be
to high for High Resistance Grounding

c c c
I
a b
I I
c
I
r
A
B
C
3 Load
or Network
Source
N
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor
Resistor Amperage (ground fault let through current)
System Capacitance
System Bracing
System Insulation
Relay Trip points (Time current curve)
Selective tripping
Resistance increase with temperature
Resistor time on (how long the fault is on the system)
Single Phase Loads
Conductor
Cable
insulation
Cable tray
Every electrical system has some natural capacitance. The capacitive
reactance of the system determines the charging current.
Zero-sequence Capacitance:
0
=
10
6
2
0
F/phase
Charging Current: 3
0
=
2 3
0

10
6
A
During an arcing or intermittent
fault, a voltage is held on the system
capacitance after the arc is
extinguished. This can lead to a
significant voltage build-up which
can stress system insulation and
lead to further faults.

In a resistance grounded system, the
resistance must be low enough to
allow the system capacitance to
discharge relatively quickly.
Only discharges if R
o
< X
co
, so I
r
> I
xco
( per IEEE142-2007 1.2.7)

That is, resistor current must be greater than capacitive charging current.

Total Fault current is the vector sum of capacitive charging current
and resistor current

2
+
0
2


So, if I
R
= I
C0
, then I
F
= 1.414 I
R

Total fault current must not exceed the value for which the system is
braced.
In many cases, the system is already braced for the three-phase fault
current which is much higher than the single line-ground fault
current of a resistance grounded system.

Resistance grounded systems must be insulated for full line-line
voltage with respect to ground.
Surge Arrestor Selection: NEC 280.4 (2) Impedance or Ungrounded
System. The maximum continuous operating voltage shall be the
phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
Cables: NEC Table 310.13E allows for use of 100% Insulation level,
but 173% is recommended for orderly shutdown.

V
AG

V
BG
V
CG

V
AG

V
BG

Un-faulted Voltages to ground Faulted Voltages to ground (V
CG
= 0)
Properly rated equipment prevents Hazards.
A
B
C
3 Load
HRG
480V Wye Source
N
0V
2400V
Ground A
Cables, TVSSs, VFDs, etc. and other
equipment must be rated for
elevated voltages.
0V
4160V
4160V
NGR
N
G
R


CTs and relays must be
designed such that system
will trip on a fault of the
magnitude of the ground
fault current, but not on
transient events such as
large motor startup.
Network protection scheme
should try to trip fault
location first, then go
upstream.
Residual connected CTs Zero Sequence CT
Widely varying use of resistance material in the industry.
Different coefficients of resistivity for these materials.
Coefficient of resistivity typically increases with temperature of the material, thus
resistance of the NGR increases while the unit runs.
As resistance increases, current decreases.
Relay current trip curve must fall below the current line in the graph below.

5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
300
320
340
360
380
400
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
NGR Resistance vs Current
Current
Resistance
Normally, protective relaying will trip
within a few cycles.
IEEE 32 defines standard resistor on
times. Lowest rate is 10 seconds, but
could potentially go less to save
material/space.
Can go as high as 30 or 60 seconds
as required (rare).
Extended or Continuous ratings are
almost never used in this application
due to the relatively high fault
currents.
IEEE Std 32

Time Rating and Permissible
Temperature Rise for Neutral
Grounding Resistors
Time Rating
(On Time)
Temp Rise (deg
C)
Ten Seconds
(Short Time)
760
o
C
One Minute
(Short Time)
760
o
C
Ten Minutes
(Short Time)
610
o
C
Extended Time 610
o
C
Continuous 385
o
C
A
B
C
3 Load
HRG
480V Wye Source
N
Phase and Neutral wires in same conduit.
If faulted, bypass HRG, thus, -G fault.
No line-to-neutral loads allowed, prevents
Hazards.
NGR
Add small 1:1
transformer and solidly
ground secondary for 1
loads (i.e. lighting).
Impedance selected to limit line-
to-ground fault current (normally
< 10A as defined by IEEE std.
142-2007 section 1.4.3.1)
Ground detection system required
System is alarm and locate instead
of trip.

Source
(Wye)
HRG
C
B A
N
Advantages
Eliminates high transient overvoltages
Limits damage to faulted equipment
Reduces shock hazard to personnel
Faulted circuit allowed to continue
operating
Disadvantages
Nuisance alarms are possible.
Line-to-neutral loads cannot be used.


c c c
I
a b
I I
c
I
r
A
B
C
3 Load
or Network
Source
N
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor
Most utilized on Low Voltage
Many 600V systems
Some 5kV systems
Has been utilized on up to 15kV systems (rare)

c c c
I
a b
I I
c
I
r
A
B
C
3 Load
or Network
Source
N
Neutral
Grounding
Resistor
Resistor Amperage (ground fault let through current)
System Capacitance
Alarm notification
Fault Location
Pulsing
Data Logging
Relay Coordination (What to do if there is a second fault)
System Insulation
Personnel training
Conductor
Cable
insulation
Cable tray
Every electrical system has some natural capacitance. The capacitive
reactance of the system determines the charging current.
Zero-sequence Capacitance:
0
=
10
6
2
0
F/phase
Charging Current: 3
0
=
2 3
0

10
6
A
During an arcing or intermittent
fault, a voltage is held on the system
capacitance after the arc is
extinguished. This can lead to a
significant voltage build-up which
can stress system insulation and
lead to further faults.

In a resistance grounded system, the
resistance must be low enough to
allow the system capacitance to
discharge relatively quickly.
Only discharges if R
o
< X
co
, so I
r
> I
xco
( per IEEE142-2007 1.2.7)

That is, resistor current must be greater than capacitive charging current.

Major Contributors to system capacitance:
Line-ground filters on UPS systems
Line-ground smoothing capacitors
Multiple sets of line-ground surge arrestors
All of these can make implementation of
HRG difficult
HRG systems are alarm and
locate systems
Alarm methods:
Audible horn
Red fault light
Dry contact to
PLC/DCS/SCADA opens
DCS/SCADA polling of
unit via Modbus
RS-485
Ethernet
HRG
480V Wye Source
C
B
A
55.4
ohms
Operator controlled
contactor shorts out
part of the resistor
Ideally, the increase
in current is twice
that of the normal
fault current, unless
that level is unsafe.
NOTE: Tracking a ground fault can only be done on an
energized system. Due to the inherent risk of
electrocution this should only be performed by trained
and competent personnel.
ZSCT
Meter
ZSCT
Meter Meter
ZSCT
0A
55A
50A
50A 80A
80A
50A 50A 50A
50A 50A 55A 30A 30A 30A
30A 30A 30A
Motor Motor
5A
5A 0A
5A
HRG
5A
480V Wye Source
85A
C
B
A
55.4
ohms
Meter reading will alternate
from 5A to 10A every 2
seconds.
Alternatives to Manual location:
Add zero sequence CTs & ammeters to each feeder
Use metering inherent to each breaker (newer equipment only)
HRG systems with data logging can be used to locate
intermittent ground faults
Example:
Heater with ground fault comes on at 11:00am and then
turns off at 11:01am
Normal Pulsing will not locate since the fault will be gone.
HRG Data logging can help locate faulted equipment in
conjunction with DCS/SCADA data records
Fault time
frame
Equipment
On
If there is a second ground
fault on another phase, it
is essentially a phase-
phase fault and at least
one feeder needs to trip
Network protection
scheme should be
designed to trip the lowest
priority feeder first, then
the next, and then move
upstream.
Check MCC GF pickup ratings to be sure the small ground fault current
values do not trip off the motor on the first ground fault.
Also, fusing on small motors can open during a ground fault. Consult
NEC Table 430.52 for Percentage of full load current fuse ratings. Most
are 300% FLC.
Resistance grounded systems must be insulated for full line-line
voltage with respect to ground.
NEC 285.3: An SPD (surge arrestor or TVSS) device shall not be
installed in the following: (2) On ungrounded systems, impedance
grounded systems, or corner grounded systems unless listed
specifically for use on these systems.
V
AG

V
BG
V
CG

V
AG

V
BG

Un-faulted Voltages to ground Faulted Voltages to ground (V
CG
= 0)
Properly rated equipment prevents Hazards.
A
B
C
3 Load
HRG
480V Wye Source
N
0V
277V
Ground A
Cables, TVSSs, VFDs, etc. and other
equipment must be rated for
elevated voltages.
0V
480V
480V
Common Mode Capacitors provide path
for Common-mode currents in output
motor leads
MOVs protect against Transients

Ground fault in Drive #1
caused Drive 2 to fault on
over-voltage
Drive 3 was not affected
Factory option
codes exist to
remove the internal
jumpers
Per NEC 250.36, personnel must be trained on
Impedance Grounded systems.
Training should:
Establish seriousness of a fault
Discuss location methods
Familiarize personnel with equipment
Fault current
Paralleled generators
Common Ground Point
Separate Ground Point
In most generators, the zero-sequence
impedance is much less than the positive or
negative sequence impedances.
Due to this, resistance grounding must be
used unless the generator is specifically
designed for solid grounding service.

3
=

1

Generators Grounded through a single impedance must be the same
VA rating and pitch to avoid circulating currents in the neutrals
Each Neutral must have a disconnecting means for maintenance as
generator line terminals can be elevated during a ground fault.
Not recommended for sources that are not in close proximity

Separately grounding prevents circulating currents
Multiple NGRs have a cumulative effect on ground fault current i.e.
the total fault current is the sum of all resistor currents plus
charging current.
Can be difficult to coordinate tripping or fault location
If total current exceeds about 1000A, single ground point should be
considered.
IEEE 242-2001
IEEE 142-2007
NEC
IEEE 32