LV Earthing Systems.

Low Voltage Earthing Systems

Basic principle
Protection of people, direct contact
Definition

E36913
 “Contact of persons or
livestock with live parts which
may result in electric shock”

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Basic principle
Protection of people, direct contact
 Types of protection

E36914
Insulation

Distance

IP2X or IPXXB 30 mA
LV < 25 V

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Basic principle
Protection of people, indirect contact
 Definition:

E36915
“Contact of persons or
livestock with exposed
conductive parts made live
by a fault and which may
result in electric shock”

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Basic principle
Protection of people according to IEC 364
Protection against indirect contact
with automatic disconnection of supply

 Earthing of all the exposed conductive parts of electrical equipment and

all accessible conductive parts
 2 simultaneously accessible exposed conductive parts must be
connected to the same earth electrode
 Automatic disconnection by a protective device of the part in which a
dangerous insulation fault occurs
 The protective device must operate within a time that is compatible with
"Maximum Touch Voltage & Time-Safety requirements"

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Protection
of people Standard IEC 60479-1
Critical current thresholds

mA

1A Cardiac arrest

Irreversible cardiac
75 mA fibrillation

30 mA Breathing arrest

10mA Muscular contraction

0.5 mA Tingling
E92450

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Basic principle
IEC 60479-1 Effect of current on the human body
Time ms/current mA curve for AC current from
Zone 1 : perception
15 to 100 Hz
T(ms)
Zone 2 : unpleasant sensation
Zone 3 : muscular contractions 10 000
b c1 c2 c3
(reversible effects) 5000
Zone
4 : risk of ventricular 2000
1000
fibrillation.(irreversible) 500
1 2 3 4
c1-c2 :prob. increases by 5%
200
c2-c3 :prob. increases by 50% 100
50
> c3 :prob. more than50 %
Body Impedance = 2000 Ohms.(Dry) 20
= 1000 Ohms.(Wet) 10
Max. Withstand Current = 25 mA 0,1 0,2 1 2 5 10 100 500 2000 5000 (mA)
0,5 mA 30 mA 1000

UL (MAX. TOUCH VOLTAGE) = 2000x 0.025 = 50 V (Dry Conditions)

= 1000x0.025 = 25 V (Wet Conditions)

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Basic principle
Maximum Touch Voltage Time (Protection of people according to IEC 364)
Against Indirect Contact
with Automatic Disconnection of Supply
 Maximum touch voltage time in UL = 50 V  Maximum touch voltage time in UL = 25 V
conditions conditions (sockets/wet areas)

prospective maximum protective device prospective maximum protective device

touch disconnection time(Seconds) touch disconnection time(Seconds)
voltage (V) AC current DC current voltage (V) AC current DC current

< 50 5 5
25 5 5
50 5 5
50 0.48 5
75 0.60 5
75 0.30 2
90 0.45 5
90 0.25 0.80
120 0.34 5
110 0.18 0.50
150 0.27 1
150 0.12 0.25
220 0.17 0.4
230 0.05 0.06
280 0.12 0.3
280 0.02 0.02
350 0.08 0.2
500 0.04 0.1

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 Earthing Systems - General rules according to IEC 60364 § 312.2

 The Three Earthing Systems

1. T T
2. T N
3. I T

1st letter 2nd letter

Situation of installation frames
Situation of supply
T = Exposed frames directly earthed
T = Direct connection of
Transformer Neutral with the earth
N = Frames connected to the supply
point which is earthed,
I = Neutral unearthed or
• either by a separate Protective Earth
Impedance-earthed
conductor (S).
•Or combined with the Neutral (C)

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 Earthing systems

The different types

 explanation of symbols according to IEC 617-11 (1983)

Neutral conductor (N)

Protective conductor (PE)

Combined protective and
neutral conductor (PEN)

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Earthing system technique
TT system
Definition

E36886
 The neutral point of the LV L1
transformer is directly L2
L3
connected to an earth N
electrode

Rn

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Earthing system technique
TT system
Definition

E36886
 The neutral point of the LV L1
transformer is directly L2
L3
connected to an earth N
electrode
 The exposed conductive
parts of the installation are
connected to an electrically
separate earth electrode

PE

Rn Ru

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 System earthing
arrangements Earth electrode

 "Deep" earth  Equivalent electrical circuit

o the earth does not act as an insulator o "Deep" earth is equipotential in nature…
o … whatever the distance!
11 Ω
1000 km

1Ω 15 Ω 10 Ω 10 Ω 5Ω
"Deep" earth

"Deep" earth

E92453
E92452

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System earthing
arrangements Earth electrode
Well designed network
 At A
    
L1
L2 I1 + I2 + I3 + IN = IPE
L3  Well designed network
A N 
PE IPE = 0

IPE = 0

    
I1 + I 2 + I 3 + I N = 0

 Current in the neutral

o does not depend on current IPE
o equal to unbalanced load
currents and/or 3rd order
harmonics (3 k)
  
IN = Iunbalance + I3 k
E92457

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System earthing
arrangements Earth electrode
Faulty distribution system
 Faulty distribution system

L1
L2
IPE  0
L3     
A N I1 + I 2 + I 3 + I N  0
PE

IPE  0
 Current in the neutral
o does not depend on current IPE
o equal to unbalanced load
currents and/or 3rd order
harmonics (3 k)
  
IN = Iunbalance + I3 k
E94409

 Measurement of current IPE can be used

o for protection of persons (values depend on the earthing arrangement)
o protection against fire hazards 
 However, it is necessary to detect the "true" IPE

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System earthing
arrangements TT system
Earth-fault study

Value of fault current:

Uo = 230 V
L1
L2
Id = Uo / (Rn + Ru)
L3
N
= 230 / (10 + 10)
400 V/230 V = 11.5 A
Ud = Ru x If
= 10 x 11.5
Exposed
conductive = 115 V > UL = 50 V
Id = 11,5 A part
 The fault current generates
Ud =
a dangerous touch voltage
115 V  The SCPD is usually not suitable
Load for eliminating this type of fault
Rn Ru
10 Ω 10 Ω
E95420

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System earthing
arrangements TT system
Earth-fault study

Solution
Uo = 230 V
L1
L2  The SCPD is usually not
L3 suitable for this type of fault
N
(ST setting at 25 A)
400/230 V
SCPD  A residual current device
25 A ID n = 5A specially designed for the
protection of persons
Exposed
conductive  Tripping conditions:
part
Max touch voltage < Safety curve
Ru x IDn < UL
(IDn is the setting of RCD)

Load
 IDn = UL / Ru
Rn Ru = 50 /10
10  10  =5A
E95421

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Associated switchgear in TT
Earth leakage protection

E37522
 RCD technologies
o electromechanical
– own current

Division - Name - Date - Language 21

 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Associated switchgear in TT
Earth leakage protection

E37522
 RCD technologies
o electromechanical
– own current
o electronic
– integrated in the voltage-
operated short-circuit protection
device

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 Low Voltage Earthing Systems
Associated switchgear in TT
Earth leakage protection

E37522
 RCD technologies
o electromechanical
– own current
o electronic
– integrated in the voltage-
operated short-circuit protection
device
o separate from the short-circuit
protection device
– auxiliary supply

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 SEAs and devices
Devices for the TT system
Operating principle

Operating principle of residual

Tripping current devices requiring no
auxiliary supply (electronic)
Detection
Measurement
No aux. power Tripping
required

Detection
Earth-leakage
relay
M Measurement
E37508

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System earthing
arrangements Main features of the TT system

 Protection of persons:
o fault current is dangerous
o fault current is too weak to trigger the short-circuit protection devices
o protection must be practically instantaneous

•It is provided by a specially designed RCD device

 Fire protection:
o fault current is limited
o "naturally" managed by RCDs for the protection of persons

 Continuity of service:
o ensured by discrimination between the RCDs

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System earthing
arrangements TN system
Definition

 The neutral point of the LV

L1 transformer is directly connected
L2 to an earth electrode
L3
N
PE
 The exposed conductive parts
of the installation are connected
by the PE to the same earth
electrode

Rn
E95416

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System earthing
arrangements TN-S system
Definition (cont.)

 The PE and neutral conductor

L1 are separate
L2
L3
N
PE

Rn
E95417

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System earthing
arrangements TN-C system
Definition (cont.)

 A common conductor is used

L1 for both the PE and the neutral
L2 conductors (PEN)
L3
PEN

Rn
E95423

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 System earthing
arrangements TN-C-S system
Definition (cont.)

 In this TN sub-system:
L1 L1
L2 L2
o the upstream part is TN-C
L3 L3 (with PEN)
N
PEN PE o the downstream part is TN-S
(with PE and N)
Note. A TN-S system may not be
used upstream of a TN-C system

Rn
E95424

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 System earthing
arrangements TN system
Earth-fault study

 The fault current is equal to a Ph/N short-

Uo = 230 V
L1
circuit
L2  Consider the PH & PE Conductor are
L3 Copper, 50 m Long with a X-section of 35
N mm2. The Fault Current
400 V/230 V PE Id =U0/(RPE +RPH)
RPE= RPH=x L/S
=0.025 -mm2/m
Id RPE= RPH=0.025 x 50/35 = 32.14 m
Id = 230/(2 x 0.3214) = 3578 A.

 This Fault Current will generate a Touch

Exposed Voltage
conductive
part Uc
Uc = RPE x Id = 3578 x 0.03214 = 115 V.
Since the fault current depends on the Length
Fault of the Lines, it is necessary to check that that
the Fault Current is more than the Protection
Operating Threshold of the CB i.e Id > Ia
Rn
E95425

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 System earthing
arrangements TN system
The Value of the fault current is:
Earth-fault study (cont.) Id = 0.8.Uo. SPH
.(1 + m).L
Uo = 230 V
L1 where m=Sph/Spe
L2
L3 L=Length of the Cond.
N
400 V/230 V PE  Since Id must be > Ia
 L < Lmax
Id  Lmax = 0.8Uo. SPH
.(1 + m).Ia
Exposed If the length of the conductor is
conductive
part Uc
greater than Lmax., it is necessary
to;
Fault Reduce Ia.
Increase Spe.
Rn
E95425

Install an RCD.

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System earthing
arrangements TN system
Implementation (cont.)

 TN-C
Uo = 230 V L1
L2  PEN = protective conductor
L3 and neutral conductor
PE N

400 V/230 V  Protection of the PEN

SPEN = SPH
the PEN must not be
disconnected
 The exposed conductive parts
Exposed of the substation, the LV neutral
conductive
part and the exposed conductive
parts of the loads are connected
Load to the same earth electrode
E95427

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SEAs and devices
Devices for the TN-S system
Protection by short-circuit protection devices

t
 Protection:
o for a given cross-section
and material (e.g. copper or
aluminium), the fault
t < 0.4 s current Id depends on the length
of the conductors
E95442

I
Id

o circuit breaker protection:

t setting of magnetic relay / ST

< 30 ms
E95449

I
Im Id

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SEAs and devices
Devices for the TN-S system
Protection by short-circuit protection devices

 If the conditions for correct protection are not met

10 A
50 A
Circuit breaker Fuse
low setting of magnetic relay/ST no setting possible
or
installation of a standard RCD difficult
or
increase the conductor cross-section

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SEAs and devices
Devices for the TN-S system
Protection by short-circuit protection devices (SCPD)
t  Discrimination by circuit breakers
D1 D2
o current
D1 LT and ST settings

I
E95450

Im1 Im2

t o time
D1 D2 intentional delay of the LT
Dt and ST upstream protection
E95451

I
t o energy
D1 D2
comparison of energies (ST)
D I2 t
E95452

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 SEAs and devices
Main features
TN-S system

 Protection of persons:
o fault current is dangerous
o fault current is usually high enough to trip the SCPDs
o tripping must be practically instantaneous
It is ensured by the magnetic settings on the SCPDs
o if the fault current is not high enough, RCDs may be used to ensure
protection
E37542

 Fire protection:
o fault current is high
o it must be managed by additional RCDs

 Continuity of service:
o ensured by discrimination between the short-circuit protection devices

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 SEAs and devices
Main features
TN-C

 Protection of persons:
o fault current is dangerous
o fault current is usually high enough to be tripped by the SCPDs
o tripping must be practically instantaneous = same as TN-S
It is ensured by the magnetic settings on the SCPDs
o if the fault current is not high enough, the installation must be resized
E37544

 Fire protection:
o cannot be provided (TN-C not allowed where there is a risk of fire)

 Continuity of service:
o ensured by discrimination between the SCPDs = same as TN-S

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System earthing
arrangements IT system
Definition

 The Neutral point of the LV

L1 transformer is Isolated, not
L2 connected to an earth electrode
L3
N
PE
 The exposed conductive parts
of the loads are connected
by the PE conductor
to a common earth electrode
E95429

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System earthing
arrangements IT system
Definition (cont.)

 The Neutral point of the LV

L1
transformer is Isolated and not
L2 connected to an earth
L3
N
electrode
PE
 The exposed conductive parts
of the loads are connected
by the PE conductor
to a common earth electrode
or to separate earth electrodes

PE PE
E95430

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 System earthing
arrangements IT system
Earth-fault study

 Under Normal operation, the

L1
System is earthed by its System
L2 Leakage Impedance.
L3

PE
E95431

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 System earthing
arrangements IT system
Earth-fault study (cont.)

 System leakage impedance

L1
L2
 If=U/Zt =230/3500 =0.065 A
L3 Uc=10 x0.065= 0.6V
PE Uc< UL(50V)
 The touch voltage is not
dangerous
 There is no risk of fire
 The fault does not cause
tripping but it must be indicated
E95432

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 System earthing
arrangements IT system
Signalling the first fault

 Detection principle:
L1
L2 o emission of a specific zero
L3 sequence signal
PE
E95433

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 System earthing
arrangements IT system
Signalling the first fault (cont.)

 Detection principle:
L1 o emission of a specific zero
L2
L3 sequence signal
PE
 Fault-clearance principle:
o detection by toroid
and indication of the faulty
outgoer
E95434

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 SEAs and devices
Devices for the IT system
IMD 1st fault

 Principle
I inj o injection of current
L1
L2 o tracking generator
L3
N o measurement of IR (*)
PE

 IMD:(Insulation Monitoring
I inj Device)
I inj I inj
o DC current: direct measurement
of IR (*)
o AC current: calculation of IR (*)
RI
e
I inj

(*) Insulation Resistance

E95435

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 SEAs and devices
Devices for the IT system
IMD 1st fault (cont.)

 Principle of the FTD (*)

L1 o detection of fault current
L2
L3
N  Type of FTD (*):
o portable
o fixed
PE
E95436

(*) Fault Tracking Device

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SEAs and devices
Devices for the IT system
IMD & FTD
 Merlin Gerin range
o IMD (*)

o FTD (**)

(*) Insulation Monitoring Device

(**) Fault Tracking Device

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 SEAs and devices
Protection plan for second fault
IT system with interconnected exposed conductive parts (ECP)

Study of the 2nd earth fault

L1
L2  The SCPD protection trips
L3
o protection is ensured by
N
PE the same circuit breaker
Id1 Id2 as for TN-S, mais
– 4P 4t is compulsory

 Check the loop impedance

Merlin Gerin circuit breakers
are appropriate for protection
in IT systems
E95437

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SEAs and devices
Main characteristics of the IT system

 Protection of persons:
o the insulation fault is not dangerous

Protection is ensured by the IT system itself, however

a maintenance strategy is required
A second fault is dangerous and protection must be ensured
by the magnetic setting of the SCPD ’s or the RCDs

 Fire protection: the fault current is close to zero

 Continuity of service is total

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 Low Voltage Earthling Systems

Earthing Systems Comparison.

E00000
Criterion TT TN-S TN-C IT
Protection of people XXXX XXX XX XXXX
Protection against Fire XXXX XXX X XX
Ease of Implementation XXX X X X
Continuity of service XX XX XX XXXX
Upgradable installation XXXX XX XX XX
Cost Saving XX XXX XXXX X

XXXX=Excellent XXX=Good XX=Average X=Caution

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