CHAPTER (5

(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

CHAPTER (5
(5)
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN
DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

5.1 Earthing Systems:

In electricity supply systems, an earthing system defines the electrical potential
of the conductors relative to that of the Earth's conductive surface. The choice
of earthing system has considerations for the safety and electromagnetic
compatibility of the power supply. "Regulations for earthing (grounding)
systems vary considerably between different countries". A protective earth (PE)
connection ensures that all exposed conductive surfaces are at the same
electrical potential as the surface of the Earth, to avoid the risk of electrical
shock if a person touches a device in which an insulation fault has occurred. It
also ensures that in the case of an insulation fault, a high fault current flows,
which will trigger an over current protection device (fuse, MCB) that
disconnects the power supply. A functional earth connection serves a purpose
other than providing protection against electrical shock. In contrast to a
protective earth connection, a functional earth connection may carry a current
during the normal operation of a device. Functional earth connections may be
required by devices such as surge suppression and electromagnetic-
compatibility filters, some types of antennas and various measurement
instruments. Generally the protective earth is also used as a functional earth,
though this requires care in some situations.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (267 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

5.2 Definitions:

♦ Earth electrode: a conductor or group of conductors which provide an

electrical connection with earth.
♦ Earth: the conductive mass of the earth whose electric potential is equal
to zero.
♦ Earth electrode resistance: the contact resistance of an earth electrode
with the earth.
♦ Earthing conductor: a protective conductor connects the main earthing
terminals of an installation to an earth electrode. (TN systems)
♦ Exposed conductive part: a conductive part of equipment which can be
touched &may become live under fault conditions.
♦ Protective conductor: a conductor used for protection against electric
shock & connecting together any of the following parts:
♦ Exposed- conductive part, Earth electrode, Main earthing terminals.
♦ Bonding conductor: a protective conductor providing equipotential
bonding.
♦ Main earthing terminal: the terminal or bar provided for the connection
of protective conductors to the means of earthing.

5.3 IEC Nomenclature:

International standard IEC 60364 distinguishes three families of earthing
arrangements, using the two-letter codes TN, TT, and IT.
The first letter indicates the connection between earth and the power-supply
equipment (generator or transformer):

T: direct connection of a point with earth

I: no point is connected with earth (isolation), except via high impedance

The second letter indicates the connection between earth and the electrical
device being supplied:

T: direct connection with earth, independent of any other earth connection in

the supply system

N: connection to earth via the supply network.

5.4. Earthing Schemes:

The earthing schemes are classified as shown in the following diagram.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (268 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

EARTHING SCHEMES

T-T T-N I-T

SCHEME SCHEME SCHEME

T-N-C
SCHEME

T-N-S
SCHEME

T-N-C-S
SCHEME

TN Network:
In a TN earthing system, one of the points in the generator or transformer is
connected with earth," usually the star point in a three-phase system". The
body of the electrical device is connected with earth via this earth connection
at the transformer.

The conductor that connects the exposed metallic parts of the consumer is called
protective earth (PE). The conductor that connects to the star point in a three-
phase system, or that carries the return current in a single-phase system, is
called neutral (N).

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (269 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

♦ Three Variants of TN Systems:

TN-S: PE and N are separate conductors that are connected together only near
the power source.

TN-S: separate protective earth (PE)

and neutral (N) conductors from transformer to consuming device, which are
not connected together at any point after the building distribution point.

TN-C: A combined PEN conductor gets the functions of both a PE and an N

conductor.

TN-C: combined PE and N conductor

all the way from the transformer to the consuming device.

TN-C-S: Part of the system uses a combined PEN conductor, which is at some
point split up into separate PE and N lines. The combined PEN conductor
typically occurs between the substation and the entry point into the building,
when the building separate PE&N conductors are used, this will reduce the risk
of broken neutrals
__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (270 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

TN-C-S Earthing System: combined

PEN conductor from transformer to building distribution point, but separate PE
and N conductors in fixed indoor wiring and flexible power cords.

It is possible to have both TN-S and TN-C-S supplies from the same
transformer. For example, the sheaths on some underground cables corrode and
stop providing good earth connections, and so homes where "bad earths" are
found get converted to TN-C-S.

TT Network:
In a TT earthing system, the protective earth connection of the consumer is
provided by a local connection to earth, independent of any earth connection at
the generator.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (271 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

IT Network:
In an IT network, the distribution system has no connection to earth at all; it
has only a high impedance connection. In these systems, an insulation
monitoring device used to monitor the impedance.

Comparison of Earthing Systems:

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (272 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

5.5 Choice Criteria:

♦ First Criterion:
No earthing scheme is universal.
To choose the earthing scheme, analyze every case separately based on
constraints of the electrical installation, the needs of the user &rules by the
power distribution utility.
The best solution is that using of several different earthing schemes for
different parts of the installation.

♦ Second Criterion:
These solutions must satisfy the following criteria:

• Protection against electric shock.

• Protection against fire of electric origin.
• Power supply continuity.
• Protection against over voltages.
• Protection against electromagnetic disturbances.

♦ Third Criterion:

Comparison of Earthing Schemes.

The TT scheme is recommended for installations subject to modifications
&that because it's the simplest scheme to implement in private or public
distribution.
The IT scheme is recommended if power supply continuity is necessary.
TN-S scheme is recommended for installations that have a high level of
installation not subject to modifications.
TN-C& TN-C-S schemes are not recommended for use.
They have the risk of fire and electromagnetic disturbances due to:

1- Voltage drops along PEN conductors.

2- High insulation fault currents.
3- UN eliminated impedant fault.

♦ Fourth Criterion:
IT, TT&TN-S schemes are equally satisfactory in terms of over voltage
withstand and electromagnetic disturbances.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (273 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

♦ Fifth Criterion:
When making an economic comparison, all costs must be taken into
consideration such that costs related to:
1. Design.
2. Maintenance.
3. Modification.
4. Production losses.

5.6 Comparison Between Each Criterion:

Criterion TT IT TN
Level of Provide equal Provide equal Provide equal
protection protection against protection protection against
against electric electric shock. against electric electric shock.
shock. shock.
Protection In case of single In case of single Protection against
against fire of fault, the insulation fault, the faults is insufficient
electrical fault current is very insulation fault unless residual
origin. low. current is very current devices are
low. included and incase
of solid fault the
insulation fault
current is high and
major damage can
result. TNC
provides a higher
risk of fire.
Protection Require lightening Protection We should consider
against over arrestors. against over the required
voltages. voltages due to measures.
HV faults must
be provided by
an over voltage
limiter.
Protection If disturbances with If disturbances For TN-S scheme a
against frequencies greater with frequencies major disturbances
electromagnetic than 1MHZ, the greater than are produced
disturbances. earthing scheme 1MHZ, the during an
used is of no earthing scheme insulation fault, for
importance. used is of no TN-C or TN-C-S a

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (274 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

importance. load imbalance

current circulate
continuously in
PEN conductor,
exposed conductive
parts cable
shielding.

5.7 Properties:
♦ Cost:
TN networks save the cost of a low-impedance earth connection at the site of
each consumer.

TN-C networks save the cost of an additional conductor needed for separate N
and PE connections. However, to mitigate the risk of broken neutrals, special
cable types and lots of connections to earth are needed.

♦ Safety:

In TN, an insulation fault is very likely to lead to a high short-circuit current

that will trigger an over current circuit-breaker or fuse and disconnect the L
conductors.

In TN-S and TT systems (and in TN-C-S beyond the point of the split), a
residual-current device can be used as an additional protection. In the absence of
any insulation fault in the consumer device, the equation

IL1+IL2+IL3+IN = 0.

In IT and TN-C networks, residual current devices are far less to detect an
insulation fault.

In single-ended single-phase systems where the Earth and neutral are combined
(TN-C, and the part of TN-C-S systems which uses a combined neutral and
earth core), if there is a contact problem in the PEN conductor, then all parts of
the earthing system beyond the break will rise to the potential of the L
conductor.
In an unbalanced multi-phase system, the potential of the earthing system will
move towards that of the most loaded live conductor. Therefore, TN-C
connections must not go across plug/socket connections or flexible cables,
where there is a higher probability of contact problems than with fixed wiring.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (275 )
CHAPTER (5
(5) EARTHING
EARTHING SYSTEMS IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
__________________________________________________________________________________

♦ Electromagnetic Compatibility:
In TN-S and TT systems, the consumer has a low-noise connection to earth,
which does not suffer from the voltage that appears on the N conductor as a
result of the return currents and the impedance of that conductor. This is of
particular importance with some types of telecommunication and measurement
equipment.

In TT systems, each consumer has its own high-quality connection with earth,
and won’t notice any currents that may be caused by other consumers on a
shared PE line.

5.8 Regulations:

For wiring less than 1000 V, the United States National Electrical Code and Canadian
electrical code forbid the use of systems that combine the grounding conductor
and neutral beyond the customer's disconnecting switch.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Graduation Project: 1st Term (1433-1434H)-(2012-2013G)
Design of Electrical Power System Distribution in Modern Buildings (276 )