EARTHING CALCULATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1  OBJECTIVE...................................................................................................................... 2

2  REFERENCE DOCUMENTS, CODES AND STANDARDS ............................................. 2

3  STUDY OBJECTIVE ........................................................................................................ 2 

4  DESIGN REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................. 2 

4.1  GENERAL ........................................................................................................................ 2 

4.2  EARTHING OF ELECTRICAL/NON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ................................... 3 

4.3  INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM EARTHING .................................................................... 4 

4.4  OHMIC VALUE ................................................................................................................. 4 

 
CLIENT: ATTOCK PETROLEUM LIMITED
PROJECT: MOGAS / HSD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT MACHIKE TERMINAL

TITLE: EARTHING CALCULATIONS

1 OBJECTIVE

This document defines technical basis, parameters and criteria used for calculation of
required number of Earth Pits and Earthing Conductor sizes for Mogas / HSD Enhancement
Project at Machike Terminal.

2 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS, CODES AND STANDARDS

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the grounding calculations are based on the applicable
parts of the latest revision of the following codes, specifications, standards, regulations and
other documents. In addition, the layouts will comply with any laws or regulations of local
authorities:

BS-7430:1998 Code of practice for Earthing

3 STUDY OBJECTIVE

The most important objective of this study is to ensure safety. The grounding system is
designed to ensure low resistance path to the ground.

 To ensure safety of personnel

 To minimize hazard from transferred potential

 To protect equipment insulation

 To provide low resistance path to ground

 Calculation of required number of earth pits and earthing rods.

 Earthing system layout.

4 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

4.1 General

The Electrical earthing system shall be suitable to protect the electrical network and assure
personnel and equipment safety in case of earth faults in electrical system, build up of
electrostatic charges and atmospheric discharges.

For earthing of electrical systems, equipment and structures, the earthing system shall have
common earth grid connected to number of earth electrodes. The earth grid shall comprise
of bare stranded hard drawn copper conductor. The above ground connections shall be of
compression type and underground connection shall be thermo weld type.
CLIENT: ATTOCK PETROLEUM LIMITED
PROJECT: MOGAS / HSD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT MACHIKE TERMINAL

TITLE: EARTHING CALCULATIONS

The earth grid shall be installed throughout the plant site in the form of earth ring with
branch interconnections to the equipment and structures. There shall be independent
earthing for Storage Tanks. Clean earth shall be used for Instrumentation system earthing.

The Generators are grounded through Neutral Grounding Resistor (NGR). The neutral
points of star-connected side of the generators are connected to the earth grid with
impedance intentionally inserted in between. This is implemented to limit the ground fault
currents for the equipment and personnel safety and continuous reliable operation.

As for storage tanks, the number of tanks is directly proportional to the tanks diameter. 4
earth pits are required if the circumference exceeds 80m which in this case is 100.53 for
HSD Tanks. Similarly, 4 pits are required if it exceeds 80 m which in the case of Mogas
tanks is 110m.

2 Earth pits have been proposed for the Pump house to maintain the resistivity of the
structure and the pumps.

4.2 Earthing of Electrical/non Electrical Equipment

Cross sectional area of earthing rings and branch conductors (connecting equipment and
structures to plant earthing ring) shall be as follows:

- Around Switchgear Room & Gen sets 240 mm2

- Plant earthing ring conductor (min) 70 mm2

- Metallic enclosures of MV electrical equipment 70 mm2

- Lightning arrestors 70 mm2

- Metallic enclosures of LV electrical equipment 70 mm2

(Power Supply Cable 35 mm2 or greater)

- Metallic enclosures of LV electrical equipment 25 mm2

(Power Supply Cable 35 mm2 or smaller)

- Control panels & distribution boards 25 mm2

- Skids at two points situated at diagonally opposite corners 70 mm2

- Lighting poles 25 mm2

- Non electrical equipment e.g. tanks & vessels etc. 35 mm2

- Non electrical equipment e.g. columns & structures etc. 70 mm2

- Fence 35 mm2

- F&G poles 10 mm2

CLIENT: ATTOCK PETROLEUM LIMITED
PROJECT: MOGAS / HSD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT MACHIKE TERMINAL

TITLE: EARTHING CALCULATIONS

4.3 Instrumentation System Earthing

The computer & the instrumentation system shall be provided with separate earth from the
electrical earthing system. This shall be done by triangular arrangement of three earth rods
that are tied together via copper conductor. All instrument earth points shall be connected to
clean earth. The instrument earth shall be provided in the control room.

4.4 Ohmic Value

The electrical resistance between the earth grid and general mass of earth shall not exceed
5 ohm when anyone group of electrodes is disconnected.