Earthing systems,

Harmonics Currents and GFP

E54530
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 1
 Contents

 Basic Principle 3

 Earthing System Technique and Suitable Devices 6

o IEC 60364
o NEC and GFP

 GFP Technique 19

 Harmonics and Neutral conductor 27

o network studies
o Multi-source and Multi-grounding
o conclusion NEC

2
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 2
 Basic Principle

E56885
Definition
 The 3 phases
L1
 The Neutral conductor N L2
 The Protection conductor PE L3
N

Role
 Active conductors:
3 phases + Neutral
Normal current in
these conductors
 Protection conductor PE PE
Insulation Fault current

Measuring this fault current is the principle of Earthing System

3
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 3
 Basic Principles

PE conductor

E56886
 The A point (star point of
L1
LV transformer) can be: L2
o solidly grounded L3
N
o isolated A
o linked with an impedance
to the PE
 Fault current
in A, the vectorial sum of
the current is equal to 0
SIph + IN+ I PE = 0 PE
o 2 ways to measure If ( =IPE)
o don’t forget the Neutral
current

4
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 4
 Basic Principles

Main Ideas

 Measuring the current in the PE conductor is the principle

of the Earthing System Techniques

 Any other Normal current mustn’t flow in the PE (especially the

Neutral current) in order to avoid the tripping nuisances

5
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 5
 Earthing System Techniques

The target
E56887

 Protection of people
 Protection against fire risks

The economical constraints

 Continuity of the power supply
 Avoiding tripping nuisance due to the EM Effects

IEC 60364 and NEC standards have got the same targets and the
same constraints

6
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 6
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TT system
Definition

E56888
 The Neutral point of
L1
LV 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

7
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 7
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TT system
Earth fault study

E56889
Uo = 230 V
 The fault current generates L1
L2
a dangerous touch voltage L3
N
Uc > UL
400V / 230V
 The SCPD is usually not If = Exposed
11,5A conductive
suitable for eliminating this type metallic part
of fault
(If = a few A eg from 1 to 10 A)
 Earth Leakage Relays (ELR) Uf =
Rn Ru 115 V
must be used 10 W 10 W
(Setting at 300 mA to 10 A)

8
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 8
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TN system
Definition

E56890
 The star point of the LV
L1
transformer is directly L2
L3
connected to an earth N
electrode (source earth) PE

 The exposed conductive

parts of the installation are
connected by the PE to the
same earth electrode

9
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 9
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TN-S system
Definition

E56890
 The PE and Neutral
L1
conductor are separate L2
L3
N
PE

10
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 10
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TN-C system
Definition

E56892
 The PE and Neutral
L1
conductor are common L2
= the PEN L3
PEN

11
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 11
 Earthing system IEC 60364
TN system
Earth fault study

E56893
 Fault current is equal to a L1
L2
Phase/Neutral short-circuit L3
N
PE
 The fault current generates
dangerous touch voltage

 Tripping of the circuit breaker

by Short Time Protection or
Magnetic

12
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 12
 Earthing system IEC 60364
IT system
Definition

E56894
 The star point of the LV
L1
transformer is not connected L2
L3
to an earth electrode N
 The exposed conductive parts PE

of the loads are connected by

the PE conductor to a common
earth electrode

13
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 13
 Earthing system IEC 60364
IT system
Earth Fault Study

E56895
 There isn’t a fault current L1
L2
 The fault is not dangerous L3
but it must be signaled N
PE
by PIM

Principle of PIM
 Injection of current,
 Measurement of IR (*).

(*) Insulation Resistance

14
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 14
 Earthing system IEC 60364
IT system
Principle of the FTD (*)

E56896
 Detection of fault current L1
L2
L3
N
Type of FTD (*): PE
 Movable tracking
 Fixed tracking

(*) Fault Tracking Device

15
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 15
 NEC / US Installation Standard

 Defines IT - or IG (Insulated Grounding) - System

and TN-S - or SG (Solidly Grounded) - System

 TN-S details
o Neutral conductor is not broken
o the protective conductor PE is achieved by bonding the metallic parts
of equipment
o protection against fire is achieved by GFP

16
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 16
 NEC / US Installation Standard

Example of an installation complying with the NEC

E56897
 Protection against fire
o the NEC imposes a maximum protection sensivity of: 1200 A

17
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 17
 Earthing System conclusions

IEC 60364 NEC

Earthing TN-C TN-S TT IT idem
System TN-S
I fault High High Low Very low High
Protection SCPD SCPD RCD No problem SCPD
of people
Fire Forbidden Not Recommended Recommended GFP
Protection recommended with RCD with RCD

TT and IT Systems naturally manage the Fire Risk by limiting the fault current

18
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 18
 Ground Fault Protection GFP

 GFP types

 External CT installation
o measurement of all Currents
(don’t forget the Neutral)

 GFP co-ordination
o with the CB Magnetic or ST tripping
o with the other GFP

19
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 19
 GFP Types

 Residual Sensing: vectorial

E56898
sum of the currents in the L1
L2
phases and the Neutral
L3
N

 Source Ground Return: single

E56899
L1
sensor placed on the Neutral L2
L3
earth link N

 Zero Sequence: - for low

E56900
current detection - single L1
sensor placed all live L2
L3
conductors N

20
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 20
 External CT installation

 3 poles CB on 3 phases + N:

E56901
on T option, the External CT
must be compulsory both
o installed on primary and
o connected on secondary
according to this diagram

21
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 21
 GFP coordination

Upstream GFP must be

E56902
coordinated with any downstream
Short Circuit Protection
Device - SCPD - or GFP
GFP
 Discrimination types upstream
o current and Time discrimination
with the respect of
- asymptote at 1200A
- 3000 A / 1s point
o logic (ZSI)

GFP
downs-
tream

22
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 22
 Upstream GFP / downstream SCPD

Discrimination rules

E56903
T
 Fuses
Down-
o GFP sensibility setting up > 10 stream Down-
to 15 times down. fuse rating short stream Upstream
delay fuse 2 GFP 1
o GFP I²t function
 Circuit breakers
o GFP sensibility setting up > 1,5
times down. CB short
time setting up
step 2
o GFP short delay setting up
step 1
> down. CB breaking time DI
setting 30 %
I down- I up- I
stream stream

23
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 23
 Upstream GFP / downstream GFP

Discrimination rules

E56904
 Ampermetric T

o up. GFP sensibility setting up

> 30% down. GFP senstivity Downstream Upstream
GFP 2 GFP 1
setting up
30 %
 Chronometric 3000 A
1s
o up. GFP short delay setting
up > down. SCPD breaking
time setting step 2

o Dt1 (GFP1) > D t2 (GFP2) step 1

+ dt2 (SCPD2)
I down- I up- 1200 A 3000 A I
stream stream

24
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 24
 Fluorescent lighting

 Electrical diagram  Is current

E56914

E56915
Ph Is
FL

T
N

o capacitive impedance o THDI = 53%

for harmonics current  Harmonics breakdown

E56916
25
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 25
 Computer power supply

 Electrical diagram  Is current

E56913
E56891

Is
C
T

o THDI = 115%
o single phase loads  Harmonics breakdown

E56917
high level of harmonics

o I3=85%, I5=65%, I7=40%, I9=20%

26
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 26
 Harmonics current
Their effects
 On the equipment:
o capacitor, transformer, motor, alternator, …
o overload and overheating, loss of the available power,
added vibration
 On the installation
E M disturbance
 On the Neutral conductor
cumulating of harmonic 3 and their multiples

E56905
27
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 27
 Harmonics current conclusion

IEC 60364 NEC

Earthing TN-C TN-S TT IT idem
System TN-S
EM Forbidden Good Very good Very good Good
disturbances PE and But be careful No problems No problems But be
Neutral are avoiding PE even if Neutral even if Neutral careful
together and Neutral to and PE are in and PE are in avoiding
(PEN) be in contacts contacts contacts PE and
Neutral
to be in
contacts

There isn't any fault current in TT and IT System even if the PE

and Neutral are in contact

28
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 28
 Application

 Study of network
o one source / two sources
o with harmonics
o TN- S with Neutral conductor not broken (according to NEC standard)
o with GFP
E56912

29
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 29
 Harmonics current / Earth fault
(one source)
 Harmonics current without earth fault
no fault current measured by GFP
 Harmonics current and earth fault
the right fault current is measured by GFP
E56906

E56907
PE N GFP PE N GFP

Service ground Ground bus Service ground Ground bus

30
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 30
 Harmonics current / Earth fault
(two sources or more)
 Both the main circuit breakers are closed, the bus coupler
is open

E56907
GFP GFP

Neutral

PE Ground bus Loads

Service ground Service ground

31
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 31
 Harmonics current / Earth fault
(two sources or more)
 Harmonic current without earth fault
a "false" earth fault current is measured,
harmonic current are present throughout the metallic frames

E56909
GFP GFP

Neutral

PE Ground bus Loads

Service ground Service ground

32
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 32
 Harmonics current / Earth fault
(two sources or more)
 Earth fault with / without harmonic current
the "right" earth fault current is not measured by the "right" GFP,
a "false" earth fault current is measured by the other one this
current may be present throughout the metallic frames

E56910
GFP GFP

Neutral

PE Ground bus Loads

Service ground Service ground

33
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 33
 How to improve Network dependability ?

 Dealing with the problem

by using particular GFP diagrams (Modified GFP, for instance)
 Avoiding to have the problem
by using a 4 poles switch on the bus coupler (to break the Neutral)

E56911
GFP GFP

Neutral

PE Ground bus Loads

Service ground Service ground

34
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 34
 How to improve network dependability ?

Breaking the Neutral conductor

 Is the more efficient solution
 Is the sole solution to avoid EM effects

E56911
GFP GFP

Neutral

PE Ground bus Loads

Service ground Service ground

35
DBTP - 140pre - 06/99 - En 35