STATIC CHARGE

AND
EARTHING

BY
M R DESHPANDE – TE UNIT
 Fundamentals
• The primary source of electrostatic charge is
contact electrification , where two dissimilar
materials are brought into contact and then
separated, carrying equal and opposite charges.
• Conducting objects may also become charged by
the process of induction from another charged
object or objects in the vicinity.
• Objects can also receive charge by direct transfer
either from other objects or by the impingement
upon them of a stream of ions.

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 Electrostatics in Liquids
• When a liquid flows through a pipe, charge
separation occurs and the liquid emerging from
the pipeline is charged.
• The amount of charge is dependant, amongst other
things , upon the flow conditions.
• As the liquid leaves the pipe charge separation
stops and the charge is held back by the pipe wall
depending upon the conductivity of the liquid.
• The balance charge is held by the liquid.

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 Electrostatics in Liquid Jets
• Firstly the liquid is charged as it travels through
the pipe and, if the liquid column is unbroken, part
of the charge is retained in the pipeline. If the
column breaks into droplets, the resultant spray is
charged.
• Secondly if the jet hits an obstruction , additional
charge can be produced by contact electrification
at the point of impact.

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 Electrostatics in human beings
• If a person insulated from earth gets charged , he
can give rise to sparks which may be sufficiently
energetic to ignite flammable mixtures.
• By separation : Rising from a chair.
• By separation and contact : Walking on insulated
flooring.
• By contact : Removing woolen garments .
• By Induction : Walking through electric field.

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 Electrostatics in human beings

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 Control of charge generation.
• Both non-conductors and conductors with a
resistance path to earth greater than 106 can
become charged by
• Flow of liquid past them
• Collection of charged liquid, as when charged liquid
is poured into an unearthed can
• Immersion of conducting object in charged liquid.
• Settling of charged mist or spray on the object, as an
unearthed object in the vicinity of steam leak.
• Presence of flammable mixture requires special
care by ventilation or by inerting.
• Bonding and earthing of both personnel and
equipment.
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 Control of charge generation.
• Flow rate :
• Charge increases with flow rate.
• High velocities increases charge.
• Entry point into a tank must be at a low level.
• Free fall :
• Free fall causing splashing and charge generation
should be avoided either by arranging for bottom
entry of the liquid or the use of fill pipe extending to
the bottom of the tank.
• Agitation & Mixing :
• While using air, steam, gas or jet nozzles control the
mist or spray formed above the liquid.

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 Control of charge generation.
• Relaxation :
• Allow a highly charged liquid to pass slowly
through a relaxation tank..
• Tank should be earthed or allow liquid to be in
contact with an earthed fill pipe..
• Entry point into a tank must be at a low level.
• Antistatic additives :
• These additives increase the conductivity of the
liquids thereby helping in the charge dissipation..

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 Summary
• PIPE LINES
Š Static charge build-up is dependant on the rate
of flow of the material as well as the contact
area.
• Keep flow rate such that charge build-up is within
control.( Refer MSDS )
• Keep pipe full of material
• Provide copper/aluminum “C” clamps across flange
joints.
• MOC of conveying pipeline should be conductive
( metallic ) and supports bonded to the steel
structure.

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 Summary
• DISCHARGE POINTS.
Š Avoid free fall of material.
Š Direct the flow along the surface of the
container.
Š Liquids should be discharged below the liquid
surface or close to the bottom of the container
Š Place container on earthed stand.
Š Provide local earthing to the container.

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 Summary
• TANKERS/MOBILE CONTAINERS
Š Provide local earthing station.
Š Follow Make Before Break After principle.
Š Check healthiness of earthing annually.

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ƒSYSTEM EARTHING
–For the safety of the electrcal sytem and the operating
personnel
–IS : 3043;1987 , CODE OF PRACTISE FOR EARTHING
ƒEQUIPMENT EARTHING
–For the safe disharge of undesirable static electricity.
–IS : 7689;1989 , GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY.

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 IS : 3043 - 1987 :
CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EARTHING

ƒ" Earthing associated with current carrying conductor is normally

essential to the security of the system and is generally known as
system earthing, while earthing of non-current carrying metal
work and conductor is essential to the safety of human life ,animals
and property , and is generally known as equipment earthing "
ƒSYSTEM EARTHING
ƒEarthing of system is designed primarily to preserve the
security of the system by ensuring that the potential on each
conductor is restrained to such a value as is consistent with the
levels of insulation applied. From the point of view of safety , it
is equally important that earthing should ensure efficient and
fast operation of protective gear in case of earth faults.

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 IS : 3043 - 1987 :
CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EARTHING

ƒEQUIPMENT EARTHING
ƒThe basic objective of equipment grounding are
–1) To ensure freedom from dangerous electric shock voltages
exposure persons in the area.
–2) to provide current carrying capabilities , both in magnitude
and duration , adequate to accept the ground fault current
permitted by the overcorrect protective system without
creating a fire or explosive hazard to building or contents;
and
–3) to contribute to better performance of the electrical system.

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 IS 7689 : 1989 : GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY

ƒEARTHING AND BONDING

ƒ" A potential of at least 300 V is considered to be necessary to
initiate an incendive discharge in normal industrial operations, but
in explosive manufacturing plant, 100 V is considered to be
hazardous. Taking the latter figure, therefore, the requirement for
the safe dissipation of static electricity is: "
R < 100 / I
ƒ" The resistance between metals in good contact rarely exceeds a
few ohms. A value less than 100 is readily attainable and is
unlikely to deteriorate with time to a level above 106 unless the
plant is subject, for example, to serious corrosion. "

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 IS 7689 : 1989 : GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY

ƒ" The resistance specified to avoid static electricity hazard should

be compatible with that required for other reasons. In order to
provide protection against lightning or to meet the requirements for
earthing associated with an electricity power supply system,
resistance to earth as low as 1 may be needed. IS 3043-1987
should be consulted for details of the precise requirements . "
ƒ" Plant of metal construction has always contained some non-
conducting items which could affect electrical continuity and
earthing. Examples are lubricating oils and greases, and more
recently, components made of high resistivity nonconductors such
as polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene. Normally, all metallic
parts of the plant are earthed either directly or through suitable
earthing connections and all paths to earth have resistances less
than 10 ."
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 IS 7689 : 1989 : GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY

ƒ" For reasons such as these, and for convenience in monitoring,

maximum resistance to earth in the range 10 to 100 have been
specified for electrostatic earthing system for conductors. The
particular value chosen is, to a degree, an arbitrary one. 10 has
the advantage of being equal to the value prescribed for lightning
protection of existing plants and will be used in the remainder of
this discussion. A clear distinction should, however, be made
between a value such as this, chosen for reasons of practical
convenience, and the value of 106 , which is in fact the upper limit
for the resistance to earth of a conductor. "
ƒ" Tests have shown that the resistance across a lubricating film in a
bearing is unlikely to exceed 103 , so that it is in fact capable of
dissipating static electricity without special earthing devices "

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 IS 7689 : 1989 : GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY

ƒ" Lack of earthing alone is not sufficient to produce an ignition.

The risk depends also on:
–a) the probability that the nonconductor will become
charged,
–b) the probability of an incendive spark from conductors, and
–c) the probability of a flammable mixture being present . "
ƒ" However, in a zone 2 area, if static electricity is very improbable,
the overall ignition probability may be so low that earthing of
isolated conductors in non-conducting systems solely for the control
static electricity can be dispensed with."

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 IS 7689 : 1989 : GUIDE FOR CONTROL OF
UNDESIRABLE STATIC ELECTRICITY

ƒClause : 15.3.5 Summary of Earthing Requirements

–" For practical convenience, an appropriate value for the
maximum resistance to earth from all parts of fixed metal
equipment is 10 , although a resistance up to 106 can be
accepted, provided that it can be maintained. Special earthing
connections are not normally required, unless, for example,
equipment is mounted on insulating supports, or if high
resistivity contamination may develop across a joint. "
–" Transportable metal items should have a resistance to earth
of 10 or less, provided by a special earth connection. "

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IS: 7689 : 1989 - Table 4 , Summary of Recommended Earthing
Resistances for the Control of Static Electricity

Recomm Max.
Type of Electrical Area
Ref Clause Resist. to Earth Comments
Installation Classification
in ohms

[Link] Main Metal Zones 0 , 1 , 2 10 ohms Earthing normally inherent in the structure.
Plant
Structure
[Link] Large Fixed Zones 0 , 1 , 2 10 ohms Earthing normally inherent in the structure.
Metal Plant ( Ocasionally items may be mounted on non-
Vessels , Silos conducting supports and special earthing
etc ) may then be necessary.

[Link] Metal Zones 0 , 1 , 2 10 ohms Earthing normally inherent in the structure.

Pipelines Special earthing connections may be
required across joints if there is doubt that
the criterion of 10 ohms will not be satisfied.

[Link] Transporta- Zones 0 , 1 , 2 10 ohms Special earthing connections are anormally

ble metal required.
items

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IS: 7689 : 1989 - Table 4 , Summary of Recommended Earthing
Resistances for the Control of Static Electricity

Recomm Max.
Ref Type of Electrical Area
Resist. to Earth Comments
Clause Installation Classification
in ohms

15.3.2 Metal Plant Zones 0 , 1 , 2 106 ohms In special cases a limit of 100 / I may be
with some acceptable , but in general if a 106 ohm
non-conducting criterion cannot be satisfied , a special earth
elements ( connection should be used to obtain a
Stirrers etc ) resistance to earth of less than 10 ohms.

15.3.3 High resistivity Zones 0 , 1 , 2 No generally The general electrostatic ignition risk and
non-conducting applicable the fire hazard normally preclude the use of
items with or value such non-conducting materials unless it can
without metal be shown that significany charge
components accumulates,earthing is not required in zone
2 areas.

15.3.4 Items Zones 0 , 1 , 2 106 - 108 ohms

fabricated from
conductive or
antistatic -
material.

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