Grounding and Earthing For Genset - Reference Paper1 PDF
Grounding and Earthing For Genset - Reference Paper1 PDF
August 2021
INTRODUCTION
This paper discusses in understanding the difference, importance of Grounding and Earthing for Genset.
Discussion
Grounding the genset provides protection to the operator’s and provides the common reference between the genset,
controls, switchgear panels that are at various locations that are on and off the packages. Earthing in the electrical
power system is connecting the metal or conductor which provides least impedance path to earth preventing high
potential (Voltage) on the metal surface of the equipment. Earthing is the term used when it is required to connect all
the non-current carrying parts which sees high potential with respect to ground.
Grounding.
• Generator neutral grounding should be done according to national and applicable Local standard. Grounding
provides a common reference between the genset, switchgear panel, control and relay panel and other
electrical equipment’s which is been used in various locations in a power system design.
• High voltage and medium voltage neutral are grounded through a resistor or reactor which provides additional
protection for the generator winding. By adding the resistor or inductance in neutral grounding which will limit
the fault current occurring during a line to ground fault, it also reduces the magnitude of the transient voltage
raise due to ground fault.
• In most of the cases the Low voltage generators neutral are grounded.
• Generator frame grounding is required when neutral grounding is not done. When using a single genset three
phase four wire system the neutral wire should be grounding according to the local wiring standards and codes.
• When multiple gensets with dissimilar pitch generators are paralleled and all the neutrals of gensets are
grounded which will cause circulating current through the neutral connection. In such case to minimize the
neutral circulating current any one of the generators neutral only should be grounded. Our recommendation is to
have a switch in the neutral grounding circuit for each and every generator.
• Proper grounding design can protect the operators and the equipment from events like Lightning, Equipment
failure, Operation of Circuit breaker, Shock hazard due to ground fault, Load swings.
• The ground conductor must be sized and installed in compliance of local standards and code. Grounding
conductor should be sized for available fault current.
• End customer is responsible in maintaining the quality of the grounding and grounding needs to be tested
periodically. Proper Grounding is required to meet International standard and testing to regulations and the
functionality.
• Usually, the Switchgear panel will be tied to the genset controls, the customer must ensure that switchgear
needs to be connected to the same grounding system.
• The below Table.1 provides you Generator neutral ground cable sizing. The cable sizing is done based on the
generator rated current. The standards required for cable sizing is mentioned under references.
Earthing
• Earthing is the process of connecting all the Genset metallic body to earth ground (parts which have zero
potential, parts which does not carry current during normal operating condition).
• Intension and importance of earthing is to reduce the risk of electric shock to the operators if coming in contact
with the metal frames and structures when there is a leakage current flowing on the metal parts.
• Earthing system should be designed with low resistance which allows the leakage current through it. Resistance
of earth continuity conductor should not be more than 1Ohm in the electrical system.
• During fault condition the non-current carrying metal parts like generator frame, base rails, control panel, engine
block and enclosure will see high potential with respect to ground, if any operator coming in contact with these
non-current carrying parts will see a potential difference resulting in flow of leakage current through the human
body who is in contact causing a serious injury.
• By connecting all the non-current carrying parts of the genset and electrical equipment to a common earthing
system all the leakage currents will be drained causing zero injuries.
• Earthing is done using a Grounding rod or earthing electrode like GI pipe deeply inserted in the earth. Most
commonly used earthing connecting wire colour is Green.
• All the earthing cables termination should be terminated with ring terminals it can be single or double hole which
will be suitable for bolting the terminals to the mating surface. Sizing the terminals should be according to
current requirement and cable size.
• Earthing Cable is selected based on the potential fault current of the circuit. Reference Table 2 for the size of the
earthing cable. Multiple cables of the same size are acceptable if the total current rating of the combined cables
is equal. Multiple cable of the same size is acceptable if the total current rating of the combined cables exceeds
the rating of the single cable listed in Table 2.
• One Single location shall be defined for the customer to provide an earthing. The location for the earthing is
required to have a label with ISO symbol number 5019(IEC 60417).
• The location of the earthing shall not be accessible from outside of the package. Bare metal is required for
the customer earthing point. The conductor used to connect the earthing point to the customer connection
location on the package should be equal to or greater than the size of the generator neutral to the ground
conductor. The genset package components earthing are required to branch from this connection in a star
distribution.
• The Generator frame is required to be connected to the customer earth connection. Earth cable used to
connect the generator frame and the customer earth shall be done using one or more cables.
• Voltage regulator chassis is required to be connected to the earthing point at customer earth location. The
earthing cable is required to be same size as the largest power input cable to the regulator. The chassis
ground may be accessible via a terminal on the device.
SUMMARY
The purpose of grounding the neutral of the generator is to prevent damage of equipment connected to the genset.
The genset grounding provides protection to the operator’s and provides the common reference between the genset
and other electrical equipment that are at various locations that are on and off the packages. Earthing is the term
used when it is required to connect all the non-current carrying parts which sees high potential with respect to
ground during fault condition.
REFERENCES
• IEC/EN 60439
• IEC/EN 60204-1
• IEC 60446 (color codes)
• IEC 60417 (symbols)
• UL2200 (stationary generator sets - US)
• CSA-C22.2 No. 0.4-04 (grounding - Canada)
• NFPA 70 (NEC – US)
• IEEE Std 142 (the Green Book)
• IEEE Std C37.101
• IEEE Std C37.102
• IEEE Document 95TP102 (1995)
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