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COURSE: Neutral regimes CI: Protection of people and equipment

NEUTRAL REGIME
• Know the different earth connection schemes defined by the NF-C-1500 standard

• Know the principle of protecting people in the TT regime.

CLASSES
GOALS

I. GENERAL:

Electrical energy, although useful, is dangerous for humans. If a current passes through the human body, there is a risk of
lesions or even death. It is therefore necessary to protect people against such dangers (see § on primary safety).

Distribution networks are essentially characterized by the nature of the current and the number of active conductors,
as well as by the connection to earth or neutral regimes.

The safety of people and equipment is ensured differently depending on the neutral system used in a
Electrical Installation.

A. Different distribution systems:

Distribution systems are characterized by the nature of the current and the number of wires.

Direct current Single-phase alternating current

Ph1
+

- NOT

+ Ph1
M
- Ph2

Three-phase alternating current

Ph1
Ph2
Ph1
Ph3 Ph2
NOT Ph3
4-wire star assembly 3-wire triangle assembly

B. The three neutral systems:

The NF C 15.100 standard defines three neutral systems which are characterized by two letters:

1st Letter: Power supply situation in relation to earth.

T: connection of a point with the
I: earth; isolation of all active parts from earth or connection of a point with earth through a
impedance;

2nd Letter: Location of the masses of the installation in relation to the

earth : T: masses connected directly to the
earth ; N: masses connected to the neutral of the installation, itself connected to earth.

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COURSE: Neutral regimes CI: Protection of people and equipment

C. TT diet:

Ph1 The neutral of the installation directly East

Ph2 connected to earth.

Ph3 The masses of the installation are also

connected to earth.
NOT

This solution is the one used by EDF for low

voltage distribution networks.

PE
Earth connection
As soon as an insulation fault occurs,
installation Ground connection there must be a cut-off: This is the cut-off at the
first fault.
D. TN neutralization:

Ph1
Ph2
Ph3
PE
PEN NOT
NOT

PE PE

Earth connection TN-C TN-S

installation

1. TN-C scheme

The neutral and the protective conductor are COMBINED. This type of diagram is prohibited for conductor sections less
than 10 mm2 ; Downstream of the TN-S diagram, three-pole switchgear is used.

2. TN-S scheme

The neutral and the protective conductor are SEPARATE. Three-pole + neutral devices must be used .
In both cases, protection must be ensured by cutting at the first fault.

E. Isolated neutral: IT

symbolization of a
The neutral is isolated or connected to earth
transformer by a fairly high impedance (1500 to 2000 V).
Ph1
Ph2 The first fault does not present any danger.
Ph3 The phase-to-ground current is very low and no
NOT dangerous voltage is to be feared.
Impedance
But it must be reported and researched to be
possible Surge limiter
eliminated. Cutoff is mandatory at the second fault.
PE

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COURSE: Neutral regimes CI: Protection of people and equipment

II. TT REGIME:

The TT distribution system is the neutral system used by EDF for all public energy distribution in the
low voltage network.

A. Principle:

In this distribution system:

- The neutral of the power source is grounded ; - The masses of the

installation are earthed .

Example: either the TT distribution network below:

Ph1
Ph2
Ph3
NOT

220V

Earth connection of
neutral

Uc
RN AR

ID

When a phase touches the mass, there is an increase in the potential of this mass.

Let RD : The fault resistance = 0 ÿ; RN: the resistance of the neutral earth connection = 10 ÿ; RA: the resistance of the earth
connection = 20 ÿ;

A current is established in red on the diagram: I

= 220 /(RA + RD + RN ) = 220 / 30 = 33.7 A
D

The ground voltage relative to earth is : UD = RA* I D = 146 6.V

This voltage is fatal. (see § first class: the dangers of electric current)

When an insulation fault occurs in a TT network, there is a dangerous rise in the ground potential
metallic. (Which usually are at 0V potential).

B. Rules to observe:

1st
rule: All the masses of equipment protected by the same protection device must be interconnected
and connected by a protective conductor (PE) to the same earth connection.

2nd rule: The protection condition must satisfy the following relationship: RAA
*I<UC
- IA : Operating current of the protection device; resistance of
- - UC : the earth connection of the masses; - RA :
- limit contact voltage: UC = 50V, 25V depending on the premises.

3rd rule: In TT schemes, protection will be ensured by a residual current differential device. In this case, the current IA is equal
to the residual differential current of the circuit breaker.

The sensitivity of a residual current circuit breaker is indicated by the symbol IÿN, which indicates the protection system, which
can be a switch or a circuit breaker.

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COURSE: Neutral regimes CI: Protection of people and equipment

C. Sensitivity of differentials:

- Circuit breakers are classified according to three categories: High

-
sensitivity device: IÿN = 6; 12; 30mA ; Medium sensitivity
-
devices: IÿN = 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1A ; Low sensitivity device: IÿN = 3; 5; 10;
-
20A .

D. Location of differential devices:

Any TT installation must be protected by a residual differential

device placed at the origin of the installation. DR
DR: Detection device
residual differential

III. EXERCISE :
An electrical installation is made up of a three-phase heating resistor and a three-phase asynchronous motor. The assembly diagram is this:

1- Highlight the phases in red and the neutral of the

installation in blue. Name them.

2- Draw the electrical protection conductor in green in order

T1
to achieve a
neutral TT. Note the neutral earth resistance Rn and that of
the masses by Ra.

D1 3- An insulation fault occurs in the resistances between

phase 1 and the metal mass. Draw the path of the fault
current in dotted lines. The fault resistance Rc is not zero!
Deduce the equivalent diagram (draw it next to the diagram).

4- Calculate the fault current passing to earth and the

contact voltages between the resistances and earth,
F1 between the motor and earth, between the two receivers.

km1
Data Rn =10 V, Ra = 10 V, Rc = 4 V, T1 20 kV / 240/400 V.
D2

5- Deduce whether this type of defect is dangerous.

F2

6- Give the type of equipment to be installed to

ensure the protection of people. Give your adjustment
gauge and draw it on the diagram.
M3

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