System Grounding Solutions
I-Gard Corporation
Said Shalabi & Sonny Solanki
Topics
• Types of Grounding Systems
• Resistively Grounded Systems
• Transitioning to Resistance Grounding
• Sizing the NGR
• System Charging Current
• SIGMA 3
• LRG vs HRG
• SMART HRG
• Generator Grounding
• AVT and VTI
Ungrounded
Solidly Grounded
Resistively Grounded
Resistively Grounded Systems
• Typically used in LV (480/600V) and MV systems to limit
ground fault current
• No arcing ground faults as with solidly grounded systems*
• No over-voltages as with ungrounded systems
• Applications started with process industries - wastewater,
hospital, and data center applications
• Now, practically used everywhere when 3 phase, 3 wire
distribution is used
Resistively Grounded Systems
Resistively Grounded Systems
Resistively Grounded Systems
Transitioning to Resistance Grounding
• Cabling must be rated for the L-L voltage of the system
• Cable insulation must withstand the voltage stress during a ground fault condition
• Lightning/Surge arrestors must be rated for the L-L voltage of the system
• VFDs, SPDs, and UPS should be compatible with the HRG application
• Single phase loads should be isolated using an isolation transformer*
IEEE 242, Chapter 9
Resistively Grounded Systems
Serving Line-to-Neutral Loads
Resistively Grounded Systems
Serving Line-to-Neutral Loads
Resistively Grounded Systems
…For Delta Configurations
Sizing the NGR
• Rated Voltage
• Rated Current
• Rated Time
• Maximum Temperature
• Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Sizing the NGR
• Rated Voltage
• The resistor shall be rated for constant voltage, where the rated voltage is
equal to the line-to-neutral voltage of the system (VL-N = VL-L/√3)
• Rated Current
• The current seen during a maximum (100%) single phase ground fault
condition, and is dependent on the impedance of the neutral grounding
resistor (I = V/R)
• The specified rated let-through current of the NGR must be greater than or
equal to the total capacitive charging current of the system
Sizing the NGR
System Charging Current
A • Co is the distributed capacitance of the
insulation in each phase to ground
• Xco is the reactance created for each phase to
ground
B • Ico is the generated charging current per phase
C • Ico = VL-N / Xco
XC0 XC0 XC0 • When a L-G fault occurs on a single phase, the
IR R
two un-faulted phases rise by √3 to V,L-L, and
3IC0
the phase to ground current becomes √3 * Ico
IF I 3I
R
2
C0
2
IR should overcome the 3Ico
Contributed by net capacitance to ground
IF 2 3I C 0 At minimum fault current, I R 3IC 0
MIN
Sizing the NGR
• Rated Time
• The rated duty cycle of the NGR shall be 10 seconds, 1 minute, 10 minutes, or
continuous (steady-state)
• Rated Temperature
CSA, C22.2, 295-15
Sizing the NGR
• Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Sizing the NGR
• Example:
• NGR with the following parameters:
• Rated Voltage = 2400V
• Rated Current = 400A
• Rated Time = 10S
• Maximum Temperature Rise = 760⁰C
• Temperature Coefficient of Resistance =
Alloy Temperature Percent change in Resistance Current decrease as a percentage
Coefficient of
Resistance (1/⁰C) α
AISI 304 0.00092 70% Increase to 10.2 Ω 41.1% to 235 A
AISI 430 0.00146 110 % Increase to 12.65 Ω 52.5% to 189 A
18SR 0.000358 27 % Increase to 7.63 Ω 21% to 314 A
1JR 0.000241 18 % Increase to 7.1 Ω 15.4 % to 338 A
Canadian Electrical Code
Table 17 summarizes the following:
• Where a neutral grounding device is used on an electrical
system operating at 5kV or less, provision shall be made to
automatically de-energize the system on the detection of a
ground fault, unless:
• The ground fault current is controlled at 10A or less; and
• A visual or audible alarm, or both, clearly indicate the
presence of a ground fault is provided
Sizing the NGR…
HRG
• High Resistance Grounding, HRG
• 10A >= IR > 3Ico
• And System Voltage < 5kV
• Ability to alarm on GF and maintain operation, continuous duty resistor used
• Arc Flash Mitigation as per NFPA 70E & CSA Z462 A
XC0 XC0 XC0
IR R
3IC0
A
Sizing the NGR…
LRG
B
• Low Resistance Grounding, LRG R
XC0 XC0 XC0
IR
• IR > 3Ico > 10A 3IC0
• Or System Voltage > 5kV
• Rule out HRG - Trip on GF required, short-time resistor used
• Next step is to determine the minimum pickup for ground fault detection on the
existing protection scheme
• Identify an acceptable let-through current greater than the minimum pickup (3-
5x) to ensure that the limited current is still able to trip the corresponding devices
SIGMA 3
• Combination of a Ground Fault relay and a Neutral-Ground path
monitoring device
• Provides protection against ground faults and abnormal resistance values of
the Neutral Grounding Resistor (NGR)
• The SIGMA 3 is specifically designed for a variety of systems that
range from 480V-69kV
Resistor Monitoring
Sensing
Resistor
NGR
Continuity vs Measurement Mode
SIGMA 3 Connections
Pulsing
M1 M2 M3
Let’s Compare….
Ungrounded Solidly Grounded Standard HRG
2
SMART HRG
• Selective Instantaneous Feeder Tripping
• Main-tie-Main Coordination
• Assisted Fault Location through feeder identification
• Reducing both the likelihood and magnitude of exposure for arc flash
mitigation
• Time Selective Feeder Isolation
Selective Instantaneous Feeder Tripping
1 2 3
Let’s Compare….
Ungrounded Solidly Grounded Standard HRG SMART HRG
Main-Tie-Main Coordination
Assisted Fault Location through feeder identification
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude 2
CSA, Z462-21
O.2.2
Design option decisions should facilitate the ability to eliminate hazards
or reduce risk by doing the following:
(1) Reducing the likelihood of exposure
(2) Reducing the magnitude or severity of exposure
(3) Enabling achievement of an electrically safe work condition
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude 2
CSA, Z462-21
O.2.3 Incident Energy Reduction Methods.
The following methods have proved to be effective in reducing incident
energy:
(1) Zone-selective interlocking. This is a method that allows two or more circuit breakers to communicate
with each other so that a short circuit or ground fault will be cleared by the breaker closest to the fault with
no intentional delay. Clearing the fault in the shortest time aids in reducing the incident energy.
(2) Differential relaying. The concept of this protection method is that current flowing into protected
equipment must equal the current out of the equipment. If these two currents are not equal, a fault must
exist within the equipment, and the relaying can be set to operate for a fast interruption. Differential relaying
uses current transformers located on the line and load sides of the protected equipment and fast acting relay.
(3) Energy-reducing maintenance switching with a local status indicator. An energy-reducing maintenance
switch allows a worker to set a circuit breaker trip unit to operate faster while the worker is working within an
arc flash boundary, as defined in NFPA 70E, and then to set the circuit breaker back to a normal setting after
the work is complete.
(4) Energy-reducing active arc flash mitigation system. This system can reduce the arcing duration by creating
a low impedance current path, located within a controlled compartment, to cause the arcing fault to transfer
to the new current path, while the upstream breaker clears the circuit. The system works without
compromising existing selective coordination in the electrical distribution system.
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude 2
CSA, Z462-21
(5)Energy-reducing line side isolation. This is equipment that encloses the line side
conductors and circuit parts and has been listed to provide both shock and arc flash
protection from events on the line side of a circuit breaker or switch.
(6)Arc flash relay. An arc flash relay typically uses light sensors to detect the light produced by
an arc flash event. Once a certain level of light is detected, the relay will issue a trip signal to
an upstream overcurrent device.
(7)High-resistance grounding. A great majority of electrical faults are of the phase-to-ground
type. High-resistance grounding will insert an impedance in the ground return path and will
typically limit the fault current to 10 amperes and below (at 5 kV nominal or below), leaving
insufficient fault energy and thereby helping reduce the arc flash hazard level. High-resistance
grounding will not affect arc flash energy for line-to-line or line-to-line-to-line arcs.
(8)Current-limiting devices. Current-limiting protective devices reduce incident energy by
According
clearing to “Industrial
the fault faster and by reducingPower System
the current seenGrounding
at the arc source. The energy
reduction
Designbecomes effective for95%
Handbook”, current
ofabove the current-limiting
all electrical threshold of the current-
faults begin
limiting fuse or current limiting circuit breaker.
as single
(9)Shunt-trip. phase-to-ground
Adding a shunt-trip that isfaults.
signaled to open from an open-fuse relay to switches
800 amperes and greater reduces incident energy by opening the switch immediately when
the first
Withfuse aopens.
low The reduced clearing
let through time there
current, reducesis
incident energy. This is especially
insufficient
helpful for arcing currents that are not within the current-limiting threshold of the three
energy for the arc to re-strike, and as a result self-
current-limiting fuses.
extinguishes.
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude 2
CSA, Z462-21
Workplace Electrical Safety, Annex O:
O.2.2 Design option decisions should facilitate the ability to eliminate
hazards or reduce risk by doing the following:
1. Reducing the likelihood of exposure, and
2. Reducing the magnitude of exposure
3. Enabling achievement of an electrically safe work condition
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude 2
CSA, Z462-21
• Zone Selective Interlocking
• Differential relaying
• Energy-reducing maintenance switch
• Energy-reducing active arc flash mitigation system
• Energy reduce line side isolation
• Arc flash relay
• High-resistance grounding
• Current-limiting devices
• Blown fuse operation for switches
(6) – “Arc Flash relay. An arc flash relay typically uses light sensors to
detect the light produced by an arc flash event. Once a certain level of
light is detected, the relay will issue a trip signal to an upstream
overcurrent device.”
Reducing the likelihood and magnitude
IEEE, 1584
CSA Z462-21 2
Workplace Electrical Safety, Annex O:
O.2.2 Design option decisions should facilitate the ability to eliminate
hazards or reduce risk by doing the following:
1. Reducing the likelihood of exposure, and
2. Reducing the magnitude of exposure
3. Enabling achievement of an electrically safe work condition
Let’s Compare….
Ungrounded Solidly Grounded Standard HRG SMART HRG
Time Selective Feeder Isolation
SMART HRG
I-Gard DSP System
TDM – Touchscreen Display Module
1. Multi Relay Monitoring Device
2. Individual Feeder ID
3. Magnitude of Ground Fault for:
• Overall System
• Individual Feeder
4. Faulted Phase
5. Trip on first/Second Ground Fault
6. NGR Status
7. Phase Loss
8. Bus Fault
9. Generator Mode
10. Data/Event Logging
11. Modbus RTU/TCP
12. Trending Analysis
Generator Applications
Grounding Grounding
Resistor Utility
Resistor
R R
400 A 400 A Grounding
10S 10S Resistor
R
400 A
10S
Generator Applications
Grounding Grounding
Resistor Utility
Resistor
R R
400 A 400 A Grounding
10S 10S Resistor
R
400 A
10S
Generator Applications
Grounding Grounding
Resistor Utility
Resistor
R R
400 A 400 A Grounding
10S 10S Resistor
R
400 A
10S
Generator Applications
Grounding Grounding
Resistor Utility
Resistor
R R
400 A 400 A Grounding
10S 10S Resistor
R
400 A
10S
Generator Applications
Grounding Grounding
Resistor Utility
Resistor
R R
10A 10A Grounding
10s 10s Resistor
R
10A
10s
R
400A
10s
i-AVT
Overview CONTROL UNIT (CU)
1. The i-AVT is an Absence of Voltage Tester that is used as
permanently mounted device to provide verification of an
electrically safe work condition (as per NFPA 70E, Section
120.5, exception No. 1)
2. The function as an Absence of Voltage Tester is a key
distinction. The difference between this and presence of
voltage indication should be appreciated.
3. This difference notwithstanding, the i-AVT provides
presence of voltage indication as well as absence of
voltage verification.
DISPLAY UNIT (DU) SENSOR LEADS: 8 IN
CAT5 CABLE TOTAL (2 PER PH +
GND)
i-AVT
Application
1. Two sensor leads are connected to each phase and two sensor leads are connected to ground
2. No connection to the line side
i-AVT
Operation
1. 20 minutes to charge the
supercapacitor
2. Able to perform about 10 tests per
charge
3. Maintains charge for 15 hours
The I-Gard Difference
• Manufactures the current limiting resistors and ground fault relays in
house
• Translates to consistent lead times (currently 4-6 weeks on average)
• Quality Assurance on the entire solution to ensure relay and resistor
functionality
• Capability to design customized units to comply with customer
requirements and specifications
Consultant Specification Guide
Thank you
Questions?