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http://electrical-engineering-po rtal.co m/ho w-to -determine-co rrect-number-o f-earthing-electro des-strips-plates-and-pipes-
part-1
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes
(Strips, Plates and Pipes) part 1
jiguparmar
Ho w to De te rmine Co rre c t Numb e r o f Earthing Ele c tro d e s (Strip s , Plate s and Pip e s ) - p art 1
Introduction
Number of Earthing Electrode and Earthing Resistance depends on the resistivity of soil and time f or f ault
current to pass through (1 sec or 3 sec). If we divide the area f or earthing required by the area of one earth
plate gives the number of earth pits required.
T here is no general rule to calculate the exact number of earth pits and size of earthing strip, but
discharging of leakage current is certainly dependent on the cross section area of the material so f or any
equipment the earth strip size is calculated on the current to be carried by that strip.
First the leakage current to be carried is calculated and then size of the strip is determined.
For most of the electrical equipment like transf ormer, diesel generator set etc., the general concept is to
have 4 number of earth pits. 2 nos f or body earthing with 2 separate strips with the pits shorted and 2 nos
f or Neutral with 2 separate strips with the pits shorted.
T he Size of Neutral Earthing Strip should be capable to carry neutral current of that equipment.
T he Size of Body Earthing should be capable to carry half of neutral Current.
T he Size of Body Earthing should be capable to carry half of neutral Current.
For example f or 100kVA transformer, the f ull load current is around 140A.
T he strip connected should be capable to carry at least 70A (neutral current) which means a strip of GI
25x3mm should be enough to carry the current and f or body a strip of 253 will do the needf ul. Normally we
consider the strip size that is generally used as standards.
However a strip with lesser size which can carry a current of 35A can be used f or body earthing. T he
reason f or using 2 earth pits f or each body and neutral and then shorting them is to serve as back up. If
one strip gets corroded and cuts the continuity is broken and the other leakage current f lows through the
other run thery by completing the circuit.
Similarly f or panels the no of pits should be 2 nos. T he size can be decided on the main incomer circuit
breaker.
For example if main incomer to breaker is 400A, then body earthing f or panel can have a strip size of 256
mm which can easily carry 100A.
Number of earth pits is decided by considering the total f ault current to be dissipated to the ground in case
of f ault and the current that can be dissipated by each earth pit. Normally the density of current f or GI strip
can be roughly 200 amps per square cam. Based on the length and dia of the pipe used the number of
earthing pits can be f inalized.
1. Calculate numbers of pipe earthing
A. Eart hing resist ance and number of rods f or isolat ed eart h pit
(without buried earthing strip)
T he earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per BS 7430:
R=/23.14xL (loge (8xL/d)-1)
Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
L = Length of electrode (meter),
D = Diameter of electrode (meter)
Example:
Calculate isolated earthing rod resistance. T he earthing rod is 4 meter long and having 12.2mm diameter,
soil resistivity 500 meter.
R=500/ (23.144) x (Loge (84/0.0125)-1) =156.19 .
T he earth resistance of single rod or pipe electrode is calculated as per IS 3040:
R=100x/23.14xL (loge(4xL/d))
Where:
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
L = Length of electrode (cm),
D = Diameter of electrode (cm)
Example:
Calculate number of CI earthing pipe of 100mm diameter, 3 meter length. System has f ault current 50KA f or
1 sec and soil resistivity is 72.44 -Meters.
Current Density At The Surface of Earth Electrode (As per IS 3043):
Max. allowable current density I = 7.571000/(xt) A/m2
Max. allowable current density = 7.571000/(72.44X1) = 889.419 A/m2
Surf ace area of one 100mm dia. 3 meter Pipe = 2 x 3.14 x r x L = 2 x 3.14 x 0.05 x3 = 0.942 m2
Max. current dissipated by one Earthing Pipe = Current Density x Surface area of electrode
Max. current dissipated by one earthing pipe = 889.419x 0.942 = 837.83 A say 838 Amps
Number of earthing pipe required = Fault Current / Max.current dissipated by one earthing pipe.
Number of earthing pipe required = 50000/838 = 59.66 Say 60 Nos.
Total number of earthing pipe required = 60 Nos.
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 100x/23.14xLx(loge (4XL/d))
Resistance of earthing pipe (isolated) R = 10072.44 /23.14x300x(loge (4X300/10)) = 7.99 /Pipe
Overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipe = 7.99/60 = 0.133 .
Top
B. Eart hing resist ance and number of rods f or isolat ed eart h pit
(with buried earthing strip)
Resistance of earth strip (R) As per IS 3043:
R=/23.14xLx (loge (2xLxL/wt))
Example:
Calculate GI strip having width of 12mm , length of 2200 meter buried in ground at depth of 200mm, soil
resistivity is 72.44 -meter.
Resistance of earth strip(Re) = 72.44/23.14x2200x(loge (2x2200x2200/.2x.012)) = 0.050
From above calculation overall resistance of 60 no of earthing pipes (Rp) = 0.133 .
And it connected to bury earthing strip. Here net earthing resistance = (RpxRe)/(Rp+Re)
Net eatrthing resistance = (0.1330.05)/(0.133+0.05) = 0.036
Top
C. Tot al eart hing resist ance and number of elect rode f or group
(parallel)
In cases where a single electrode is not sufficient to provide the desired earth resistance, more than one
electrode shall be used. T he separation of the electrodes shall be about 4 m. T he combined resistance of
parallel electrodes is a complex f unction of several f actors, such as the number and conf iguration of
electrode the array.
T he total resistance of group of electrodes in dif f erent conf igurations as per BS 7430:
Ra=R (1+a/n) where a=/2X3.14xRxS
Where:
S = Distance between adjustment rod (meter),
= Factor given in table below,
n = Number of electrodes,
= Resistivity of soil ( meter),
R = Resistance of single rod in isolation ()
Factors for parallel electrodes in line (BS 7430)
Number of electrodes (n) Factor ()
2 1.0
3 1.66
4 2.15
5 2.54
6 2.87
7 3.15
8 3.39
9 3.61
10 3.8
For electrodes equally spaced around a hollow square, e.g. around the perimeter of a building, the
equations given above are used with a value of taken f rom f ollowing table.
For three rods placed in an equilateral triangle, or in an L formation, a value of = 1.66 may be assumed.
Factors for electrodes in a hollow square (BS 7430)
Number of electrodes (n) Factor ()
2 2.71
3 4.51
4 5.48
5 6.13
6 6.63
7 7.03
8 7.36
9 7.65
10 7.9
12 8.3
14 8.6
16 8.9
18 9.2
20 9.4
For Hollow square total number of electrodes (N) = (4n-1).
T he rule of thumb is that rods in parallel should be spaced at least twice their length to utilize the f ull
benef it of the additional rods. If the separation of the electrodes is much larger than their lengths and only
a f ew electrodes are in parallel, then the resultant earth resistance can be calculated using the ordinary
equation f or resistances in parallel.
In practice, the ef f ective earth resistance will usually be higher than calculation.
Typically, a 4 spike array may provide an improvement 2.5 to 3 times. An 8 spike array will typically give an
improvement of maybe 5 to 6 times.
T he Resistance of Original Earthing Rod will be lowered by Total of 40% f or Second Rod, 60% f or third
Rod,66% f or f orth rod.
Example:
Calculate Total Earthing Rod Resistance of 200 Number arranges in Parallel having 4 Meter Space of each
and if it connects in Hollow Square arrangement. T he Earthing Rod is 4 Meter Long and having 12.2mm
Diameter, Soil Resistivity 500 .
First Calculate Single Earthing Rod Resistance:
R = 500/ (23.144) x (Loge (84/0.0125)-1) =136.23 .
Now calculate total resistance of earthing rod of 200 number in parallel condition:
a = 500/(23.14x136x4) =0.146
Ra (Parallel in Line) =136.23x (1+100.146/200) = 1.67 .
If earthing rod is connected in Hollow square than rod in each side of square is 200 = (4n-1) so n = 49 No.
Ra (in hollow square) =136.23x (1+9.40.146/200) = 1.61 .
Originally published at Electrical Notes - Calculate Numbers of Plate/Pipe/Strip Earthings (Part-1)
