In power system, grounding or earthing means connecting frame of electrical equipment (non-current carrying part) or some electrical part of the system (e.g. neutral point in a star-connected system, one conductor of the secondary of a transformer etc.) to earth i.e. soil. This connection to earth may be through a conductor or some other circuit element (e.g. a resistor, a circuit breaker etc.) depending upon the situation.
Grounding or earthing offers two principal advantages.
- First, it provides protection to the power system.
- For example, if the neutral point of a star-connected system is grounded through a circuit breaker and phase to earth fault occurs on any one line, a large fault current will flow through the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker will open to isolate the faulty line. This protects the power system from the harmful effects of the fault.
- Secondly, earthing of electrical equipment (e.g. domestic appliances, hand-heldtools, industrial motors etc.) ensures the safety of the persons handling the equipment.
- For example,if insulation fails, there will be a direct contact of the live conductor with the metallic part (i.e.frame) of the equipment.
Any person in contact with the metallic part of this equipment will be subjected to a dangerous electrical shock which can be fatal.
Sir .,I feel you Must distinguish between grounding & Earthing.
Grounding:Grounding is of neutral of star point of any star connected transformer or a generator.They felicitate path to Zero seq current to (earth fault current)return to the source.
further this word is used for connecting(burring) the Lower end of the winding of Single phasepotential transformers or CVTs in the EHV system to have a potential difference from High voltage Phase Conductor to earth.
Earthing: Earthing in an EHV sub station means connecting/bonding the Metallic body of all outdoor equipment to earth mat or earthing system to avoid damage to the equipment due to Ground potential rise during earth fault conditions.