Wonderful discussion during Skill development training with Site head Shri SKB Valli sir.
Transformer earthing connects the transformer's neutral or body to the earth, providing a safe path for fault currents to protect equipment and personnel, with primary types including Neutral Earthing (solid, resistance, reactance) for system stability and Equipment Earthing (body/tank) for safety, often using specialized Earthing Transformers (like Zigzag) in delta systems to create a neutral point and manage fault current levels.
Purpose of Transformer Earthing
Safety: Prevents electric shock to personnel by keeping metallic parts at zero potential.
System Stability: Provides a stable zero-potential reference point for the power system.
Fault Current Path: Offers a low-resistance path for fault currents to flow to the ground.
Protection: Allows protective relays to detect faults and operate effectively.
Overvoltage Control: Limits transient overvoltages during faults.
Types of Transformer Earthing
System Earthing (Neutral Earthing)
Solid Earthing: The neutral point is directly connected to the earth. Used for high fault currents, allowing fast fault clearance.
Resistance Earthing: A resistor is placed between the neutral and earth to limit fault currents, reducing damage and arc flash risks.
Reactance Earthing (Arc Suppression): A reactor is used to limit fault currents to a specified value, often balancing protection with equipment life.
Earthing Transformer (Grounding Transformer): Used in ungrounded systems (like delta) to create a neutral point for grounding, often with zigzag (inter-star) windings to handle fault currents and suppress arcs.
Equipment Earthing (Body/Tank Earthing)
Connects the metallic frame, tank, and other non-current-carrying parts to the earth, usually via a ground rod or plate, for personnel safety.
Key Components & Methods
Earth Electrode: A conductor (rod, plate, pipe) buried in the ground to provide the final connection to earth.
Zigzag Winding: A special winding in earthing transformers that creates a neutral point and allows for efficient fault current path, preventing flux buildup in the core.
Neutral Grounding Resistor (NGR): A resistor used in resistance earthing to control fault current magnitude.
Why Different Types?
Solid: For systems where large fault currents are acceptable for quick clearing (e.g., distribution systems).
Resistance/Reactance: For medium voltage systems where high fault currents could damage equipment or cause excessive arc flash.
Earthing Transformer: Essential for delta-connected systems (which lack a natural neutral) to enable ground fault protection and stability.

















































