6 RESONANCE EARTHING (EARTHING WITH PETERSÉN-COIL)

For resonance earthing an inductance calibrated to the capacitance of the network

at rated frequency is chosen. This leads to a small resulting operating frequency
earth fault current and it is only caused by the current due to insulation leakage
and corona effect. An arc in the fault point can therefore easily be extinguished
since current and voltage are in phase and the current is small. Observe that a
strike through a solid material like paper, PVC, cambric or rubber isn’t self-
healing why they don’t benefit from the resonance earthing.
The resonance coil should be calibrated to the network for all connection
alternatives. Therefore the setting must be changed every time parts of the network
are connected or disconnected. There however exists equipment, e. g. in Sweden,
Germany and Austria, that will do this automatically.
At a resonance earthing it is often difficult to obtain selective earth fault
relays. Therefore the resonance coil is connected in parallel with a suitable
resistor giving a current of 5 to 50 A at full zero-point voltage, i. e. a solid
fault. The resistor should be equipped with a breaker for connecting and
disconnecting at earth faults. The breaker should be used for the In-Out automatic
and for the thermal release of the resistor, if the fault is not automatically
cleared by the protection relays, as these normally are not designed to allow
continues connecting.
The theories about resonance earthing are very old and were developed at the time
when only overhead transmission lines existed. In cable networks, high harmonic
currents are generated through the fault point. Even if the network is exactly
calibrated it’s possible that currents up to several hundred amperes appears. This
of course leads to difficulties for an earth fault to self extinguish.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SYSTEM EARTHING 62 BA THS / BU Transmission Systems and
Substations LEC Support ProgrammeSystem Earthing
Resonance earthing can also be a way to fulfil the requirements
concerning the standards for maximum voltage in earthed parts.
Through resonance earthing a smaller earth leakage current is
obtained and consequently a higher earthing grid resistance can
be accepted.
In an unearthed or voltage transformer earthed system the risks
for overvoltages at transient faults are not considered.
Generally it is recommendable to avoid unearthed systems. In
the British standards this is explicitly stated.
BA THS / BU Transmission Systems and Substations LEC Support Programme
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SYSTEM EARTHING
for worldwide cooperation
634. TO OBTAIN A NEUTRAL-POINT
In a three phase network the neutral-point often is available in a “Y” connected
transformer or in a generator neutral. This should then be utilized at system
earthing.
If the transformer is connected “Y0/D” or “Y-0/Y-0” with delta equalizing winding,
the “Y-winding” can be utilized even for direct earthing. An “Y/Y” connected
transformer without such an equalizing winding shall not be directly earthed but
can under some circumstances be utilized for high resistance or resonance earthing.