Advice in choosing the right neutral earthing system for your installation

The choice of a neutral earthing system

The choice of a neutral earthing system is dependent on requirements and objectives that are often contradictory to such an extent that sometimes several systems have to be created within one installation (islanding) in order to meet safety, maintainability, or operating requirements that are too dissimilar.

This technical article will not discuss the basics of neutral earthing systems, and it is considered that you are already familiar with the subject. Instead, it will focus on the characteristics that may influence electrical engineers’ decision to select the most suitable neutral earthing system.

Don’t forget that the choice of the neutral earthing system has a direct effect on the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the installation, so that will be covered too.

Table of contents:

1. Characteristics of neutral earthing systems
   1. TT system
   2. TN system
   3. IT system
2. Neutral earthing system and EMC
   1. TT system
   2. IT system
   3. TN-S
   4. So, which system is the best?

1. Characteristics of neutral earthing systems

The following paragraphs summarize the advantages and the disadvantages of each neutral earthing system.

1.1 TT system

General principle

Detection of a fault current running through the earth and disconnection of the power supply by a residual current device (RCD).

If insulation fault occurs on a receiver, the fault current I_f circulates in the fault loop. This circuit includes the fault impedance on:

• The exposed conductive part of the connected load,
• The connection of this exposed conductive part to the protective conductor,
• The protective conductor itself and
• Its earth connection (R_A).

The fault loop is finally closed by the transformer windings and the power supply circuit.

Advantages of TT system

• Simplicity (very few calculations when installing).
• Extension with no need to calculate the lengths.
• Low fault currents (fire safety).
• Very little maintenance (apart from regular testing of the RCDs).
• Safety of people when portable devices are supplied or if earthing is defective (with 30 mA RCDs).
• Operation on a source at low prospective current i_k (generator set).

Disadvantages of TT system

• No differential discrimination if only one device at supply end of installation
• Need for RCDs on each outgoing line to obtain horizontal discrimination (cost)
• Risk of false tripping (overvoltages)
• Interconnection of exposed conductive parts to a single earth connection (widespread installations) or RCD needed for each group of exposed conductive parts
• Level of safety dependent on the value of the earth connections

Important notes for TT system

• Voltage surge protectors recommended for overhead distribution
• Possibility of linking the power supply earth connection and that of the exposed conductive parts for private MV/LV transformer (check breaking capacity of RCDs)
• Need to control equipment with high leakage currents (separation, islanding)
• Importance of establishing and ensuring durability of earth connections (safety of people)
• Ensure the earth values and tripping thresholds of the RCDs are checked periodically

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1.2 TN system

General principle

The fault current changes to a short-circuit current which is broken by the overcurrent protection devices, and the exposed conductive parts are kept below a safe voltage threshold.

In TN systems, a point on the power supply, generally the transformer neutral, is earthed. The exposed conductive parts of the installation are connected to the same point by a protective conductor.

When both variants cohabit in the same installation, the term TN-C-s can be used (see connections), remembering that the TN-C system must always be upstream of the TN-S system.

If insulation fault occurs at any point in the installation affecting a phase conductor and the protective conductor or an exposed conductive part, the power supply must be cut off automatically within the specified breaking time t while complying with the condition:

Z_s × I_a ≤ U₀

Where:

• Z_s – impedance of the fault loop comprising the power supply line, the protective conductor and the source (transformer windings).
• I_a – operating current of the protection device within the specified time
• U₀ – nominal phase/earth voltage

Advantages of TN system

• Low cost (protective devices are used for fault currents and overcurrents)
• The earth connection has no effect on the safety of people
• Low sensitivity to disturbance (good equipotentiality, neutral earthed)
• Low sensitivity to high leakage currents (heating, steam, computing equipment)

Disadvantages of TN system

• High fault currents (generation of disturbance and risk of fire in particular with TN-C system)
• Need for accurate calculation of lines
• Risk in the event of refurbishment extensions or uncontrolled use (qualified staff)

Important notes for TN system

• The protection conditions must be checked: at the design stage (calculation), on commissioning, periodically and if the installation is modified
• Practical checking requires special test equipment (measurement of the i_k at the end of the line)
• The use of residual current devices enables the fault currents to be limited (check the breaking capacity) and risks not provided for by the calculations to be overcome (breaking of the protective conductors, line lengths of mobile loads, etc.)

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1.3 IT system

General principle

Keeping the 1^st fault current at a very low value limits the voltage rise of the exposed conductive parts, and there is thus no need for disconnection. However, 2^nd fault is a different story.

Let’s see what happens with the 1^st fault in this neutral earthing system.

1^st fault – No danger for people

The current of the 1^st fault (I_f) is limited by the sum of the resistances of the earth connections of the power supply (R_B), the exposed conductive parts (R_A) and the impedance (Z).

I_f = U₀ / ( R_A+R_B+Z) = 230 / (30+10+2000) = 0,112 A

The non-breaking condition must be checked, ensuring that the current will not increase the exposed conductive parts to a voltage higher than the voltage limit UL. The following is therefore required: R_A × I_f < 50 V, i.e. in the example: 30 × 0.112 = 3.36 V.

The exposed conductive parts will not reach a dangerous voltage and non-breaking is permitted.

2^nd fault – Short circuit

In the event of a 2^nd fault affecting another phase, on the same or another exposed conductive part, a loop is created by the exposed conductive parts of the faulty receivers, the protective conductors and the power supply conductors.

If there is a fault, the voltage of the neutral may increase to that of the faulty phase (phase-to-neutral voltage). The voltage of the other phases will tend to increase towards the value of the phase-to-phase voltage.

It is therefore advisable not to supply devices between phase and neutral in IT systems and thus not to distribute the neutral.

Advantages of IT system

• Continuity of service (no breaking on 1^st fault).
• 1^st fault current very low (fire protection).
• Fault current causes little disturbance.
• Operation on sources at low prospective current i_k (generator set).
• Supply of receivers sensitive to fault currents (motors).

Disadvantages of IT system

• Installation cost (protected neutral, P_im, voltage surge protectors).
• Operating cost (qualified staff, location of faults).
• Sensitivity to disturbance (poor equipotentiality with earth).
• Risks on 2^nd fault:
  • Short-circuit overcurrents.
  • Disturbance (rise in earth voltage).
• Appearance of a phase-to-phase voltage (if neutral distributed).

Important notes for IT system

• Indication of the 1^st fault is mandatory and a search for the cause must be undertaken immediately.
• The situation of a 2^nd fault must be avoided in view of the risks involved.
• Protection by voltage surge protectors is essential (risk of rise in earth voltage).
• It is advisable to limit the scale of it installations to what is strictly necessary (islanding).

The following tables give general rules for choosing the neutral earthing system according to the installation, the loads and the operating conditions.

Choosing the overall system based on this single application would be to risk making the wrong choice for the rest of the installation.

Table 1 – Recommended system acc. to the type and characteristics of the installation

Table 2 – Recommended system acc. to types of receiver and operating conditions

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2. Neutral earthing system and EMC

The choice of the neutral earthing system has a direct effect on the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the installation:

• The consequences of a lighting strike are partly dependent on the situation of the power supply in relation to earth, defined by the first letter (I or T).
• The transmission of conducted or emitted high frequency disturbance depends on the connection of the exposed conductive parts of the installation and their equipotentiality, defined by the second letter (T or N).

The energy transmission distances require a common voltage reference that can be accessible from the source to the load and can discharge disturbance such as lightning. Only the earth meets these conditions!

Locally, the earth is not necessary for the equipotentiality of an installation. It is the equipotential bonding system which provides this equipotentiality. Thus when the energy source is nearby or standalone (batteries, solar panels, generator set, etc.) it is not necessary to earth the power supply and the installation.

High altitude weather stations and isolated transmitters use this principle.

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Let’s see now advantages and disadvantages of the neutral earthing systems in relation to EMC:

2.1 TT system

Advantages

• The neutral voltage is fixed.
• The fault currents are low.

Disadvantages

• Source earth connection and load earth connection are separated and less equipotential. impedance of the load earth connection can be high.
• PE conductor does not constitute a reliable voltage reference, resulting in the need for additional equipotential links.
• Lightning strike giving differential mode overvoltage (dissymetry of the system).

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2.2 IT system

Advantages

• The fault currents are low.
• Good protection against conducted lightning, but risk of sparkover on the neutral impedance, resulting in the need for a surge voltage protector.

Disadvantages

• “Load” earth voltage not fixed in relation to the source and consequently not fixed in relation to that of the exposed conductive parts.
• Increase in earth voltage (direct lightning strike) or after the 1^st fault: loss of reference for electronic devices.
• Circulation of permanent currents by capacitive coupling between live and earth conductors.

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2.3 TN-S

Advantages

• A single “source” and “load” voltage reference, the earth is not used as a conductor, and good equipotentiality of the exposed conductive parts.
• Low impedance of the protection circuit due to the need to carry high fault currents.

Disadvantages

• Specific installation rules and equipment (5 wires).
• Possible rejection of disturbance on the neutral if the equipotentiality is uncertain between the neutral and the Pe conductor or if their paths are different.
• High fault currents.
• Lightning strike giving differentiel mode overvoltage (dissymetry of the system).

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Source: Electrical energy supply by Legrand