Grounding of Primary System for LV Networks

Abstract

Secondary or low-voltage (LV) networks are applied in many large cities throughout the U.S., and in some other countries. Various grounding schemes have been employed for the primary systems supplying these secondary networks. In this paper, characteristics of the different grounding schemes for the substation and primary feeders that supply the LV networks are reviewed. The impacts of primary system grounding on the ground fault currents, the unfaulted line-to-ground voltages, as well as the voltage sags in the LV network have been considered for the single line-to-ground fault on the primary. The differences between systems with network transformers having the delta- or grounded-wye-connected primary windings are discussed. The relationships between grounding characteristics and protection settings, including actual examples, have been documented.