Toward safe grounding to industrial plants saudi arabia case study

Grounding is probably the source of the greatest confusion in the understanding of electrical power distribution systems by many engineers and technicians. Many well- known standards are made to facilitate such understanding for safe operation of distribution networks. The purpose of grounding is "to limit voltages due to lightning, line surges or unintentional contact with higher voltage lines..." These three sources of dangerous overvoltage are provided with alternative paths around the electrical system of industrial plants, homes or workplaces by intentionally connecting the system to the earth. Different types of the grounding systems are required upon the system or type of building that will be grounded. For example, the grounding resistance of the industrial plant must be 1O or less required grounding grid while for normal (living building) is about 25 O and its grounding system consists of only the grounding rods. In practice, this proviso of the some codes only minimizes damage from such occurrences. That is why it is a statutory obligation, as well as a technical requirement that all parts of the electric power system in industrial plants should have effective connections to earth. This paper will provide grounding methods, designs, calculations, and means to safely conduct short circuit current into the earth without exceeding any equipment limit, assure that personal in the vicinity of grounded facilities are not exposed to danger of electrical shock.