My company recently got into a project that extracts landfill gas for use in power production. The landfill gas is extruded from the gas wells through the use of blowers or compressors. While visiting the landfills, I noticed that the blower equipment had not grounds, nor did the equipment skids. In my experience, I've seen grounding straps from the motor casing to the metal skid, and from the skid to either a grounding grid or, at a minimum, to a grounding rod. The installation contractor tells me that the installation meets electrical codes (he didn't say which ones), and that the equipment is grounded through the incoming power service. The drive for the blower is a variable frequency drive, that has suffered occassional damage when lightening is in the area. Shouldn't the equipment be grounded to the skid and the skid to ground?
Grounding of Industrial Equipment
- Thread starter nedquinn
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highkvoltage
Senior Member
Re: Grounding of Industrial Equipment
From what you posted the contractor is correct. If he ran an EGC from the panel/disconnect to the equipment it is protected.
From what you posted the contractor is correct. If he ran an EGC from the panel/disconnect to the equipment it is protected.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: Grounding of Industrial Equipment
The equipment grounding conductor run with the power conductors is all that is needed. The EGC is terminated on the electrical equipment, the metal to metal contact between the electrical equipment, the skid and the other equipment will provide bonding. There is no reason to make a connection to the earth or a grounding electrode system at the equipment.
Don
The equipment grounding conductor run with the power conductors is all that is needed. The EGC is terminated on the electrical equipment, the metal to metal contact between the electrical equipment, the skid and the other equipment will provide bonding. There is no reason to make a connection to the earth or a grounding electrode system at the equipment.
Don
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Grounding of Industrial Equipment
I would say that if the service itself is properly grounded and the equipment wiring has the proper equipment grounding conductors and proper bonding is made at the equipment, then additonal "Earthing" at the equipment itself will have little if any benefit at all. There is a possibility that you may acheive additional lighting protection, but that is not certain either.
I would say that if the service itself is properly grounded and the equipment wiring has the proper equipment grounding conductors and proper bonding is made at the equipment, then additonal "Earthing" at the equipment itself will have little if any benefit at all. There is a possibility that you may acheive additional lighting protection, but that is not certain either.
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