What is the purpose of grounding in a substation?

Grounding in a substation serves several critical purposes, with personnel protection being one of the foremost. The grounding system is designed to minimize the risk of electric shock to workers by offering a low-resistance path for fault currents to flow to the earth. This helps to ensure that any unintended electrical faults, such as short circuits or equipment failure, do not present a danger to individuals who may be working near or with the electrical equipment.

Furthermore, proper grounding helps to maintain the stability of the power system by facilitating the operation of protective devices. In the event of a fault, a well-grounded system allows circuit breakers and fuses to operate correctly, disconnecting the faulty equipment from the power source and reducing the risk of injury.

While enhancing the power supply, connecting circuits, and measuring power flow are all essential aspects of a substation's functionality, they do not directly address the critical safety concerns that grounding is specifically designed to mitigate. Grounding is an integral part of the safety infrastructure that protects both the equipment and the personnel who operate within the substation environment.