Safety parameters at an electric power plant in case of the grounding device´ elements failures

Grounding provides safety and in some cases a return circuit for load currents and also an uniform distribution of the voltage on the surface of the earth at power plants. If grounding conductors are damaged, it may cause unintended protective relay operation causing feeders to be tripped. It can also result in failure of the grounding device itself, secondary circuits´ cables, structural elements and a hazardous voltages appearance. The circuits may attain unacceptable voltages when short-circuit fault currents occur in these devices. This paper proposes analysis of possible changes of the grounding devices´ potential distribution under malfunctions of electric power plants and damaged horizontal elements presence. The information described in the article can be referred to an electric power plant with the grounding device made as a grid with a number of meshes in it.