karl riley
Senior Member
I have been told that in Utah and Alaska there still are power lines going to remote areas where the earth is used as the only neutral return path, obviously to save the cost of the neutral conductor.
I asked the electrical engineer (mining) how they overcame the impedance of using the earth path. He mumbled something about adjusting the voltage and went to another topic.
OK, I am told that studies show that earth itself has a negligible impedance due to the infinite available return paths, all in parallel. So the impedance is from the grounding electrode to earth. So to lessen this impedance one could have an extensive system of electrodes at the remote location to lower impedance.
But what about raising the neutral voltage to overcome the remaining impedance? Would this not occur automatically at the remote location? And would it not present a hazard to humans if they stand on the ground and touch a neutral connection?
Opinions? (I am writing a chapter on earth conductivity and need to get some feedback).
Karl
I asked the electrical engineer (mining) how they overcame the impedance of using the earth path. He mumbled something about adjusting the voltage and went to another topic.
OK, I am told that studies show that earth itself has a negligible impedance due to the infinite available return paths, all in parallel. So the impedance is from the grounding electrode to earth. So to lessen this impedance one could have an extensive system of electrodes at the remote location to lower impedance.
But what about raising the neutral voltage to overcome the remaining impedance? Would this not occur automatically at the remote location? And would it not present a hazard to humans if they stand on the ground and touch a neutral connection?
Opinions? (I am writing a chapter on earth conductivity and need to get some feedback).
Karl