Grounding performance of hydrogel, silica gel and charcoal ash as additive material in grounding system

Grounding enhancement materials (GEMs) are one of the additive materials which can change the grounding performance without lots of significant costs. The study aimed to assess the performance of laterite and peat soil, copper and galvanized conductors, and determine the effectiveness of additional materials in reducing grounding resistance. Altering soil characteristics can enhance the conductor's contact area, achieving lower grounding resistance without high costs. Hydrogel, silica gel, and charcoal ash were mixed with soil for testing. Grounding resistance values were measured and collected using the Fall-of-Potential Method using Kyoritsu Earth-Tester-Model-4102. The number of GEMs used were 300g and 600g. Hydrogel, silica gel, and charcoal ash added to soil reduced grounding resistance. Among the various Ground Enhancement Materials (GEMs) tested, hydrogel exhibited the most impressive performance, boasting the lowest grounding resistance at just 56% compared to the reference grounding system. Silica gel followed closely as the second-best performer, with an average grounding resistance of 77% relative to the reference system and lastly is charcoal ash with an average grounding resistance of 77% relative to the reference system. These GEMs significantly enhanced soil conductivity. Furthermore, when considering different soil types and conductor materials, it was observed that peat soil combined with galvanized conductors achieved notably lower grounding resistance in comparison to laterite soil and copper conductors, respectively.