Performance of ground enhancing compounds during the year

Abstract

Grounding resistance could be reduced significantly with the usage of ground enhancing compounds in lightning protection systems. This paper presents the results of a series of field measurements on commercially-available ground enhancing compounds. It is the aim of this study to assess the behavior of ground enhancing compounds, which are widely used in grounding systems, in order to decrease the grounding resistance value. It is well known that most of the rise of potential of the grounding rod is determined by the soil resistivity surrounding the grounding rod and the magnitude of the applied current. As a result, the lowest feasible grounding resistance value is desirable, in order to provide the lowest impede path for fault currents to be dispersed into the earth, in the shortest time possible. For this purpose, five grounding rods were driven, each one of them, in different ground enhancing compounds. The measurement results are presented in relation to time and to rainfall. Furthermore, several thoughts, comments and proposals are presented about: a) the use feasibility of ground enhancing compounds, b) the choice of the suitable compound, in relation with the cost and the achieved grounding resistance value, c) the time and weather conditions influence on ground enhancing compound behavior.