Performance of bentonite, kenaf and pine wood mixtures as grounding enhancement materials

The aim of this work is to analyze the effectiveness of Bentonite, Kenaf and Pine Wood mixtures as enhancement materials for grounding system purposes. Grounding systems are designed to dissipate high-magnitude fault currents to Earth and provide safety to persons working in or living near power system installations. They are also necessary to protect equipment from being damaged caused by lightning strikes. The safety and reliable operation of various applications in an electrical system is highly depending on the effectiveness of the grounding system installed which could be achieved with a low resistance path, and this can be obtained by employing grounding enhancement materials to the surrounding soil of the installation site. Hence, this is highlighted in this work where NEM mixtures grounding systems were installed at a site near to SGS, UPM with a high resistivity soil profile. Kenaf is a natural fiber that has been shown to be effective in improving the performance of grounding systems as it has a high conductivity and a high dielectric constant. This means that it can carry electrical current well and it can also store electrical energy. Kenaf is also a relatively inexpensive material, which makes it a cost-effective option. The unique properties of Bentonite, a clay material, and Pine wood, a natural insulator, make them promising options for improving grounding systems. Six grounding systems were installed with 100% Bentonite, 100% Pine, Bentonite and Pine Mix, Bentonite and Kenaf Mix, Pine and Kenaf Mix, and Reference grounding systems. A comparison was made between them using daily measured earth resistance from 2nd March 2023 until 10th July 2023, i.e. for 130 days. It was found that mixtures of Bentonite and Pine Wood performed better than the 100% Bentonite.

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