Grounding systems enhancement using biodegradable waste soil additives: Measurement and analysis

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Grounding systems are critical for safety and reliability of structures, protecting against faults and lightning.
• Efficient grounding requires low-resistance pathways, often achieved using grounding enhancement materials (GEMs).
• Existing GEMs include chemical agents, natural substances, and waste-derived alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate new biodegradable waste materials as GEMs.
• To develop a metrological framework for assessing grounding system effectiveness.
• To improve the performance and sustainability of grounding systems.

Main Methods:

• Five grounding system installations were created using local materials in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
• Materials tested included palm oil decanter cake (DC), wash ash with sea sand (WS), coconut shell charcoal (CC), and palm oil mesocarp fibre (POMF).
• The fall-of-potential (FOP) method with specific configurations was used to monitor resistance over six months, comparing to native soil (NS).

Main Results:

• Coconut shell charcoal (CC) and palm oil decanter cake (DC) demonstrated the highest performance among the tested biodegradable materials.
• Post-installation treatments, such as activated-carbon slurry for CC and decanter-cake slurry for DC, further enhanced resistance.
• The study validated that biodegradable GEMs significantly improve grounding resistance over time, outperforming native soil.

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable waste materials, particularly CC and DC, offer a viable, low-cost, and environmentally responsible method for enhancing grounding system resistance.
• The findings contribute to measurement science by validating the long-term effectiveness of these sustainable GEMs.
• This research provides practical solutions for improving the safety and reliability of electrical infrastructure.