Simulation and breakdown characteristics of china clay and silica sand for improved grounding system

Abstract

This paper comprises of portable grounding system for the safe operation of electrical system and to avoid the fatal accident related to electrical surges arises from fault current and lightning strokes. Grounding system is mainly affected by grounding resistance and nature of soil. During lightning strikes or short circuit surge arises grounding system should be capable of handling high current for short or prolong period. In conventional grounding system the material used are sand, salt and charcoal mixture. The disadvantages encountered in the use of conventional materials are dissipation in ground, high resistance and require deep digging of electrode. This paper investigates the electric field strength of proposed sample through FEA software. The tests are conducted to analyze the breakdown behavior of silica sand, china clay, bentonite and their mixture under alternating and direct current conditions. The electrical grounding system is made portable to provide low and acceptable resistance path for terrains where soil is not suitable for grounding system like forests, deserts and abnormal surfaces, eliminating the issue of deep digging of grounding electrodes.