Chemical Earthing electrodes are Earthing electrodes which are used for Earthing applications in electrical system for Discharge of electrical current to the ground in case of insulation failure of equipment or fault current in the electrical system.

This Earthing electrode is used along with the mixture of Bentonite powder graphite and Carbon which is called chemical earthing or ground enhancement compound.

The Fault current which arises in the electrical system should be immediately discharged to the ground safely to avoid any injury or fatal.

Chemical Earthing electrodes are earthing electrodes Manufactured with superior quality of Mild Steel material which is further coated with zinc coating or copper bonding.

Chemical Earthing are further classified as Pipe Earthing and solid Earthing electrode.

Chemical Pipe earthing electrode is filled with backfill compound inside the pipe for reducing the resistivity of electrode as in conventional earthing we are using charcoal and salt for reducing the ground resistivity instead of this Ground enhancement compound is used in powder form this is a mixture of bentonite graphite and Carbon compounds also called chemical earthing compound or backfill compound (BFC) this are mixed with water forming a paste which is poured in the earth pits.

This compound are highly conductive which reduces the resistivity of ground which helps in quick discharge of fault current

Chemical earthing electrodes are maintenance free which does not required any watering this earthing has long life as compare to conventional earthing and very easy to install. 

What are the three types of earthing

Pipe earthing

Plate earthing

Solid Rod earthing

Chemical used in earthing

There are numerous available mixture used in chemical earthing this are carbon based or bentonite based with a mixture of graphite and other compounds.

Conductive cement is also present in some compounds. After installation, it hardens into a concrete that does not mix with the ground and is not washed away by water..

Which Material is best for earthing 

Copper is the material of choice for grounding, but is not often used due to its high cost.

Stainless steel rods are also used for earthing purpose

Mild steel which is galvanized and most cost effective used in earthing systems.

Copper bonded earthings are most commonly used and are a good replacement of pure copper earthing electrodes. They are most commonly used in replacement of pure copper.

Which Type of earthing is more efficient

Copper bonded strip in pipe earthing rod Commonly used in buildings, factories, CNC and printing machines, 

a copper bonded strip in the pipe of  larger-diameter and pipe 3m long ought to have a voltage between neutral and ground less than 3V for optimal performance, due to their low resistance.

Method to reduce electrode resistance.

Increasing the surface area of the rod by length and diameter 

To be Deeply driven inside the ground up to 3 meters or above have a great impact   in reducing the resistivity of ground for better result.

interconnection between 2 or more rods gives lower resistance.

Soil treatment to be done by using high Quality backfill compound.

Resistance is normally determined by soil conditions, which must be improved through proper design. 

CPRI tested Safeone earthing rods up to 35KA.

GI strip in pipe earthing rod with a diameter of 76mm was tested for 35KA RMS 1 second and 70KA Peak.

GI strip in pipe earthing rod with a diameter of 48mm tested for 20KA RMS 1 second and 44KA Peak.

Copper bonded strip in pipe rod with a diameter of 48mm tested for 25KA RMS 1 second and 50KA Peak.

Types of chemical earthing

GI earthing rod

Strip in pipe earthing rod

Pipe in Pipe earthing rod

Pure copper earthing rod

Copper bonded Solid earthing rod

Copper bonded earthing rod

GI Earthing rod

Galvanized iron earthing rods (GI) are zinc coated that helps to prevent corrosion.GI earthing rods are most economical and widely used.

Strip in pipe earthing rods are electrodes having pipe and strip GI strip inserted inside the pipe at the top of the strip terminal are welded to which earthing strip is connected.

Pipe in Pipe Earthing rod

Pipe in pipe earthing rods have an inner pipe surrounded by an external pipe.

These rods are very robust in construction Dual pipe increases the surface area of the rod capable of withstanding heavy short circuit current.

The inner pipe is covered by the outer pipe and is not exposed to the outside soil or in direct contact, so it will not rust.

Filled with conductive compound between pipes to withstand heavy short circuit current.

Can be customized as per requirement..

Sizes available 50mm and 80mm length 1/2/3 mtr   

Pure copper earthing rod.

Pure copper earthing rods are available in solid electrode or plate type.

They are much more costly then GI or copper bonded rods mostly used in high corrosive environments.

These rods are lifetime once installed properly.

Solid Earthing rod 

Solid earthing rod is light in weight and easy to install V clamp or T clamp welded on top for earthing strip connections.

The V clamp has 4 holes and the T clamp has 2 holes on both sides of the clamp for strip connections.

Copper coated on MS material up to 100 to 250 microns

Solid earthing rods can be driven deeply by using a coupler up to 3-6-9 mtr or deeper using a coupler on both ends of the rod.

This earthing can be customized as per the requirement 

Sizes available 14.2/17.2/25/32mm length 1/2/3 mtr.

Copper Bonded Earthing rods 

Copper bonded earthing rods are coated with a copper layer. that increases the conductivity and the life of earthing, it also increases the current carrying capacity of fault current.

Sizes available 50 mm and 80 mm length 1/2/3 mtr

Copper plating with thickness of 100 to 250 microns.                     

Price of chemical earthing 

Minimum price of GI earthing electrode for Diameter 50 mm length 2 mtr electrode will be around 1000 to 1200/-Rs copper bonded same size 1200-1400/-Rs.

Prices also depend on minimum order quantity to maximum order quantity.

Country of origin.

Advantages of chemical earthing as compared to conventional earthing.

Easy to  install.

More safety

Maintenance free.

No water required

Good conductivity,

Required less space. 

Low resistance.

Long life 

Withstand heavy fault current. 

Application

Panel room,meter room.

CNC machine

Transformers.

Electrical equipment.

Residential buildings.

Commercial buildings.

Lightning Arrester.

Factories.

Warehouses.

Electric Power Distribution System.

Over head lines

Substation.

DG SET

Telephone Tower.

Railways

Power lines 

IT server.

Rooftop Solar.

Data center

How to install chemical earthing rods.

A boring machine is used to install chemical earthing, and a tripod is used for drilling.

A hole of diameter 100-125mm is to be done by the machine, length of bore below the ground should be done according to the rod length After the drilling has been done earthing rod is inserted inside the bore. 

After the earthing rod is installed, it is backfilled with earth enhancement compound along with water forming a paste and poured into the bore hole. 

This mixture is poured into the bore until the space between the rod and bore area is filled with compound.

Manual installation can be done if the length of rod is 2mtr or less.

Testing of Earthing.

Testing for earthing rod is done using earth resistance tester. 3 point testing method are most commonly used

Rod  P1,E2,P2 has to be driven inside the ground with the same distance between them along with the installed or existing rod to be tested. 

Reading is measured in ohms which is displayed directly on the screen.

Good Earthing has a good path for flow of heavy current to the ground in case of fault current Which protects the system from breakdown.