Earth has different resistivity in different places at different times, depending on the weather conditions, soil composition, ground water levels etc. These affect the resistivity of the soil by the virtue of varied amounts of dissolved electrovalent salts or electrolytes. Chemical earthing is a way of reducing the resistivity of soil, by putting in a known, large amount of electrovalent salt into the soil.
So, how do chemical earthing rods come into the entire process? A ‘chemical earthing pit’ of required depth is dug in the earth and filled with a standardized mixture of common salt (electrolyte) and charcoal. The earthing plate / rod is embedded in this mixture to a standard depth. The rod is made in compliance with the IEEE standards, using Copper and Steel as the main materials.
For choosing an earthing rod there are several selection criteria such as: corrosion resistance, diameter depending on the fault current, conductivity and others. There are several types of rods derived from copper and steel: copper-bonded, stainless-steel, solid copper, galvanized steel.
In a conventional earthing process, a plate usually of Copper or Galvanized Iron is used. So, as we know, the process of earthing is carried out to reduce the resistivity of the soil, there are some points, due to which having a conventional earthing system can be a daunting task. As the Copper/GI Rod is constantly in contact with the charcoal and salt used, it results in the metal corrosion. Also, it is a cumbersome process to install, and maintain the conventional earthing, owing to the regular maintenance of watering the chemical earthing pit. This pouring results in mud forming, making soil lose its utility.
That's why the process of a Chemical Earthing system is employed, which addresses these concerns, making it advantageous over conventional earthing.
Chemical earthing provides a wide range of benefits like :
1. Less space required
2. Less maintenance and water required
3. Regular inspection and maintenance not required
4. Less corrosion
5. Long life span (15-20 years) depending upon the soil and surrounding conditions
6. Cost effective
These factors play an important role in making chemical earthing electrodes a preferred choice. However, the greatest advantage of chemical earthing rods is it helps in maintaining ohmic values despite seasonal changes and water conditions. The presence of moisture maintains ionic solution around the earth electrode, thus results in faster dissipation of fault current.
So, this was about chemical earthing rods. Do you know, that this process helps in security of your places? We, at Atharva Infrastructures help in securing your homes with chemical earthing processes.
Atharva Infrastructures has its own copper bonded rods : The ACTROD. The standard length of the electrode is 10' (two 5' electrodes coupled with a coupler) usually but it can be increased in the multiples of 5 feet by adding the couplers and the electrodes. In addition to this, ACTRODS are also available in multiples of 4 feet, as it enables proper customization of the chemical earthing pit depth according to the type of structure to be earthed chemically.
ACTROD proves to be a highly dependable electrode with it’s powerful feature-packed specifications. It is designed in such a way that it proves to be an eco-friendly option, mainly to the soil around it owing to the corrosion resistance it provides.
Do you want to make sure you secure your places with a top-class chemical earthing system? We, at Atharva Infrastructures, help you achieve the level of security you require. Contact us to know more about the ACTROD.