What is electrolytic grounding?
What does the system consist of?
The main element in the device is a hollow electrode, which has the shape of a pipe in the form of L (in the figure it is marked with the number 1).
It is installed in the soil to a depth of one meter (soil piercing zone) and is filled with a special mixture that includes mineral salts. 2 - this is a special well that facilitates the work. 3 - clamp, with which the electrode and the grounding conductor are connected. 4 - waterproofing tape, which protects against moisture on the ground and prevents corrosion.
The photo clearly shows what the ground electrode looks like:
Principle of operation
The device operates on the basis of chemical reactions that increase the electrical conductivity of the soil. Electrolytic grounding conditionally works by the following mechanism:
- The mixture, which is poured into a full electrode, absorbs water from the environment through special openings in the device.
- The reaction of water with salt takes place and as a result an electrolyte is formed, which seeps into the soil. Thanks to this mixture, the soil becomes more conductive and less prone to freezing.
This reaction occurs regardless of the temperature of the environment and soil.
Application Feature
During a decrease in the freezing temperature of the soil, a talik zone forms near the device. It can be dangerous for the foundations of buildings, objects and pavement that are nearby. The talik zone has an oval shape and its size on the soil surface is 3x6 meters.
When designing, it is necessary to take this fact into account and install electrolytic grounding at a certain distance from objects and buildings, to which it can cause damage and harm.
Grounding Benefits
If we compare standard grounding conductors, then electrolytic has a number of advantages, namely:
- Installation of the structure is quick and convenient, since the pipe with electrolyte is small and does not require large earthworks. This unit can be installed without the help of professionals, with your own hands.
- The mixture inside the electrolyte does not react immediately, thereby maintaining a constant electrolytic balance in the soil.
- The product resulting from the reaction is not dangerous and will not lead to corrosion on the metal structural elements.
- The duration of the reaction allows its use up to 15 years.
Such a grounding circuit, despite many advantages, is used in special cases where it is not possible to install a conventional ground electrode. This is due to the high cost of the kit.
Calculation Method
Electrolytic grounding can be calculated using the following formula:
Where:
- C is the electrolyte availability coefficient;
- p - soil resistivity;
- L is the length of the grounding device (measured in meters);
- d is the diameter of the ground electrode;
- T - deepening (distance from the ground electrode to the soil surface).
Terms of Service
Care and maintenance of the electrode does not bring much trouble, since it is not difficult. Care consists in the following: once for several years it is necessary to open the electrode cover, and also to determine the level of the salt mixture in the structure. In the case of complete conversion of the mixture into an electrolyte, electrolytic grounding should be filled with the required amount of salt.
This is the essence of the service. The electrode is able to charge for many years (up to 15 years of service). Therefore, the first inspection is recommended after a given period of time.
Finally, we recommend watching a video that demonstrates how to make electrolytic grounding with your own hands:
So we examined the device, purpose and installation rules of electrolytic grounding. We hope the instruction was useful and interesting for you!
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