Influence of the use of ground enhancement materials on the reduction of electrical resistivity in grounding systems: a review

Abstract

A grounding system (GS) is an indispensable component in an electrical system network, as it is responsible for conducting electrical discharges to the ground due to faults caused by lightning strikes or transient system failures. Globally, it is estimated that 40 lightning strikes occur per second on the planet, amounting to around 1.2 billion per year, resulting in daily losses of various electrical equipment and human fatalities ranging from 6,000 to 24,000. Additionally, soil resistivity, which impedes the flow of electricity from electrical discharges into the ground, leads to inadequate mitigation of electrical overload effects, resulting in poor GS performance. Consequently, the implementation of ground enhancement materials (GEMs) to reduce impedance to optimal levels becomes necessary. The objective of this review is to broadly examine the current status of GEMs reported in the literature for use in GS, focusing on their composition and their effectiveness in improving soil conductivity and dissipating electrical currents as well as to identify emerging trends and current challenges in the development and application of these materials, in order to provide information to guide future research in the design and implementation of efficient and safe GS.