Grounding electrode and method of reducing the electrical resistance of soils

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863528

Koehmstedt, Paul L ^[1]

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1. Richland, WA

A first solution of an electrolyte is injected underground into a volume of soil having negative surface charges on its particles. A cationic surfactant suspended in this solution neutralizes these surface charges of the soil particles within the volume. Following the first solution, a cationic asphalt emulsion suspended in a second solution is injected into the volume. The asphalt emulsion diffuses through the volume and electrostatically bonds with additional soil surrounding the volume such that an electrically conductive water repellant shell enclosing the volume is formed. This shell prevents the leaching of electrolyte from the volume into the additional soil. The second solution also contains a dissolved deliquescent salt which draws water into the volume prior to the formation of the shell. When electrically connected to an electrical installation such as a power line tower, the volume constitutes a grounding electrode for the tower.

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4192963
• OSTI ID: 863528
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

grounding
electrode
method
reducing
electrical
resistance
soils
solution
electrolyte
injected
underground
volume
soil
negative
surface
charges
particles
cationic
surfactant
suspended
neutralizes
following
asphalt
emulsion
diffuses
electrostatically
bonds
additional
surrounding
electrically
conductive
water
repellant
shell
enclosing
formed
prevents
leaching
contains
dissolved
deliquescent
salt
draws
prior
formation
connected
installation
power
line
tower
constitutes
surface charge
power line
electrically conductive
electrical resistance
electrically connected
shell enclosing
surface charges
soil particles
cationic surfactant
/174/106/252/405/