International Journal of Applied Power Engineering (IJAPE)
Vol 15, No 3: September 2026

Analysis a mixtures of bentonite, palm kernel shell charcoal and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) for reducing grounding resistance using rod-type electrodes at varying soil depths

Ferry Rahmat Astianta Bukit (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Naemah Mubarakah (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Adrian Sinaga (Universitas Sumatera Utara)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Sep 2026

Abstract

A grounding system is an essential electrical safety mechanism designed to protect humans and equipment from disturbances such as lightning-induced surge currents or short circuits. It operates by channeling excess current into the ground through grounding electrodes, thereby reducing the risk of damage and hazards. High grounding resistance can compromise the dissipation of fault currents and overvoltages, leading to safety risks. This study focuses on reducing grounding resistance through chemical soil treatment using bentonite combined with a mixture of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) and palm shell charcoal. The optimal composition consists of 10% bentonite, 10% native soil, and 80% of the material mixture. Experiments were conducted at electrode depths of 30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm, and 110 cm. Results showed that the initial resistance of 312.5 Ω at 30 cm depth decreased to 86.1 Ω, and at 110 cm depth, resistance decreased from 186.5 Ω to 53.0 Ω. The average reduction reached 77.4%, indicating that this material combination is highly effective in lowering grounding resistance and improving system performance.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJAPE

Publisher

Subject

Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Description

International Journal of Applied Power Engineering (IJAPE) focuses on the applied works in the areas of power generation, transmission and distribution, sustainable energy, applications of power control in large power systems, etc. The main objective of IJAPE is to bring out the latest practices in ...