Analisis Campuran Bentonit, Arang Cangkang Kelapa Sawit Dan Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) Untuk Mereduksi Resistansi Pentanahan Jenis Elektroda Batang Pada Variasi Kedalaman Tanah

Abstract

A grounding system is an electrical safety mechanism designed to protect both humans and equipment from disturbances such as surge currents caused by lightning or short circuits. This system functions by directing excess current into the ground through grounding electrodes, thereby minimizing the risk of damage and hazard. High grounding resistance can pose significant risks to electrical equipment and human safety due to fault currents or overvoltage. Therefore, a grounding system with low resistance is essential to ensure the effective dissipation of fault currents into the earth. This study aims to reduce grounding resistance through chemical treatment of soil using bentonite as an additive, along with a material mixture composed 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 four electrode depth variations: 30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm, and 110 cm. The results indicate that the initial soil resistance of 312.5 Ω at a depth of 30 cm was reduced to 86.1 Ω after treatment, and at a depth of 110 cm, the resistance decreased from 186.5 Ω to 53.0 Ω. The average reduction in resistance reached 77.4%. These findings demonstrate that the combination of bentonite, magnesium sulfate and palm shell charcoal is significantly effective in lowering grounding resistance and enhancing the performance of the grounding system