METHOD FOR BURYING GROUND ELECTRODES IN PERMAFROST EARTH Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: grounding high-voltage pieces of equipment, intermediate links, power supplies, and communication lines. SUBSTANCE: ground electrode is proposed to be placed in thin conducting layer having resistivity of 10-100 Ohm-m and thickness of 0.1-5 m in permafrost earth at depth of 3.5 to 20 m where low resistance is maintained all the year round. Method involves following operations: search for desired layer using high-frequency electromagnetic probing from earth surface; provision for access to layer through hole, trench, or well; placement of ground electrode in the form of plate or disk in layer within its area. Ground electrode placed in this way in permafrost zone has resistance of 0.5-10 Ohm and this parameter is not subject to great seasonal variations. EFFECT: reduced resistance of ground elements in poorly conducting earth. 2 dwg