An electrical grounding system can include an electrically conductive column configured for communication with a fault current source, wherein the electrically conductive column can include an open-ended copper tube, and carbon fiber fabric assembled onto at least a portion of the electrically conductive column, the carbon fiber fabric having a conductive relationship with at least a portion of the electrically conductive column.

A fast earthing switch device for HV applications which includes a gas-tight casing, a movable contact connectable to and unconnectable from a fixed contact. The movable contact is linearly movable between an open position and a closed position. The device further includes an operating mechanism for the movable contact and is characterized in that the operating mechanism includes an actuating spring actuating a closing operation of the movable contact from the open position to the closed position, at least a driving lever mounted on an operating shaft actuating an opening operation of the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, the driving lever also partially reloading the actuating spring during the opening operation, the operating mechanism further includes coupling means operatively coupling the driving lever to the movable contact.

A fast earthing switch device for HV applications which includes a gas-tight casing, a movable contact connectable to and unconnectable from a fixed contact. The movable contact is linearly movable between an open position and a closed position. The device further includes an operating mechanism for the movable contact and is characterized in that the operating mechanism includes an actuating spring actuating a closing operation of the movable contact from the open position to the closed position, at least a driving lever mounted on an operating shaft actuating an opening operation of the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, the driving lever also partially reloading the actuating spring during the opening operation, the operating mechanism further includes coupling means operatively coupling the driving lever to the movable contact.

An electrical grounding system can include an electrically conductive column configured for communication with a fault current source, wherein the electrically conductive column can include an open-ended copper tube, and carbon fiber fabric assembled onto at least a portion of the electrically conductive column, the carbon fiber fabric having a conductive relationship with at least a portion of the electrically conductive column.

A fast earthing switch device for HV applications which includes a gas-tight casing, a movable contact connectable to and unconnectable from a fixed contact. The movable contact is linearly movable between an open position in which it is spaced apart from the fixed contact and a closed position in which it is connected to the fixed contact and vice versa. The device further includes an operating mechanism for the movable contact and is characterized in that the operating mechanism includes an actuating spring actuating a closing operation of the movable contact from the open position to the closed position, at least a driving lever mounted on an operating shaft actuating an opening operation of the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, the driving lever also partially reloading the actuating spring during the opening operation, the operating mechanism further includes coupling means operatively coupling the driving lever to the movable contact.

A fast earthing switch device for HV applications which includes a gas-tight casing, a movable contact connectable to and unconnectable from a fixed contact. The movable contact is linearly movable between an open position in which it is spaced apart from the fixed contact and a closed position in which it is connected to the fixed contact and vice versa. The device further includes an operating mechanism for the movable contact and is characterized in that the operating mechanism includes an actuating spring actuating a closing operation of the movable contact from the open position to the closed position, at least a driving lever mounted on an operating shaft actuating an opening operation of the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, the driving lever also partially reloading the actuating spring during the opening operation, the operating mechanism further includes coupling means operatively coupling the driving lever to the movable contact.

A method of installing an electrical grounding system at a site can comprise the steps of inserting a hollow electrode into a hole formed into native soil at the site, the hollow electrode comprising an electrically conductive tube configured for communication with a fault current source, and a carbon fiber layer in conductive relationship with at least a portion of the electrically conductive tube; positioning the hollow electrode in the hole circumferentially around a ground member driven into native soil at a bottom of the hole; and electrically interconnecting the ground member and the hollow electrode.

An electrical grounding system can include an electrically conductive column configured for communication with a fault current source and a carbon fiber layer in conductive relationship with at least a portion of the electrically conductive column. The system can also include a salt replenishment tube configured for attachment to a ground member, the salt replenishment tube having a tube wall defining a weep hole. The system can further include electrolytic fill disposed within a column chamber at least partially-defined by the electrically-conductive column, the electrolytic fill comprising a material configured to conduct at least a portion of any fault current received by the ground member radially outwardly from the ground member. The system can further include a bus bar comprising electrically-interconnected bus bar connectors, wherein the bus bar electrically communicates with the electrically conductive column and with the fault current source.

A method of installing an electrical grounding system at a site can comprise the steps of inserting a hollow electrode into a hole formed into native soil at the site, the hollow electrode comprising an electrically conductive tube configured for communication with a fault current source, and a carbon fiber layer in conductive relationship with at least a portion of the electrically conductive tube; positioning the hollow electrode in the hole circumferentially around a ground member driven into native soil at a bottom of the hole; and electrically interconnecting the ground member and the hollow electrode.

A shorting device for facilitating the grounding of a converter to which a plurality of sub modules is connected in series. The device includes: a moving rod (40) provided on a main frame (10) on which sub modules (S) are provided, and moving in the direction traversing the sub modules (S); and contactors (50) provided at the moving rod (40) to be electrically connected to each sub module outer casing (1) according to the movement of the moving rod (40). In addition, a connection means (C) electrically connects the contactor (50), the sub module outer casing (1), and another adjacent sub module outer casing (1) to enable simultaneous grounding thereof. This invention connects the sub module outer casings (1), which form the converter, through the operation of the shorting device to ground the sub modules (S).