Grounding cables transfer electricity from a charged system to the earth. This prevents dangerous electrical discharge that could potentially ignite flammable products. In industries like tank trailer petroleum transport, static grounding cables are a necessity.
Grounding cables are an essential element of electrical safety. They prevent dangerous electrical discharges in a variety of industrial settings, such as chemical plants, grain elevators, and petroleum refueling. In these locations, a grounding cable can be the difference between a safe workspace and a catastrophic mistake.
How Does a Grounding Cable Work?
Basically, grounding cables transfer electrical energy from a system to the earth. When there is a surge in electrical power, there can be a dangerous discharge. This electrical discharge can potentially ignite flammable materials or injure operators. By using the earth as an electrical sink, the grounding cable safely transfers the excess energy into the ground.
In fuel transportation situations, grounding cables function by grounding the tank trailer to the earth. Pumping fuel through couplings and hoses can generate static, which becomes an electric hazard. Without a grounding cable, the static electricity could discharge and ignite the fuel or fuel vapors. By connecting the tanker to the earth, the electricity safely flows through the cable and will not discharge into the air.
What Are the Types of Grounding Cables?
Grounding cables are typically made from copper. Furthermore, some are built from solid copper for excellent conductivity, while others have braided wire for increased flexibility. Also, some are copper coated with a thin layer of tin, which is ideal for highly corrosive environments.
Although many grounding cables are short and simple, tank trailers often use grounding reels. These are lengths of cables rolled up into reels, which deploy from the tanker or nearby hardware. This allows operators to easily manipulate the cables and quickly connect them.
Here at Littlejohn, we sell static grounding reels from Hannay. The durable oven-cured enamel finish and galvanized carbon steel cable ensure they function on challenging worksites. Also, the cable guide and sturdy reels allows for some operation with minimal cable pull. These reels are ideal for tank trailers, but work superbly in other industrial settings such as hazmat operations.
Conclusion
A valuable piece of safety equipment in countless workplaces, grounding cables come in many shapes and sizes. In the tank trailer industry, these cables help discharge the build up of static electricity from fluid transfer. Typically, hose reels are the industry choice for tank trailer applications because of their ease of use. If you're operating a tank trailer, especially in the petroleum industry, a high quality static grounding reel is an essential piece of equipment.
