What primarily limits the circulating current flow in a deenergized circuit with bracket grounds installed?

The primary factor that limits circulating current flow in a deenergized circuit with bracket grounds installed is earth resistance. When a circuit is deenergized, any currents that may circulate due to faults or other conditions tend to flow through the grounding system, and the effectiveness of this grounding is heavily influenced by the resistance of the earth itself.

If the earth resistance is high, it will limit the amount of current that can flow through the ground path because the resistance provides an impedance to the flow of electrical current. Conversely, lower earth resistance would allow more current to flow. This relationship is critical when considering the safety and functionality of grounding systems, especially in substation environments where fault currents can create significant risks.

Other factors like voltage drop, capacitance, and wire gauge are indeed relevant in various electrical scenarios; however, in this specific case involving ground connections and the limiting of circulating currents, earth resistance plays the most critical role.