Evolutionary strategy technique to optimize the grounding grids design

A new application of charge simulation method (CSM) is used to calculate the grounding resistance (R_g), and the earth surface potential (ESP) due to discharging current into grounding grids. Optimization of the grounding grids design is an important issue to safeguard those people who working in the surrounding of grounded installations and satisfy the minimum cost of the design. Evolutionary strategy technique is used to get the optimization process. The basic design quantities of the grounding grids are the touch and step voltages as well as the design cost. These previous quantities depend on the grid dimensions, which are its side lengths and vertical rod length that connected to it. The dependence of the design quantities of the geometric parameters is given by field computation based on equivalent charges. Numerical example is introduced to explain the performance of this method to give valuable information about the grid parameters that satisfy optimization.