Optimization of grounding system of 60/30 kV substation of Ain El-Melh using particle swarm

This paper presents an optimum grounding grid design for the substation of Ain El-Melh (situated in M'Sila city, Algeria) using particle swarm particle technique. The aim is to minimize the cost of the considered grounding system in accordance with the security restrictions required by the ANSI/IEEE Std. 80-2000, taking into account as constraints the limitations of touch and step voltages as well as the grounding resistance. A new mathematical model has been proposed for the cost function. This later includes number of conductors, conductor dimension, grid depth, number of rods, length of rods, total area of excavation and revetment. The results so obtained were confronted to those found using the calculation code CYMGrd. A good concordance has been obtained.