Determination of Appropriate Soil Models and Parameters for the Grounding System of High-Voltage Substations Using Kronecker- Sequenced Genetic Algorithms

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 185 - 196, 30.10.2025

Barış Gürsu

https://doi.org/10.5152/tepes.2025.25026

https://izlik.org/JA98PS68AG

Abstract

Accurate estimation of a suitable soil model and its parameters from field resistivity measurements, as well as the apparent soil resistivity based on this model, is vital for the reliable design of grounding systems in substations with high voltage. In this study, the two-layer soil model parameters are estimated based on The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards using Kronecker sequenced genetic algorithms (GAs), with lower error values compared to those in the literature. The estimated parameters are upper and lower layer soil resistivities and upper layer depth. Furthermore, grounding grids are individually designed for both uniform and two-layer soil models using Kronecker-sequenced GAs. The design parameters are the number of rods, meshes, and grid burial depth. In the grounding grid designs, in addition to safety requirements, cost minimization is a key objective. Subsequently, the uniform soil model design parameters have been applied to the two-layer soil model, and the two-layer soil model design parameters to the uniform soil model. This approach enabled the assessment of whether the grounding grid design parameters obtained for one soil model type (uniform or two-layer soil models) could satisfy safety criteria when applied to the other. Thus, conclusions are drawn on the suitability and reliability of uniform and two-layer soil models for grounding system design. In this study, without using very expensive commercial software, Kronecker-sequenced GAs are employed for the estimation of two-layer soil model parameters and the apparent soil resistivity corresponding to the uniform soil model, the grounding grid design, and the evaluation of soil model suitability.

Keywords

Appropriate soil model and parameters , genetic algorithms , Kronecker sequence , two-layer soil model , uniform soil model

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