This paper deals with the minimization problem of a function
cost depending on the large number of parameters. Indeed, three
heuristic optimization techniques, namely, HPSGAO (as a novel
method), GAO, and PSO have been successfully employed to
conceive a safe and economic grounding system for the future
power plant located at Labreg (Khenchela City, Algeria). The
main objective is to minimize the total cost of different materials
related to conductors, rods, gravel, excavation, and installation.
The new cost function we have proposed includes the number
of conductors, conductor dimension, grid depth, number of rods,
length of rods, as well as total area of excavation and revetment.
For all population sizes, the cost obtained by the HPSGAO technique
is lower than that found by using GAO and PSO methods.
Consequently, the HPSGAO technique offers global minimum
cost. These results indicated the effectiveness of HPSGAO to
design the economic grounding grid. Good agreement has been
obtained when comparing the HPSGAO technique safety parameters
to CYMGrd code ones. This ascertainment confirms
the validity of established program(s).