Effective field optimization of high voltage electrode surface by biogeography based algorithm

In high voltage engineering, optimization of electric field distribution is directly related with the design of high voltage electrode surface. Various field optimization techniques are in use and this paper presents a new method based on the biogeographically isolated habitats for the optimization of high voltage electrode surface. This new method is known as Biogeography Based Optimization (BBO) and is used to obtain the shape of electrode in such a way that it can produce a nearly uniform field distribution along the surface of the electrode. The developed optimization technique is demonstrated with an axisymmetric single phase high voltage electrode. To compute the electric field, Charge Simulation Method (CSM) is used. For better simulation accuracy the sensitive indicators like deviation angle and assignment factor are kept well within the assigned values. These factors affect the simulation accuracy to a greater extent as compare to the statistical data. The new BBO technique helps to keep the maximum stress at a minimum possible value along the high voltage electrode surface.