Application of PSO-Methods for the Solution of the economic Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem

Abstract

The economically evaluated Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch (EORPD) is an adaptation of the classic Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch (ORPD) problem with a joint multicriteria and monetary evaluated objective function. The EORPD aims for the maximal utilization of both technical and economical optimization potential in the electric energy system (EES) by influencing the reactive power provision. Within a combined large-scale, integrated transmission and distribution grid (ITDG) model various investigation aspects (e.g. grid loss minimization), operational degrees of freedom (e.g. transformer tap setting) as well as hierarchical requirements (e.g. vertical reactive power exchange) are considered. This leads to a multicriteria objective function for which a suitable optimization method is of question. In this context, this paper analyses the application of three different particle swarm optimization (PSO) variants for the standardized solution of the EORPD as well as their ability to find a reliable solution of the proposed objective function. Beside this, the improvement potential of the proposed PSO variants regarding the computation time and the quality of results are evaluated. With this, a standardized assessment method for the evaluation of design concepts for the vertical reactive power exchange within a large scale ITDG and regarding several investigation aspects is targeted.