Finding Solutions for Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem by a Novel Improved Antlion Optimization Algorithm

Zelan Li,Thang Trung Nguyen,Le Van Dai,Yijia Cao,Xiaoliang Yang

doi:10.3390/en12152968

Abstract

In this paper, a novel improved Antlion optimization algorithm (IALO) has been proposed for solving three different IEEE power systems of optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem. Such three power systems with a set of constraints in transmission power networks such as voltage limitation of all buses, limitations of tap of all transformers, maximum power transmission limitation of all conductors and limitations of all capacitor banks have given a big challenge for global optimal solution search ability of the proposed method. The proposed IALO method has been developed by modifying new solution generation technique of standard antlion optimization algorithm (ALO). By optimizing three single objective functions of systems with 30, 57 and 118 buses, the proposed method has been demonstrated to be more effective than ALO in terms of the most optimal solution search ability, solution search speed and search stabilization. In addition, the proposed method has also been compared to other existing methods and it has obtained better results than approximately all compared ones. Consequently, the proposed IALO method is deserving of a potential optimization tool for solving ORPD problem and other optimization problems in power system optimization fields.

Highlights

Optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) is an important optimization operation problem in power system field
For investigating the capability of solving the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem as well as the robustness of the proposed improved Antlion optimization algorithm (IALO) in finding high quality solutions, three different standard IEEE power systems have been used as study cases for comparisons
The proposed IALO method has been applied for dealing with three systems of ORPD problem with 30, 57 and 118 buses

Summary

Introduction

Optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) is an important optimization operation problem in power system field. ORPD can enable power systems to work stably and economically by setting the most appropriate parameters for electric components such as tap changer value of transformers, reactive power generation of capacitors and voltage magnitude of generators. The ORPD problem considers all constraints from these components and other components in a real transmission power network such as reactive power generation limitation and voltage magnitude of generators at electric power plants, reactive power generation limitations of capacitors, working voltage of loads and apparent power limitation of feeders. Compared to optimal power flow (OPF) problem, ORPD problem considers active power generation of electric power plants as known parameters. ORPD problem has played a very highly important role for the case that active power flow in transmission power network is highly effective but reactive power flow currently cause negative impact on loads or other components.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion