Hybrid DE/FFA algorithm applied for different optimal reactive power dispatch problems

ABSTRACT

Security and economy of a power system are optimised by controlling of reactive power dispatch from synchronous generators and var sources like SVCs installed in the system. Generator bus voltages, transformer tap positions and SVC settings are the control parameters in optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem. Generally, population-based optimisation algorithms are used for optimising the values of control variables. In this work, a hybrid version of bio inspired algorithm of firefly optimisation algorithm (FFA) is suggested for reactive power optimisation. This proposed DE/FFA-based algorithm mimics the mating behaviour of fireflies. The exploration capability of basic FFA is poor and is enhanced by hybridising with the differential evolution algorithm (DE). The strength of this algorithm is tested by comparing its performance with that of the other bio inspired algorithms like Biogeography Based Optimisation (BBO). The new method is tested on the IEEE-14 bus, IEEE-30 bus and IEEE-57 bus test systems. The results obtained are much encouraging.

KEYWORDS:

• Optimal reactive power dispatch
• differential evolution algorithm
• firefly algorithm
• loss minimisation
• hybrid DE/FFA algorithm
• reactive power flow

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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S. Sakthivel Padaiyatchi

S. Sakthivel Padaiyatchi received the Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Master Degree in Power Systems Engineering in 1999 and 2002, respectively. He obtained the Ph.D. Degree in Electrical Engineering faculty from Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India in 2014. Currently, He is a Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His research areas of interest are power system control, optimisation techniques, power system deregulation, FACTS and voltage stability improvement. He has published 48 papers in various internationally reputed journals.