A search group algorithm for optimal voltage regulation in power systems

Optimal Reactive Power Flow (ORPF) is one of the most fundamental and widely used tools in modern smart grids for improving the power system performance in terms of both operation cost and quality of service. This result is obtained by identifying the optimal set points of the voltage controllers, which improve the bus voltage profiles, minimise the regulation costs, and satisfy the power equipment constraints. In this context, the application of traditional optimisation methods is often complicated by the presence of multiple local minima, which could affect the performance and the convergence of iterative methods. To address this issue the adoption of evolutionary based paradigms has been recognised as one of the most promising enabling methodologies. Armed with such a vision, in this paper a novel solution method based on Search Group Algorithm (SGA) is proposed to solve the ORPF problem. As demonstrated by detailed experimental studies, which have been performed on IEEE 57-bus and 118-bus test power systems, the proposed evolutionary approach outperforms state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms. © 2016 IEEE.