Optimal power flow using particle swarm optimization

This paper presents an efficient and reliable evolutionary-based approach to solve the optimal power flow (OPF) problem. The proposed approach employs particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm for optimal settings of OPF problem control variables. Incorporation of PSO as a derivative-free optimization technique in solving OPF problem significantly relieves the assumptions imposed on the optimized objective functions. The proposed approach has been examined and tested on the standard IEEE 30-bus test system with different objectives that reflect fuel cost minimization, voltage profile improvement, and voltage stability enhancement. The proposed approach results have been compared to those that reported in the literature recently. The results are promising and show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.