Optimal reactive power dispatch using water wave optimization algorithm

This paper presents water wave optimization (WWO) algorithm to solve the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem with the continuous and discrete control variables in power system. The ORPD problem is defined as a complex, discrete, constrained nonlinear combinatorial optimization problem. The WWO algorithm is utilized to find the optimized values of control variables such as generator voltages, tap positions of tap changing transformers and the amount of reactive compensation devices to achieve minimized value of active power losses. The WWO algorithm not only effectively avoids the shortcomings of local search and poor calculation accuracy, but also accelerates the convergence rate to find the global optimal solution. The WWO algorithm is implemented on standard IEEE 30-bus power system that is to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the WWO algorithm to tackle with the ORPD problem. Compared with other algorithms, the WWO algorithm can find the set of the optimal solutions of control variables. The simulation experiment indicates that the WWO algorithm has better overall performance to reduce the real power losses.