Differential evolution approach for contingency constrained reactive power planning

Abstract EN

This paper presents a Differential Evolution (DE) approach for solving the contingency constrained optimal Reactive Power Planning (RPP) problem.

Differential evolution is a simple population based algorithm with the ability in searching global optimum solution of non-linear and non convex optimization problems.

While solving the RPP problem using Differential Evolution, the voltage magnitudes are taken as continuous variables, whereas the transformer tap setting and the reactive power generation of capacitor are taken as discrete variables.

The proposed algorithm has been applied to find the optimal reactive power control variables in IEEE 30-bus system, 76 bus Indian system and IEEE 57-bus system under normal and contingency states.

The results are promising and show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach.