Abstract—This paper presents Improved Great Deluge Algorithm (IGDA) for solving the multi-objective reactive power dispatch problem. Modal analysis of the system is used for static voltage stability assessment. Loss minimization and maximization of voltage stability margin are taken as the objectives. Generator terminal voltages, reactive power generation of the capacitor banks and tap changing transformer setting are taken as the optimization variables. Like other local search approaches, this approach also replaces common solution (New_Config) with best results (Best_Config) that have been found by then. This action continues until stop conditions is provided. In this algorithm, new solutions are selected from neighbours. Selection strategy is different from other approaches. In order to evaluate the proposed algorithm, it has been tested on IEEE 30 bus system and compared to other algorithms reported those before in literature. Results show that IGDA is more efficient than others for solution of single-objective ORPD problem.

Index Terms—modal analysis, optimal reactive power, transmission loss, improved great deluge algorithm (IGDA), optimization

Cite: K. Lenin, B. Ravindranath Reddy, and M. Surya Kalavathi, "An Improved Great Deluge Algorithm (IGDA) for Solving Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem," International Journal of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 321-326, December 2014. doi: 10.12720/ijeee.2.4.321-326