Optimization of Reactive Power using Colonial Algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents the algorithm to optimize the
reactive power using colonial behavior of the ants. The reactive power
problem has become a major threat and has been given much of
importance since many blackouts occurred in USA and some
European countries. The reactive power is essential to drive the active
or real power that is needed on the load side. Especially the generator
and transformer loads require reactive power for efficient functioning.
But excess amount of the reactive power increases the loss as it
contributes nothing to the load. The voltage profile is made as the
major concern and it is modified using the proposed algorithm in order
to minimize the loss. In this proposal of ant colonization algorithm, the
particle taken to consideration interacts with its surroundings and its
neighboring particles. Thereby the particle is updated periodically. By
this phenomena the power flow problem at various points are updated
periodically from which the optimization is being performed. Though
various other algorithms have dealt with the same issue the ant
algorithm provides a better result at higher convergence rate with
better voltage profile. The developed algorithm deals with IEEE 14
bus system.