Collective animal behavior algorithm for optimal reactive power dispatch problems

This paper proposes collective animal behavior (CAB) algorithm for solving optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem of power systems. Typically, ORPD is defined as the minimization of active power transmission losses and/or total voltage deviation (TVD) of load buses by controlling a number of control variables such as settings of generator voltages, tap positions of tap changing transformers and amount of reactive compensation. In this paper, CAB algorithm has been applied for this optimization problem of power systems. It has been applied to three standard power networks like IEEE 30-, 57- and 118-bus test power systems with the above objectives. Both economical (in the form of minimization of active power loss) as well as technical (in the form of minimization of TVD) benefits arisen are presented in this paper.