Application of Ant Colony System to Optimal Thermal Unit Commitment

This study conducted optimal thermal unit commitment (UC) of power systems by using an ant colony system (ACS). Optimal thermal UC involves scheduling the on/off status and real power outputs of generating units at each hour and minimizing the system”s daily total production cost while satisfying all constraints. First, the system”s loss coefficients were obtained by considering transmission line loss and the optimal amounts of each unit were identified through economic dispatch with losses; furthermore., the ACS was applied to acquire the optimal generation schedule. An IEEE 30-bus power system was simulated using the ACS, which yielded excellent results.