Optimal reactive power dispatch using a hybrid formulation: genetic algorithms and interior point

This paper proposes a hybrid formulation to solve the problem of optimal reactive power dispatch using genetic algorithms (GAs) combined with the nonlinear method of interior point (IP). GAs are computational models that mimics natural evolution and genetics by the combinations of the concepts of adaptive selection and the survival of the fittest principle. The main peculiarity of GAs is dealing with binary, integer and discrete variables. The IP method has the attractive feature of dealing with nonconvergent power flow. In this composite formulation, IF represents the real variables, such as generator voltage and OLTC tap, while the GA represents the binary variable, i.e. bank of capacitors and reactors. The proposed formulation is applied to an equivalent of an area of the Southeastern Brazilian system and to the IEEE 118 bus test system and the results are presented and discussed.