Combined Heuristic and Evolutionary Metaheuristic Technique Applied to Reactive Power and Voltage Control in Algerian Western Network.

This paper presents the new technique combined of heuristic and metaheuristic optimization to the solution of the reactive power and voltage control problem. Efficient distribution of reactive power in an electric network leads to minimization of the system losses and improvement of the system voltage profile. It can be achieved by varying the excitation of generators or the on-load tap changer positions of transformers as well as by switching of discrete portions of inductors or capacitors etc. This constitutes a typical mixed integer non-linear optimization problem for the solution of which metaheuristic techniques have proven well suited. The heuristic method is employed if violations of the tension in some nodes are present in the network, to determine the site most appropriate to add means of compensation of the reactive power, in to give order the voltage within the imposed limits. In the another with dimensions optimization of the active losses is made by method of particle swarm to reduce to the maximum the losses in the network. Feasibility, the effectiveness and the generic nature of the method of studied PSO exemplary are shown on the Algerian western network. The results of simulation indicated that this method proved its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]