Power system reactive power optimization based on global differential evolution algorithm

The reactive power optimization problem has a significant influence on secure and economic operation of power systems. Reactive power optimization of power systems is a kind of mixed nonlinear integer programming problem and can reduce network loss by changing transformer taps, adjusting generator terminal voltage and connecting shunt capacitors. This paper proposes global differential evolution (GDE) algorithm which can improve the convergence speed and avoid local optimum. GDE is utilized to solve the reactive power optimization problems.Experimental results show that GDE algorithm is an effective algorithm to solve reactive power optimization problem and its optimization result is better than other algorithms.