Optimization of Reactive Power Using Colonial Algorithm

This paper presents the algorithm to optimize the reactive power using colonial behavior of the ants. The reactive power problem has become a major threat and has been given much of importance since many blackouts occurred in USA and some European countries. The reactive power is essential to drive the active or real power that is needed on the load side. Especially the generator and transformer loads require reactive power for efficient functioning. But excess amount of the reactive power increases the loss as it contributes nothing to the load. The voltage profile is made as the major concern and it is modified using the proposed algorithm in order to minimize the loss. In this proposal of ant colonization algorithm, the particle taken to consideration interacts with its surroundings and its neighboring particles. Thereby the particle is updated periodically. By this phenomena the power flow problem at various points are updated periodically from which the optimization is being performed. Though various other algorithms have dealt with the same issue the ant algorithm provides a better result at higher convergence rate with better voltage profile. The developed algorithm deals with IEEE 14 bus system.