Whale optimization algorithm for constrained economic load dispatch problems—a cost optimization

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization approach, population-based meta-heuristics algorithm, known as whale optimization algorithm (WOA) for constrained economic load dispatch problems. An overall solution of constrained economic load dispatch problems is providing a continuous and reliable supply of electricity while maintaining the optimal cost of production and operation for the system. The proposed whale optimization algorithm (WOA), which is based on the concept of bubble-net hunting strategy, is applied to standard benchmark test function and both IEEE test systems with the number of 6 thermal units, and 15 thermal units including ramp rate limits and prohibited operation zones. The WOA results have been compared with PSO and Lagrange’s algorithm. The proposed algorithm is considerably fast and provides feasible near-optimal solutions. Simulation results have proved the performance of the proposed WOA algorithm to solve ELD problem within a faster convergence and reasonable execution time.