Robust, fast and optimal solution of practical economic dispatch by a new enhanced gradient-based simplified swarm optimisation algorithm

Abstract

Nowadays, the rising concern about the costs of fuel and operation of generating units in the energy control centre deserve progress of solution methodologies for the practical economic dispatch (ED) problems. ED aims to schedule the committed units' output power while satisfying practical constraints and load demand. The generator ramp rate limits, nonconvex and discontinuous nature of prohibited operating zones, non-smooth characteristic of valve-point effects, multi-fuel type of generation units, transmission line losses and the large number of units in practical power plants make this problem very hard to solve. In this study, a new solution method of integrating the classical gradient-based optimisation technique and a new enhanced simplified swarm optimisation algorithm is comprehensively presented and successfully applied to determine the feasible, robust, fast and globally or near-globally optimal solution within a rapid timeframe for the ED problems. The simulations are carried out on four-test systems, including 10-, 15-, 40- and 80-units using the proposed optimisation technique in the Fortran Power Station 4.0 software. The current proposal outperforms other methods showcased in the recent state-of-the art literature in the area. ©The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.