APPLICATION OF GENETIC ALGORITHM TO ECONOMIC LOAD DISPATCH

Michal Kolcun - Radoslav Benč - Peter Szathmáry

   A genetic-algorithm-based approach to the economic load dispatch (ELD) problem is proposed. Sometimes the power utilities are unable to perform the functions involving many different ELD solutions due to a combinatorial nature of the ELD problem. Genetic algorithm (GA) is a searching or optimizing algorithm based on natural evolution principles. Because of its capability to solve the non-linear optimization problems, the application of the GAs to a power systems is promising area to explore. In the paper, a brief introduction to the GAs is given. The ELD approach is described as tested on a 4-generator sample system. Given and compared are the obtained results with those attained when using the conventional method of Lagrange multipliers. The test results show that the new approach is suitable for finding several different solution while minimizing the total operating costs.

Keywords: genetic algorithm, economic load dispatch, power system control and non-linear optimization

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