An Augmented Social Network Search Algorithm for Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem

Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch (ORPD) is one of the main challenges in power system operations. ORPD is a non-linear optimization task that aims to reduce the active power losses in the transmission grid, minimize voltage variations, and improve the system voltage stability. This paper proposes an intelligent augmented social network search (ASNS) algorithm for meeting the previous aims compared with the social network search (SNS) algorithm. The social network users’ dialogue, imitation, creativity, and disputation moods drive the core of the SNS algorithm. The proposed ASNS enhances SNS performance by boosting the search capability surrounding the best possible solution, with the goal of improving its globally searched possibilities while attempting to avoid getting locked in a locally optimal one. The performance of ASNS is evaluated compared with SNS on three IEEE standard grids, IEEE 30-, 57-, and 118-bus test systems, for enhanced results. Diverse comparisons and statistical analyses are applied to validate the performance. Results indicated that ASNS supports the diversity of populations in addition to achieving superiority in reducing power losses up to 22% and improving voltage profiles up to 90.3% for the tested power grids.