Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch in Distribution Power Systems Based on Particle Swarm Optimization

The optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem represents one of the crucial issues that a power system faces in terms of operation and control. Including various regulation actions, such as generators reactive power output, transformer tap settings and shunt compensation devices control, the ORPD is a non-linear optimization problem aiming to minimize the active power losses, while maintaining the voltage deviation within permissible limits. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) method was approached in this paper to solve the ORPD problem, for its capability to generate accurate solutions within a short computational time.