Optimal Coordination of Var Sources for the Solution of Reactive Power Planning by Oppositional Harris Hawk Optimizer

Abstract

Reactive power planning has attained a pivotal role for improved coordination in modern power system as minimization of transmission loss is an essential criterion for secured power system operation. This article proposes a meta-heuristic nature inspired Harris Hawk Optimizer (HHO) and Oppositional based Harris Hawk Optimizer (OHHO) algorithms which are implemented on standard Ward hale 6 bus system and IEEE 30 bus system.  The HHO is a derivative free algorithm and does not exhibit any internal dependent parameters. Further, the search space is modified by hybridising HHO with oppositional based learning technique in order to achieve enhanced approximation for the prevailing solution and the OHHO is proposed in the current work for minimization of transmission losses, operating cost and enhancement of voltage profile at the buses. The influence of updating mechanism of the optimizers is investigated with respect to the objective functions. The work majorly focuses on the constraints like reactive power generated by generator buses, shunt capacitors and transformer tap changing position. The simulation results obtained on standard test systems manifest the improved performance of proposed HHO and OHHO in comparison with the other optimization techniques that have emerged in the recent state-of-the-art-literature.