Tree-seed algorithm for solving optimal power flow problem in large-scale power systems incorporating validations and comparisons

This paper presents a novel application of the tree-seed algorithm (TSA) for solving the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in large-scale electric power systems. The objective function is adopted to minimize sequentially; total fuel cost, real power loss of the system, and total voltage deviation in the given power system networks. The generators output real power, the generators voltage, tap settings of the transformers, and capacitive reactive compensating devices, define the search space for the OPF problem. The TSA is used to define the optimal values of the design discrete and continuous control variables. The proposed algorithm is applied to solve the OPF problem for different standard power networks such as the IEEE 57-bus, and 300-bus systems with different case studies. The numerical simulated results are extensively verified through complete performance measurements with necessary subsequent discussions. The achieved results confirm the effectiveness, flexibility, and applicability of the proposed TSA-based OPF methodology in comparisons to other recent competing heuristic-based algorithms in the literature. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.