Single and multi-objective optimal power flow using a new differential-based harmony search algorithm

This article proposes a new differential evolutionary-based approach to solve the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in power systems. The proposed approach employs a differential-based harmony search algorithm (DH/best) for optimal settings of OPF control variables. The proposed algorithm benefits from having a more effective initialization method and a better updating procedure in contrast with other algorithms. Here, real power losses minimization, voltage profile improvement, and active power generation minimization are considered as the objectives and formulated in the form of single-objective and multi-objective functions. For proving the performance of the proposed algorithm, comprehensive simulations have been performed by MATLAB software in which IEEE 118-bus and 57-bus systems are considered as the test systems. Besides, thorough comparisons have been performed between the proposed algorithm and other well-known algorithms like PSO, NSGAII, and Harmony search in three different load levels indicating the higher efficiency and robustness of the proposed algorithm in contrast with others.