Optimizing the Location and Capacity of DGs and SOPs in Distribution Networks using an Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

In the future, Distribution network will face many challenges due to increased acceptance of renewable resources such as photovoltaic (PV)and wind power. Typical problems that arise from increased penetration of renewable resources include overvoltage issues, load imbalances on each feeder, and fluctuations in power output. In this paper, we consider installing Soft-Open Points (SOPs) to solve these problems. SOP is a power electronic device installed at the normally-open point (NOP) of the distribution network. Typically, SOPs are comprised of voltage source converters (VSCs), which can control the power flow between the feeders. In this paper, we discuss the method of calculating the optimal operating point of a SOP using the Particle-Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm using the characteristics of the SOP that can independently control the active and reactive power flows. The IEEE-33 bus test system was modified to verify the proposed method and the objective function for the bus voltage deviation and the index for the total line losses can be minimized simultaneously by using the PSO algorithm to optimize the multiple objective function Algorithm.

Swarm intelligence is briefly defined as the collective behavior of decentralized and self-organized swarms. Self-organization and labor division are the two key components of swarm intelligence. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm is one of the most recent swarm intelligence-based algorithms. The behavior of bees in ABC algorithm satisfies the self-organization features, but there is no specific labor division mechanism in ABC algorithm. In this work, we propose an improved ABC algorithm called labor division artificial bee colony (LDABC) algorithm by incorporating the labor division mechanism into ABC algorithm, which is achieved by individual specialization and role plasticity. We specify three different search methods for employed bees, onlooker bees and scout bees to realize individual specialization, these search methods are related to food source quality, enable bees to maximize exploitation of food source. Role plasticity is achieved by combining with cellular automata, where the roles of bees are not static but vary with their surrounding environment, enable bees not to limit to one search method. The different search modes and the flexibility of the search behaviors make our algorithm achieve a better balance between exploration and exploitation. The experimental results tested on 13 benchmark functions and CEC-2013 test functions demonstrate a competitive performance.

The artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is an important branch of evolutionary algorithms and has been shown to be competitive with other algorithms for solving optimisation problems. However, there are always some insufficiencies in ABC algorithm such as lower convergence speed and easily get trapped in the local optima. To increase depth search capabilities of onlooker bees and ensure scout bees do not discard the current optimal solution, we proposed a modified ABC algorithm (denoted as ORABC) based on the optimisation strategy and retained strategy of the best individual in this paper. Compared with ABC algorithm, ABC* (added retained strategy to ABC) and ORABC algorithm, experiments are conducted on a set of numerical benchmark functions. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that ORABC algorithm improves the convergence characteristics of ABC algorithm and provides very remarkable performance in solving complex numerical optimisation problems compared to original algorithm.

This paper presents a method for reconstructing distribution networks using soft open point (SOP) and demand response (DR) energy storage, which can effectively solve the problems of voltage overruns, line overcurrent, and bidirectional flow currents caused by the photovoltaic (PV) getting into the distribution network. First, the model for the rebuilding of the distribution network is created by using the energy storage method of DR and SOP. Then, MISOCP, which stands for mixed-integer second-order cone programming, is the model that is used to change the distribution network reconfiguration, and the transformed model is solved by the MOSEK algorithm package in MATLAB. Finally, the strategy suggested in this research may successfully enhance the distribution grid’s consumption capacity after PV access, as shown by the verification in the IEEE33 node distribution grid system.

As part of the smart grid concept, different strategies specialized for power flow control in distribution networks have been developed. One of the possible solutions to optimize the utilization of existing capacities and increase distributed generation penetration is the implementation of Soft Open Points. Soft Open Points are modular devices based on power electronic converters that enable closing loops in the network without negative consequences regarding fault current propagation. Introducing the concept of soft open points in the distribution network enables power flow control in a particular part of the network and voltage control in the soft open point connecting nodes. The control strategy proposed in this paper addresses the main obstacle for appropriate exploitation of soft open points, defining reference values for control variables in the case of large-scale distribution systems. Furthermore, the proposed strategy also deals with data unavailability problems, that is, soft open point control under communication interruption. The proposed control algorithm incorporates centralized optimal power flow calculations and an estimation algorithm based on a multivariate polynomial regression. The optimal power flow is used to calculate the control variables in normal operation modes. The procedure based on multivariate polynomial regression was used to estimate the reference values of the control variables when the optimal power flow results were unavailable. This feature makes the proposed algorithm applicable to communication interruptions when only limited data capture is available. The algorithm proposed in this study was implemented and tested on a test network considering different scenarios. Conclusions and simulation results make this algorithm applicable to an actual soft open point controller.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use an ABC algorithm to improve the thrust–torque ratio of a rotating-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model.Design/methodology/approachThe design of UAVs, such as aircraft, drones, helicopters, has become one of the popular engineering areas with the development of technology. This study aims to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter. For this purpose, an unmanned helicopter was built at the Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Erciyes University. The maximum thrust–torque ratio was calculated considering the blade length, blade chord width, blade mass density and blade twist angle. For calculation, artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm was used. By using ABC algorithm, the maximum thrust–torque ratio was obtained against the optimum input values. For this purpose, a model with four inputs and a single output is formed. In the generated system model, optimum thrust–torque ratio was calculated by changing the input values used in the ±5% range. As a result of this study, approximately 31% improvement was achieved. According to these results, the proposed approach will provide convenience to the designers in the design of the rotating-wing UAV.FindingsAccording to these results, approximately 31% improvement was achieved, and the proposed approach will provide convenience to the designers in the design of the rotating-wing UAV.Research limitations/implicationsIt takes a long time to obtain the optimum thrust–torque ratio value through the ABC algorithm method.Practical implicationsUsing ABC algorithm provides to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter. With this algorithm, unmanned helicopter flies more than ever. Thus, the presented method based on the ABC algorithm is more efficient.Social implicationsThe application of the ABC algorithm method can be used effectively to calculate the thrust–torque ratio in UAV.Originality/valueProviding an original and penetrating a method that saves time and reduces the cost to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter.

INTRODUCTION: The artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is a nature-inspired technique used for solving different optimization problems. This paper presents a multi-hive ABC algorithm for solving constrained benchmark functions of CEC2006. The CEC2006 data set contains the global benchmark functions with different design variables, number and type of constraints. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the proposed work is to design and apply the GPGPU based multi-hive ABC algorithm to solve constrained optimization problems. METHODS: The proposed approach is a multi-population coarse-grained system implemented using General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU). The performance of the proposed approach is compared with the serial ABC algorithm for eleven benchmark functions and results in the literature. The multi-hive ABC algorithm has multiple hives, each running separate ABC algorithm on different cores of GPGPU. RESULTS: The proposed approach provides global best solutions in significantly reduced time for all benchmark functions. The speed-up obtained is approximately 7X to 9X. The GPGPU device utilization is approximately 57% to 91%. CONCLUSION: The GPGPU based multi-hive ABC algorithm is a found good with respect to best results, speed up factor and GPU utilization to solve constrained optimization problems.

With the increasing amount of distributed generation (DG) integrated into electrical distribution networks, various operational problems, such as excessive power losses, over-voltage and thermal overloading issues become gradually remarkable. Innovative approaches for power flow and voltage controls are required to ensure the power quality, as well as to accommodate large DG penetrations. Using power electronic devices is one of the approaches. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization framework was proposed to improve the operation of a distribution network with distributed generation and a soft open point (SOP). An SOP is a distribution-level power electronic device with the capability of real-time and accurate active and reactive power flow control. A novel optimization method that integrates a Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) algorithm and a local search technique – the Taxi-cab method, was proposed to determine the optimal set-points of the SOP, where power loss reduction, feeder load balancing and voltage profile improvement were taken as objectives. The local search technique is integrated to fine tune the non-dominated solutions obtained by the global search technique, overcoming the drawback of MOPSO in local optima trapping. Therefore, the search capability of the integrated method is enhanced compared to the conventional MOPSO algorithm. The proposed methodology was applied to a 69-bus distribution network. Results demonstrated that the integrated method effectively solves the multi-objective optimization problem, and obtains better and more diverse solutions than the conventional MOPSO method. With the DG penetration increasing from 0 to 200%, on average, an SOP reduces power losses by 58.4%, reduces the load balance index by 68.3% and reduces the voltage profile index by 62.1%, all compared to the case without an SOP. Comparisons between SOP and network reconfiguration showed the outperformance of SOP in operation optimization.

The intelligent soft open point (SOP) has powerful power flow regulation capabilities in the distribution network. If applied to the distribution network, it can flexibly cope with the output uncertainty of unmanageable distributed energy sources. However, considering the investment, operation, and maintenance costs, as well as the assistance of reactive power equipment, the site selection and capacity determination of SOP have become an urgent problem to be solved. This article proposes the optimal configuration strategy of SOP in a flexible interconnected distribution network, taking into account the features of distributed generation and reactive power sources. Firstly, based on the unpredictability of DG output, this paper uses improved sensitivity analysis to determine the optimal SOP installation location. Subsequently, with the optimization objective of minimizing the annual cost of the distribution network, this paper considers the characteristics of DGs, CBs, and OLCTs and uses second-order cone programming to optimize and solve SOP capacity under constraints such as trends. Finally, in the enhanced IEEE 33-node distribution system model, the effects of different scenarios on node voltage, reactive power components, and SOP location and capacity are compared.

Gbest-guided artificial bee colony algorithm for numerical function optimization

Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm inspired by the complex search and foraging behaviors of real honey bees is one of the most promising implementations of the Swarm Intelligence- (SI-) based optimization algorithms. Due to its robust and phase-divided structure, the ABC algorithm has been successfully applied to different types of optimization problems. However, some assumptions that are made with the purpose of reducing implementation difficulties about the sophisticated behaviours of employed, onlooker, and scout bees still require changes with the more literal procedures. In this study, the ABC algorithm and its well-known variants are powered by adding a new control mechanism in which the decision-making process of the employed bees managing transitions to the dance area is modeled. Experimental studies with different types of problems and analysis about the parallelization showed that the newly proposed approach significantly improved the qualities of the final solutions and convergence characteristics compared to the standard implementations of the ABC algorithms.

Based on the coupled vertical-torsional free vibration records of the spring-suspended section model of bridge decks, an improved Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm is proposed to identify the flutter derivatives. The ABC algorithm is a novel biological-inspired optimization algorithm, comparing with other iteration methods, the ABC algorithm can facilitate the identification process with no need for initial value. The standard ABC algorithm is good at exploration but poor at exploitation. To enhance the exploitation of the ABC algorithm, Powell’s method is used as a local search tool and a nonlinear factor is introduced for convergence control. Search equations applied to generate candidate solutions in the onlookers and scout bees phase are modified to improve the search ability of this method. The objective function in the optimization is weighted residual sum of squares between measured records and predicted values, where the weighting factors are optimized by an iteration process. The modified ABC algorithm is tested on several benchmark functions compared with the standard ABC algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has a higher convergence speed, better solution quality and stronger robustness. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the modified ABC algorithm in the flutter derivatives identification, numerical simulations of an ideal thin-plate model are carried out. The identification results show that the modified ABC algorithm for flutter derivatives identification of bridge decks is robust and reliable.

Archive-based multi-criteria Artificial Bee Colony algorithm for whole test suite generation

Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm has various features that make it more attractive than other algorithms. Particularly, it is simple, it uses fewer control parameters and its convergence is independent of the initial conditions. In this paper, a new MPPT system has been suggested for photovoltaic (PV)-DC motor–pump system by designing two PI controllers via ABC algorithm. The first one is used to reach MPPT by monitoring the voltage and current of the PV array and adjusting the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter. The second PI controller is designed for speed control of DC series motor by setting the voltage fed to the DC series motor through another DC/DC converter. The suggested design problem of MPPT and speed controller is formulated as an optimization task which is solved by ABC to search for optimal parameters of PI controllers. Simulation results have shown the validity of the developed technique in delivering MPPT to DC series motor–pump system under atmospheric conditions and tracking the reference speed of motor. Moreover, the performance of the ABC algorithm is compared with Genetic Algorithm (GA) for various disturbances to prove its robustness.

Dual-layer peer-to-peer energy trading method with multiple SOPs pricing in distribution networks