A variable scaling hybrid differential evolution for solving large-scale power dispatch problems

Abstract

A variable scaling hybrid differential evolution (VSHDE) is used to solve the large-scale power dispatch problems. The hybrid differential evolution (HDE) method has been presented as a method using the parallel processors of the two-membered evolution strategy ((1+1)-ES). In this way, the global search ability for the HDE can be inspected. To accelerate the search for the global solution, the concept of the variable scaling factor based on the one-fifth success rule of evolution strategies is embedded in the original HDE. The use of the variable scaling factor in the VSHDE can overcome the drawback of the need for fixed and random scaling factors in an HDE. To realise the dynamic economic dispatch (DED) system, the valve-point loading effect, system load demand, power losses, spinning reserve capacity, ramp rate limits and prohibited operation zones are considered here. Two test problems and two DED systems including those of 10 units and 20 units are used to compare the performance of the proposed method with an HDE. Numerical results show that the performance of the proposed method is better than that of the HDE method.