Abstract

the optimal reactive power flow (ORPF) is a branch in the gradual development of optimal power flow problem. Difference evolution (DE) is proposed as a promising evolutionary algorithm for solving the ORPF problem, but it requires a relatively large population size to avoid early convergence which will increase the convergence time of the algorithm. On the other hand, Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (ABC) also has good public search capabilities. In this paper DE algorithm proposed a combination named DE-ABC with the aid of ABC through combining the specific advantages of DE and ABC in order to overcome the problems of the relatively large size of DE population and to enhance the public search capability. In the end, the performance of DE-ABC was confirmed by serial simulation in 14, 30 and 57 bass tests with IEEE standard. About accessing the same effect the simulation results show that, the population size required for the DE-ABC combination algorithm is much less than DE algorithm and the algorithm's convergence time is also very low and the algorithm is stable.