Solution of combined economic and emission dispatch problem using a novel chaotic improved harmony search algorithm

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a new optimization technique developed based on harmony search algorithm (HSA), called chaotic improved harmony search algorithm (CIHSA). In the proposed algorithm, the original HSA is improved using several innovative modifications in the optimization procedure such as using chaotic patterns instead of uniform distribution to generate random numbers, dynamically tuning the algorithm parameters, and employing virtual harmony memories. Also, a novel type of local optimization is introduced and employed in the algorithm procedure. Applying these modifications to HSA has resulted in enhancing the robustness, accuracy and search efficiency of the algorithm, and significantly reducing the iterations number required to achieve the optimal solution. To validate the effectiveness of CIHSA, it is used to solve the combined economic emission dispatch (CEED) problem, which practically is a complex high-dimensional non-convex optimization task with several equality and inequality constraints. Six test systems having 6, 10, 13, 14, 40, and 140 generators are investigated in this study, and the valve-point loading effects, ramp rate limits and power transmission losses are also taken into account. The results obtained by CIHSA are compared with the results reported in a large number of other research works. Furthermore, the statistical data regarding the CIHSA performance in all test systems is presented. The numerical and statistical results confirm the high quality of the solutions found by CIHSA and its superiority compared to other existing techniques employed in solving CEED problems. Highlights An innovative and strong optimization technique based on harmony search is proposed. The proposed algorithm is tested on solving economic emission dispatch problem. It has the potential to be applied to many other engineering optimization problems. Six test systems considering valve point effect and transmission losses are studied. High quality solutions are obtained and compared with a large number of other methods.