Economic Load Dispatch with Considering the Valve- Point Effects and Ramp Rate Limits of Generators UsingEvolutionary Algorithms

Nowadays, economic load dispatch between generation units with least costinvolved is one of the most important issues in utilizing power systems. In this paper,a new method i.e. Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA) which is similar to other intelligentalgorithm and is based on swarm, is employed in order to solve the economic loaddispatch problem between power plants. WCA is used to solve complicated problemsincluding non-linear cost functions such as the constraint for input steam valve,constraint for loss, ramp rate of generators and prohibited operating zones ofgenerators’ production. This algorithm is employed on a system with 3 units andload demand of 850 MW and on a system with 15 units and load demand of 2630MW with and without considering the constraints. The results of the papercomparing to the results of the other valid papers show that the proposed algorithmcan be used to solve in any kind of economic dispatch problems with proper results.

Economic Load Dispatch with Considering the Valve- Point Effects and Ramp Rate Limits of Generators UsingEvolutionary Algorithms Keywords:

Economic load dispatch , water cycle algorithm , valve- point effect