This paper proposes a novel and efficient hybrid algorithm based on combining particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gravitational search algorithm (GSA) techniques, called PSO-GSA. The core of this algorithm is to combine the ability of social thinking in PSO with the local search capability of GSA. Many practical constraints of generators, such as power loss, ramp rate limits, prohibited operating zones and valve point effect, are considered. The new algorithm is implemented to the non-convex economic dispatch (ED) problem so as to minimize the total generation cost when considering the linear and non linear constraints. In order to validate of the proposed algorithm, it is applied to two cases with six and thirteen generators, respectively. The results show that the proposed algorithms indeed produce more optimal solution in both cases when compared results of other optimization algorithms reported in literature.

This paper presents a new approach for solution of the economic load dispatch (ELD) problem with valve-point effect using a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) technique. The practical ELD problems have non-smooth cost function with equality and inequality constraints, which make the problem of finding the global optimum difficult when using any mathematical approaches. In this paper, a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) mechanism is proposed to deal with the equality and inequality constraints in the ELD problems through the application of Gaussian and Cauchy probability distributions. The MPSO approach introduces new diversification and intensification strategy into the particles thus preventing PSO algorithm from premature convergence. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the numerical studies have been performed for three different test systems, i.e. six, thirteen and forty generating unit systems, respectively. The results shows that performance of the proposed approach reveal the efficiently and robustness when compared results of other optimization algorithms reported in literature.

Economic load dispatch (ELD) problem is a common task in the operational planning of a power system, which requires to be optimized. This paper presents an effective and reliable particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for the economic load dispatch problem. The results have been demonstrated for ELD of standard 3-generator and 6-generator systems with and without consideration of transmission losses. The final results obtained using PSO are compared with conventional quadratic programming and found to be encouraging.