Multiple of Hybrid Lambda Iteration and Simulated Annealing Algorithm to Solve Economic Dispatch Problem with Ramp Rate Limit and Prohibited Operating Zones

Aims This paper presents a multiple hybrid methods combining the lambda iteration and simulated annealing methods (MHLSA) to solve an economic dispatch (ED) problem with smooth cost function characteristics. The constraints of the economic dispatch were load demand and transmission loss. Methods The proposed MHLSA algorithm is a hybrid of the lambda iteration and simulated annealing methods and increases efficiency by adding multiple search mechanisms. It is a sequential execution of an individual hybrid algorithm of the lambda iteration and simulated annealing algorithm (HLSA) using only one personal microcomputer. The MHLSA algorithm introduces additional techniques for improvement of the search processes, such as the hybrid method, scope for multiple adaptive searches, and multiple searches. Results To show its effectiveness, the MHLSA is applied to two systems consisting of three and six power generating units. The optimized results from MHLSA are compared with those from HLSA and from conventional approaches, such as bee colony optimization (BCO), hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) and simulated annealing (SA). Results confirm that the proposed MHLSA approach is capable of obtaining the greater speed of convergence and a higher quality solution efficiently. Conclusions Thus, it has great potential to be implemented in different types of power system optimization problem.