Chaotic Differential Harmony Search Algorithm Applied to Power Economic Dispatch of Generators with Multiple Fuel Options

The Harmony Search (HS) algorithm was originally conceptualized using the musical improvisation process of searching for a perfect state of harmony. The HS algorithm uses a random search, which is based on random selection, memory consideration, and pitch adjusting. This paper proposes a modified HS approach combined with differential evolution and chaotic sequences to solve the economic load dispatch problem of thermal generators with the valve-point effect. The proposed modified HS algorithm was validated in a power economic problem comprised by 10 generating units with valve-point effects and multiple fuels for a load demand of 2500 MW. Simulation results and performance analysis show that the modified HS algorithm presented promising results when compared with results of other optimization methods reported in recent literature.