Levy flight elitism-enhanced salp swarm algorithms for solving the ORPD problem

The optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) challenge is crucial for ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of power systems, hinging on the effective coordination of multiple devices.As a result, solving the ORPD problem involves tackling a complex nonlinear optimization challenge that demands advanced computational algorithms to determine the optimal solution. This article introduces an enhanced version of the modified algorithm, called L-E-SSA, which is inspired by the coordinated movement of a swarm led by a single member (salp swarm algorithm SSA), incorporating Levy Flight elitism, to effectively solve the ORPD problem. This study aims to reduce power losses (Ploss) and total voltage deviation (TVD) by optimizing the control variables. Numerical simulations are carried out on IEEE (30-bus) and IEEE (118-bus) power systems. To evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the modified algorithm (L-E-SSA). The results indicate that the L-E-SSA algorithm delivered strong performance and secured a competitive ranking through statistical analysis. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed method has the potential to be a highly effective solution for the ORPD problem.