Optimization of Automatic Transformer Tap Changer Using Cascaded-Evolutionary Programming Technique

In power system, load variation can cause instability condition. Transformer Tap Changer (TTC) adjustment can be used to alleviate this condition. This paper proposes an algorithm to optimize the adjustment of TTC termed as Cascaded-Evolutionary Programming (EP). This is to allow fine-tuning process on the results if the optimized results are beyond the acceptable range. The Tests were conducted on IEEE 14-Bus Reliable Test System (RTS) to determine minimum Voltage Profile (VP),Vmin at selected load bus, using ordinary Load Flow thus maintaining the voltage at 0.9 p.u. to 1.5 p.u. The result demonstrates the pre-optimization and post-optimization of the minimum VP, Vmin in the system and proves that the proposed algorithm technique identifies the optimum value of TTC whilst reducing computational time.