Applications of gravitational search algorithm in engineering

Gravitational search algorithm (GSA) is a nature-inspired conceptual framework with roots in gravitational kinematics, a branch of physics that models the motion of masses moving under the influence of gravity. In a recent article the authors reviewed the principles of GSA. This article presents a review of applications of GSA in engineering including combinatorial optimization problems, economic load dispatch problem, economic and emission dispatch problem, optimal power flow problem, optimal reactive power dispatch problem, energy management system problem, clustering and classification problem, feature subset selection problem, parameter identification, training neural networks, traveling salesman problem, filter design and communication systems, unit commitment problem and multiobjective optimization problems

Investigation of performance of fuzzy logic controllers optimized with the hybrid genetic-gravitational search algorithm for PMSM speed control

Fuzzy logic controllers (FLCs) are widely used to control complex systems with model uncertainty, such as alternating current motors. The design process of the FLC is generally based on the designer’s adjustments on the controller until the desired performance is achieved. However, doing the controller design in this way makes the design process quite difficult and time-consuming, so it is often impossible to make a suitable and successful design. In this study, the output membership functions of the FLC are optimized with heuristic algorithms to reach the best speed control performance of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). This paper proposes a new hybrid algorithm called H-GA-GSA, created by combining the advantages of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) to optimize FLC. The paper presents a convenient adjustment and design method for optimizing FLC with heuristic algorithms considered. To evaluate the effectiveness of H-GA-GSA, the proposed hybrid algorithm has been compared with GA and GSA in terms of convergence rate, PMSM speed control performance and electromagnetic torque variations. Optimization performance and results obtained from simulation studies verify that the proposed hybrid H-GA-GSA outperforms GA and GSA

An improved data classification framework based on fractional particle swarm optimization

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a population based stochastic optimization technique which consist of particles that move collectively in iterations to search for the most optimum solutions. However, conventional PSO is prone to lack of convergence and even stagnation in complex high dimensional-search problems with multiple local optima. Therefore, this research proposed an improved Mutually-Optimized Fractional PSO (MOFPSO) algorithm based on fractional derivatives and small step lengths to ensure convergence to global optima by supplying a fine balance between exploration and exploitation. The proposed algorithm is tested and verified for optimization performance comparison on ten benchmark functions against six existing established algorithms in terms of Mean of Error and Standard Deviation values. The proposed MOFPSO algorithm demonstrated lowest Mean of Error values during the optimization on all benchmark functions through all 30 runs (Ackley = 0.2, Rosenbrock = 0.2, Bohachevsky = 9.36E-06, Easom = -0.95, Griewank = 0.01, Rastrigin = 2.5E-03, Schaffer = 1.31E-06, Schwefel 1.2 = 3.2E-05, Sphere = 8.36E-03, Step = 0). Furthermore, the proposed MOFPSO algorithm is hybridized with Back-Propagation (BP), Elman Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to propose an enhanced data classification framework, especially for data classification applications. The proposed classification framework is then evaluated for classification accuracy, computational time and Mean Squared Error on five benchmark datasets against seven existing techniques. It can be concluded from the simulation results that the proposed MOFPSO-ERNN classification algorithm demonstrated good classification performance in terms of classification accuracy (Breast Cancer = 99.01%, EEG = 99.99%, PIMA Indian Diabetes = 99.37%, Iris = 99.6%, Thyroid = 99.88%) as compared to the existing hybrid classification techniques. Hence, the proposed technique can be employed to improve the overall classification accuracy and reduce the computational time in data classification applications

A review of recent advances in metaheuristic maximum power point tracking algorithms for solar photovoltaic systems under the partial-shading conditions

Several maximum power point (MPP) tracking algorithms for solar power or photovoltaic (PV) systems concerning partial-shading conditions have been studied and reviewed using conventional or advanced methods. The standard MPPT algorithms for partial-shading conditions are: (i) conventional; (ii) mathematics-based; (iii) artificial intelligence; (iv) metaheuristic. The main problems of the conventional methods are poor power harvesting and low efficiency due to many local maximum appearances and difficulty in determining the global maximum tracking. This paper presents MPPT algorithms for partial-shading conditions, mainly metaheuristics algorithms. Firstly, the four classification algorithms will be reviewed. Secondly, an in-depth review of the metaheuristic algorithms is presented. Remarkably, 40 metaheuristic algorithms are classified into four classes for a more detailed discussion; physics-based, biology-based, sociology-based, and human behavior-based are presented and evaluated comprehensively. Furthermore, the performance comparison of the 40 metaheuristic algorithms in terms of complexity level, converter type, sensor requirement, steady-state oscillation, tracking capability, cost, and grid connection are synthesized. Generally, readers can choose the most appropriate algorithms according to application necessities and system conditions. This study can be considered a valuable reference for in-depth works on current related issues

Advances in Modeling and Management of Urban Water Networks

The Special Issue on Advances in Modeling and Management of Urban Water Networks (UWNs) explores four important topics of research in the context of UWNs: asset management, modeling of demand and hydraulics, energy recovery, and pipe burst identification and leakage reduction. In the first topic, the multi-objective optimization of interventions on the network is presented to find trade-off solutions between costs and efficiency. In the second topic, methodologies are presented to simulate and predict demand and to simulate network behavior in emergency scenarios. In the third topic, a methodology is presented for the multi-objective optimization of pump-as-turbine (PAT) installation sites in transmission mains. In the fourth topic, methodologies for pipe burst identification and leakage reduction are presented. As for the urban drainage systems (UDSs), the two explored topics are asset management, with a system upgrade to reduce flooding, and modeling of flow and water quality, with analyses on the transition from surface to pressurized flow, impact of water use reduction on the operation of UDSs, and sediment transport in pressurized pipes. The Special Issue also includes one paper dealing with the hydraulic modeling of an urban river with a complex cross-section