Metaheuristic design of feedforward neural networks: a review of two decades of research

Over the past two decades, the feedforward neural network (FNN) optimization has been a key interest among the researchers and practitioners of multiple disciplines. The FNN optimization is often viewed from the various perspectives: the optimization of weights, network architecture, activation nodes, learning parameters, learning environment, etc. Researchers adopted such different viewpoints mainly to improve the FNN's generalization ability. The gradient-descent algorithm such as backpropagation has been widely applied to optimize the FNNs. Its success is evident from the FNN's application to numerous real-world problems. However, due to the limitations of the gradient-based optimization methods, the metaheuristic algorithms including the evolutionary algorithms, swarm intelligence, etc., are still being widely explored by the researchers aiming to obtain generalized FNN for a given problem. This article attempts to summarize a broad spectrum of FNN optimization methodologies including conventional and metaheuristic approaches. This article also tries to connect various research directions emerged out of the FNN optimization practices, such as evolving neural network (NN), cooperative coevolution NN, complex-valued NN, deep learning, extreme learning machine, quantum NN, etc. Additionally, it provides interesting research challenges for future research to cope-up with the present information processing era

A Grey Wolf Optimization-Based Clustering Approach for Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks

In the realm of Wireless Sensor Networks, the longevity of a sensor node's battery is pivotal, especially since these nodes are often deployed in locations where battery replacement is not feasible. Heterogeneous networks introduce additional challenges due to varying buffer capacities among nodes, necessitating timely data transmission to prevent loss from buffer overflows. Despite numerous attempts to address these issues, previous solutions have been deficient in significant respects. Our innovative strategy employs Grey Wolf Optimization for Cluster Head selection within heterogeneous networks, aiming to concurrently optimise energy efficiency and buffer capacity. We conducted comprehensive simulations using Network Simulator 2, with results analysed in MATLAB, focusing on metrics such as energy depletion rates, remaining energy, node-to-node distance, node count, packet delivery, and average energy in the cluster head selection process. Our approach was benchmarked against leading protocols like LEACH and PEGASIS, considering five key performance indicators: energy usage, network lifespan, the survival rate of nodes over time, data throughput, and remaining network energy. The simulations demonstrate that our Grey Wolf Optimisation method outperforms conventional protocols, showing a 9% reduction in energy usage, a 12% increase in node longevity, a 9.8% improvement in data packet delivery, and a 12.2% boost in data throughput

Load frequency control for multi-area interconnected power system using artificial intelligent controllers

Power system control and stability have been an area with different and continuous challenges in order to reach the desired operation that satisfies consumers and suppliers. To accomplish the purpose of stable operation in power systems, different loops have been equipped to control different parameters. For example, Load Frequency Control (LFC) is introduced to maintain the frequency at or near its nominal values, this loop is also responsible for maintaining the interchanged power between control areas interconnected via tie-lines at scheduled values. Other loops are also employed within power systems such as the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR). This thesis focuses on the problem of frequency deviation in power systems and proposes different solutions based on different theories. The proposed methods are implemented in two different power systems namely: unequal two-area interconnected thermal power system and the simplified Great Britain (GB) power system. Artificial intelligence-based controllers have recently dominated the field of control engineering as they are practicable with relatively low solution costs, this is in addition to providing a stable, reliable and robust dynamic performance of the controlled plant. They professionally can handle different technical issues resulting from nonlinearities and uncertainties. In order to achieve the best possible control and dynamic system behaviour, a soft computing technique based on the Bees Algorithm (BA) is suggested for tuning the parameters of the proposed controllers for LFC purposes. Fuzzy PID controller with filtered derivative action (Fuzzy PIDF) optimized by the BA is designed and implemented to improve the frequency performance in the two different systems under study during and after load disturbance. Further, three different fuzzy control configurations that offer higher reliability, namely Fuzzy Cascade PI − PD, Fuzzy PI plus Fuzzy PD, and Fuzzy (PI + PD), optimized by the BA have also been implemented in the two-area interconnected power system. The robustness of these fuzzy configurations has been evidenced against parametric uncertainties of the controlled power systems Sliding Mode Control (SMC) design, modelling and implementation have also been conducted for LFC in the investigated systems where the parameters are tuned by the BA. The mathematical model design of the SMC is derived based on the parameters of the testbed systems. The robustness analysis of the proposed SMC against the controlled systems’ parametric uncertainties has been carried out considering different scenarios. Furthermore, to authenticate the excellence of the proposed controllers, a comparative study is carried out based on the obtained results and those from previously introduced works based on classical PID tuned by the Losi Map-Based Chaotic Optimization Algorithm (LCOA), Fuzzy PID Optimized by Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO

Performance Analysis of Photovoltaic Fed Distributed Static Compensator for Power Quality Improvement

Owing to rising demand for electricity, shortage of fossil fuels, reliability issues, high transmission and distribution losses, presently many countries are looking forward to integrate the renewable energy sources into existing electricity grid. This kind of distributed generation provides power at a location close to the residential or commercial consumers with low transmission and distribution costs. Among other micro sources, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are penetrating rapidly due to its ability to provide necessary dc voltage and decreasing capital cost. On the other hand, the distribution systems are confronting serious power quality issues because of various nonlinear loads and impromptu expansion. The power quality issues incorporate harmonic currents, high reactive power burden, and load unbalance and so on. The custom power device widely used to improve these power quality issues is the distributed static compensator (DSTATCOM). For continuous and effective compensation of power quality issues in a grid connected solar photovoltaic distribution system, the solar inverters are designed to operate as a DSTATCOM thus by increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of the system. The solar inverters are interfaced with grid through an L-type or LCL-type ac passive filters. Due to the voltage drop across these passive filters a high amount of voltage is maintained across the dc-link of the solar inverter so that the power can flow from PV source to grid and an effective compensation can be achieved. So in the thesis a new topology has been proposed for PV-DSTATCOM to reduce the dc-link voltage which inherently reduces the cost and rating of the solar inverter. The new LCLC-type PV-DSTATCOM is implemented both in simulation and hardware for extensive study. From the obtained results, the LCLC-type PV-DSTATCOM found to be more effective than L-type and LCL-type PV-DSTATCOM. Selection of proper reference compensation current extraction scheme plays the most crucial role in DSTATCOM performance. This thesis describes three time-domain schemes viz. Instantaneous active and reactive power (p-q), modified p-q, and IcosΦ schemes. The objective is to bring down the source current THD below 5%, to satisfy the IEEE-519 Standard recommendations on harmonic limits. Comparative evaluation shows that, IcosΦ scheme is the best PV-DSTATCOM control scheme irrespective of supply and load conditions. In the view of the fact that the filtering parameters of the PV-DSTATCOM and gains of the PI controller are designed using a linearized mathematical model of the system. Such a design may not yield satisfactory results under changing operating conditions due to the complex, nonlinear and time-varying nature of power system networks. To overcome this, evolutionary algorithms have been adopted and an algorithm-specific control parameter independent optimization tool (JAYA) is proposed. The JAYA optimization algorithm overcomes the drawbacks of both grenade explosion method (GEM) and teaching learning based optimization (TLBO), and accelerate the convergence of optimization problem. Extensive simulation studies and real-time investigations are performed for comparative assessment of proposed implementation of GEM, TLBO and JAYA optimization on PV-DSTATCOM. This validates that, the PV-DSTATCOM employing JAYA offers superior harmonic compensation compared to other alternatives, by lowering down the source current THD to drastically small values. Another indispensable aspect of PV-DSTATCOM is that due to parameter variation and nonlinearity present in the system, the reference current generated by the reference compensation current extraction scheme get altered for a changing operating conditions. So a sliding mode controller (SMC) based p-q theory is proposed in the dissertation to reduce these effects. To validate the efficacy of the implemented sliding mode controller for the power quality improvement, the performance of the proposed system with both linear and non-linear controller are observed and compared by taking total harmonic distortion as performance index. From the obtained simulation and experimentation results it is concluded that the SMC based LCLC-type PV-DSTATCOM performs better in all critical operating conditions

Applied Metaheuristic Computing

For decades, Applied Metaheuristic Computing (AMC) has been a prevailing optimization technique for tackling perplexing engineering and business problems, such as scheduling, routing, ordering, bin packing, assignment, facility layout planning, among others. This is partly because the classic exact methods are constrained with prior assumptions, and partly due to the heuristics being problem-dependent and lacking generalization. AMC, on the contrary, guides the course of low-level heuristics to search beyond the local optimality, which impairs the capability of traditional computation methods. This topic series has collected quality papers proposing cutting-edge methodology and innovative applications which drive the advances of AMC

Review of Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms for Power Systems Problems

Metaheuristic optimization algorithms are tools based on mathematical concepts that are used to solve complicated optimization issues. These algorithms are intended to locate or develop a sufficiently good solution to an optimization issue, particularly when information is sparse or inaccurate or computer capability is restricted. Power systems play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy sources. Using metaheuristics to optimize the performance of modern power systems is an attractive topic. This research paper investigates the applicability of several metaheuristic optimization algorithms to power system challenges. Firstly, this paper reviews the fundamental concepts of metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Then, six problems regarding the power systems are presented and discussed. These problems are optimizing the power flow in transmission and distribution networks, optimizing the reactive power dispatching, optimizing the combined economic and emission dispatching, optimal Volt/Var controlling in the distribution power systems, and optimizing the size and placement of DGs. A list of several used metaheuristic optimization algorithms is presented and discussed. The relevant results approved the ability of the metaheuristic optimization algorithm to solve the power system problems effectively. This, in particular, explains their wide deployment in this field

Evolutionary Computation 2020

Intelligent optimization is based on the mechanism of computational intelligence to refine a suitable feature model, design an effective optimization algorithm, and then to obtain an optimal or satisfactory solution to a complex problem. Intelligent algorithms are key tools to ensure global optimization quality, fast optimization efficiency and robust optimization performance. Intelligent optimization algorithms have been studied by many researchers, leading to improvements in the performance of algorithms such as the evolutionary algorithm, whale optimization algorithm, differential evolution algorithm, and particle swarm optimization. Studies in this arena have also resulted in breakthroughs in solving complex problems including the green shop scheduling problem, the severe nonlinear problem in one-dimensional geodesic electromagnetic inversion, error and bug finding problem in software, the 0-1 backpack problem, traveler problem, and logistics distribution center siting problem. The editors are confident that this book can open a new avenue for further improvement and discoveries in the area of intelligent algorithms. The book is a valuable resource for researchers interested in understanding the principles and design of intelligent algorithms

Optimal Control of Hybrid Systems and Renewable Energies

This book is a collection of papers covering various aspects of the optimal control of power and energy production from renewable resources (wind, PV, biomass, hydrogen, etc.). In particular, attention is focused both on the optimal control of new technologies and on their integration in buildings, microgrids, and energy markets. The examples presented in this book are among the most promising technologies for satisfying an increasing share of thermal and electrical demands with renewable sources: from solar cooling plants to offshore wind generation; hybrid plants, combining traditional and renewable sources, are also considered, as well as traditional and innovative storage systems. Innovative solutions for transportation systems are also explored for both railway infrastructures and advanced light rail vehicles. The optimization and control of new solutions for the power network are addressed in detail: specifically, special attention is paid to microgrids as new paradigms for distribution networks, but also in other applications (e.g., shipboards). Finally, optimization and simulation models within SCADA and energy management systems are considered. This book is intended for engineers, researchers, and practitioners that work in the field of energy, smart grid, renewable resources, and their optimization and control

State-of-the-Art Using Bibliometric Analysis of Wind-Speed and -Power Forecasting Methods Applied in Power Systems

The integration of wind energy into power systems has intensified as a result of the urgency for global energy transition. This requires more accurate forecasting techniques that can capture the variability of the wind resource to achieve better operative performance of power systems. This paper presents an exhaustive review of the state-of-the-art of wind-speed and -power forecasting models for wind turbines located in different segments of power systems, i.e., in large wind farms, distributed generation, microgrids, and micro-wind turbines installed in residences and buildings. This review covers forecasting models based on statistical and physical, artificial intelligence, and hybrid methods, with deterministic or probabilistic approaches. The literature review is carried out through a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and Pajek software. A discussion of the results is carried out, taking as the main approach the forecast time horizon of the models to identify their applications. The trends indicate a predominance of hybrid forecast models for the analysis of power systems, especially for those with high penetration of wind power. Finally, it is determined that most of the papers analyzed belong to the very short-term horizon, which indicates that the interest of researchers is in this time horizon