Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power Flow Problem for Iraqi
Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

Dr. Firas Mohammed Tuaimah Montather Fadhil Meteb

Assistant Professor Department of Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering-University of Baghdad College of Engineering-University of Baghdad
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
The objective of an Optimal Power Flow (OPF) algorithm is to find steady state operation
point which minimizes generation cost, loss etc. while maintaining an acceptable system
performance in terms of limits on generators real and reactive powers, line flow limits etc. The OPF
solution includes an objective function. A common objective function concerns the active power
generation cost. A Linear programming method is proposed to solve the OPF problem. The Linear
Programming (LP) approach transforms the nonlinear optimization problem into an iterative
algorithm that in each iteration solves a linear optimization problem resulting from linearization both
the objective function and constrains. A computer program, written in MATLAB environment, is
developed to represent the proposed method. The adopted program is applied for the first time on
Iraqi 24 bus Extra High Voltage (EHV) network (400 kV). The required are data taken from the
operation and control office, which belongs to the ministry of electricity.

Keywords: Optimal power flow, linear programming, active power dispatch.

‫السريان األمثل للطاقة بأستخذام طريقة البرمجة الخطية لشبكة الضغظ الفائق العراقية‬

‫منتظر فاضل متعب‬ ‫ فراس محمذ طعيمة‬.‫د‬

‫قسى هُذست انكهشببء‬ ‫أسخبر يسبعذ‬
‫ جبيعت بغذاد‬/‫كهٍت انهُذست‬ ‫ جبيعت بغذاد‬/‫كهٍت انهُذست‬

‫الخالصة‬
‫) هى انعثىس عهى َقطت عًم يىحذة ويسخقشة حؤدي إنى حقهٍم حكهفت‬OPF( ‫انهذف يٍ انخىاسصيٍت انًقخشحت نسشٌبٌ انقذسة األيثم‬
،‫ أو انخسبئش يع انحفبظ عهى أداء يقبىل نًجًم انشبكت يٍ حٍث انحذود انًفشوضت عهى انقذسة انفعبنت وانغٍش فعبنت انًخىنذة‬،‫انخىنٍذ‬
‫ ودانت انهذف انشبئعت هً فًٍب ٌخعهق بكهفت حىنٍذ انقذسة‬.‫ ٌخضًٍ دانت هذف‬OPF ‫ انحم بأسخخذاو‬.‫وحذود سشٌبٌ انقذسة بخظ انُقم‬
‫) ححىل يسبنت انخحسٍٍ غٍش انخطٍت‬LP( ‫ طشٌقت انبشيجت انخطٍت‬.OPF‫) نحم‬LP( ‫ حٍث حى اقخشاح طشٌقت انبشيجت انخطٍت‬،‫انفعبنت‬
‫إنى خىاسصيٍت حكشاسٌت حٍث فً كم حكشاس ٌحم يسبنت انخحسٍٍ انخطٍت انُبحجت عٍ عًهٍت انخحىٌم إنى دانت خطٍت نكم يٍ دانت‬
‫وٌطبق انبشَبيج‬.‫ نخًثٍم انطشٌقت انًقخشحت‬،MATLAB ‫ وكخب فً بٍئت‬،ً‫ حًج كىٌٍ بشَبيج بأسخخذاو انحبسب اَن‬.‫انهذف وانقٍىد‬
‫ حٍث حى اخز انبٍبَبث انالصيت‬.‫ عقذة‬24 ٍ‫ كٍهىفىنج) انخً حخكىٌ ي‬400( ‫انزي اعخًذ ألول يشة عهى شبكت انضغظ انفبئق انعشاقٍت‬
.‫ انخببعت انى وصاسة انكهشببء انعشاقٍت‬،‫يٍ دائشة انخشغٍم وانخحكى‬

‫ َقم انطبقت انحقٍقٍت‬،‫ انبشيجت انخطٍت‬،‫ انسشٌبٌ األيثم نهطبقت‬:‫الكلمات الرئيسية‬

23
 Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

I. INTRODUCTION
Throughout the entire world, the electric power industry has undergone a considerable change in the
past decade, and will continue to do so for the next several decades. In the past, the electric power
industry has been either a government-controlled or a government-regulated Industry which existed
as a monopoly in its service region. All people, businesses, and industries were required to purchase
their power from the local monopolistic power company. This was not only a legal requirement, but a
physical engineering requirement as well. It just did not appear feasible to duplicate the resources
required to connect everyone to the power grid. Over the past decade, however, countries have begun
to split up these monopolies in favor of the free market Barkovich 1996, Morgan 1996and Rudnick
1996.
Optimal Power Flow (OPF) solution methods have been developed over the years to meet this
very practical requirement of power system operation Acha 2000, El-Hawary 1986,Giacomoni
2010 and Huneault 1991.
The optimal power flow problem has been discussed since its introduction by Carpentier
Khaled 2008. Because the OPF is a very large, non-linear mathematical programming problem, it
has taken decades to develop efficient algorithms for its solution. Many different mathematical
techniques have been employed for its solution. The majority of the techniques discussed in the
literature use one of the following five methods Alsac 1990, Dommel 1968, Sun 1984 and Wood
1996.
1. Lambda iteration method, also called the equal incremental cost criterion (EICC) method.
2. Gradient method.
3. Newton’s method.
4. Linear programming method.
5. Interior point method.
The Linear Programming (LP) approach transforms the nonlinear optimization problem into an
iterative algorithm that in each iteration solves a linear optimization problem resulting from
linearizing both the objective function and constrains Alsac 1990, Chamorel 1983, Tareq 2008 and
Ye Tao 2009.
The large - scale application of LP - based methods has traditionally been limited to network
constrained real and reactive dispatch calculations whose objectives are separable, comprising the
sum of convex cost curves. The accuracy of calculation may be lost if the oversimplified
approximation is adopted in LP - based OPF. The piecewise linear segmentation of the generator fuel
cost curve should be good for avoiding this problem. The piecewise approach can fit an arbitrary
curve convexly to any desired accuracy with a sufficient number of segments. Originally, a separable
LP variable had to be used for each segment, with the resulting large problems with multi segments
cost curve modeling were prohibitively time and storage consuming. The difficulty was alleviated
considerably by a separable programming procedure that uses a single variable per cost curve,
regardless of the number of the segments. However, the number of segments still affects the solution
speed and precision, Jizhong Zho 2009.
This paper presents an LP-based OPF for generation cost minimization using as control variables
the generator active power and generator voltage. It is intended to overcome the constraints of current
LP-based OPF algorithms. The main problem of the current algorithms is the loss of accuracy of the
linear approximation of the objective function when the changes of the control variables are not small
enough. An attempt to address this issue consists of imposing limits to the deviation of control
variables, Alsac 1990 . Although this approach solves the problem, the convergence of the algorithm
becomes very slow. The LP based OPF proposed in this paper improves the accuracy of the linear
approximation of the objective function. The objective function is approximated by a piecewise
linear function determined iteratively by segmented the objective function in each iteration.

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

2. PIECEWISE LINEAR APPROXIMATION OF OBJECTIVE FUNCTION

Assuming that the objective function is a quadratic characteristic, the objective function can be
linearized by a piecewise linear approach. If the objective function is divided into N linear segments,
the real power variable of each generator will also be divided into N variables. Fig. 1 is an objective
function with three linear segments. The corresponding slopes are b1, b2, and b3, respectively Jizhong
Zho 2009.
From Fig. 1, the generator power output variables for each segment can be presented as below:

≤ ≤ 

≤ ≤ 

≤ ≤ 

If is selected as the initial generator output power, the incremental generator power outputs
for each segment can be expressed as:

Δ = − (4)

Δ = − (5)

Δ = − (6)

Thus the constraint Eq. (1) to Eq. (3) become

0≤Δ ≤ − (7)

0≤Δ ≤ − (8)

0≤Δ ≤ − (9)

The piecewise linear objective function becomes

F= = (10)

Where;
: The number of generators
: The minimal real power output at generator i
:The maximal real power output at generator i

3. MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION OF THE ALGORITHM

The objective function contains real power generation cost. Mathematically, it is formulated as
follows:

F= (11)

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 Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

Subject to

= + (12)

≤ ij∊ (13)

≤ ≤ i∊ (14)

Where;
P D : The real power load
: The power flow of transmission line ij
: The power limits of transmission line ij
: The network losses
: The cost function of the generator i
: The number of transmission lines
: The number of loads
Since loads are constant for the given time, we can get the following expression through linearizing
the real power balance equation:

=0 (15)

The real power flow equation of a branch can be written as follows:

= − ( cos + sin ) (16)

Where;
: The sending end real power on transmission branch ij
: The node voltage magnitude of node i
: The difference of node voltage angles between the sending end and receiving end of the line ij
: The susceptance of transmission branch ij
: The conductance of transmission branch ij
Through linearizing Eq. (16), we get the incremental branch power expression as below:

Δ =− (− sin Δ + cos Δ ) (17)

In a high - voltage power network, the value of is very small, and the following approximate
equations are easily obtained:

sin ≅0 (18)

cos ≅1 (19)

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

In addition, assume that the magnitudes of all bus voltages are the same and equal to 1.0 p.u.
Furthermore, suppose the reactance of the branch is much bigger than the resistance of the branch, so
that we can neglect the resistance of the branch. Thus,

= ≈0 (20)

= ≈ ≈ (21)

Substituting Eq. (18) to Eq. (21) in to Eq. (17) , we get

Δ =− Δ =− (Δ )= (22)

The above equation can also be written in matrix form, i.e.,

ΔPb=B′Δδ (23)

Where the elements of the susceptance matrix B′ are

= = (24)

=− (25)

The bus power injection equation can be written as

= (26)

Since the load demand is constant, the linearization expression of Eq.(26) can be written as below:

Δ = ) (27)

= (28)

The above equation can also be written in the following matrix form

ΔPG=HΔδ (29)

Eq. (29) stands for the relationship between the incremental generator output power (except for the
generator that is taken as slack unit) and the incremental bus voltage angle. Matrix H can also be
simplified by using Eq. (18) and Eq. (21).
According to Eq. (23) and Eq. (29), we can get the direct linear relationship between the
incremental branch power flow and incremental generator output power, i.e.,

ΔPb=B′Δδ =B′H−1 ΔPG=D ΔPG (30)

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 Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

Where

D=B′H−1 (31)

It is also called as the linear sensitivity of the branch power flow with respect to the generator power
output.
Thus the linear expression of the branch power flow constraints can be written as:

|D ΔPG | ≤ Δ (32)

The element of the matrix Δ is the incremental power flow limit Δ of the branch ij,
i.e.,

Δ = − (33)

The incremental form of the generator output power constraint is , Jizhong Zho 2009

− ≤Δ ≤ − i∊ (34)

4. THE PROPOSED METHOD IMPLEMENTATION

The above mentioned method for solving optimal power by LP uses an iterative technique to obtain
the optimal solution, so it is also called a successive linear programming (SLP) method. The solution
procedures of SLP for optimal power flow are summarized below:
Step1. Select the set of initial control variables
Step2.Solve the power flow problem to obtain a feasible solution that satisfies the power balance
equality constraint.
Step3. Linearize the objective function and inequality constraints around the power flow solution and
formulate the LP problem. Then solve the LP problem and obtain the optimal incremental
control variables Δ .
Step4. Update the control variables :
= +Δ
Step5. Obtain the power flow solution with updated control variables.
Step6. Check the convergence. If Δ in Step 4.Are bellow the user-defined tolerance, the solution
converges. Otherwise, go to Step 3.
Fig. 2 shows the flowchart of linear programming method Based optimal power flow problem.

5. CASE STUDY

The Iraqi 400kV (EHV) network shown in Fig. 3 was chosen to implement the proposed LP
algorithm for OPF.
The Iraqi EHV network consists of 24 bus bars, 38 transmission lines and 11 generating stations.
Two operational case studies for the Iraqi network were chosen to be studied by this paper for
optimal power flow solution. These two case studies are with cheap and expensive international fuel
price conditions.
All the data for this work was taken from the Iraqi operation and control office that belongs to the
ministry of electricity.

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

Table 1 indicates transmission system parameters in p.u. / km (at a base of 100 MVA) for the three
types of the transmission lines used in the Iraqi network.

6. RESULTS
The algorithm described in this paper has been coded in MATLAB (R2008a) language. The
performance of the algorithm is illustrated considering for a state of load of the operation of the Iraqi
power system. The results obtained from using Linear Programming (LP) method are compared with
the results obtained from power flow solution using Newton-Raphson method. It is worth mentioning
that the distribution of loads on the power plants identified for Newton-Raphson so that we get less
losses. There are four power plants run on two types of fuel to generate electric power, so we
compared the results when they operate on the cheap fuel type and expensive fuel type. Fig.4 shows
the voltage magnitude in per unit for each bus when cheap fuel price is used to generate power in
power plants that operate on two types of fuel and for the two algorithms (Newton-Raphson and
Linear Programming).
Fig. 5 shows the generation of each plant for Newton-Raphson power flow solution compared
with Linear Programming method when cheap fuel price is used, Fig. 6 shows the production cost
when cheap fuel price is used

Fig.7 shows the voltage magnitude for each bus when expensive fuel price is used to generate
power in power plants that operate on two types of fuel and for the two algorithms (Newton-Raphson
and Linear Programming).

Fig. 8 shows the generation of each plant for Newton-Raphson power flow solution compared
with Linear Programming method when expensive fuel price is used.
Fig. 9 shows the variation of production cost through optimization using Linear Programming
method (LP).

7. CONCLUSION
The Linear Programming (LP) algorithm is used for the first time on the Iraqi Extra High Voltage
(EHV 400kV) Grid for optimal power flow to minimize the active power generation cost. paper has
presented a LP based.
The problem constraints are the coupled linearized power flow equations and the system variable
limits. A piecewise linear approximation of the objective function is built by adding iteratively a
tangent cut in each iteration.
It can be also note that the results of the production cost are significantly decreased when using
Linear Programming with the results derived in the case of Newton–Raphson. From Table 2 there is
about 30.16% decrease in the production costs when using cheap fuel type, whereas there is about
28.2% decrease in production costs when using expensive fuel type as given in Table 3.

REFERENCES
Acha, E., Ambriz-Pe´rez, H., Fuerte-Esquivel, C.R , 2000, Advanced Trans-former Control Modeling
in An Optimal Power Flow Using Newton’s Method, IEEE Trans. Power Systems 15(1), pp. 290–298.

Alsac O., J. Bright, M. Prais and B. Stott, , 1990, Further Developments in LP-Based Optimal Power
Flow, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 5( 3), pp. 697-711.

Barkovich B.R. and D. Hawk, 1996, Charting a New Course in California, IEEE Spectrum, Vol. 33,
No. 7, July, pp. 26-31.

29
 Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

KhaledZehar& Samir Sayah, 2008, Optimal Power Flow with Environmental Constraint using a
Fast Successive Linear Programming Algorithm, Application to the Algerian power system, Elsevier,
Volume 49, Issue 11, November pp. 3362–3366.
Chamorel P-A., A. J. Germond, 1983, Optimal Voltage and Reactive Power Control in an
Interconnected Power System with Linear Programming, CIGRE Study Committee 38, Montreaux.

Dommel H. W. and W. F. Tinney, 1968, Optimal Power Flow Solutions, IEEE Transactions on
Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-87, October, pp. 1866-1876.

El-Hawary, M.E., Tsang, D.H., 1986, The Hydro-Thermal Optimal Power Flow, A Practical
Formulation and Solution Technique Using Newton’s Approach, IEEE Trans. Power Systems
PWRS-1(3), pp. 157–167,.

Huneault, M., Galiana, F.D., A, , 1991, Survey of the Optimal Power Flow Literature, IEEE Trans.
Power Systems volume:6, Issue:2, pp. 762–770.

JizhongZho, 2009, Optimization Of Power System Operation, Institute Of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Tareq A. Al-Muhawesh&Isa S. Qamber, 2008,The Established Mega Watt Linear Programming-

Based Optimal Power Flow Model Applied to The Real Power 56-Bus System In Eastern Province of
Saudi Arabia, Elsevier, Volume 33, Issue 1, January, pp. 12–21.

Giacomoni A.M.&Wollenberg B.F.,2010, Linear Programming Optimal Power Flow Utilizing

A Trust Region Method, IEEE, North American Power Symposium (NAPS) .

Morgan M.G. and S. Talukdar, 1996 ,Nurturing R&D, IEEE Spectrum, Vol. 33, No.7, July pp. 32-
33.

Ye Tao,A , 2009, Sequential Linear Programming Algorithm for Security-Constrained Optimal

Power Flow, IEEE, North American Power Symposium (NAPS) Conference.

Rudnick H., 1996, Pioneering Electricity Reform in South America, IEEE Spectrum, Vol. 33, No. 8,
August pp. 38-44.

Sun D.I., B. Ashley, B. Brewer, A. Hughes and W. F. Tinney, 1984, Optimal Power Flow by Newton
Approach, IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-103, October pp. 2864-
2880.

Wood J. and B. F. Wollenberg, 1996, Power Generation Operation and Control, New York, NY: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp. 39-517,.

9. ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

EHV Extra high voltage

LP Linear programming
OPF Optimal power flow
Self susceptance
Bij Mutual susceptance

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

The generator fuel cost function

Self conductance
Gij Mutual conductance
Active load power at bus i
PGi Active power generated by unit i
Minimum generator active power limit
Maximum generator active power limit
Bus voltage at bus i
ΔP
Change in active power
Change in voltage angle
Change in voltage magnitude
Bus voltage angle at bus i

Table1. Iraqi transmission line system parameters.

Conductor R X B
Type p.u. / km p.u. / km p.u. / km
AAAC 0.00002167 0.000197 0.005837
0.000186
ACSS 0.0000228 0.005784
8
0.000189
ACSD 0.0000228 0.005962
7

Table 2. Results when cheap fuel price is used.

NR LP
Total Active Gen. 4188.97 [MW] 4192.63 [MW]
Total Reactive Gen. 11.74 [Mvar] 63.99 [Mvar]
Total Active Load 4177 [MW] 4177 [MW]
Total Reactive Load 1998 [Mvar] 1998 [Mvar]
Total Active Loss 11.967 [MW] 15.633 [MW]
Total Reactive Loss 104.97 [Mvar] 136.20 [Mvar]
ProductionCost ($/h) 688960 481158.11

Table 3.Results when expensive fuel price is used.

NR LP
Total Active Gen. 4188.97 [MW] 4195.76 [MW]
Total Reactive Gen. 11.74 [Mvar] 91.23 [Mvar]
Total Active Load 4177 [MW] 4177 [MW]
Total Reactive Load 1998 [Mvar] 1998 [Mvar]
Total Active Loss 11.967 [MW] 18.756 [MW]
Total Reactive Loss 104.97 [Mvar] 164.64 [Mvar]
Production Cost ($/h) 974630 699679.68

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Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

Figure 1. Piecewise linear objective function.

Set of initial
control variables

Solve the power flow

problem of initial control
variables

Linearize the objective function

and inequality constraints

Solve the LP
problem

NO
Is Δ ≤ε

YES

Update the control

variables

Obtain the power flow

solution

Figure 2. The flowchart of linear programming method based-optimal power flow problem.

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

Figure 3. Single line diagram of the Iraqi network 400kV.

Voltage Magnitude of Each Bus When Cheap Fuel Price is Used

0.995

0.99
NR
Voltage Magnitude [ p.u.]

0.985 LP

0.98

0.975

0.97

0.965

0.96

0.955
0 5 10 15 20 25
Buses

Figure 4. Voltage magnitude at each bus with cheap fuel price.

33
Firas Mohammed Tuaimah A Linear Programming Method Based Optimal Power
Montather Fadhil Meteb Flow Problem for Iraqi Extra High Voltage Grid (EHV)

Active Power Generation of Each Plant When Cheap Fuel Price is Used
900

Active Power Generation [MW] 800

700 NR
LP
600

500

400

300

200

100

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Generator Buses
Figure 5. Active power generation for each plant with cheap fuel price.
x 10
5 Production Cost When Cheap fuel Price is Used
7

6.5
Production Cost [ $ / h ]

5.5

4.5
0 5 10 15
Iteration

Figure 6. Production cost when cheap fuel price is used.

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 Number 4 - April Volume 20 - 2014 Journal of Engineering

Voltage Magnitude of Each Bus When Expensive Fuel Price is Used

0.995

0.99 NR
LP
Voltage Magnitude [ p.u.]

0.985

0.98

0.975

0.97

0.965

0.96

0.955
0 5 10 15 20 25
Buses
Figure 7. Voltage magnitude at each Bus with expensive fuel price.

Active Power Generation of Each Plant When Expensive Fuel Price is Used
900

800
Active Power Generation [MW]

700
NR
LP
600

500

400

300

200

100

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Generator Bus
Figure 8. Active power generation for each plant with expensive fuel price.

5
x 10 Production Cost When Expensive Fuel Price is Used
10

9.5
Production Cost [ $ / h ]

8.5

7.5

6.5
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Iteration

Figure 9. Production cost when expensive fuel price is used.

.

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