Optimal power flow of HVDC system using teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm

In this paper, a solution to the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in electrical power networks is presented considering high voltage direct current (HVDC) link. Furthermore, the effect of HVDC link converters on the active and reactive power is evaluated. An objective function is developed for minimizing power loss and improving voltage profile. Gradient-based optimization techniques are not viable due to high number of OPF equations, their complexity and equality and inequality constraints. Hence, an efficient global optimization method is used based on teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm. The performance of the suggested method is evaluated on a 5-bus PJM network and compared with other algorithms such as particle swarm optimization, shuffled frog-leaping algorithm and nonlinear programming. The results are promising and show the effectiveness and robustness of TLBO method.

     

Modular design of a hybrid genetic algorithm for a flexible job–shop scheduling problem

The aim of the job–shop scheduling problem is to optimize the task planning in an industrial plant satisfying time and technological constraints. The existing algorithmic and mathematical methods for solving this problem usually have high computational complexities making them intractable. Flexible job–shop scheduling becomes even more complex, since it allows one to assign each operation to a resource from a set of suitable ones. Alternative heuristic methods are only able to satisfy part of the constraints applicable to the problem. Moreover, these solutions usually offer little flexibility to adapt them to new requirements. This paper describes research within heuristic methods that combines genetic algorithms with repair heuristics. Firstly, it uses a genetic algorithm to provide a non-optimal solution for the problem, which does not satisfy all its constraints. Then, it applies repair heuristics to refine this solution. There are different types of heuristics, which correspond to the different types of constraints. A heuristic is intended to evaluate and slightly modify a solution that violates a constraint in a way that avoids or mitigates such violation. This approach improves the adaptability of the solution to a problem, as some changes can be addressed just modifying the considered chromosome or heuristics. The proposed solution has been tested in order to analyse its level of constraint satisfaction and its makespan, which are two of the main parameters considered in these types of problems. The paper discusses this experimentation showing the improvements over existing methods.     

Parameter optimization of modern machining processes using teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm

Modern machining processes are now-a-days widely used by manufacturing industries in order to produce high quality precise and very complex products. These modern machining processes involve large number of input parameters which may affect the cost and quality of the products. Selection of optimum machining parameters in such processes is very important to satisfy all the conflicting objectives of the process. In this research work, a newly developed advanced algorithm named ‘teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm’ is applied for the process parameter optimization of selected modern machining processes. This algorithm is inspired by the teaching–learning process and it works on the effect of influence of a teacher on the output of learners in a class. The important modern machining processes identified for the process parameters optimization in this work are ultrasonic machining (USM), abrasive jet machining (AJM), and wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process. The examples considered for these processes were attempted previously by various researchers using different optimization techniques such as genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), particle swarm optimization (PSO), harmony search (HS), shuffled frog leaping (SFL) etc. However, comparison between the results obtained by the proposed algorithm and those obtained by different optimization algorithms shows the better performance of the proposed algorithm.     

Fuzzy adaptive teaching–learning-based optimization for global numerical optimization

Teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) is one of the latest metaheuristic algorithms being used to solve global optimization problems over continuous search space. Researchers have proposed few variants of TLBO to improve the performance of the basic TLBO algorithm. This paper presents a new variant of TLBO called fuzzy adaptive teaching–learning-based optimization (FATLBO) for numerical global optimization. We propose three new modifications to the basic scheme of TLBO in order to improve its searching capability. These modifications consist, namely of a status monitor, fuzzy adaptive teaching–learning strategies, and a remedial operator. The performance of FATLBO is investigated on four experimental sets comprising complex benchmark functions in various dimensions and compared with well-known optimization methods. Based on the results, we conclude that FATLBO is able to deliver excellence and competitive performance for global optimization.

     

A water-flow algorithm for flexible flow shop scheduling with intermediate buffers

We investigate the flexible flow shop scheduling problem with limited or unlimited intermediate buffers. A common objective of the problem is to find a production schedule that minimizes the completion time of jobs. Other objectives that we also consider are minimizing the total weighted flow time of jobs and minimizing the total weighted tardiness time of jobs. We propose a water-flow algorithm to solve this scheduling problem. The algorithm is inspired by the hydrological cycle in meteorology and the erosion phenomenon in nature. In the algorithm, we combine the amount of precipitation and its falling force to form a flexible erosion capability. This helps the erosion process of the algorithm to focus on exploiting promising regions strongly. To initiate the algorithm, we use a constructive procedure to obtain a seed permutation. We also use an improvement procedure for constructing a complete schedule from a permutation that represents the sequence of jobs in the first stage of the scheduling problem. To evaluate the proposed algorithm, we use benchmark instances taken from the literature and randomly generated instances of the scheduling problem. The computational results demonstrate the efficacy of the algorithm. We have also obtained several improved solutions for the benchmark instances using the proposed algorithm. We further illustrate the algorithm’s capability for solving problems in practical applications by applying it to a maltose syrup production problem.     

Multi-objective optimization of machining and micro-machining processes using non-dominated sorting teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm

Selection of optimum machining parameters is vital to the machining processes in order to ensure the quality of the product, reduce the machining cost, increasing the productivity and conserve resources for sustainability. Hence, in this work a posteriori multi-objective optimization algorithm named as Non-dominated Sorting Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (NSTLBO) is applied to solve the multi-objective optimization problems of three machining processes namely, turning, wire-electric-discharge machining and laser cutting process and two micro-machining processes namely, focused ion beam micro-milling and micro wire-electric-discharge machining. The NSTLBO algorithm is incorporated with non-dominated sorting approach and crowding distance computation mechanism to maintain a diverse set of solutions in order to provide a Pareto-optimal set of solutions in a single simulation run. The results of the NSTLBO algorithm are compared with the results obtained using GA, NSGA-II, PSO, iterative search method and MOTLBO and are found to be competitive. The Pareto-optimal set of solutions for each optimization problem is obtained and reported. These Pareto-optimal set of solutions will help the decision maker in volatile scenarios and are useful for real production systems.     

Multi-objective optimization of two stage thermoelectric cooler using a modified teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm

Teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) is a recently developed heuristic algorithm based on the natural phenomenon of teaching–learning process. In the present work, a modified version of the TLBO algorithm is introduced and applied for the multi-objective optimization of a two stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC). Two different arrangements of the thermoelectric cooler are considered for the optimization. Maximization of cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of the thermoelectric cooler are considered as the objective functions. An example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The results of optimization obtained by using the modified TLBO are validated by comparing with those obtained by using the basic TLBO, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithms.     

A hybrid teaching–learning slime mould algorithm for global optimization and reliability-based design optimization problems

Neural Computing and Applications - Slime mould algorithm (SMA) is a novel metaheuristic algorithm with good performance for optimization problems, but it may encounter premature or low accuracy in...     

Hybrid teaching–learning-based optimization algorithms for the Quadratic Assignment Problem

Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) is a novel swarm intelligence metaheuristic that is reported as an efficient solution method for many optimization problems. It consists of two phases where all individuals are trained by a teacher in the first phase and interact with classmates to improve their knowledge level in the second phase. In this study, we propose a set of TLBO-based hybrid algorithms to solve the challenging combinatorial optimization problem, Quadratic Assignment. Individuals are trained with recombination operators and later a Robust Tabu Search engine processes them. The performances of sequential and parallel TLBO-based hybrid algorithms are compared with those of state-of-the-art metaheuristics in terms of the best solution and computational effort. It is shown experimentally that the performance of the proposed algorithms are competitive with the best reported algorithms for the solution of the Quadratic Assignment Problem with which many real life problems can be modeled.     

Real-time path planning for autonomous vehicle based on teaching–learning-based optimization

Intelligent Service Robotics - This paper presents an online path planning approach for an autonomous tracked vehicle in a cluttered environment based on teaching–learning-based optimization...     

An orthogonal opposition-based-learning Yin–Yang-pair optimization algorithm for engineering optimization

Yin–Yang-pair Optimization (YYPO) is a recently developed philosophy-inspired meta-heuristic algorithm, which works with two main points for exploitation and exploration, respectively, and then generates more points via splitting to search the global optimum. However, it suffers from low quality of candidate solutions in its exploration process owing to the lack of elitism. Inspired by this, a new modified algorithm named orthogonal opposition-based-learning Yin–Yang-pair Optimization (OOYO) is proposed to enhance the performance of YYPO. First, the OOYO retains the normalization operation in YYPO and starts with a single point to exploit. A set of opposite points is designed by a method of opposition-based learning with split points generated from the current optimum for exploration. Then, the points, i.e., candidate solutions, are constructed by the randomly selected split point and opposite points through the idea of orthogonal experiment design to make full use of information from the space. The proposed OOYO does not add additional time complexity and eliminates a user-defined parameter in YYPO, which facilitates parameter adjustment. The novel orthogonal opposition-based learning strategy can provide inspirations for the improvement of other optimization algorithms. Extensive test functions containing a classic test suite of 23 standard benchmark functions and 2 test suites of Swarm Intelligence Symposium 2005 and Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2020 from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are employed to evaluate the proposed algorithm. Non-parametric statistical results demonstrate that OOYO outperforms YYPO and furnishes strong competitiveness compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms. In addition, we apply OOYO to solve four well-known constrained engineering problems and a practical problem of parameters optimization in a rainstorm intensity model.

     

A novel hybrid PSO–GWO algorithm for optimization problems

Engineering with Computers - In this study, we propose a new hybrid algorithm fusing the exploitation ability of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) with the exploration ability of the grey wolf...     

QoE–aware optimization of multimedia flow scheduling

This paper deals with the subjective quality maximization problem when scheduling multimedia traffic flows in a shared channel. In order to quantify such user satisfaction a utility function dependent on flow transfer delay is used. In this context, we formulate the Quality of Experience aware resource allocation optimization problem as a Markov Decision Process. This model is analytically unsolvable in general, and as an approximate solution we develop a simple and tractable index rule based on Gittins approach, originally aimed just at minimizing mean flow delay. As concluded from simulation results, when evaluating subjective quality performance this novel index rule proposal outperforms the most relevant existing scheduling disciplines.     

Hybrid whale optimization algorithm enhanced with Lévy flight and differential evolution for job shop scheduling problems

The job shop scheduling problem (JSSP) has been a hot issue in manufacturing. For the past few decades, scholars have been attracted to research JSSP and proposed many novel meta-heuristic algorithms to solve it. Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is such a novel meta-heuristic algorithm and has been proven to be efficient in solving real-world optimization problems in the literature. This paper proposes a hybrid WOA enhanced with Lévy flight and differential evolution (WOA-LFDE) to solve JSSP. By changing the expression of Lévy flight and DE search strategy, Lévy flight enhances the abilities of global search and convergence of WOA in iteration, while DE algorithm improves the exploitation and local search capabilities of WOA and keeps the diversity of solutions to escape local optima. It is then applied to solve 88 JSSP benchmark instances and compared with other state-of-art algorithms. The experimental results and statistical analysis show that the proposed algorithm has superior performance over contesting algorithms.     

A hybridization of teaching–learning-based optimization and differential evolution for chaotic time series prediction

Chaotic time series prediction problems have some very interesting properties and their prediction has received increasing interest in the recent years. Prediction of chaotic time series based on the phase space reconstruction theory has been applied in many research fields. It is well known that prediction of a chaotic system is a nonlinear, multivariable and multimodal optimization problem for which global optimization techniques are required in order to avoid local optima. In this paper, a new hybrid algorithm named teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO)–differential evolution (DE), which integrates TLBO and DE, is proposed to solve chaotic time series prediction. DE is incorporated into update the previous best positions of individuals to force TLBO jump out of stagnation, because of its strong searching ability. The proposed hybrid algorithm speeds up the convergence and improves the algorithm’s performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches, ten benchmark functions and three typical chaotic nonlinear time series prediction problems are used for simulating. Conducted experiments indicate that the TLBO–DE performs significantly better than, or at least comparable to, TLBO and some other algorithms.     

A hybrid genetic algorithm for the discrete time–cost trade-off problem

In this paper we present a hybrid strategy developed using genetic algorithms (GAs), simulated annealing (SA), and quantum simulated annealing techniques (QSA) for the discrete time–cost trade-off problem (DTCTP). In the hybrid algorithm (HA), SA is used to improve hill-climbing ability of GA. In addition to SA, the hybrid strategy includes QSA to achieve enhanced local search capability. The HA and a sole GA have been coded in Visual C++ on a personal computer. Ten benchmark test problems with a range of 18 to 630 activities are used to evaluate performance of the HA. The benchmark problems are solved to optimality using mixed integer programming technique. The results of the performance analysis indicate that the hybrid strategy improves convergence of GA significantly and HA provides a powerful alternative for the DTCTP.     

A new polynomial algorithm for a paralle identical scheduling problem

A precedence order is defined based on the release dates of jobs' direct successors. Using the defined precedence order and Heap Sort, a new polynomial algorithm is provided which aims to solve the parallel scheduling problem P|p = 1, r ,outtree|∑C . The new algorithm is shown to be more compact and easier to implement.