Using Evolutionary Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) to Coordinate Overcurrent Relays

Abstract—This paper studies the ability of evolutionary Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) to coordinate overcurrent relays. Also, in order to show its greater power in optimization, the ICA is compared to the Genetic Algorithm (GA). For this purpose, the two algorithms are used to coordinate overcurrent relays, with the main optimization parameters being similar. The coordination of overcurrent relays by these two algorithms is implemented on a six-bus transmission system. More specifically, the algorithms were compared in terms of the mean convergence speed, mean convergence time, convergence reliability, and the tolerance of convergence speed in obtaining the absolute optimum point. This paper shows that at the first stage of optimization where getting close to the absolute optimum point is of importance the ICA is more powerful, while the GA shows greater power at the second stage where obtaining th