Transmission network expansion planning based on improved ant colony algorithm

Transmission network expansion planning(TNEP)is a complex combinatorial optimization problem.Although this problem has been extensively studied,it is still not well solved.In recent years,a new meta-heuristic method,ant colony algorithm,is emerging.It is highly efficient for quickly finding high quality solutions to combinatorial optimization problems.In this paper,an improved ant algorithm is introduced to the transmission network expansion planning,and the corresponding mathematical model,together with its solution algorithm,is also presented.The simulation results for two sample systems,although preliminary,show its advantage on computing speed and convergence.