Static Var Compensator (SVC) is a popular FACTS device for providing reactive power support in power systems and its placement representing the location and size has significant influence on network loss, while keeping the voltage magnitudes within the acceptable range. This paper presents a Firefly algorithm based optimization strategy for placement of SVC in power systems with a view of minimizing the transmission loss besides keeping the voltage magnitude within the acceptable range. The method uses a self-adaptive scheme for tuning the parameters in the Firefly algorithm. The strategy is tested on three IEEE test systems and their results are presented to demonstrate its effectiveness.
This work attempts to use nitrogen gas as a shielding gas at the cutting zone, as well as for cooling purposes while machining stainless steel 304 (SS304) grade by Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathe. The major influencing parameters of speed, feed and depth of cut were selected for experimentation with three levels each. Totally 27 experiments were conducted for dry cutting and N2 gaseous conditions. The major influencing parameters are optimized using Taguchi and Firefly Algorithm (FA). The improvement in obtaining better surface roughness and Material Removal Rate (MRR) is significant and the confirmation results revealed that the deviation of the experimental results from the empirical model is found to be within 5%. A significant improvement of reduction of the specific cutting energy by 2.57 % on average was achieved due to the reduction of friction at the cutting zone by nitrogen gas in CNC turning of SS 304 alloy.
Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMMs) have been extensively used in inspecting mechanical parts with higher accuracy. In order to enhance the efficiency and precision of the measurement of aviation engine blades, a sampling method of profile measurement of aviation engine blade based on the firefly algorithm is researched. Then, by comparing with the equal arc-length sampling algorithm (EAS) and the equi-parametric sampling algorithm (EPS) in one simulation, the proposed sampling algorithm shows its better sampling quality than the other two algorithms. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by an experimental example of blade profile. Both simulated and experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can ensure the measurement accuracy by measuring a smaller number of points.