When the whale optimization algorithm（WOA）is easy to fall into local optimum

slow convergenceand low accuracy in solving the reactive power optimization problem of the grid

in this paper

a kind of von neumann neighborhood topology

which is called the whale optimization algorithm（AWOA）

is applied to the ORPD problem to increase diversity of prey as the whales hunt their prey

which improves the global search capability of the algorithm. The active network loss and voltage deviation are taken as dual objective functions

the IEEE 30 node system is simulated and the result obtained by the ANOVA is compared with WOA and PSO. It is shown by the study that the potential of the AWOA algorithm search ability

iteration number and convergence are proved and the effectiveness

efficiency and robustness in solving the ORPD problem are also proved and

atthe same time

a new way to solve the nonlinear constraint problem is provided.