Index and GA based Optimal Location and Sizing of Distribution System Capacitors

Abstract

Shunt capacitors can be installed in a distribution system to a required level of reactive power support to reduce energy and peak power losses. The amount of compensation to be provided is linked with the desirable objectives subject to the operational constraints. Thus optimal capacitor placement problem aims at determination of capacitor locations and their respective sizes. This paper presents a power loss based approach to determine suitable capacitor locations and an index and genetic algorithm based approach for optimal capacitor sizing. Highest suitability of nodes for capacitor placement and the corresponding sizes are determined. The proposed method has been tested on 15,31,34,69 and 85-bus distribution networks and the results are found to be very promising with considerable reduction in active power loss and improvement in voltage profile. Results for an 85-bus radial distribution system are presented.