OPTIMAL SIZING AND LOCATION OF CAPACITOR BANK FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

Abstract

Reduction of I2R loss and maintained voltage profile in power distribution system is very essential to improve the over all efficiency and serviceability of power delivery. The I2R loss can be separated into two parts based on the active and reactive components of branch currents. This thesis presents a new method of minimizing the cost of losses associated with the reactive component of branch currents. Proposed method, first determines a set of probable nodes for search where capacitors may be installed using the 2/3 rule. This reduces the search space. The optimum size and locations are then determined by using genetic algorithm. To implement GA, the design variables are the capacitor sizes at the candidate location. The candidate locations are the nodes derived from above. The fitness function for GA string is the objective function value i.e. the summation of the total energy losses and the cost of capacitors. The efficiency of proposed method is investigated with an IEEE 33 bus test system and it is found that there is a significant saving in terms of reduced losses by placing optimal value of capacitors at optimum nodes