A Novel Optimal Shunt Capacitors Placement and Sizing Technique for Cost Minimization

<div>The installation of shunt capacitors in radial distribution systems leads to reduced branch power flows, branch currents, branch power losses and voltage drops. Consequently, this results in improved voltage profiles and voltage stability margins. However, for efficient attainment of the stated benefits, the shunt capacitors ought to be installed in an optimal manner, that is, optimally sized shunt capacitors need to be installed at the optimum buses of an electrical system. This article proposes a novel approach for optimizing the placement and sizing of shunt capacitors in radial distribution systems with a focus on minimizing the cost of active power losses and shunt capacitors’ purchase, installation, operation and maintenance. To reduce the search space, hence the computation time, the prroposed approach starts the search process by arranging the buses of the radial distribution system under consideration in pairs. Thereafter, these pairs influence each other to determine the optimum total number of buses to be compensated. The proposed approach was tested on the 34- and 85-bus radial distribution systems and when the simulation results were compared with those obtained by other approaches, it was established that the developed approach was a better option because it gave the least cost.</div>

A Novel Optimal Shunt Capacitors Placement and Sizing Technique for Cost Minimization

<div>The installation of shunt capacitors in radial distribution systems leads to reduced branch power flows, branch currents, branch power losses and voltage drops. Consequently, this results in improved voltage profiles and voltage stability margins. However, for efficient attainment of the stated benefits, the shunt capacitors ought to be installed in an optimal manner, that is, optimally sized shunt capacitors need to be installed at the optimum buses of an electrical system. This article proposes a novel approach for optimizing the placement and sizing of shunt capacitors in radial distribution systems with a focus on minimizing the cost of active power losses and shunt capacitors’ purchase, installation, operation and maintenance. To reduce the search space, hence the computation time, the prroposed approach starts the search process by arranging the buses of the radial distribution system under consideration in pairs. Thereafter, these pairs influence each other to determine the optimum total number of buses to be compensated. The proposed approach was tested on the 34- and 85-bus radial distribution systems and when the simulation results were compared with those obtained by other approaches, it was established that the developed approach was a better option because it gave the least cost.</div>

Optimal allocation of Multiple Distributed Generators and Shunt Capacitors in a Distribution System using Political Optimization Algorithm

To meet the increasing real & reactive power demand of a distribution system (DS), it is essential to allocate the Distributed Generators (DGs) and Shunt capacitors (SCs) optimally. In this article, multiple DGs and SCs are allocated simultaneously in the DS aiming minimal power loss (PL), improved voltage stability index (VSI) and voltage profile of the system. A combined approach considering loss sensitivity factor (LSF) and political optimization algorithm (POA) is proposed to solve the allocation and sizing of DGs and SCs. The analysis is performed on an IEEE 33 bus system considering 9 different scenarios and results are compared with other Meta heuristic techniques. The analysis is extended for a 24 hour case study to prove the efficacy of the proposed combined approach. From all the performed simulations it can be observed that the combined approach helps in minimizing power loss and improving voltage profile and VSI for dynamic load variations effectively.

Developing Verification and Optimization Models for Corona Discharge Suppression in High Voltage AC and DC Capacitor Banks

Capacitor banks are widely used in current electrical transmission systems in order to improve power quality and increase efficiency. Utilizing high voltage components such as, shunt capacitors in the power grid imposes new challenges to the system which are required to be addressed. One of these challenges is corona discharges that can have negative impacts on capacitor banks such as power loss, insulator erosion followed by equipment failure, and radio interference. Although previous studies have almost exclusively focused on optimization of corona suppression rings for transformers and transmission lines, no specific studies have conducted regarding high voltage capacitor banks. This paper presents a novel study concerning verification and development of corona discharge suppression models on AC and DC capacitor banks with two different voltage levels. The employed method is based on the Maxwell&rsquo;s equations and finite element method (FEM) which is implemented with the help of COMSOL Multiphysics&copy; software. Results have verified the necessity of suppression methods as well as the efficiency of proposed solutions. Corona inception voltage levels are identified and effective factors on its appearance are reviewed. Analyses of proposed solutions have shown significant improvements in optimization of corona suppression methods as well as enhancement of maintenance maneuverability.

Microcontroller based Automatic Power Factor Correction for Industrial Power use to Minimize Penalty

In this proposed system, two zero crossing detectors are used for detecting zero crossing of voltage and current. The project is meant to attenuate penalty for industrial units using automatic power factor correction unit. The microcontroller utilized during this project belongs to 8051 family. The interruption between the zero-voltage pulse and zero-current pulse is duly generated by suitable operational amplifier circuits in comparator mode is fed to 2 interrupt pins of a microcontroller. The program takes over to actuate appropriate number of relays from its output to bring shunt capacitors into load circuit to urge the facility factor till it reaches near unity. The capacitor bank and relays are interfaced to the microcontroller employing a relay driver. It displays delay between this and voltage on an LCD. Furthermore, the project is enhanced by using thyristor control switches rather than relay control to avoid contact pitting often encountered by switching of capacitors because of high in rush current.

Reactive Power Compensation and Power Factor Correction by using Static VAR Compensator (SVC)

In this paper, a reactive power compensation system using static VAR compensator is presented. To confine on system stability and reliability, the reactive power compensation is the fundamental way forflexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). The variations of reactive power have an effect on thegenerating units, lines, circuit breakers, transformers, relays, and isolators. It can also cause effective voltage sags and increase losses. In the proposed system, the lead time between voltage pulse and curren pulse is measured and fed to the interrupt pins of the microcontroller where the program takes over to bring the shunt capacitors to the circuit to get the reactive power compensated. Back-to-back SCRs interfaced through optical isolation from the microcontroller are used in parallel for controlling the capacitor.

Simultaneous Placement and Sizing of Distributed Generation Units and Shunt Capacitors on Radial Distribution Systems Using Cuckoo Search Algorithm

This paper presents a Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm-based methodology for simultaneous optimal placement and sizing of Shunt Capacitors (SCs) and Distributed Generations (DGs) together in radial distribution systems. The objectives of the work are to minimize the real power and reactive power losses while maximizing the voltage stability index of the distribution network subjected to equality and inequality constraints. Different operational test cases are considered namely installation of SCs only, DGs only, SCs before DGs, DGs before SCs, and SCs and DGs at one time. The proposed method has been demonstrated on standard IEEE 33-bus and a practical Ayepe 34-bus radial distribution test systems. The highest percentage power loss reduction of 94.4% and other substantial benefits are obtained when SCs and DGs are optimally installed simultaneously. Simulated results obtained from the proposed technique are compared with other well-known optimization algorithms and found to be more effective.