Reactive Power Loss Minimization in Radial Distribution Network using BFOA

Abstract

Active and reactive power losses have been a major challenge in the field of power system since beginning. Many techniques have evolved since then for reducing these losses and hence improving voltage profile. Power compensation has become very important so as to improve power system stability and hence preventing the operation of system closer to the voltage stability boundaries. Reactive power compensation plays a vital role in improving the voltage profile and planning of power system. DG allocation and capacitor placement are the most common and powerful techniques used to improve voltage profile and reduce losses. DG is used for active power compensation whereas capacitor is used for reactive power compensation. The capacitor placement problem involves determining the location and also the optimal size of the capacitor so as to minimize the losses. In this thesis firstly load flow is performed to determine the actual losses and voltages at different nodes without compensation. Next the optimal location and size of the capacitor to be installed is found. Location is determined by calculating the voltage stability index and loss sensitivity factor at each node. For size determination the technique used is bacterial foraging algorithm. After installing capacitor for reactive power compensation at the candidate node again the load flow is performed to justify the objective. The results thus obtained were compared with other techniques and were tested on 33-node radial distribution network.