Optimal placement and sizing of shunt capacitor in power systems using MATLAB and genetic algorithm

I am writing to request your guidance on developing a MATLAB code for optimal placement and sizing of four capacitors in the standard IEEE 33-bus system to minimize network losses.

Thanks in advanced.

[Amish]

Optimizing the placement and sizing of capacitors in a power distribution network, is a complex task that involves minimizing power losses while maintaining voltage levels within acceptable limits. This is an optimization problem, that can be solved using techniques like Genetic Algorithms (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), or other heuristic methods.

You may try exploring the MATPOWER Package and implement your an optimization algorithm that suits your needs.

Answer 1

[Lechuan Piao]

I have done similar projects for my PhD research.

My piece of thought would be:

1. consider the topology variation caused by your optimal allocation each time you assess system fitness (GA or PSO)

2. formulate the location and size as integer optimization. For example, X(1: 33) is you allocation (gene "0" for no capacitor, gene "1" for install size capacitor level 1, gene "2" for size level 2, etc.)

3. Use monte carlo simulation for better assessment.

Answer 2

[Thomson Mtonga]

Hello Reza

For your preferred optimization algorithm you may have to set the lower and upper bounds (LB and UB) for optimal location/bus for capacitor installation as follows:

LB = [1 1 1 1] and UB = [33 33 33 33]

UB is set to 33 because you will be dealing with a 33 bus radial distribution system. And once a population of search agents is generated it need to be uniquely rounded off to discrete values.

For capacitor sizes the lower and upper bounds would be set depending on your needs