Distributed generation and shunt capacitor allocation in radial distribution power networks using a hybrid...

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Power Systems Optimization
• Computational Intelligence

Background:

• Radial distribution power networks (RPDNs) face challenges with power loss and voltage instability.
• Optimal placement of distributed generation (DG) and shunt capacitors (SC) is crucial for improving RPDN performance.
• Existing optimization methods may lack efficiency in handling complex, multi-objective allocation problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel hybrid optimization approach for simultaneous DG and SC unit allocation in RPDNs.
• To enhance the efficiency of global and local search capabilities for DG/SC placement problems.
• To evaluate the proposed method's effectiveness in reducing active power loss (APL), improving bus voltage (BV), and minimizing operating costs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hybrid framework integrating the Whale Optimizer Algorithm (WOA) for global search and the Osprey Optimizer Algorithm (OOA) for local search.
• Application of the Hybrid Whale-Osprey Algorithm (HWOA) to determine optimal locations and sizes for DG and SC units.
• Testing the HWOA on benchmark RPDN systems (33, 69, and 118 buses) for single- and multi-objective scenarios, including load uncertainty.

Main Results:

• Significant APL reduction achieved: up to 77.29% for single DG/SC units and 89.61% for two units on a 33-bus system.
• Demonstrated substantial APL reduction (up to 74.97%) and improved minimum BV (to 0.9686 pu) on a 69-bus system.
• The HWOA proved effective and scalable for large power networks (118-bus system) and robust against load uncertainties.

Conclusions:

• The proposed HWOA offers superior performance in DG/SC allocation compared to existing methods, achieving significant power loss reduction and voltage improvement.
• The hybrid approach effectively balances exploration and exploitation, leading to high-quality solutions for complex power system optimization problems.
• The HWOA is a promising tool for enhancing the efficiency, stability, and economic operation of radial distribution power networks.