Combination of Optimal Conductor Selection and Capacitor Placement in Radial Distribution Systems Using PSO Method

Abstract

In This paper presents an approach for optimal placement and sizing of fixed capacitor banks and also optimal conductor selection in radial distribution networks for the purpose of economic minimization of loss and enhancement of voltage. The objective function includes the cost of power losses, voltage profile, fixed capacitor banks and also type of conductor selection. Constraints include voltage limit, maximum permissible carrying current of conductors, size of available capacitors and type of conductors. The optimization problem is solved by the Imperialism Competitive algorithm method and the size and site capacitor banks and type of conductors is determined. To demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm, computer simulations are carried out on actual power network of Kerman city, Iran and the simulation results are presented and discussed.