Electric vehicles reactive power management and reconfiguration of distribution system to minimise losses

Abstract

This study investigates the optimal operation of distribution feeder reconfiguration (DFR) strategy in smart distribution system integrated with electric vehicles (EVs) and wind power generation. A two-stage framework is proposed for real and reactive power management and DFR. In the first stage, demand dispatch of EVs is coordinated to utilise available wind power and minimise the total load variations. In the second stage, a comprehensive problem formulation is developed to minimise the losses in the system with simultaneous EVs reactive power management and DFR. A genetic algorithm is used to solve this two-stage optimisation problem. A case study of 33-bus radial distribution system is presented to highlight the efficacy of proposed approach. The obtained results are quantitatively assessed in terms of losses and node voltages. A comparative benchmarking analysis is presented to substantiate the role of DFR and reactive power capability of EVs in improving the system performance.