Optimal Capacitor Placement for Loss Reduction in Radial Distribution Feeder

Abstract

A distribution system is an interface between the bulk power transmission system and the consumer. Among these systems, radial distribution system is popular because of low cost and simple design. In radial distribution feeders, the voltage at buses reduces and loss increases as moved away from the substation due to insufficient amount of reactive power. The reactive power requirement is provided by the shunt capacitor banks. The most important benefit of capacitor placement is loss reduction, voltage profile improvement, increment of power factor and freeing up the power system capacity. Optimal capacitor placement in distribution systems has been studied for a long time. It is an optimization problem which has an objective to define the optimal sizes and allocations of capacitors to be installed. This paper presents an approach for optimal capacitor banks placement in radial distribution feeders for loss reducction.