Optimal placement of distributed generator for power loss minimization and voltage stability improvement

Abstract

This paper presents a solution to a problem of optimal allocation of distributed generator (DG) for multi objective minimization of real power loss, reactive power loss, reactive power generation and voltage deviation. The four objective functions are formulated and combined to form a single objective function using weighting factors. The problem is solved by using a technique formed by a combination of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Newton Raphson Power Flow (NRPF) methods. This hybrid strategy utilizes the global searching capability of PSO and its derivative free nature and the ability of NRPF method to find optimal solution when initial points are efficiently chosen to reach global optimal solution. The method is tested on IEEE 14-bus power system. To minimize cost one DG is considered for installation. The proposed method iteratively moves DG in each load bus of the test system, find optimal transformers’ taps settings and compute objective function value. The DG is assumed to generate 2.5 MW. The bus that gives the minimum value of the objective function is considered as the best candidate for DG installation. In this work, it is bus number nine. Distributed generator used is from wind energy technology.