Optimal simultaneous allocation of passive filters and distributed generations as well as feeder reconfiguration to improve power quality and reliability in microgrids

Abstract

Despite numerous studies on optimal planning of Microgrids (MGs), little attention has been paid to provide an enviro-techno-economic model for planning the balanced and unbalanced MGs. This paper proposes an integrated model for simultaneous optimal allocation of passive filters and the inverter-based renewable Distributed Generations (DGs), as well as Distribution Feeder Reconfiguration (DFR) in balanced and unbalanced MGs. The proposed model is formulated as a Multi Objective Problem (MOP), which considers the revenue of the MG operator (MGO), reliability index, unbalanced voltage of buses, and greenhouse gas emissions. The MOP is solved by Multi-Objective Covariance Matrix Adaption-Evolution Strategy (MOCMA-ES) algorithm and a set of Pareto solutions are achieved subject to diverse technical constraints such as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Then, the best solution is selected based on the Mean Ideal Distance (MID) index. The performance of the proposed model was assessed on balanced 33-bus and unbalanced 25-bus MGs and results of the MID index were compared to the best solutions when the preference of the MGO was to achieve maximum revenue and minimum emissions. Simulation results illustrated the efficiency of the proposed integrated model with the improvement of the MGO benefits, the power quality, and the reliability index.