Optimal Sizing and Placement of Capacitors in Radial Distribution Systems Based on Grey Wolf, Dragonfly and Moth–Flame Optimization Algorithms

Abstract

The applications of grey wolf (GWO), dragonfly (DFO) and moth–flame (MFA) optimization techniques for optimum sitting of capacitors in various radial distribution systems (RDSs) are presented. The loss sensitivity factor is applied to determine the most candidate buses. Then, each optimization technique is utilized to find optimum placements and sizes of capacitors for determined Buses. In this study, 33-, 69- and 118-bus RDSs are considered for validating the effectiveness and efficiency of studied algorithms. The convergence performance is evaluated for tested RDSs using MATLAB/Simulink software. The obtained results confirm that GWO, DFO and MFA offer accurate convergence to the global minimum point of the objective function with high convergence speed. The ability of the studied techniques for enhancing voltage profiles with considered distribution systems is achieved. Finally, a comparison study between each studied technique with each other and with other techniques like PSO, fuzzy-GA, heuristic, DSA, TLBO, DA-PS, FPA and CSA has been carried out. The parameters of the comparison include: efficiency, execution time, the speed of convergence, minimizing total cost and increasing net savings. The results of comparison indicated that GWO-based algorithm has accurate convergence to optimal location and size of capacitor banks. In addition, it has the best performance in comparison with other techniques.