Optimal Capacitor Placement in Radial Distribution Networks

Shunt capacitors are widely used in distribution systems to reduce power losses, improve voltage profile and increase system capacity. The benefits of compensation depend greatly on the placement and size of the added capacitors. In this book, the heuristic optimization techniques are used together with the backward/forward sweep power flow method and radial harmonic power flow for determining the optimal placement and sizing of capacitors in radial distribution networks for minimizing the power loss and total cost by considering mutual coupling, load unbalancing and harmonics. To implement the developed algorithms, the backward/forward sweep power flow and radial harmonic power flow methods in an open source environment, a Matlab based software tool named as Optimal Placement of Shunt Var Compensators has been developed.