Title: Reactive power compensation in distribution networks using cuckoo search algorithm

Authors: Attia A. El-Fergany; Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz

Addresses: Department of Electrical Power and Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, P.O. Box. 44519, Zagazig, Egypt ' Electrical Power and Machines Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Abdo Basha square, Abbassia, 11517, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: This manuscript presents a cuckoo search optimisation-based approach to allocate static shunt capacitors along radial distribution networks. The objective function is adapted to reduce the system peak losses and to improve the system voltage profile. Higher potential buses for capacitor placement are initially identified using power loss index. The proposed approach identifies optimal sizing and placement and takes the final decision for optimum location. The overall accuracy and reliability of the approach have been validated and tested on radial distribution systems with differing topologies and of varying sizes and complexities. The results are compared with those obtained using recent heuristic methods and show that the proposed approach is capable of producing high-quality solutions with good performance of convergence.

Keywords: capacitor allocation; cuckoo search; loss reduction; cumulative voltage deviation; reactive power compensation; static shunt capacitors; radial distribution networks; optimisation; system peak losses; system voltage profile; capacitor placement; power loss index; sizing; optimum location; accuracy; reliability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIC.2014.064989

International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation, 2014 Vol.6 No.4, pp.230 - 238

Received: 06 Mar 2013
Accepted: 16 Dec 2013
Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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