Optimal plug-in hybrid electric vehicles recharge in distribution power systems

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are new alternatives that meet the efforts to develop more sustainable means of transportation and decreasing oil dependence. However, this trend could bring negative consequences to electric power systems, such as limits violations, power losses increasing, harmonics, and thermal limits violation on distribution transformers and conductors. To cope with some of those problems, this paper proposes a recharging process with the help of Artificial Immune Systems, so the voltage level in all buses is kept within the operational limits and no overload is observed. For this sake, besides distributing the load along the recharging period, capacitors installation to decrease electric losses and improve voltage levels during vehicles recharging is also considered. The results obtained render the proposed methodology as effective. Two IEEE sample systems are used to test the idea, so the results may be reproduced for research purposes.

► We employ a power flow program for distribution system.
► We incorporate a system loss reduction analysis.
► A recharging strategy for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is proposed based on Artificial Immune Systems.
► Violations in branches loading and voltage limits treated by capacitor placement.