Optimal capacitor placement and sizing using Fuzzy-DE and Fuzzy-MAPSO methods

This paper presents new techniques for capacitor placement in radial distribution feeders in order to reduce the real power loss, to improve the voltage profile and to achieve economical saving. The identification of the weak buses, where the capacitors should be placed is decided by a set of rules given by the fuzzy expert system. Power loss and node voltage indices are used as inputs to the fuzzy expert system and the output is sensitivity index which gives the weak buses in the system where the capacitor to be placed. The sizing of the capacitors is modeled by an objective function to obtain maximum savings using Differential Evolution (DE) and Multi Agent Particle Swarm Optimization (MAPSO). To illustrate the applicability of the above algorithms, simulation is performed on an existing 15 bus and IEEE 34 bus distribution feeders. The results of the proposed approaches are compared with PSO, HPSO techniques and with results of those in the literature.

► Optimal capacitor placement and sizing is determined. ► Weak buses are identified using fuzzy expert system. ► MAPSO and DE techniques are used for capacitor placement. ► Reduction in real power loss, improvement in voltage profile and economical saving are achieved.