Optimal DG Allocation in Radial Distribution Systems with High Penetration of Non-linear Loads

Abstract

This paper addresses the optimal distributed generation sizing and siting for voltage profile improvement, power losses, and total harmonic distortion (THD) reduction in a distribution network with high penetration of non-linear loads. The proposed planning methodology takes into consideration the load profile, the frequency spectrum of non-linear loads, and the technical constraints such as voltage limits at different buses (slack and load buses) of the system, feeder capacity, THD limits, and maximum penetration limit of DG units. The optimization process is based on the Genetic Algorithm (GA) method with three scenarios of objective function: system power losses, THD, and multi-objective function-based power losses and THD. This method is executed on the IEEE 31-bus system under sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal (harmonics) operating conditions including load variations within the 24-hr period. The simulation results using Matlab environment show the robustness of this method in optimal sizing and siting of DG, efficiency for improvement of voltage profile, reduction of power losses, and THD. A comparison with particle swarm optimization (PSO) method shows that the proposed method is better than PSO in reducing the power losses and THD in all suggested scenarios.

Keywords:

• distributed generation
• optimization
• voltage profile
• power losses
• THD
• genetic algorithm

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abdelazeem A. Abdelsalam

Abdelazeem A. Abdelsalam was born in Ismailia, Egypt, in 1978. He was a postdoctorate fellow at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Oshawa, Canada. He received his BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from Suez Canal University, Egypt, in 2001, 2005, and 2011, respectively. He is currently assistant professor at Suez Canal University, Egypt. His current research areas include power quality issues, FACTS technology, distributed energy resources interface and control, and application of artificial intelligent techniques on power systems.

Aboelsood A. Zidan

Aboelsood A. Zidan was born in Sohag, Egypt, in 1982. He received BSc and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from Assiut University, Egypt, in 2004 and 2007, respectively, and PhD degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in 2014. He is currently assistant professor at Assiut University, Egypt. His research interests include distribution automation, renewable DG, distribution system planning, and smart grids.

Ehab F. El-Saadany

Ehab F. El-Saadany was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1964. He received BSc and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, in 1986 and 1990, respectively, and PhD degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in 1998. He is currently a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo. His research interests are distribution system control and operation, power quality, distributed generation, power electronics, digital signal processing applications for power systems, and mechatronics.