Optimal Sizing and Placement of Distribution Static Compensator for Improvement of Distribution Feeder Loss and Voltage Profile (Case Study: Debre Berhan Distribution System)

Abstract

The demand for electricity has increased significantly in the last few years but the existing distribution feeders are unable to provide the additional power in a safe and reliable manner due to various problems. The main problems that indicate the distribution system performance are high frequency and duration of power interruptions, poor voltage profile, and power loss. In this research work, a Distribution Static Compensator (D-STATCOM) is integrated with the existing radial distribution system to address the above-mentioned problems. The optimal size and appropriate location of the D-STATCOM is determined using the Dragonfly Algorithm (DA). The proposed system was tested on the Aliyu-amba feeder in the Debre Berhan Distribution System and the load flow analysis was done using the Forward-Back Sweep (FBS) load flow method. The total active and reactive power losses of the base-case power flow result are 1079.779 KW and 693.528 KVAR respectively. In addition, out of 193 total buses, 130 buses are below the acceptable voltage limit. After the integration of D-STATCOM with the distribution system, the minimum is voltage improved from 0.84022 p.u to 0.95066 p.u and the voltages of all the buses are above the minimum value (i.e. 0.95 p.u). In addition to this, the active and reactive power loss reduction percentages are 45.916% and 45.621% respectively. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of the required size of D-STATCOM was analyzed and the payback period was about two years.