Optimal capacitor placement in a smart grid using demand side management as a resource

摘要

Capacitors have been installed in distribution systems for improving power factor, improving the voltage profile, increasing the power flow through the transformers and cables and reduction of power losses. A lot of research has been done in this regard. In this work, we propose to install capacitors in a future smart grid where Demand Side Management (DSM) can be utilized as a resource in system planning. With DSM in action, system planners need not take into account the peak load, but a lesser fraction of the same, reducing the costs involved. In this way, we can defer the investments for later. There will be reduced power losses and a better voltage profile in a DSM enabled smart grid and placing capacitors in such a grid will reduce the costs incurred. Reliability evaluation considering reactive power source failures is also performed in the normal system and the one where DSM is in operation. We take a 10 bus radial distribution system and see that DSM reduces the capacitor placement cost and also improves system reliability.