Optimal capacitor allocation using a distribution-analyzer-recorder

Optimal capacitor allocation determines the size, type, and location of capacitors to be installed on a radial distribution feeder that will reduce peak power and energy losses while minimizing the costs of investment and installation of the capacitor banks. Because of lack of information and experimental data about the real power and reactive power demands at the various nodes of the distribution feeder, it has been customary to assume uniform load characteristics at constant power factor for the loads along the feeder. This paper presents an optimal capacitor allocation method that uses sensitivity factors and a characterization scheme for the load demands at the various feeder nodes. Sensitivity factors are used to reduce the number of solution alternatives to be evaluated. A distribution-analyser-recorder (DAR) has been developed to collect data from the feeder. The data collected is processed into load multipliers that are used as input data for the optimization process. The proposed method has been applied to two test feeders, and simulation results appear very promising.