Power Loss Reduction Using Distributed Generation Sources Considering Protection Coordination and Harmonic Limits

Nowadays, high penetration of distributed generation (DG) sources in the distribution system has several impacts such as harmonic distortion, changes in short circuit current levels and power flow through branches. Using DG has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, supplying the loads locally would reduce network losses, while the overcurrent relays coordination might fail. In this paper, a new optimization problem is introduced to minimize distribution system losses by adding DGs as well as maintain the original protection scheme considering harmonic distortion limits. The problem is solved using Genetic Algorithm (GA) to find the optimal sizes of DGs to achieve the minimum losses in compliance with the desired constraints. Simulation studies are performed on 14-node radial distribution test system to validate the performance of the purposed method.