Optimal DSTATCOM placement to improve voltage profile and reduce losses

Equipment performs both economic and technical functions in power systems. Equipment aging such as cable aging which is a result of metallic structure (like cable sheathing) erosion is a reality of life in power network. The results of cable aging in power system are higher risk of failure and loosing system reliability. In order to solve aging problem, the best way is to reduce cable current flow by using different methods such as installing FACTS devices in power system. In this paper by using Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA), optimal placement of DSTATCOMs is performed to reduce cable aging and improve voltage profile. The test system used in this paper is the IEEE ۳۳-bus standard network and Backward/Forward sweep load flow calculations are used in this work. The obtained results demonstrate voltage profile improvement considering cable aging constraint by performing DSTATCOMs optimal placement. The problem is investigated in three scenario and the HSA is run ۱۰۰ times for each scenario. The results show the suitability of HSA in aspect of convergence and finding global optimum value for this problem.