Efficient Heuristic Algorithm Used for Optimal Capacitor Placement inRadial Distribution Systems

Increasing application of capacitor banks ondistribution networks is the direct impact of development oftechnology and the energy disasters that the world isencountering. To obtain these goals the resources capacity andthe installation place are of a crucial importance. Line lossreduction is one of the major benefits of capacitor, amongstmany others, when incorporated in the power distributionsystem. The quantum of the line loss reduction should beexactly known to assess the effectiveness of the distributedgeneration. In this paper, using two methods find the optimaland simultaneous place and capacity of these resources toreduce losses, improve voltage profile too the total loss of apractical distribution system is calculated with and withoutcapacitor placement and an index, quantifying the total lineloss reduction is proposed. To demonstrate the validity of theproposed algorithm, computer simulations are carried out onactual power network of Kerman Province, Iran and thesimulation results are presented and discussed.Keywords: Distribution systems, Loss reduction index