article · IEEE Systems Journal
Electrical distribution operators constantly seek ways to improve grid performance and cost efficiency. An enhanced grey wolf algorithm has been developed to optimise the coordinated placement and sizing of distributed generation units, capacitor banks, and voltage regulators. The approach incorporates a dynamic adaptation mechanism to update algorithm control parameters across varied load conditions, covering light, shoulder, and peak demand levels. The optimisation seeks to minimise the investment costs of the installed hardware while maximising financial gains from reduced power losses and lower imported grid power. It simultaneously addresses technical performance by boosting line loading capacity and stabilising voltage levels. When tested through simulations on two Egyptian distribution networks, the algorithm lowered power losses, improved minimum voltage profiles, and outperformed several benchmark optimisation methods in comparative and statistical assessments.
Operating power grids efficiently requires balancing hardware costs against energy losses and voltage instability. This research provides a computational tool to help network operators plan where to place generation and voltage support equipment. By reducing energy losses and avoiding grid overload during peak demand periods, such optimisation tools can support more reliable and cost-effective electricity distribution.
The algorithm is an applied software tool targeted at electricity distribution system operators and network planning engineers. It has been tested in simulated environments on two Egyptian distribution networks, showing it is at an applied research stage rather than an integrated commercial software package. Moving towards use would require embedding the optimisation method into existing utility grid management and planning software suites.
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Enhancing the distribution systems performance is an important target for system operators. This article proposes an enhanced grey wolf algorithm (EGWA) for allocating the distributed generation units (DGUs) which is coordinated with the capacitor banks (CBs) and the voltage regulators (VRs) to achieve the target. Diversified tasks aim at minimizing the investment expenses of the coordinated equipment, and maximizing the benefits resulted from power losses reduction and the purchased power from the grid. In the technical direction, it is investigated through ameliorating the voltage profile and the loading capacity. Also, the loading variations are incorporated via light, shoulder, and peak levels of demand. A dynamic adaptation mechanism is used for updating the control parameters of the GWA. The proposed EGWA is employed for solving the optimal allocation problem (OAP) for two Egyptian distribution systems. Simulation results declare the proposed EGWA capability for solving the coordinated allocation of CBs, DGUs, and VRs. Great reduction of power losses is achieved with high improvement of the minimum voltage and loading capacity. Also, a comparative and statistical analysis is executed for the application of the proposed EGWA with different optimization techniques, which derives superior capabilities of the proposed EGWA over the others in the literature.
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DOI: 10.1109/jsyst.2020.2986647
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