EFFICIENT GENETIC ALGORITHM FOR PLACEMENT AND SIZING OF MULTIPLE

DISTRIBUTED GENERATORS IN RADIAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS THROUGH

HYBRID OPTIMIZATION

Chapter 3 Distributed Generator Units

Simply put, "small-scale generation" refers to distributed generation (DG). In various
markets and nations, as well as according to various agencies, the definition of "distributed
generation" takes on different forms.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), "distributed generation is any

generating facility that serves a customer on-site or supports a distribution network,
connected to the grid at distribution level voltages."

The International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) has defined DG as the
generation with the following features: it is smaller than 50-100 MW; it is typically
connected to the distribution network; and it is not currently centrally planned and
dispatched.

For example, the Electric Power Research Institute defines DG as generation that ranges
from a few kW to 50 MW. In literature, T. Ackermann et al. [10] have provided the following
description of distributed generation (DG): "DG can be defined as electric power
generation within distribution networks or on the customer side of the network."

DGs can have a wide range of technical problems depending on the size. As a result,
Ackermann et al. [10] recommended the following distinction based on the DG rating:

a) Micro DG: ranging from 1 W to 5 kW,

b) Small DG: ranging from 5 kW to 5 MW,

c) Medium DG: ranging from 5 MW to 50 MW,

d) Large DG: ranging from 50 MW to 300 MW.

Various conventional and non-conventional technologies are currently used in DG applications.

Internal combustion engines, combined cycles, combustion turbines, and micro-turbines are
examples of non-renewable technologies in the first category. The latter technologies depend on
renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic, biomass, wind, geothermal, ocean, etc.
"Green energy" is frequently used to describe DGs from renewable sources. The main benefits of
using DG sources based on renewable energy are the elimination of harmful emissions and the
limitless resources of primary energy. DG is to play a more prominent role in the future of electric
generation systems.

We can assess the effectiveness of DGs from two perspectives: cost and benefits. The cost of DG
placement includes investment, maintenance, and operating expenses. Investment costs include
the cost of the DG unit, DG site, site preparation, SCADA system, protection system, etc. While
maintenance costs include repairs, scheduled maintenance, and operating costs, the operating
costs include labour costs for services, taxes, fuel, etc. The division of advantages of DG utilization
into two groups: [11]

1. Economical benefits

2. Operational benefits

The economic benefits of DG utilization are as follows:

The DG increases the system efficiency by increasing the system voltage profile, reducing
the number of voltage regulators and capacitors needed, lowering the power losses in the
feeders, lowering the cost of losses, lowering the load on the electrical equipment, and
lowering the maintenance costs. Also, DG planning is a short-term investment strategy
due to its low capital cost and quick installation, which reduces investment risk.

The operational benefits of DG utilization are as follows:

DGs lessen the load on feeders by supplying energy that is secure, clean, dependable,
and efficient at a low cost with low emissions. Adding DGs to the distribution system
lowers the network's number of electrical components (substations, transformers, feeders,
capacitors, regulators, protective devices, and control circuits), lowering the potential for
faults. In order to fulfil the demands of power quality, dependability, and voltage profile
prerequisites, DGs can be connected to the grid using modern power electronics devices.
DG placement determines the magnitude of the benefits. The most crucial benefit of DG is
the reduction of line losses, so determining the size and location of the local generation to
be placed is critical.
3.2 Optimal sizing and location of DG
Including DG in the distributed network could impact the power system's stability, precisely
angle, frequency, and voltage stability. DG placement may impact the system's frequency,
voltage control, and protection selectivity. A poor choice of size and location could result in
higher system losses.

Utility companies benefit from lower system losses, better voltage regulation, and
increased supply reliability by allocating DGs most effectively. DG is one of the workable
solutions to help meet the energy demands of ever-increasing loads while easing high
power loss, low reliability, and poor power quality. When the size of the DG on a specific
bus increases, the losses reduce to a minimum value, and when the size of the DG is
increased beyond the optimal DG size at that location, the losses begin to increase. As a
result, the size of the distribution system in terms of load (MW) will be critical in
determining the size of the DG. Similarly, the location of the DG is vital in minimizing
losses. Grouping of load analysis techniques into four categories:

a) Classical methods

b) Analytical methods

c) Meta-heuristic methods

d) Other methods

These methods are discussed in brief as below:

a) Classical method:

The method based on generalized optimization techniques is presented in [11]. This

method determines the best location for distributed resources in a network to minimize
losses, line loading, and reactive power requirements. Minimizing losses, VAr losses, or
loadings in specific lines can be chosen as a performance index. Any suitable performance
index can be used as a criterion for optimal installation. As a result, the problem
formulation is transformed into an optimization problem for minimizing the loss function
while keeping the constraints of real and reactive power injections into the bus in mind.
The generalized reduced gradient method, also known as the second-order method, is
used in this method to solve the optimization problem using Lagrangian multipliers. In the
second-order method, state and control variables, which are functions of voltages, angles,
and the injected real power of load buses, are represented by the second derivatives of
the Lagrangian function. Using the presumption that each bus can support a DG source,
this method determines the optimal size of DG at each load bus of a networked system.

The paper[12] presents a simple method for optimal sizing and placement of generators.
The goal is to reduce both costs and power loss effectively. This approach also
emphasizes weightage factor optimization, which balances loss and cost factors and aids
in developing desired objectives with the most significant possible gain. The multi-objective
optimization encompasses the simultaneous optimization of cost and loss. On modified
IEEE 6 bus, IEEE 14 bus, and IEEE 30 bus systems, a simple conventional iterative
search technique is used in conjunction with the Newton-Raphson load flow method.

b) Analytical Method:

The paper [13] proposes an analytical expression for calculating the optimal size and a
practical methodology for determining the optimal location for DG placement. The goal of
DG placement is to minimize losses. The placement and size of DG are determined when
losses are at their maximum. DGs that can only supply actual power are considered. This
approach is appropriate for allocating a single DG in a specific distribution network. The
methodology and analytical expression are based on an exact loss formula.

The total power loss against injected power is a parabolic function. At minimum losses, the
rate of change of losses concerning injected power becomes zero,

∂ PL
i.e., =0. Eq. 3.2.1
∂ Pi

In order to get the final solution using this methodology, load flow is performed twice: once
for the base case and once with DG incorporated. Three different test systems of various
sizes are used to evaluate this methodology.

In [14], a loss sensitivity factor, based on the equivalent current injection, is formulated for
the distribution systems. The formulated sensitivity factor is employed to determine the
optimum size and location of distributed generation to minimize total power losses by an
analytical method. This analytical method is based on the equivalent current injection
technique that uses the bus injection to branch current and branch current to bus voltage
matrices developed based on the topological structure of the distribution systems. This
method requires only one base caseload flow to determine the optimum size and location
of the DG unit in a radial system without requiring impedance or Jacobian matrices for
radial systems. To determine the optimum size of DG, the derivative of the total power
losses per i th bus injected real power is equated to zero

∂ P Loss
as =0. Eq.3.2.2
∂ Pi

The optimum size of DG and placement for loss minimization are determined by the
proposed method and validated against the results obtained by the classical grid search
algorithm studies for three distribution test systems. This method is easy to implement, fast
and accurate.

In [15], the proposed method is based on improved analytical expressions to calculate the
optimal size of four different types of DG. This paper presents a methodology to identify
the best location for the DG allocation technique to obtain the optimal power factor for DG
capable of delivering real and reactive power. This paper investigates the placement of
multiple DG units to achieve a high loss reduction in large-scale distribution networks.

c) Meta-heuristic methods:

Kim et al. [17] introduces a fuzzy-GA method for resolving dispersed generator placement
in distribution systems. It transforms objective functions and constraints into fuzzy sets,
evaluating imprecise nature, and solves the problem using a genetic algorithm. The
algorithm efficiently obtains compromised or satisfied solutions by analyzing results and
updating expected values.

d) Other methods

The paper[19] presents the numerical method for distributed generation (DG) unit
placement in distribution networks. This method is built on the continuation power flow
method and determines the most sensitive buses to voltage collapse. In this method, the
DG is installed on the most sensitive bus. This method is tested on a typical 34-bus test
system. It also may permit an increase in power transfer capacity, maximum loading,
voltage stability margin and reduction of power losses.
A practical method [18] is presented to determine the optimal location and size of multiple
DGs using the Kalman filter algorithm. The Kalman filter algorithm is applied to select the
optimal sizes of multiple DGs by minimizing the total power loss of the system. The
performance of the Kalman filter algorithm has been tested on IEEE 30-bus system.

The main objective of this thesis is to find out the optimal sizes of multipole DGs to reduce
the total system power losses and improve the system voltage profile.