Optimal Capacitor Placement

Optimal Capacitor Placement

Introduction
Purpose of this program module is to identify key locations in the radial primary
feeders of a distribution network, where the placement of shunt capacitors
minimizes the MW losses. The program will come up with such installations,
where each installation consists of
1. the bus of the primary feeders where a shunt capacitor would be located
2. the MVAR size of the capacitor
3. the additional reduction in MW losses (in %)

Theory

Structure of the distribution network

The following figure shows the structure of a distribution network, its most
important elements and the nomenclature used in this chapter.

Distribution
substation

Subtransmission
network

Primary
feeder bus

Primary
feeders

Voltage
regulation
+ meters

Fig. 16.1 Distribution network structure

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Primary
feeder bus

Fig. 16.2 Primary feeder

Distribution systems provide power to a wide variety of load types. Resistive loads
(power factor = 1.0) require no reactive power at all, while inductive loads (power
factor < 1.0) require both active and reactive power. Inductive loads (e.g. motors)
are always present so that the line current consists of a real (or resistive)
component and an inductive component. Both components contribute to the MW
losses (which are proportional to the square of the current magnitude), voltage
drop and line loading (measured in A or MVA). The resistive component of the
current cannot be substantially reduced as this is the part of the current that
actually perfoms work (defined by demand). The reactive component of the
current can be reduced by installation of capacitors close to the loads. This has
the effect that the reactive power needed is generated locally and the distribution
circuits are relieved from the reactive power transfer. Effective placement of the
shunt capacitors (depending on the situation) can improve the voltage profile and
can greatly reduce the losses and the line loading.
The program will propose locations for the placement of shunt capacitors with the
purpose of reduction of losses in the primary feeders. The method used for the
capacitor placement module in NEPLAN performs a maximization on the MW
savings from an installation of a shunt capacitor. Only buses on the primary
feeders are candidate buses for capacitor location. The user has to make sure
that only these buses are activated as candidate buses in the respecive list (see
parameters).
The primary feeder bus is the bus after the distribution substation (see figure
16.1). There can be more than one primary feeders. Each primary feeder must
be radial, i.e. there must be only one flow path from every node to the primary
feeder bus (see figure 16.2). The user should select the primary feeder bus in
such a way, that all the transformers, switches etc. are behind that bus. Ideally
the primary feeders should only contain transmission lines, cables and any other
one-port elements.

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Note that only the losses of the feeder (and not transformer losses) are
considered. No optimisation is performed in terms of costs (operating or
installation). However, there is a number of certain parameters imposing
constraints on the installed MVar and number of installations (see Calculation
Parameters).

Calculation Parameters (CP)

The calculation parameters are entered with the help of a "Parameters" dialog,
which is explained below.
Parameters
Primary Feeder
Bus

The bus from which all primary feeders start. Make sure all
transformers and switches are behind this bus.

Switch off existing

capacitors

This option ignores the existing capacitors for the CP

analysis (they are not physically disconnected).

Suppress LF
Output

This option suppresses almost all messages (but not errors

or warnings) from the LF (load flow) calculations in the
Analysis window.

Check
With this option activated the kVAR size of a capacitor will
Overcompensation not be higher than the Q flow (of the initial load flow) at that
line end.
Max. number of
installations

The maximum number of capacitors that will be installed. If

set to 0 (zero) then the maximum number of installations is
equal to the number of candidate buses selected in the
Candidate Buses List.

Increment size
(kVar)

Used for discretization of the rated power. The minimum

increment of kVar power.

Max. tot. kVar

installed

The maximum total kVar rated power that should be

installed. If set to 0 (zero) no limit is imposed.

Variable Load
Variable Slack
Voltage

With this option activated the user can give a different set
voltage for the network slack for every load factor.

Min. Load Factor

The minimum load factor (scaling factor) for all the loads of
the selected partial network (same for P and Q demand)

Slack voltage

In %. The set voltage of the slack bus for the minimum load
factor

Max. Load Factor

The maximum load factor (scaling factor) for all the loads of

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the selected partial network (same for P and Q demand). If

the minimum and maximum load factor are equal only this
load factor is considered.
Slack voltage

In %. The set voltage of the slack bus for the maximum

load factor

Create Capacitors
Create

If set then the capacitors in the results table after a

calculation will be created and connected to the network

Min. Load Factor

the minimum load factor is considered for the placement

and sizing of the capacitors to be created (see Results)

Max. Load Factor

the maximum load factor is considered for the placement

and sizing of the capacitors to be created (see Results)

Select Partial network

Partial Network The user has to select one and only one of the feeded partial
list
networks listed in this dialog.

Candidate Bus List

Candidate Bus
List
Consider for
placement
Sort Consider
Sort by ID
Sort by Name
Sort by Un

The user has to select the candidate buses for capacitor

placement. The user has to make sure that all buses behind
the primary feeder bus are unselected.
Select/Unselect option
Sort buses by Consider value (ascending order)
Sort buses by Bus ID number (ascending order)
Sort buses by Bus Names (ascending order)
Sort buses by nominal bus voltage (ascending order)

Results
The results of the CP Analysis can be viewed with the menu option Analysis
Capacitor Placement Select results or the push button Select results.

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Installations
For every load level there is a number of proposed installations. These
installations can be viewed by pressing the Results Installations button.
Load factor
Bus ID
Bus Name
Size
Losses

Additional MW
loss reduction

The load factor for the loads of the selected partial network
(Note: not of the primary feeder).
The ID number of the bus where the capacitor is placed
The name of the bus where the capacitor is placed
In kVar. The size of the capacitor
In MW. The losses with the capacitor connected. In the first row
with the load factor the original state losses (no installations)
are shown.
In % of the orig. state (load flow) MW losses. The additional
MW loss reduction that would be achieved with the capacitor
connected.

Voltage Profiles
The voltage profiles before and after the installations shown in Results
Installations can be viewed by pressing the Voltage Profiles button.
Bus ID
Bus Name
u(LF,Min)
u(CP;Min)

u(LF,Max)
u(CP;Max)

The ID number of the bus

The name of the bus
In % of the nominal bus voltage. The orig. state % voltage of
the bus for the minimum load factor
In % of the nominal bus voltage. The new % voltage of the bus
for the minimum load factor and for the installation proposed for
the minimum load factor
In % of the nominal bus voltage. The orig. state % voltage of
the bus for the maximum load factor
In % of the nominal bus voltage. The new % voltage of the bus
for the maximum load factor and for the installation proposed
for the maximum load factor

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