Optimal Placement of Voltage Compensating Devices in a Smart Distribution Network: The Loss Sensitivity Factor Approach

Abstract

This paper present optimal placement of voltage compensating devices in a smart distribution network by deploying loss sensitivity factor approach. The Guinness 15MVA, 33/11kV injection substation and its associated feeders, Benin city was used as a case study. For simplicity, the capacitor is chosen as the compensating device, the method presented in this work can however be adapted for optimal placement of the other compensating devices in a smart distribution network. Load readings taken from each 11/0.415kV substation and other relevant data collected from the system operator was used to model the network for load flow analysis using the Electrical Transient Analyser (ETAP 7.0) software. Results shows that the network has poor voltage profile at some buses, with the highest voltage drop of 14.8% occurring at Ikhueniro 2 feeder, with active and reactive power losses as high as 1.573MW and 5088MVar respectively. The loss sensitivity factor approach was deployed in identifying buses 64 and 44 in the network as the candidate busses for placement of compensating devices, and a rerun of the power flow analysis with compensating devices placed on these busses show that these are indeed the optimal locations for them as there was a significant improvement in the voltage profile of the network (from 90.5% to 98.1%) and subsequent reduction in the power losses.

Keywords

• Loss sensitivity factor
• Compensating Device
• voltage profile
• Optimal location