An approach for placement and sizing of capacitor banks in distribution networks with distributed wind generation

In this paper, a modified simulated annealing technique is proposed for the simultaneous improvement of power quality and optimal placement and the sizing of fixed capacitor banks in a modern distribution network. The latter is supplying a mix of linear and nonlinear loads imposing voltage and current harmonics. Besides, the network includes integrated variable-speed wind turbines as distributed generation. The stochastic power output of the wind generation is considered by performing the Monte Carlo simulation of the distribution power flow. Operational and power quality constraints include the bounds of node voltage magnitude, the node voltage total harmonic distortion, and the number/size of installed capacitors. The net annual economic saving is defined as the associated objective function that accounts for the cost of the released power capacity because of the power losses reduction, the cost change of energy losses, and the extra cost of the searched capacitor banks. Solution results are discussed for a model-distorted distribution system under different conditions. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.