Shunt Capacitors Optimal Placement in Distribution Networks Using Artificial Electric Field Algorithm

This paper presents a novel artificial electric field algorithm (AEFA) to solve the problem of optimal locations and sizes of capacitor banks (C-Bs) in various configurations of radial distribution systems. Two strategies are considered in this study; first, using combined loss sensitivity factor and AEFA and second, using AEFA only. The objective function is to maximize the annual net saving of loss reduction. The proposed algorithm is tested on 69-bus and 118-bus radial distribution systems with different scenarios of single and multi-C-Bs installation. The simulation results using Matlab programming environment show that the proposed method is able to maximize the annual net saving with a small capacity of C-Bs. Moreover, the obtained results via the proposed algorithm are compared with other optimization methods such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, plant growth simulation algorithm, cuckoo search algorithm, flower pollination algorithm, fuzzy-genetic algorithm, and evolutionary algorithm to highlight the benefits of the presented algorithm.