Model-based Volt-Var Optimization using Advanced Metering Infrastructure in distribution networks

Volt/Var Optimization (VVO) technology helps to ensure that power is delivered to customers at optimal power factor to minimize line loss and maintain acceptable voltage at all points along the distribution feeder. Meanwhile, applying Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) will lower the customer´s peak demand to conserve more energy. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) realizes the voltage monitoring and management at customers´ side. This paper presents an VVO approach associated with CVR using prime-dual interior point method (PDIPM) applied on a system model based with AMI data, to make customers´ voltages achieve the lower portion of the accepted range and meanwhile minimize the sum of power loss and power demand. Compared to the widely used algorithm, i.e. Genetic Algorithm (GA), PDIPM has an obvious advantage at better operation regularity of capacitors and more energy saving. IEEE 33 bus test system, as well as a practical distribution network is adopted for the validation and comparison. The results show that PDIPM is stable and effective for VVO application in power industry.