Intelligent volt/VAR control algorithm for active power distribution system to maximize the energy savings

Commonly, voltage regulators and capacitor banks are used as control devices for voltage and reactive power (volt/VAr) control in distribution system. A specific mechanism can be developed using volt/VAr control for energy savings known as Conservation Voltage reduction (CVR). Active distribution system with high penetration of distribution generations (DG´s) offers additional mechanism for volt/VAr control. Most common DG´s technologies are capable of providing reactive power support to the grid, limited by the size of their converter ratings and available control strategy. The unique contribution of this paper is development of a computational algorithm for intelligent volt/VAr optimization and control of complex distribution networks with active participation from DG´s, to maximize overall network energy savings through CVR. A comprehensive wind energy model is analyzed for power factor control mode, voltage control mode and voltage regulation mode. Capacitors are allocated using loss sensitivity analysis in the planning phase and during operation, proposed volt/ VAr optimization problem is solved to find the optimal voltage regulator settings, switched capacitor states and voltage magnitude of DG bus. This work presents a unique coordinated volt/VAr architecture that can find application in Distribution Management System (DMS). Particle Swarm Optimization has been used, given compatibility with combinatorial variables, robustness in solving nonlinear optimization problems and ease of implementation. The results have been validated against an exhaustive search strategy for the IEEE 13 bus and IEEE 37 bus distribution system and also using commercial distribution software SynerGEE.