Capacitor placement and control experiment for Reconfigurable Distribution Automation and Control laboratory

The Reconfigurable Distribution Automation and Control (RDAC) laboratory provides students and researchers with a unique opportunity - to participate in a hands-on approach to the study of power distribution, one which employs physical experimentation as well as simulation and theoretical analysis. In this paper, the authors discuss the development of a capacitor placement and real power loss minimization assignment for the RDAC Laboratory. The capacitor placement problem consists of determining the location, type, and size of capacitors to be installed at various buses within a radial distribution system such that economic benefits associated with peak power and energy loss reduction outweigh the cost of hardware installation and operating voltages remain within acceptable limits. For students as well as researchers with interest in power distribution, an understanding of capacitor placement and relevant decision algorithms is essential.