Optimal Reactive Power Allocation for Improved System Performance

This paper presents a fast converging method for finding the optimal capacitor allocation in a power system for minimising power losses and for improving the quality of the supply system which is achieved by optimal allocation of all reactive power sources in the system in a co-ordinated way. The problem is formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming problem and is solved by decomposing it into two smaller subproblems. The method has very fast convergence without zigzagging of the solution about the optimal point. The potential of the model has been demonstrated by its application to sample systems.