Optimal size and siting of multiple distributed generators in distribution system using bacterial foraging optimization

• Published in: Swarm and evolutionary computation 2014-04, Vol.15, p.58-65
• Main Authors: Mohamed Imran A, Kowsalya M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm; Distributed generation; Operational cost minimization; Power loss minimization; Voltage stability
• ISSN: 2210-6502
• DOI: 10.1016/j.swevo.2013.12.001

Optimal location and size of distributed generation (DG) in the distribution system play a significant role in minimizing power losses, operational cost and improving voltage stability. This paper presents a new approach to find the optimal location and size of DG with an objective of minimizing network power losses, operational costs and improving voltage stability. Loss sensitivity factor is used to identify the optimal locations for installation of DG units. Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm (BFOA) is used to find the optimal size of DG. BFOA is a swarm intelligence technique which models the individual and group foraging policies of the Escherichia coli bacteria as a distributed optimization process. The technical constraints of voltage and branch current carrying capacity are included in the assessment of the objective function. The proposed method has been tested on IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus radial distribution systems with various load models at different load levels to demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the technique. •We present a swarm intelligence based technique to find the optimal location and size of multiple DGs in the radial distribution system.•The objective function (F) of the problem is formulated to minimize the power loss, voltage deviation and total operating cost of the distribution system.•Loss sensitivity factor (LSF) that determines the most sensitive bus for DG installation has been used.•BFOA, a distributed optimization technique is employed to minimize the objective function by determining the optimal size of DG units at candidate locations.•The proposed method is tested on 33-bus and 69-bus test systems and the results obtained are encouraging.