System Concepts
Problem of Var Flow in Power Systems
Due to loads and delivery apparatus (e.g.,
lines and transformers) are inductive in
nature most power system operate at a
lagging power factor. Therefore, power
systems require additional var flow,
which resulting system capacity reduced,
system loss increased and system voltage
decreased.
Purposes of Shunt Capacitor Applications
Var support – Primary benefit for transmission systems
and secondary benefit for distribution systems.
Voltage control – Primary benefit for both transmission
and distribution systems.
System capacity increase – Secondary benefit for
transmission systems and primary benefit for distribution
systems.
System power loss reduction – Secondary benefit for
transmission systems and primary benefit for distribution
systems.
Billing charge reduction – Not applied to transmission
systems but a primary benefit for distribution systems.
General Process for Placing Shunt Capacitors
Determine bank size in kvar
Determine connection location
Determine a control method
Determine a connection type (wye or
delta)
General Methods for Capacitor Placement
1. Rules of
Thumb
2. Power Flow
Based
3. Optimal
Optimal Capacitor Placement
Optimal Capacitor Placement in ETAP
Genetic Algorithm with Heuristic
Initialization
1. Use power system knowledge to
find a good initial solution
2. Use Genetic method to find
optimal (sub optimal) solution
Genetic Algorithm
An optimization technique based on the theory
of nature selection
An iterative procedure that maintains a
constant-size population of candidate solutions
Coding, Initialization, Fitness Evaluation,
Selection, Crossover, Mutation
Capabilities
• Find capacitor’s best location and bank size
• Minimize the total cost of installation and
operation
• User selectable capacitor placement purpose:
Voltage Support, Power Factor Correction or Both
• Global or individual constraints
• Analysis capacitor control method and review
capacitor impact on the system with load duration
setting
• Handle radial or meshed balanced networks (PS
5.0)
Capabilities
• Speed and Precision ratio control by users
• Determine available capacitor installation
locations by users
• Determine maximum capacitor size using
maximum load and determine switchblade
capacitor size using minimum load
• Use average or source energy cost
• Focus on saving during the whole planning
period
Results
• Display Plot
– LF results for maximum – Loss reduction savings
loads during the planning
– New capacitor locations period
and sizes – Capacitor operation cost
during the planning
period
– Profit during the
planning period
Results
Report
– Capacitor locations and sizes
– Load flow results for maximum, average
and minimum loads
– Branch capacity release
Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Example 2
A 15 bus Feeder
1. Run NR Load Flow and look at bus voltages
(Critical under voltage is set to 95% and
marginal under voltage is set to 98%)
2. Switch to OCP mode and look at the Study Case
settings
3. Run OCP and look at the voltage improvements
Example 2
A 15 bus Feeder
695 923 925 927 954 956
4x300 2x300 8x200 9x200 6x300 2x300
926 929 959 982
3x300 2x300 1x300 2x300