Enhanced Real Coded Genetic Algorithm for Optimal DG Placement in a Radial Distribution System

Active and reactive power flows in distribution systems have a significant impact on the efficiency of power distribution systems. The optimal placement of distributed power generation units is the most popular approach for improving power quality, voltage profile and reducing the total power loss of distribution systems. This paper presents an enhanced algorithm to handle the optimal capacity and placement of multi-distributed generation units in radial distribution networks (RDN). In this light, a proposed local search scheme has been integrated into the real coded genetic algorithm by the proposed algorithm to exploit its advantages reduce the search time required for finding the optimal placement and size of DG in RDN. The proposed genetic algorithm evaluates population solutions by minimizing total real power losses in a system and improve the voltage profile. To investigate the performance of the proposed algorithm, two common radial systems have been used, namely, IEEE 33-bus, 69-bus networks. The experimental results demonstrate that the implemented enhanced genetic algorithm can find the best solutions to the problem effectively reducing the power loss and improving the voltage profile and outperform other current literature algorithms. Moreover, the energy losses cost, and total voltage deviation have been investigated. Significant improvement in the power losses and voltage profile enhancement with the increasing of distributed generation units has been reached. The feasibility of the method for practical application has been investigated and validated with preserving the constraints and operational restrictions.