Voltage Sag Mitigation by Combining Optimal Network Reconfiguration and DSTATCOM Placement Using Gravitational Search Algorithm

In this paper, a combination of two techniques for improving bus voltage magnitudes during voltage sag is presented. Initially network reconfiguration is applied to the exposed weak area in distribution systems. Then to further mitigate the voltage sag, DSTATCOM placement is considered as a second approach. Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) is considered as new heuristic optimization algorithm. It is used for finding the optimal solution in both proposed techniques. Suitable encoding methods are used to establish DSTATCOM location and to maintain radial structure of distribution network respectively. The simulation results show that the. proposed method is efficient and feasible for improving the bus voltage profile during voltage sag considering the benefits obtained from the reduction of the financial losses by the load outages due to voltage sag problems. The proposed method may assist the utility engineers in taking the right decision for network reconfiguration and voltage sag mitigation. Copyright (C) 2011 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved.