Simultaneous Distributed Generation Placement, Capacitor Placement, and Reconfiguration using a Modified Teaching-Learning-based Optimization Algorithm

In this article, a modified version of the teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm is proposed for a combined optimization problem: simultaneous distributed generation (DG) scheduling, capacitor sizing, and reconfiguration of distribution networks to minimize active power loss and maximize reliability of the network. The objective of loss reduction is modeled as the benefit of not purchasing active power from the transmission grid. Customer interruption cost reduction is also used as the reliability improvement index. In this article, a new method for customer interruption cost calculation based on the bus injection to branch current (BIBC) matrix and Dijkstra's path-finding algorithm is proposed for different network topologies. The proposed approach is applied on a 69-bus test system that has been used in many previous studies. The results of the modified teaching-learning-based optimization are compared with those of some other optimization methods, including the conventional teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method and approach.