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Heuristic for solving capacitor allocation problems in electric energy radial distribution networks

Abstract

The goal of the capacitor allocation problem in radial distribution networks is to minimize technical losses with consequential positive impacts on economic and environmental areas. The main objective is to define the size and location of the capacitors while considering load variations in a given horizon. The mathematical formulation for this planning problem is given by an integer nonlinear mathematical programming model that demands great computational effort to be solved. With the goal of solving this problem, this paper proposes a methodology that is composed of heuristics and Tabu Search procedures. The methodology presented explores network system characteristics of the network system reactive loads for identifying regions where procedures of local and intensive searches should be performed. A description of the proposed methodology and an analysis of computational results obtained which are based on several test systems including actual systems are presented. The solutions reached are as good as or better than those indicated by well referenced methodologies. The technique proposed is simple in its use and does not require calibrating an excessive amount of parameters, making it an attractive alternative for companies involved in the planning of radial distribution networks.

capacitor allocation; technical losses; distribution networks of electric energy


Heuristic for solving capacitor allocation problems in electric energy radial distribution networks

Maria A. BiagioI, * * Corresponding author ; Marco A. CoelhoII; Pablo E. Cuervo FrancoII

IDepartment of Statistics, University of Brasilia - UnB, Brasília, DF, Brasil. E-mails: mamelia@unb.br

IIDepartment of of Electrical Engineering, University of Brasilia - UnB, Brasília, DF, Brasil. E-mails: egito@ene.unb.br; pablo@ene.unb.br

ABSTRACT

The goal of the capacitor allocation problem in radial distribution networks is to minimize technical losses with consequential positive impacts on economic and environmental areas. The main objective is to define the size and location of the capacitors while considering load variations in a given horizon. The mathematical formulation for this planning problem is given by an integer nonlinear mathematical programming model that demands great computational effort to be solved. With the goal of solving this problem, this paper proposes a methodology that is composed of heuristics and Tabu Search procedures. The methodology presented explores network system characteristics of the network system reactive loads for identifying regions where procedures of local and intensive searches should be performed. A description of the proposed methodology and an analysis of computational results obtained which are based on several test systems including actual systems are presented. The solutions reached are as good as or better than those indicated by well referenced methodologies. The technique proposed is simple in its use and does not require calibrating an excessive amount of parameters, making it an attractive alternative for companies involved in the planning of radial distribution networks.

Keywords: capacitor allocation, technical losses, distribution networks of electric energy.

1 INTRODUCTION

In the process of transferring energy from production centers to consumer centers inevitable technical losses of electric energy in transmission and distribution networks occur. Active and reactive energy losses, in electric energy distribution networks, correspond to 70% of total losses in the transferring process (Bunch et al., 1982). As a rule, one of the most common ways of reducing losses in distribution systems is to improve the network's voltage profile thus diminishing the current levels and thereby minimizing energy losses. Improvement in the voltage profile is obtained through the proper installation of capacitor banks. Accordingly, the problem of capacitor allocation in distribution networks is of the utmost importance for saving energy through improving performance in distribution systems in the short, medium and long term periods. Aiming for this goal, several authors have been concerned with a suitable formulation of the problem. The models of more importance, due to their accuracy, converge on integer nonlinear mathematical programming models that demand great computational effort to be solved due to their combinatorial and non-convex characteristics, mainly when applied to real electric energy distribution networks.

The number of techniques proposed for capacitor allocation in electric energy networks has been very significant. Among these techniques, dynamic programming from Duran (1968), decomposition techniques from Baran & Wu (1989), Kaplan's heuristics (1984) and Deng et al. (2002) may be cited. More recently, those that stand out are genetic algorithm techniques from the work of Boone & Chiang (1993), the simulated annealing technique by Chiang et al. (1990), and the Tabu Search technique from the authors Huang et al. (1996). In particular, Huang et al. (1996) implemented an algorithm in the Tabu Search technique that utilized sensitivity analysis to allocate capacitors in buses with potentially greater impact on electric energy losses in the system. Some work has concentrated on hybrid methodologies. Among them, Miu et al. (1997) may be cited which used a heuristic procedure along with a genetic algorithm; in this work, a genetic algorithm is at first applied to reach regions containing high quality solutions, which serve as initial estimates for the heuristic technique. The authors Gallego et al. (2001) utilized a methodology based on genetic algorithms, heuristics and Tabu Search; in this approach, a genetic algorithm is used to generate diversity in the initial solutions, which are then evaluated by the Tabu Search procedure and emphasize utilizing path relinking to generate new populations.

This work proposes a methodology that is based on heuristics and Tabu Search to resolve the problem of allocating and sizing capacitor banks in electric energy distribution networks. The objective is minimizing the joint costs of investment when installing capacitor banks plus the costs of energy losses over the planning horizon. The heuristic procedure is based on identifying regions with reactive load consumption levels in the main feeder and lateral branches (or secondary feeders) taking into account several load levels. Computational tests are performed in test systems with different sizes, one being well referenced in literature and two actual systems that are part of the 13.8kV distribution network of the local electric utility in the Federal District of Brazil.

The presentation of this study is divided into the following sections: Section 2 describes the model utilized, Section 3 provides the methodology proposed, Section 4 shows the computational results reached and Sections 5 and 6 respectively end with discussion and conclusions.

2 MATHEMATIC MODEL

An already recognized general formulation of the planning problem of capacitor allocation in distribution networks consists of minimizing the costs of investment and the costs of energy losses over the horizon of a study with different load levels, subject to physical laws and to the system's operational limits (Kaplan, 1984). The result of resolving the planning problem provides information regarding the location and sizing of capacitor banks over the planning horizon. From an operational point of view, one of the main concerns in reaching viable solutions, besides supplying the load, is to maintain variation of the voltage profile within acceptable values, independent of the load variations.

The mathematical planning model shown in the following, equations 2.1 to 2.7 (Baran & Wu, 1989), corresponds to a balanced radial distribution system (able to be represented through a one-line or single phase diagram) composed of a main feeder with a load level t, each level with a duration time of Δt hours throughout the study's horizon, T. Incorporation of lateral feeders into the model is addressed later. The notation utilized considers that the buses are numbered in increasing order starting from the first bus connected to the substation. Each segment connection between two adjacent buses in a feeder is called line section connecting bus i to bus i + 1 and it has a sub-index i + l equal to bus i + l to which it is connected (and whose position is further away from the main supply source or substation).

In this model nb is the number of the main feeder's buses, and n is the number of line sections of the feeder interconnecting the buses; Kp is the cost of a standard capacitor bank (in $/kVar, whose value is previously adjusted to the present value (PV) taking into account expected interest rates), ui,t is an integer variable that indicates the number of capacitor banks installed in bus i (in kVar), ket is the price of energy (in $/MWh and previously adjusted to the PV at load level t. The active power loss in the (i + l)-th line (in MW), at load level t is,

where ri+1 is the resistance and xi+i is the line reactance connecting buses i and i + 1, Vi,t is the voltage of bus i in (kV), Pi,t and Qi,t are the respective active and reactive power flow, both exiting from bus i, PLi+1,t and Q+1,t are the respective active and reactive power consumed by the load in bus i + 1, Qci +1,t is the reactive power injection due to a capacitor bank at bus i + 1 in (kVAr), and is the reactive power injection resulting from the installation of new capacitors at load level t.

The mathematical model above includes the following unknown variables: Pi,t active power flows, Qi,t, reactive power flows, voltage levels, location and number of capacitor banks. The set of possible new capacitor banks depends on the required level of reactive injection at the bus identified as the potential reactive injection provider taking into consideration the load levels and the allowed range of voltage values at the buses (equations 2.5).

Over a defined planning horizon T, the objective function (2.1) considers the investment cost (in $) in the installation of new capacitor banks plus the costs involved in the operation due to the energy losses in the distribution to end users (manifested in conductor heating). The first term of the objective function is a discrete function whose value increases with the number of capacitive units installed (Huang et al., 1996) and the second term is non-linear due to the nonlinear behavior of the energy losses in terms of the variables in the problem such as voltage and power flow. Equations (2.2), (2.3) and (2.4) depict the load flow for radial distribution systems. These equations are a specialized recursive form of the load flow model for radial distribution systems which satisfy basic electric and energy conservation laws. The constraints in (2.5) represent the acceptable voltage ranges for each bus in the system. The equality in (2.6), which is part of equation (2.4), represents a reactive power injection when new capacitive units are installed. The quantity of reactive power injected depends on the number of capacitive units installed (integer variables ui) in each candidate bus. This injection, QNci,t, is also a non-linear term, given that it is a product of a continuous variable, , with an integer variable, ui,t, both unknown throughout the planning horizon. The capacitive susceptance, , may be considered fixed and estimated from the nominal voltage values and nominal power as communicated by the manufacturer. For example, a 300 kvar nominal power capacitor, projected to work at a 13.8 kV voltage level, has a capacitive susceptance of 0.0016 S. Injection Qci,t in (2.7) is related to capacitive units already in the network configuration and therefore do not have investment costs for the planning. Notice that the mathematical model described above may consider various types of fixed capacitors available in the market; for this reason, it is necessary to only introduce the corresponding susceptance and cost as initial data.

In this work, three load levels t (light, medium and heavy) are considered, each one with a duration time of At hours over the horizon of the study and with an expected energy price at each t level equal to ket (in $/MWh).

In order for the mathematical model (2.1)-(2.8) to include the connection of a lateral branch (or secondary feeder) to the i-th bus of the main feeder, it is necessary to add two boundary conditions: i) at bus i, insert artificial variable V0i making ii) on the last bus of each lateral branch, power is not sent to the other branches, meaning, Pi,n = Qi,n = 0. Figure 1 shows a main feeder (with zero subscripts) with four buses, three line sections and a lateral branch (or secondary feeder) connected to the middle bus of the main feeder. The figure depicts a given load level.


3 PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

The methodology proposed to solve the problem defined in the previous section is based on heuristics to generate initial solutions and Local Search, which are formulated by using concepts from the Tabu Search methodology such as Elite Solutions, Tabu List and Intensification and Diversification Strategies. The subsections below describe the concepts and fundamentals which make up the methodology, as well as the heuristic procedures proposed.

3.1 Fundamentals

An electric energy distribution network may be composed of one or more main feeders, having its total available reactive power equal to the sum of the reactive power in its main feeders. The methodology proposed here explores this fact utilizing, essentially, a hierarchization of buses and lateral branches of each main feeder, in order to work independently with as many systems as there are main feeders in the network. Thus, the methodological description that follows assumes only one main feeder, which can be extended to network topologies with many main feeders; to do so, the procedure should be applied as many times as the quantity of main feeders in the network in consideration.

3.1.1 Branch hierarchization

The hierarchization of lateral branches adopted here in a network's feeder accompanies their load flows. Recognizing the state of the main feeder and the lateral branches is based on computed levels of active and reactive power flows at each branch and it also considers the initial distribution network without allocated capacitors. This is the base state of the system for beginning the procedure. The ordering is performed only once and is stored vectorially.

3.1.2 Bus hierarchization

The procedure for establishing bus hierarchy is carried out in the following manner: line sections are ordered first along the entire main feeder and secondly along the lateral branches in decreasing order of their reactive power flows.

The reactive flow, exiting from bus i + l, is equal to the reactive flow exiting from upper neighborhood bus i (electrically closer to the energy supply source - substation) minus losses in the connector as well as minus its own consumption. If it is the case, an injection of the existing capacitor banks should be added. This balance of reactive energy is shown in the equation below.

The order in which the buses (and corresponding line sections) are classified is utilized in order for the methodology to identify the installation of capacitors in locations with significant consumption of inductive reactive power. This contributes to the deterioration of the voltage and increases losses. For this reason a local search procedure is proposed for the first allocation of capacitors (see Subsection 3.2).

3.1.3 Conceptual suitability of tabu search

Concepts associated with Short Term Memory (STM) and Long Term Memory (LTM) are adapted to the problem, for example: Aspiration Criteria, Elite Solution, Diversification, Intensification, Reinitialization and Tabu List (Glover & Laguna, 2002). In consequence, several definitions are presented in this subsection.

Definition 1: Let f(m) and p(m) be the cost values related to the objective function (2.1) and to the respective energy loss, in accordance with (2.8), for a particular allocation of m capacitors in the network. Let f(inf), f(sup), and p(inf) and p(sup) be the least and greatest starting values found for cost f and loss p after allocating m = inf and m = sup capacitors, respectively. For any given number, m, of allocated capacitors, the following conditions are considered, for example Aspiration Criteria:

(i) If p(m) > p(sup), with f(m) < f(sup), a possible improvement in the cost related to the losses is obtained by increasing the number of capacitor allocations in the network;

(ii) If p(m) < p(sup), with f(m) < f(sup), a possible improvement in the total cost f(m) is reached by reducing the number of capacitor allocations in the network;

(iii) If p(m) < p(inf), with f(m) > f(inf), then there is the possibility of obtaining a decrease in the total cost f(m) by reducing the number of capacitors allocated in the network;

(iv) If p(m) > p(inf), with f(m) > f(inf) or f(m) < f(inf), then there is the possibility of reaching an improvement in the costs related to losses by increasing the number of capacitors allocated in the network.

Definition 2: For a given number m of capacitors, a feasible solution is classified as an Elite Solution when satisfying one of the Aspiration Criteria defined above.

Definition 3: Using as a base the non-linear and decreasing properties of energy losses as a function of the number of installed capacitors in distribution networks, a region of the solution space problem is referred to as the Promising Region when it is limited superiorly by an Elite Solution, m, which obeys the Aspiration Criteria (ii) (or (iii)) and inferiorly by m = sup (or m = inf), or even when it is limited inferiorly by an Elite Solution, m, which obeys Aspiration Criteria (i) (or (iv)) and superiorly by m = sup (or m = inf), as in Definition 1.

The concept of neighborhood of a given solution is fundamental for applying Diversification and Intensification Strategies. So, the neighborhood of a feasible solution of the problem, described in the previous section, is taken to the set of all feasible solutions of the system of equations (2.2) to (2.5), for any fixed number m of capacitors.

Definition 4: A Diversification Strategy consists of generating solutions for specific values of m , and it depends on the topology of the network being studied. When the number of installed capacitors varies, the system tends to behave differently, producing different installation costs and energy losses.

Three Diversification Strategies are employed in the methodology proposed in this work through heuristics based on lateral branch hierarchization as described in 3.1.2, which are 1) Initialization, 2) Promising Exploration Regions and 3) Reinitialization. Section 3.2 shows each of these strategies with their respective pseudocodes.

Definition 5: The Intensification Strategy constitutes allocating in different ways the same number m of capacitors, in order to reach a solution that demonstrates the least cost of electric energy losses. The Fixation of Allocation Elements is the Strategy adopted, and is presented in Subsection 3.2.3 with its respective pseudocode.

Definition 6:Tabu List is initially composed of all of the solutions generated in the initialization process of the heuristics (see Diversification Strategy 1 in the section below) and by the Elite Solutions. The size of the list depends on the topology and reactive capacity of the main feeder, which is limited.

3.2 Proposed heuristics

In this section, heuristic procedures are proposed for applying the Diversification and Intensification Strategies, which are based on the hierarchization of feeder branches, as described in Subsection 3.1.1. They have the objective of generating distinct values and search for the best value for the number of capacitors to be allocated in the distribution network. The Diversification and Intensification Strategies are described in Subsections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3, respectively.

Owing to the combinatorial nature of the problem addressed in this work, finding the best allocation for a given number of capacitors requires great computational effort. In order to expedite the achievement of solutions for this problem, the Local Search heuristic procedure is essentially based on the hierarchization of buses in the distribution network for capacitor allocation. The Local Search procedure proposed in this work is described in the following section.

3.2.1 Local Search procedure

The Local Search procedure is founded on the ordering of the feeder's buses, in order that those that present greater consumption of reactive power receive a larger number of capacitor banks. This means that the buses with greater reactive consumption are allocated as many capacitors as their reactive capacities can bear, always considering the maintenance of a suitable voltage profile in any given load level.

This local search procedure is performed in just one iteration and is determined by the relationships defined in (2.6) and (3.1), as the pseudocode shows in Figure 2.


3.2.2 Diversification Strategies

As a Diversification Strategy 1, the Initialization of the procedure for solving the problem addressed here, as described in Section 2, is concerned with generating distinct values for a number of capacitors, m, to be allocated so that they satisfy intrinsic characteristics of the electric energy distribution system. This generation is carried out based on the reactive flow of main feeder branches, as is described below.

Strategy 1: Heuristic procedure for initialization

The number of solutions generated by the initialization process depends on the reactive power of the different branches and in the main feeder. Estimating an upper limit referred to as max, for the number of capacitors to be installed is achieved by using the reactive load flow located on the bus subjacent to the substation of the main feeder.

With the hierarchization of branches, determined according to Subsection 3.1.1, a given number of capacitors is chosen to generate a solution when dealing with the reactive load flow of the branches which present greater consumption, taken independently or in group, in the form:

• Let m (k) be the number of capacitors calculated according to the power flow that reaches the k-th branch. By supposing the first branch as the one with the greater reactive power flow, generating a solution for different numbers of capacitors, u = m, such as m = m(1), m = m (1) + m (2), ..., m = m (1) + m (2) + ··· + m (nr), where nr is the number of feeder branches with m(i) not null, for any i.

Strategy 2: Promising exploration regions

Taking the m values as determined in the previous strategy, Diversification Strategy 2 requires, a priori, establishing the Promising Regions, in accordance with Definition 3, Subsection 3.1.3, and subsequent searches for better solutions.

This exploration occurs in the following manner: for every value of m belonging to a Promising Region, the Local Search procedure, described in the previous section, is used to reach a solution for the problem defined by (2.1) to (2.6).

Strategy 3: Reinitialization

The procedure of Reinitialization Strategy integrates the proposed methodology in this work and a new phase may take place for generating solutions that follows Strategy 1 in Diversification by using an inversion of the branch's hierarchization. The Reinitialization may enable discovery and exploration of regions that have not been visited in the solution space of the problem as described in Section 2, mainly those regions with less reactive consumption.

Figures 3 and 4 present the pseudocodes of the procedures adopted in Diversification Strategies 1 and 2, respectively. Figure 3 also shows a summary of the logic sequence used by the heuristic methodology developed in this work. Two sub-routines are referred to: Aloca_Cap and Intensive. Search, which respectively codify the procedures of Local Search (see Fig. 2) and the Intensification Strategy, described in Subsection 3.2.3.



Determining the Promising Regions demands, a priori, a search of Elite Solutions and is a fundamental part for achieving Diversification Strategy 2. The pseudocode in Figure 4 describes the exploration process for Promising Regions. In this figure, F_inf and F_sup are denoted as the least and greatest values of the objective function, respectively, as in Definition 1, Subsection 3.1.3.

3.2.3 Intensification Strategy

With the aim of reducing the number of capacitor allocation combinations to be explored, the Intensification Strategy, named in Definition 5 as Fixation of Allocation Elements, uses information obtained from the Local Search. It establishes buses with a reactive capacity equivalent to at least two capacitors as well as relationships between resistivity in the lines and the distance between buses. This means that a capacitor that was allocated in a given bus (or allocation element) in the solution indicated by the Local Search can not be allocated in a neighboring bus which it is the farthest from the substation.

Thus, the number of combinations is reduced significantly when considering only allocation exchanges between neighboring buses and allocation elements with just one capacitor and that are nearer to the junction of the branch, as described in Figure 4. To this end, a parameter, k, is used to define which neighboring bus will receive the new allocation; in other words, for k = i, i assumes integer values in the interval [1,3], the i-th bus predecessor of an allocation element will receive the capacitor of its "neighbor".

The Intensification Strategy is applied in the neighborhood of the best solution among those found in the Promising Regions and optionally those solutions belonging to the Tabu List whose results, reached by Local Search, are close to the solution with the least total cost.

4 RESULTS

The methodology described in the last section was implemented in Virtual Basic language and was tested on a PC Pentium® 4, 1.80 GHz, for three distinct electrical energy distribution systems. Three problem tests were performed: the first is related to the main feeder of Ceilandia City that is located in the Federal District, Brazil; the second one is largely referred to in literature and was also used by Gallego et al. (2001); the third problem is related to the main feeder of North Lake region, Brasilia city (Federal District), Brazil, and it belongs to the network distribution company of Brasilia - CEB. The network parameters for the first and third problem, including energy prices, were obtained from CEB's data file, which follows energy polices determined by ANEEL (National Regulatory Agency of Electrical Energy - www.aneel.gov.br). Results are present in the next sections.

4.1 Test Problem 1

In the first simulation, the circuit is composed of one main feeder having 34 transformers that are distributed among 260 line sections. This geographical initial circuit was eletrically reduced to a system with 46 buses (Fig. 1 - Appendix) without losing information and precision of its electrical parameters.

A planning horizon of one year is considered with three load levels: light, medium and heavy with permanence time of Δ3 = 1000, Δ2 = 6760, Δ1 = 1000 hours, respectively. They are also characterized by the following parameters: the annual average consumption is multiplied by the factors S3 = 0.3, S2 = 0.6, S1 = 1.1, and the estimated energy prices are ke3 = 60 US$/MWh, ke2 = 60 US$/MWh and ke1 = 228 US$/MWh, respectively. There is the possibility of installing fixed capacitors with a price of US$ 1,470.00 for each 300 kVAr bank.

With no capacitors (m = 0) the objective function value of the problem was f(0) = US$ 24,454.08 with energy losses of p(0) = 0.020168 MW. By running the proposed methodology, described in Section 3, the maximum value found for the number of capacitor allocations was max = 3, with f(max) = US$ 21,829.17 and p(max) = 0.013327 MW. In its Initialization phase, the methodology obtained solutions for m = 1 and m = 2 capacitors of 300 kVAr, from which the following results were attained: f(1) = US$ 22,205.17 and p(1) = 0.0161166 MW, f(2) = US$ 21,582.34 and p(2) = 0.01407196 MW. The Intensification Strategy was applied to m = 2 and m = 3 without meeting lower values for the objective function then the last ones cited (for this result, the value of the parameter k was set 2).

Then, the best solution indicated two capacitor allocations in the following way: one at bus 19 and another at bus 32. The cost savings obtained with energy losses was of 11.74%. The computational CPU time spent for solving the problem was 0,121 seconds plus 0,019 seconds for running the Intensification Strategy.

An improved solution was found by setting the parameter k equal to 3. In the last situation, the obtained results were: two capacitor allocations at buses 28 and 35 with objective function value f (2) = US$ 21,197.68 which is equivalent to US$ 18,257.68, or 25.34% savings in lost energy costs.

According to the report "Alocação de Bancos de Capacitores Fixos na Rede de Distribuição Primaria da CEB" (CEB - Brasília, Brazil, 2003), the standard procedure for allocating a 300 kVAr capacitor bank, followed by the Brazilian Electric Company - CEB, determines that the allocation may occur nearly to the middle of the main feeder from its substation. In this way, two capacitors would be allocated in the bus 10, which would be equivalent to obtaining a total cost of f(2) = US$ 22,154.90 and a cost with energy losses equal of US$ 19,214.9. This last value would imply a reduction of 21.42% in the costs with energy losses.

4.2 Test Problem 2

The problem considered in this section is related to a network with 69 buses and it is a well-known problem in literature (Huang et al. , 1996). It has a planning horizon of ten years with three load levels: light, medium and heavy. In the period of one year, these load levels have permanence time of Δ3 = 1000, Δ2 = 6760, Δ1 = 1000 hours, respectively. For the next years, it is considered an annual load increase of 9.55% that has an upper bound of 5 MW. This load limit is reached in the fourth year. For the computational test, the values of its parameters are used as in Gallego et al.: S3 = 0.5, S2 = 0.8, S1 = 1.0, and ke1 = 82 US$/MWh, ke2 = 49 US$/MWh and ke3 = 19 US$/MWh, where the parameters S3, S2, S1, and ke1, ke2, ke3 are as defined in Subsection 4.1.

In this problem, each fixed capacitor bank of 300 kVAr had a cost of US$ 1,564.00. With no capacitors installed, the value of its objective function was equal of f(0) = US$... 1.074,433.00, which differs from the value presented in Gallego et al. (2001), that was f(0) = US$ 1.081,890.00. This difference can be explained by the use of distinct convergence tolerances for each load flow in each load level over the planning horizon.

The initial solutions obtained by the Initialization Strategy (Subsection 3.1.3) were: for the capacitor numbers of m = 0, m = max = 9, m = 2, and m = 4, the objective functions presented total costs of f(9) = US$ 709,664.69, f(2) = US$ 900,488.69 and f(4) = US$ 757,929.98, with respective losses p(0) = 0.22510485 MW, p(9) = 0.14456516 MW, p(2) = 0.18626845 MW and p(4) = 0, 15534604 MW. A Promising Region was determined and explored by solving the problem for the capacitor numbers m = 5 6 7 and 8 which presented objective functions with total costs of f(5) = US$ 731,802.22, f(6) = US$ 730.613,94, f (7) = US$ 731,121.66 and f (8) = US$ 718,914.05. In this phase, the best solution obtained by the methodology was related to m = 9 which achieved an economy of 33.95% in energy losses.

The Intensification Strategy, defined in Subsection 3.1.3, was applied in the solution neighborhood for m = max = 9 capacitor. By fixing the parameter value k = 2, the obtained total costs in the objective function and energy losses were f(9) = US$ 707,761.02 and p(9) = 0, 14413399 MW with capacitor allocations as shown in the table below. For solving this problem, the total computational load was 0.6532 seconds which includes 0.2421 seconds spent during the intensive search.

This final solution represents an economy in the total costs (which means economy in energy losses plus capacitor investments) of 34,12%. If considering only the costs of energy losses of US$ 693,685.02, the obtained economy is 35,44% which is higher than those ones presented in Huang et al. (1996) and Gallego et al. (2001).

For the same test problem, the best cost of energy losses found by Huang et al. (1996) was US$ 966,539.70, which represents a cost saving of 31.42%, or a total cost of US$ 966,539.70 with 3 capacitor allocations. The work of Gallego et al. (2001) achieved US$ 711,655.00 as the best cost in energy losses with m = 8 fixed capacitor allocations, which represents 34.22% in cost savings.

4.3 Test Problem 3

The circuit of this problem has 802 buses and is related to the main feeder of North Lake region that belongs to the electrical energy distribution network of the Federal District, Brazil. For this circuit, planning horizons of one and three years are considered, separately. The parameters values of costs in energy losses, load levels factors and the permanence time of the system in the light, medium and heavy load levels are the same as those considered in test problem 2.

4.3.1 Horizon of One Year

The test problem was performed by considering complete information of the network system that is composed of 802 buses. By applying the proposed methodology in this work, the obtained results were: with no installed capacitors, i.e. for m = 0, the total cost of f(0) = US$ 19,501.71 and energy losses of p(0) = 0.0669 MW; for m = 9, f (9) = US$ 30,028.13 and p(9) = 0.047648 MW.

Other solutions generated by the Initialization Strategy of the heuristic procedure used the following capacitor numbers: m = 3 and m = 5, with total costs of f(3) = US$ 19,108.38 and f(5) = US$ 21,463.72, and energy losses of p(3) = 0.0508538 MW and p(5) = 0.0481160 MW, respectively.

A Promising Region with bounds m = 3 and m = 9 was recognized. By exploring it the following solutions were found for the number of capacitor allocations m = 4, 6, 7 and 8, respectively: f(4) = US$ 20,068.90, f(6) = US$ 22,514.16, f(7) = US$ 24,008.33 and f(8) = US$ 26,106.78. The Reinitialization Strategy found a solution for m = 2 capacitor allocations with total cost of f(2) = US$ 19,015.00 and energy losses of p(2) = 0.0558226 MW. So, the best solution obtained from this phase was related to m = 2 capacitor allocations which presented a cost economy of 2.5% in energy losses.

The Intensification Strategy, Subsection 3.1.3, was applied to the neighborhood of this last solution, with the parameter value k = 2, finding total cost of f(2) = US$ 18,963.71 and energy losses of p(2) = 0.05565 MW which is equivalent to an economy of2.76%. The computational CPU time for resolving the problem was: 41.87 seconds for the first phase plus 6.97 seconds for the Intensification phase.

4.3.2 Horizon of Three Years

For a three year planning horizon, a system load with an annual uniform increase of 9.55% up to 5 MW was considered. The computational test was performed by considering the complete network system - i.e., the network composed of all 802 buses.

The obtained results were: with no capacitors installed the problem presented objective function value equal of f(0) = US$ 71,783.02 and energy losses of p(0) = 0.06990 MW. By running, the heuristic procedure found max = 9, f(9) = US$ 62,534.54 and p(9) = 0.045325 MW.

Other solutions were generated by the Initialization Strategy of the proposed methodology by using the capacitor allocation numbers m = 3 and m = 5. The values of the objective functions and energy losses obtained were equal of f(3) = US$ 58,653.06 and f(5) = US$ 57,457.39, p(3) = 0.0533273 MW and p(5) = 0.0480364 MW, respectively.

A Promising Region, bounded by m = 3 and m = 9, was explored from which other solutions were obtained for the capacitor numbers of m = 4, 6, 7 and 8. The respective values of the objective functions found were equal to f(4) = US$ 58,234.930, f(6) = US$ 57,445.93, f(7) = US$ 59,980.37 e f(8) = US$ 62,155.48. During this phase the best solution found by the proposed methodology was related to m = 6 capacitor allocations, which obtained a cost economy of 19.97% in energy losses. The Reinitialization Strategy reached a solution for m = 2 capacitors which presented total costs of f(2) = US$ 62,439.46.

The Intensification Strategy, Subsection 3.1.3, was applied to the neighborhood of the solution related to m = 6 capacitors by setting the parameter k with the value of 2. The results found were: total costs equal to f(6) = US$ 57,131.82 and energy losses of p(6) = 0.046262 MW.

Therefore, the best solution indicates a cost economy of US$ 14,651.20, or 20.41% less, for the problem with a planning horizon of three years. The computational CPU time spent for the problem resolution was of 132.91 seconds plus 61.83 seconds for running the intensive search.

4.3.3 Sensitivity Analysis

With the aim of getting complementary computational tests, a sensitivity analysis is presented in this subsection by making up several scenarios with distinct energy prices for problem test 3.

Tables 2 and 3 present three price scenarios for each load level and their respective solutions, as the objective function value and the economy in energy losses obtained over planning horizons of one and three years, respectively. The measure units considered are: the prices, in all load levels, are in US$/MWh and the function values are in US$.

For the results depicted in the Tables 2 and 3, the following initial values of the objective functions were found in the first, second and third scenario, respectively: in Table 2, US$ 27,789.19, US$ 38,651.06 and US$ 56,754.19; in Table 3, US$ 102,535.14, US$ 142,614.34 and US$ 209,413.01.

In both tables below, it is possible to observe that the savings obtained in energy losses increase with the increase in prices. This result indicates a computational stability of the proposed methodology in relation to the variability of this parameter.

5 DISCUSSION

In all of the tests performed, the branch hierarchization obtained by determining reactive consumption, in the initialization phase of the procedure, was of great importance for detecting regions of greater reactive consumption in the network. The three Diversification Strategies proposed and implemented depended on it.

The hierarchization of the buses was fundamental for the efficiency of the Local Search heuristic procedure, which obtained good solutions in just one iteration. This observation may be attested to owing to the fact that application of the Intensification Strategy produced an improvement of up to 1,6% in the objective function, for any test problem.

The Diversification Strategies and the Aspiration Criteria allow for identifying Elite Solutions and Promising Regions that aid in choosing the solution whose neighborhood was explored by the Intensification Strategy. Specifically, the Reinitialization Strategy adopted by the methodology permitted achieving the best solution for test problem 3 with a planning horizon of one year.

In the tests performed, the proposed methodology pointed out better solutions than those already known: in test 1, the results obtained are better than the solution practiced by CEB - the Brasília Electric Company. In test 2, the solution obtained by the heuristic presented a percentage of loss reduction better than those achieved by Huang et al. (1996) and Gallego et al. (2001), authors who are quite referenced and who also utilize the Tabu Search procedure to support their work.

In test 3, the results found demonstrated robustness in the methodology proposed in this work, since the system has 802 buses, demanding great computational effort, and the solutions obtained, for both planning horizons considered, showed compatibility with the demand necessities of the main feeder in question. Sensitivity analysis of the electric energy prices illustrated that the methodology proposed is stable in relation to this parameter.

The estimation of the upper limit, max, for the number of capacitors to be installed, was of the utmost importance for simplifying computation of the algorithmic procedure in all of its steps. In particular, there was no need to limit the size of the Tabu List due to the fact that the number was relatively small. In addition, the best solution found was that in which the number of installed capacitors was less or equal to max, indicating that this estimation was compatible with the reactive consumption shown in the test problems utilized.

6 CONCLUSIONS

In this work, a new methodology is proposed based on Tabu Search, for capacitor allocation in electric energy distribution systems. The object here is to minimize the costs related to energy losses and capacitor installation. This methodology is made up of heuristics that are based on branch and bus hierarchization in the system, with the goal of prioritizing those with a greater reactive power flow for allocation and sizing of capacitor banks. When inserted into the Tabu Search procedure, non-random strategies of Initialization and Diversification are obtained, and the Local Search procedure which utilizes bus hierarchization for attaining an optimal local solution.

Computational tests were performed with three test problems: the first small in size, with 46 buses, the second coming from literature with 69 buses, and the third with 802 buses, this last one involving different planning horizons and sensitivity analysis. The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed procedure is able of pointing out solutions that present significant savings in costs and electric energy losses and also has stability in relation to price variation (US$/MWh) for larger size system.

The third test demonstrated that for larger scale problems, the proposed heuristic based on Tabu Search is able to help as a decision support tool identify buses receiving capacitor banks in a way that is more efficient than that practiced.

Just one parameter is utilized by the proposed methodology in this work, particularly in the implementation of the Intensification Strategy. This parameter is easy to work with and was used with a fixed value in the majority of the computational tests.

As an extension to the work presented here, allocation problems which include variable capacitors will be able to be solved utilizing the methodology proposed here in the first phase. The second phase will be able to be performed taking as the initial solution the solution obtained in the previous phase and applying the Local Search heuristic to it for capacitor banks (fixed and/or variable) at the buses with greater reactive power injection in the network. Implementation of the methodology in more efficient computational language, and tests performed on a PC with a more up-to-date configuration, should improve the CPU time demanded.

Received December 21, 2009

Accepted June 17, 2011


APPENDIX

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  • *
    Corresponding author
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      05 Apr 2012
    • Date of issue
      Apr 2012

    History

    • Received
      21 Dec 2009
    • Accepted
      17 June 2011
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