Assessing Impact of Optimally Placed Power Factor Correction Capacitors Reckoning Transient Switching Events

Installing capacitors to correct the power factor at particular locations is one way to enhance power system reliability. This paper offers a new formulation to address the issue of optimal placing capacitors. The proposed formulation considers reliability impact, in addition to the transient switching events. This is reflected in the cost minimization objective function, where the reliability calculations are considered to gauge the impact when capacitors are installed in the power system. The formulated problem is solved using genetic algorithm (GA), to minimize costs of capacitor installation, energy loss and failure impact. The new formulation has been examined on a test network for evaluating how effective the proposed approach is. The solution also considers the impact of uncertainties as well as future growth in the system, to ensure that it is optimal. The results evidence that the proposed approach is robust and effective in enhancing system reliability in the face of uncertainties and for future growth.