Contribution to Optimal Power Flow in Radial Distribution Networks

Abstract

With the growing complexity of modern distribution networks, traditional methods for solving the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem have become increasingly inadequate due to their limitations in handling multiple variables and complex objective functions. This thesis proposes a two-step optimization approach to address the OPF challenge in radial distribution systems. In the first step, Loss Sensitivity Indices (LSIs) are employed to identify the most critical buses in the network. In the second step, two metaheuristic algorithms—Particle SwarmOptimization (PSO) and Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO)—are applied to determine the optimal placement of capacitors for system enhancement. The primary objective is to minimize overall system cost while improving voltage profiles and reducing power losses. The proposed approach is tested and validated on the IEEE 34-bus radial distribution system.