A Firefly Algorithm for Optimal Location and Sizing of Capacitors on Radial Distribution Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach thatdetermines the optimal location and size of capacitors onradial distribution systems to improve voltage profile andreduce the active power loss. Capacitor placement & sizingare done by Loss Sensitivity Factors and Firefly algorithm respectively.An analysis is made on Firefly algorithm considering its dynamic behavior and convergence as important aspects. Algorithm is analyzed using tools from discrete-time dynamic system and this analysis provides qualitative guidelines for general (random) algorithm parameter selection. Simulation experiments are conducted with three parameter sets, three parameter set of fireflies in domain and five benchmark functions. The speed of convergence-robustness tradeoff was discussed. Better results are achieved in small number of fireflies in domain and smaller value of α and γ. Further research is needed to clarify effect of randomness and their effect on convergence. Better parameter sets probably await discovery in the outlined algorithm convergence domain.