Optimal Placement of DG and Capacitor in Distribution Network for Improved Voltage: A Case Study of Rumuola Substation

Abstract

The growth in population and expansion of the society has threatened the quality of service delivery of the power holding companies or distribution companies to the consumers. This is because consumers now reside very far from the generating or distribution center. This distance, among other reasons, cause voltage drop or loss of power knowing that the longer the length of conductor, the higher the resistance and hence, voltage drop. This work aims at minimizing voltage drop experienced by the final consumer by incorporating DG and capacitor at the consumers' end. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) is used to model the Rumuola - Rumuomoi network and then, Newton Raphson's load flow model is applied to ascertain the magnitude of voltage at the various buses. After which, Voltage Sensitivity Analysis (VSF) is applied to locate the candidate bus for optimum placement of DG and capacitor. Load Flow analysis is repeated on the improved network to check if its voltage is within acceptable limit.  The result shows  the existing network of Rumuomoi  having a voltage drop of 6.32%. After the placement of DG and capacitor optimally, the improved network has a voltage drop of  2.29%, a 4.03% reduction in voltage drop. This  work has  achieved its  mandate of  improving  the voltage profile of Rumuomoi distribution station, and reduction of its power loss through the incorporation of Distributed Generation (DG) and  Capacitor into the network.