Optimized Allocation of Lightning Protection System Using PSOGSA

Abstract

In this paper, the hybrid PSOGSA, which is a combined algorithm of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), is proposed to find the optimum locations for the lightning protection system on the 81- bus radial distribution system. Moreover, the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) is considered as the objective function and will be minimized. The main advantage of this work is the simplicity and convenience of finding an optimal solution using the proposed PSOGSA algorithm. Additionally, PSOGSA is also capable of finding the optimal locations for applying a lightning protection system (LPS) in a distribution network, while minimizing SAIFI and maintaining computational efficiency. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, numerical simulations are carried out considering the interdependency between lightning phenomena and the distribution feeder characteristics, namely, the flashover rates due to direct and induced lightning. In addition, a comparison between PSO, GSA, and PSOGSA is made to compare and validate the performance of the algorithms. The results show that the latter is better at escaping from local optima and has a faster convergence than the standard PSO and GSA. PSOGSA also managed to achieve a higher reduction of 12.10% SAIFI after applying LPS on the optimal feeders, as compared to the 10.79% and 11.77% reduction of SAIFI by GSA and PSO, respectively. PSOGSA also has a faster convergence speed than PSO.