Optimal sizing of fixed capacitor banks placed on a distorted interconnected distribution networks by Genetic Algorithms

In this paper, the optimal sizing of fixed capacitor banks problem in a distorted interconnected distribution system is formulated and solved by a genetic algorithm (GA) solution technique to minimize the cost of power production and capacitor banks under the constraints include voltage limits , sizes of installed capacitors and total harmonic distortion (THD), the algorithm is applied on IEEE 30-bus test system and the results are given for different cases: light and heavy harmonic cases. Computer simulation shows that the harmonic components affect the optimal capacitor sizing.