Optimal placement of locally controlled voltage regulators in traditional distribution systems using the IMDE algorithm

Abstract One of the main goals of the designers of the power systems is the reduction of extra systems costs. The main part of these costs is related to energy loss, and the methods for loss reduction significantly lead to a cost reduction. The voltage regulators (VRs) can be used along the distribution feeders and the improvement of the network voltage profile results in the loss reduction of the system. However, the important problem is the installation location of this equipment to have the most profitability with the lowest cost. In this paper, the optimal placement of the VRs along the distribution systems is performed using intersect mutation differential evolution algorithm. The method aims to reduce loss and the primary investment and maintenance of the VRs. To this aim, the studies are performed on two scenarios for two standard distribution systems with 33 and 69 buses. A genetic algorithm (GA) is also utilized for the VRs placement to validate the results. The results show that the VRs reduce the loss to about 15% of the maximum system load. Moreover, the improved differential evolution algorithm performs better than the GA and makes the objective function in the minimum value.