Optimal capacitor placement to minimizing cost and power loss in Tehran metro power distribution system using ETAP (A case study)

Most loads in the power distribution system of Tehran Metro (Subway) are inductive and lead to poor power factor (PF) especially in Lighting and Power Substation. One of the methods of PF correction is adding or producing the capacitive components within the circuit to eliminate the effect of inductive loads. Optimal capacitor placement (OCP), with the objects of power system voltage profile improvement, PF correction, loss reduction, and line reactive power decrease are of particular importance in power system control and planning. These objects depend on how the capacitive components are installation and to achieve them, since the capacitor placement is nonlinear problem and has some equally and inequality constraint. This article investigates OCP in the actual power distribution grid of Tehran Metro (Line 2) in the presence of nonlinear loads. The placement problem is solved using Genetic Algorithms as implemented in the Electrical Transient Analyser Program software. Results (capacity release, total generation, loading, demand, power losses and number of capacitor banks, costs and annual benefits) are obtained and analysed. This study and simulation shows that by OCP can calculate reduce annual losses and release capacity of equipment in power distribution grid of Tehran Metro such as cables and transformers from reactive power and that will maximize profits. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2016