Optimal reactive power compensation in electrical distribution systems with distributed resources. Review

Abstract

In this paper an exhaustive bibliographical revision of the mathematical methods used for the optimal selection and location of reactive power compensating elements is developed, the results obtained by different authors for different objective functions are analyzed and a scientific problem in the conflict that the electric variables show when analyzed individually is identified; thus demonstrating the need to analyze this problem in a multi-criteria way and taking into account topologies of distribution grids with distributed generation and energy storage. This research demonstrates that reactive power compensation in distribution grids with distributed resources is a problem that must be analyzed from multiple criteria that consider several objective functions to be optimized; thus achieving a global solution that contemplates an optimal location and dimensioning of reactive power compensating elements that contribute to the joint improvement of the voltage profiles, minimization of power losses, harmonic mitigation, increased line capacity, voltage stability and power factor improvement, all of them to a minimum investment cost. A theoretical heuristic is also proposed to solve the described problem, based on the multicriteria optimization method.

Review of Voltage and Reactive Power Control Algorithms in Electrical Distribution Networks

“…Aiming to move from conventional power systems to smart grids, energy storage becomes a relevant issue. Energy storage in DN is an excellent way to increase the efficiency, quality, and reliability of such systems, providing a significant advantage over fluctuations and allowing frequency and voltage control in distribution systems [18,48].…”

“…Passive solutions are frequently based on capacitor batteries [17]. The installation of capacitors in distribution networks is important not only for the compensation of reactive power, but also for the power factor adjustment, improvement of voltage profile, and loss reduction [12,18,19].…”

“…The article offers a comprehensive bibliographic overview of mathematical methods used for optimal choice and positioning of reactive power compensation elements. Soon, DN will be self-sustaining and contain renewable and non-polluting sources; therefore, it is important to focus this analysis on DN with distributed resources [18,19].…”

“…This type of grid topology that can be isolated requires some reactive power compensation analysis due to bidirectional power flows existing in such grids [18].…”

Methodology Calculation for Reactive Power Compensation in Industrial Enterprises

“…In the scientific literature, constant attention is paid to the issues of reactive power (RP) compensation, especially to the methods of RP compensation calculating modes [1,2], to the analysis of RP compensation tools and systems [3][4][5], to the methods for selecting devices to compensate RP [6,7], to the best compensation ways and methods [8][9][10] and, of course, to the features of RP compensation problems in networks of industrial enterprises [11,12].…”