Optimal placement and sizing of PV system and fuel cell on distribution system for loss minimization

In current scenario optimal placement and sizing of distributed generation (DG) on the distribution system is drawing attention of electrical power utilities for minimization of real power loss. Power loss minimization has some in built advantages i.e. power flow reduction in feeder lines, reduces stress on feeder loading therefore increases reliability of the utility, fulfilled the load demand during peak load period and reduction in consumer bill, etc. In this paper particle swarm optimization with constriction factor approach (PSOCFA) for optimal placement and sizing of DGs (such as solar and fuel cell based), heuristic approach is applied for reconfiguration of distribution system with the purpose to minimize the total real power loss subjected to equality and inequality constraints in the distribution system is presented. The results obtained after placement of Photovoltaic (PV) system, Fuel cell (FC) and combination of both are shown by using PSOCFA algorithm applied on IEEE 33–bus radial distribution system. It shows significant reduction in power loss with the improvement in voltage profile and voltage stability index (VSI).