Investigation of cable aging considering loading capacity at DG user site using HSA algorithm

Loadability is one of the important issues in investigation of the power system. Researchers try to improve the loadability of power system by different approaches and considering various constraints. In addition, equipment performs both economic and technical functions in the power system. Cable aging can be considered as an equipment aging which is a result of metallic structure (like cable sheathing) erosion. It is a reality of life in power network. The results of cable aging in power system are higher risk of failure and loosing system reliability. The best way to solve aging problem is to reduce cable current flow by using different methods such as installing distributed generations (DGs) in power system. In this paper, by using Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA), optimal placement of DGs is performed to reduce cable aging and improve loadability of the system. The test system used in this paper is the IEEE ۳۳-bus standard network and Backward/Forward sweep load flow calculations are used in this work. The obtained results demonstrate loadability improvement considering cable aging constraint by performing optimal DGs placement. The problem is investigated in three scenarios and the HSA is run ۱۰ times for each scenario. The results show the suitability of HSA in aspect of convergence and finding global optimum value for this problem.

Keywords:

Cable aging , Loadability , DG placement , Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA)