Optimal Placement of Distributed Energy Resources in a DC Microgrid with Constant Power Loads to Minimize Bus Voltage Deviations and Line Losses

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to determine the most optimum buses to connect Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to a DC microgrid. The optimum buses are those where the deviations in bus voltages from the nominal values and reduction in transmission line losses are minimum. Due to the non-linearities present in the system because of Constant Power Loads (CPLs) and renewable sources, the bus voltages are first determined using the Newton-Raphson (NR) method. Using the NR method and a binary identification scheme, the proposed algorithm then yields the best buses to place the DERs. The results are verified with the simulation results of an IEEE 14-bus modified DC system. Although the study is done for a multi-bus DC system, it can easily be utilized for ring and radial systems of the DC microgrid as well.