Taguchi-Based Parameter Tuning of PSO for Optimal Capacitor Placement in Unbalanced Distribution Systems
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Abstract
This paper presents a Taguchi-tuned Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach for the optimal placement and sizing of shunt capacitor banks (CBs) in unbalanced distribution systems. The optimization aims to minimize the total operational cost by reducing power losses and improving voltage profile. A systematic parameter tuning was carried out using the Taguchi method based on an L25 orthogonal array, with five PSO parameters evaluated through Signal-to-Noise (SN) ratios and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The IEEE 13-bus test feeder was used as a benchmark. The results show that the installation of four optimally placed CBs reduces active power losses by 29.6% (from 133.16 kW to 93.71 kW), improves the minimum bus voltage from 0.942 p.u. to 1.014 p.u., and decreases operating costs by 6,144.55$ compared to the base case. Validation using DIgSILENT PowerFactory confirms the consistency of the proposed method. Moreover, the Taguchi-optimized PSO demonstrated superior performance over the classical PSO in terms of convergence speed, solution quality, and result consistency across multiple independent runs, confirming its effectiveness and robustness for practical distribution system optimization.
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References
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Cite This Article
TY - JOUR AU - Milovanović, Miloš J. AU - Radosavljević, Jordan N. AU - Perović, Bojan D. PY - 2025 DA - 2025/10/18 TI - Taguchi-Based Parameter Tuning of PSO for Optimal Capacitor Placement in Unbalanced Distribution Systems JO - ICCK Transactions on Electric Power Networks and Systems T2 - ICCK Transactions on Electric Power Networks and Systems JF - ICCK Transactions on Electric Power Networks and Systems VL - 1 IS - 1 SP - 6 EP - 16 DO - 10.62762/TEPNS.2025.698044 UR - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TEPNS.2025.698044 KW - capacitor placement KW - particle swarm optimization (PSO) KW - taguchi method KW - unbalanced systems AB - This paper presents a Taguchi-tuned Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach for the optimal placement and sizing of shunt capacitor banks (CBs) in unbalanced distribution systems. The optimization aims to minimize the total operational cost by reducing power losses and improving voltage profile. A systematic parameter tuning was carried out using the Taguchi method based on an L25 orthogonal array, with five PSO parameters evaluated through Signal-to-Noise (SN) ratios and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The IEEE 13-bus test feeder was used as a benchmark. The results show that the installation of four optimally placed CBs reduces active power losses by 29.6% (from 133.16 kW to 93.71 kW), improves the minimum bus voltage from 0.942 p.u. to 1.014 p.u., and decreases operating costs by 6,144.55$ compared to the base case. Validation using DIgSILENT PowerFactory confirms the consistency of the proposed method. Moreover, the Taguchi-optimized PSO demonstrated superior performance over the classical PSO in terms of convergence speed, solution quality, and result consistency across multiple independent runs, confirming its effectiveness and robustness for practical distribution system optimization. SN - 3070-2607 PB - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge LA - English ER -
@article{Milovanovi2025TaguchiBas,
author = {Miloš J. Milovanović and Jordan N. Radosavljević and Bojan D. Perović},
title = {Taguchi-Based Parameter Tuning of PSO for Optimal Capacitor Placement in Unbalanced Distribution Systems},
journal = {ICCK Transactions on Electric Power Networks and Systems},
year = {2025},
volume = {1},
number = {1},
pages = {6-16},
doi = {10.62762/TEPNS.2025.698044},
url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TEPNS.2025.698044},
abstract = {This paper presents a Taguchi-tuned Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach for the optimal placement and sizing of shunt capacitor banks (CBs) in unbalanced distribution systems. The optimization aims to minimize the total operational cost by reducing power losses and improving voltage profile. A systematic parameter tuning was carried out using the Taguchi method based on an L25 orthogonal array, with five PSO parameters evaluated through Signal-to-Noise (SN) ratios and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The IEEE 13-bus test feeder was used as a benchmark. The results show that the installation of four optimally placed CBs reduces active power losses by 29.6\% (from 133.16 kW to 93.71 kW), improves the minimum bus voltage from 0.942 p.u. to 1.014 p.u., and decreases operating costs by 6,144.55\$ compared to the base case. Validation using DIgSILENT PowerFactory confirms the consistency of the proposed method. Moreover, the Taguchi-optimized PSO demonstrated superior performance over the classical PSO in terms of convergence speed, solution quality, and result consistency across multiple independent runs, confirming its effectiveness and robustness for practical distribution system optimization.},
keywords = {capacitor placement, particle swarm optimization (PSO), taguchi method, unbalanced systems},
issn = {3070-2607},
publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}
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