ItemArticle

Optimal Reactive Power Compensation in Indian Urban Electrical Distribution Networks Using Hybrid Starfish Optimization Algorithm

Title
Optimal Reactive Power Compensation in Indian Urban Electrical Distribution Networks Using Hybrid Starfish Optimization Algorithm
Creator
Janamala, Varaprasad; Nimmagadda, Chaitanya; Gamini, Gayatri; Thalluru, Suneetha
Description
This paper presents an efficient hybrid optimization approach for optimal reactive power compensation (ORPC) problem in electrical distribution networks (EDNs) using a Hybrid Starfish Optimization Algorithm (HSFOA). A Voltage Stability Index (VSI) is integrated to identify critical buses and narrow the search space, improving solution quality and convergence efficiency. The proposed method determines the optimal locations and sizes of capacitor banks (CBs) and Distribution static synchronous compensators (DSTATCOMs) to minimize real power losses and enhance voltage stability. The effectiveness of the HSFOA is evaluated first on the IEEE 33-bus benchmark system. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides superior improvements compared to conventional techniques. Later, the approach is implemented on 106-bus and 85-bus real-time Indian urban distribution networks. For the 106-bus system, losses decrease from 644.768 kW (base case) to 495.273 kW with CBs and to 487.933 kW with DSTATCOMs, corresponding to 23.25% and 24.32% reductions. In the 85-bus system, real power losses are reduced by 34.56% with CBs and 34.44% with DSTATCOMs, while the VSI improves by 15.05% and 20.70%, respectively. Similar improvements were recorded for the IEEE 33-bus system. Overall, the findings confirm that HSFOA offers a robust and effective solution for optimal reactive power planning and enhanced operational performance in modern EDNs. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Source
International Journal of Intelligent Engineering and Systems;Volume;19;Issue;1;pp.869-879
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Intelligent Network and Systems Society
Subject
Capacitor banks; Distribution static synchronous compensators; Loss reduction; Radial distribution networks; Reactive power compensation; Starfish optimization algorithm; Voltage stability index
Coverage
Janamala V., Christ University, Karnataka, Bangalore, 560074, India; Nimmagadda C., R.V.R. & J.C. College of Engineering, Andhra Pradesh, Guntur, 522019, India; Gamini G., Prasad V. Potluri Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada, 520007, India; Thalluru S., R.V.R. & J.C. College of Engineering, Andhra Pradesh, Guntur, 522019, India
Rights
All Open Access; Bronze Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 2185310X;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Janamala, Varaprasad; Nimmagadda, Chaitanya; Gamini, Gayatri; Thalluru, Suneetha, “Optimal Reactive Power Compensation in Indian Urban Electrical Distribution Networks Using Hybrid Starfish Optimization Algorithm,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23409.

Output Formats