Optimal Allocation and Hourly Scheduling of Capacitor Banks Using Sine Cosine Algorithm for Maximizing Technical and Economic Benefits

—This article introduces a problem solution of optimal allocation and hourly scheduling of capacitor banks (C-Bs) using the sine cosine optimization algorithm (SCA) to maximize the cost saving and enhance the system reliability. The impact of reliability enhancement reveals in the objective function as a reduction of energy not supplied cost. The optimal location and size of C-Bs are determined based on two strategies; strategy 1, loss sensitivity factor is used to select the candidate buses after that optimal size of C-Bs is determined by SCA while in strategy 2, the optimal location and size of C-Bs are determined by SCA. The proposed algorithm is tested on IEEE 33 and 69-bus radial distribution systems with different scenarios of single and multi-C-Bs installation. Also the daily load variations have been considered to optimally schedule switched C-Bs steps. The simulation results using Matlab programing environment have been verified using the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank statistical test. The superiority of proposed algorithm is also ensured by comparing its results with other optimization methods.