Capacitor Placement Optimization in Distribution Systems Using War Strategy Algorithm for Varying Load Conditions

This paper presents a novel approach to optimizing capacitor placement in distribution systems across varying load conditions—80%, 100%, and 120%—representing light, normal, and heavy loaded scenarios, respectively. The methodology employs the War Strategy Optimization (WSO) algorithm to strategically place single, dual, and triple capacitors aimed at minimizing power losses within the distribution network. Inspired by military tactics, WSO adeptly balances exploration and exploitation to navigate the optimization landscape efficiently. Compared to conventional methods, WSO demonstrates dynamic adaptation, resilience against local optima, and improved convergence characteristics. The proposed approach is rigorously tested on the IEEE 33-bus test system, a well-established benchmark in power distribution studies, under these distinct loading conditions. Extensive simulations showcase significant reductions in power losses compared to existing techniques for each load scenario and varying capacitor configurations. Moreover, this paper thoroughly evaluates the performance of the WSO algorithm vis-à-vis other optimization methods across these diverse load conditions. It highlights WSO's advantages in terms of solution quality, convergence speed, and adaptability in each scenario. Additionally, the effectiveness of the adaptive parameter tuning mechanism within WSO is systematically assessed under varying load conditions and capacitor placements.