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Top1. Introduction
The electrical supply chain comprises of the; electrical generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. Distribution networks serve as a link between a consumer end and the bulk power station. The radial distribution system is popular among these systems this is due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity in design. Hence, it is one of the complex structures to handle with. In the electrical power domain, it is always desirable to map between the electrical power generation and demand in such a way that over generation and under-generation were minimized. Due to the rapid growth of energy demand in distribution networks, Micro-grids through distributed generations help in curtailing the outgrowing demand of the distribution system, but this integration of the new generation sources through distributed generations may not guaranteed a profitable return to the utilities if the system’s loss and voltage profile remain un-improved. In distribution systems, both voltage and losses of the system decreases as we moved away from the substation, insufficiency of reactive is a key to that, and this could be equipped through the installation of shunt capacitors at the system’s appropriate location. A study showed that, out of the total power generated at the level of distribution, as much as 13% were spent as losses (I2R). In any system, the loss is such an undesirable phenomenon, the I2R losses can be broken into two; this includes the branch current's active & reactive components. These shunt capacitors banks were capable of reducing the reactive component of branch current's losses at the various distribution primary feeders and has major the major advantages like; increasing the bus voltage level and decreasing the source generator's kVA loading and to relieve an overload condition or capacity releases for additional load growth, reducing the system's I2R real power loss and the lagging component of the circuit current. The optimal sizes, number, type, and locations of the capacitor in the system should therefore be determined to achieve the objective of loss minimization and voltage profile improvement while taking into consideration the capacitor's costs. However, it is always a challenge to place a capacitor of the appropriate size at the candidate bus locations.
There is abundant documentation describing capacitors' placement. Analytical methods were used for all the earlier works on optimal capacitor placement. In the analytical method, the maximum cost saving function is realized using calculus. These techniques were based on impractical assumptions such as; the constant size of a conductor, uniform loading, non-discrete size of the capacitor, and constant location of capacitors. Based on these techniques, the well-known rule of 2/3 was formed. The approximation was made by the authors to reduce the computation time procedure. This technique was implemented on the optimal sizing and placement of the capacitor.