THE IMPACT OF LOSSES ON THE SELECTION OF DISTRIBUTION CABLES AND TRANSFORMERS OF MALAYSIAN MEDIUM VOLTAGE REFERENCE NETWORKS
The ordinary cable and transformer selection method is based on the safety guidelines and voltage level without concerning the power loss produced during the operation of the cables and transformers. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the impact of losses on the selection of distribution cables and transformers. The methodology used in the optimization is based on minimum life-cycle cost methodology which proposed to balance investment cost and cost of losses throughout the technical lifespan of the cable and transformer. Apart from that, some other factors which contribute to the selection are also taken into account, such as power factor, interest rate, and energy price. In this paper, urban, sub-urban, and rural Malaysian medium voltage (MV) reference networks (RNs) have been considered. The DIgSILENT power factory software was used to perform time-series load flow simulation. The results obtained show that the total losses of the three RNsreduced between 4.52% to 10.85% after changing the cables and transformers to the optimal selection.
reference network, life-cycle cost, capital cost, cost of losses, total cost, annual saving