Abstract
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) are essential devices used for the efficient performance of modern power systems and many developing countries lack these devices. Due to the non-existence of these advanced technologies, the national grid remains weak and vulnerable to power stability issues that can jeopardize system stability. This study proposes novel research to solve issues of an evolving national grid through the installation of FACTS devices. FACTS devices play a crucial role in minimizing active power losses while managing reactive power flows to keep the voltages within their respective limits. Due to the high costs of FACTS, optimization must be done to discover optimal locations as well as ratings of these devices. However, due to the nonlinearity, it is a challenging task to find the optimal locations and appropriate sizes of these devices. Shunt VARs Compensators (SVCs) and Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensators (TCSCs) are the two FACTS devices considered for the study. Optimal locations for SVCs and TCSCs are determined by Voltage Collapse Proximity Index (VCPI) and Line Stability Index (Lmn), respectively. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is employed to find the ideal rating for FACTS devices to minimize the system operating cost (cost due to active power loss and capital cost of FACTS devices). This technique is applied to IEEE (14 and 30) bus systems. Moreover, reliable operation of the electricity grid through the placement of FACTS for developing countries has also been analysed; Pakistan being a developing country has been selected as a case study. The planning problem has been solved for the present as well as for the forecasted power system. Consequently, in the current national network, 6.21% and 6.71% reduction in active and reactive power losses have been observed, respectively. Moreover, voltage profiles have been improved significantly. A detailed financial analysis covering the calculation of Operation Cost (OC) of the national grid before and after the placement of FACTS devices is carried out.
Highlights
This article is an open access articleDespite the fact several developing countries have taken steps in the past to improve the electricity access for their deprived communities, most of them still lag far behind developed countries
Ratings of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices are changed in each iteration by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO); active power loss is calculated in every iteration, which is multiplied by the cost of electrical energy
A comprehensive planning model is presented for improving the performance of the national grid for both the present as well as the forecasted scenario by the placement of FACTS devices
Summary
Despite the fact several developing countries have taken steps in the past to improve the electricity access for their deprived communities, most of them still lag far behind developed countries. Main objective of the study is to decrease real power losses and to improve the voltage profile of the electrical transmission system. It can be best achieved through TCSC and SVC [20]. TCSC and SVC are mainly used to decrease real power losses and to improve the voltage profile of the electrical transmission system [22]. The effectiveness of SVC and TCSC to decrease real power losses and to improve voltage profile have been discussed in the literature [27,28]. The main issues of improvement of voltage profile as well as reactive power compensation of practical national electrical transmission network are addressed through OPS of FACTS. The payback period for the FACTS placement, both for the present and forecasted model is less than one year
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