Optimization of location and rating of unified power flow controllers for congestion management

Abstract

Large number of contracted power exchanges among sellers and purchasers, in a deregulated power market causes transmission line congestion. Congestion of lines undermines the security and economy of power networks. Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices are introduced at appropriate spots to change the power flow in order to keep the flow of the lines within their capability. In this work, the most commonly used unified power flow controller (UPFC) is proposed for achievement of changing the line flow and for easing congestion from the over loaded lines. The size and site of UPFC controllers significantly impact their performance in congestion management task. The location and size of the UPFC devices are to be optimized by using an optimization algorithm. Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is exploited in this effort for realizing the aim of determination of site and size of the FACTS converters. The present method has lesser quantity of variables which are tuned to get best outcomes. The suggested WOA based technique is executed on the IEEE 57 bus system. The outcomes comparison is made with particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) and firefly algorithm (FFA) and the better improved outcomes are found.