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This study introduces a techno-economic planning strategy of reactive power (VAr) in power transmission systems. This planning strategy primarily has been focused on reactive power planning (RPP) through operating cost minimisation ensuring cost-oriented system security. The objective function (operating cost) is blended with four different components viz. cost due to real power loss, VAr generation cost, additional VAr compensation devices cost and line charging cost. FACTS (flexible AC transmission system) devices are installed at weak positions through different echelons to improve the system voltage stability. The authors also implemented the probabilistic hybridisation of crow search algorithm and JAYA to find out the optimal set of controlling parameters related to VAr. Finally, a sharp and minute analysis of the results has been done to validate the proposed strategy under multi-loading conditions. To understand the efficiency and efficacy the code profiling and simulation has been rendered on IEEE 30 bus and UPSEB 75 bus test system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a techno‐economic planning strategy of reactive power (VAr) in power transmission systems. This planning strategy primarily has been focused on reactive power planning (RPP) through operating cost minimisation ensuring cost‐oriented system security. The objective function (operating cost) is blended with four different components viz. cost due to real power loss, VAr generation cost, additional VAr compensation devices cost and line charging cost. FACTS (flexible AC transmission system) devices are installed at weak positions through different echelons to improve the system voltage stability. The authors also implemented the probabilistic hybridisation of crow search algorithm and JAYA to find out the optimal set of controlling parameters related to VAr. Finally, a sharp and minute analysis of the results has been done to validate the proposed strategy under multi‐loading conditions. To understand the efficiency and efficacy the code profiling and simulation has been rendered on IEEE 30 bus and UPSEB 75 bus test system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To relieve congestion due to open‐access feature in competitive power system framework, utilities plan flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS), ensuring improved utilization and performance of the transmission infrastructure. However, high‐investment cost restricts implementation to single type of FACTS' planning in a time. Therefore, successive planning of another FACTS to delay transmission expansion results in multi‐type FACTS planning. Consequently, to optimise performance, subsequent planning must coordinate with existing FACTS. The main objective of this study is to implement coordination of multi‐type FACTS for available transfer capability (ATC) enhancement. A hybrid real power flow performance index (PI) and particle swarm optimisation (PSO), coordinate thyristor control series compensator (TCSC) in the first planning horizon with static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) and unified power flow controller (UPFC), in the second horizon. The PI–PSO‐based multi‐type FACTS coordination improves ATC of multilateral power transfers in a standard 9‐buses test network. Results show that multi‐type FACTS achieved higher ATC; such that enhanced ATC by TCSC–SSSC ranges between 8.06–69.34% while the TCSC–UPFC ranges between 11.85–71.59% for various power transfer transactions. A comparison of the three coordination schemes shows that the scheme with more decision parameters provides superior loadability and transfer capability improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a maiden application of cascade proportional–integral–derivative with filter (PIDF) and one plus fractional-order derivative (1+FOD), i.e. PIDF(1+FOD) controller is proposed for the load frequency control mechanism. The main purpose of the cascade and fractional order controller is to increase the degree of freedom and reject the disturbances faster. A novel attempt has also been made to model a static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) with AC tie-line and HVDC tie-line. Here SSSC and HVDC tie-line are used to regulate and increase the power transfer capabilities between interconnected areas. Furthermore stored energy in the HVDC tie-line is utilised to improve the system dynamics by inertia emulation control strategy. An evolutionary salp swarm algorithm-based optimisation technique is adopted to optimise control parameters. The performance of the proposed controller is tested on a two-area hydro-thermal interconnected power system in deregulated environment. First, the effectiveness AC–DC-SSSC tie line is shown over AC-SSSC and alone AC tie-line with proposed PIDF(1+FOD) controller followed by the supremacy of proposed PIDF(1+FOD) over classical controllers. Finally, sensitivity is analysed by variation in system parameters, which shows the robustness of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a maiden application of cascade proportional–integral–derivative with filter (PIDF) and one plus fractional‐order derivative (1+FOD), i.e. PIDF(1+FOD) controller is proposed for the load frequency control mechanism. The main purpose of the cascade and fractional order controller is to increase the degree of freedom and reject the disturbances faster. A novel attempt has also been made to model a static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) with AC tie‐line and HVDC tie‐line. Here SSSC and HVDC tie‐line are used to regulate and increase the power transfer capabilities between interconnected areas. Furthermore stored energy in the HVDC tie‐line is utilised to improve the system dynamics by inertia emulation control strategy. An evolutionary salp swarm algorithm‐based optimisation technique is adopted to optimise control parameters. The performance of the proposed controller is tested on a two‐area hydro‐thermal interconnected power system in deregulated environment. First, the effectiveness AC–DC‐SSSC tie line is shown over AC‐SSSC and alone AC tie‐line with proposed PIDF(1+FOD) controller followed by the supremacy of proposed PIDF(1+FOD) over classical controllers. Finally, sensitivity is analysed by variation in system parameters, which shows the robustness of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydro‐Québec has identified wide‐area control system as a key initiative able to significantly increase the voltage stability of its grid. In this context, an innovative project for wide‐area and local voltage control of shunt compensators was initiated. Its main objective is to implement a closed‐loop control system on Hydro‐Québec's network to optimise the reactive power support from the dynamic shunt compensators. The outcome of this project is the 'global and local control of compensators' (GLCCs) system which is based on synchrophasor technology and intelligent electronics devices. Applied to each shunt compensator of Hydro‐Québec's network, this robust voltage control system measures voltage variations in the load area and adjusts the operation set point of each shunt compensator accordingly, thus avoiding voltage collapse resulting from extreme contingencies. The GLCC control solution was intensively tested in simulation using PSSE software. Moreover, a pilot project was commissioned on a test bench replica of the system and also tested in real time using Hydro‐Québec's Hypersim digital simulator. Field tests of the GLCC were conducted on a −230/ + 660 MVars static vars compensator. The results of this pilot project were deemed conclusive and the deployment of the new voltage control system has been initiated by Hydro‐Québec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel interfacing setup for testing and validating wide‐area monitoring and control (WAMC) techniques used in smart grids. The main purpose of this study is to provide a realistic approach for conducting WAMC studies. In here, a wide‐area controller (WAC) for a flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) device is implemented. The measurements for the WAC are collected using phasor measurements units (PMUs). Three main segments are being interfaced in this study. First, the real‐power grid, the local area controller of the actual FACTS device, and the PMUs are simulated using real‐time digital simulator. This simulation represents the central simulation and is interfaced with the WAC, which is realised using a MATLAB‐based program. This interface represents a novel software‐in‐the‐loop (SIL) scheme. On the other hand, an actual FACTS device is designed and interfaced to the central simulation via hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL) scheme. This SIL and HIL combination makes the experimental testbed more realistic and closer to the industrial standard. Various tests are conducted to examine the performance of the developed testbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents gravitational search algorithm (GSA)‐based optimisation technique for the optimum co‐ordination of multi‐type flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices with the existing reactive power sources present in a connected power network. Three types of FACTS devices: namely, unified power flow controller, static var compensator and thyristor controlled series capacitor are used in the present problem and IEEE‐30 and IEEE‐57 bus systems are taken as standard test systems. The existing reactive power sources are reactive generations of the generators and transformer tap setting arrangements. The main objective of the present study is to reduce active power loss, system operating cost including the cost of FACTS devices and congestion in transmission network. The result obtained with the proposed GSA‐based approach is compared with the results obtained by genetic algorithm, differential evolution and particle swarm optimisation techniques. It is observed that by optimal placement of FACTS devices along with the optimal setting of the transformer tap arrangements and control of reactive generations of the generators line loss, system operating cost and transmission congestion is reduced significantly by the GSA‐based method compared with other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient operation of the present day power system is an important issue to satisfy the customer needs. To improve the performance of the existing power system, the flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices have been attracted by an engineering community with the expertise in power system. This article proposes the self‐adaptive firefly algorithm (SAFA) for placement of FACTS devices, which identifies the appropriate type, best possible locations and optimal parameters of FACTS devices. Static var compensator, thyristor controlled series compensator and unified power flow controller are considers as FACTS devices for their placement. The objectives are to improve the power system performance by placement of FACTS devices through minimising real power loss, improving voltage profile and enhancing the voltage stability. Effectiveness of the proposed SAFA is tested on standard IEEE 30 and IEEE 57 bus systems with different objectives. The results are compared with other approaches, which clearly indicate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible AC transmission system devices provide the opportunity to improve the usage of the current transmission facilities by controlling network flows and nodal voltages. The optimal steady‐state settings of these devices can be determined using optimal power flow calculations. However, this requires knowledge of the system parameters, generation settings and loads. A two‐stage regression‐based control scheme is proposed to determine the optimal settings of thyristor‐controlled series compensators (TCSCs) with the objective to optimally utilise the current transmission system in the presence of renewable energy resources. A regression function describing the relationship between a set of key measurements and the optimal device settings is determined in the offline simulation. This function is then used to calculate the optimal device settings by only receiving the information from a limited number of key measurements without solving the OPF problem in the online operation. Studies are carried out with TCSCs in three‐test systems, the IEEE 14‐bus system, a 28‐bus system and the IEEE 118‐bus system. The simulation results with one, two and four TCSCs are presented, illustrating the performance of the proposed regression‐based control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-sourced converter (VSC)-based static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) are used for voltage regulation in transmission and distribution systems. Unlike PWM-controlled STATCOMs, angle-controlled STATCOMs are switched at line frequency to limit the system losses. In recent years, angle-controlled STATCOMs have been deployed by utilities for the purpose of transmission system voltage regulation, voltage stability improvement, and increasing operational functionality. Despite the superior feature on voltage waveform quality and efficiency, the practical angle-controlled STATCOMs suffer from the over-current (and trips) and possible saturation of the interfacing transformers caused by negative sequence current during unbalanced conditions and faults in the utility. This paper specifically proposes a control structure to improve the angle-controlled STATCOMs performance under unbalanced conditions and faults. The main improvement is a substantial decrease in the negative sequence current and dc-link voltage oscillations under power system faults by the proposed control. This eliminates the need to redesign the STACOM power components to operate under fault current and dc-link voltage oscillations. The proposed control structure is designed based on adding appropriate oscillations to the conventional angle-controller output that is the control angle by which the VSC voltage vector leads/lags the line voltage vector. Since this control structure uses two angles for controlling the VSC output voltage, it is called dual angle control (DAC). PSCAD/EMTDC and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed control structure under unbalanced system conditions and faults. The experiments were conducted on a transient network analyzer, a unique hardware-based flexible ac transmission system simulator which was designed to study system faults and transients for a 2 × 100 MVA STATCOM field installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydro‐Québec's electrical transmission system is an extensive, international grid located in Québec, Canada with extensions into the northeastern United States of America. For large power systems such as this, one of the major issues is to maintain the steady‐state performance of the network. From this point of view, flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices could be effective tools to improve power system security by reducing the power flow on overloaded lines, which in turn would result in an increased loadability of the power system, reduced transmission line losses, improved stability and security and, ultimately, a more energy‐efficient transmission system. Therefore in this study, the authors will present the effects of different types of FACTS devices on the performance of Hydro‐Québec's power system. The optimal locations and rating of these FACTS controllers will be determined with a view to improving network security using an optimisation algorithm based on a genetic algorithm. The effects of six different FACTS devices including static VAR compensator (SVC), thyristor‐controlled series capacitor (TCSC), thyristor‐controlled voltage regulator (TCVR), thyristor‐controlled phase‐shifting transformer (TCPST), unified power flow controller (UPFC) and static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) with energy storage are compared. Using the presented results, the effects of different types of FACTS devices on the Hydro‐Québec network will be analysed and compared with those of a STATCOM equipped with energy storage from the viewpoints of static loadability and losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STATCOM is a FACTS controller that is used in power systems to regulate the line voltage, enhance the power transmission capacity and extend the transient stability margin. STATCOM is conventionally realized by a voltage-source converter; however, being a current injection device, its performance can be improved when realized by a current-source converter (CSC) that can generate a controllable current directly at its output terminals. In this paper, a STATCOM based on the current-source converter topology is proposed. The nonlinear model of the current-source converter, which is the source of the difficulties in the controller design, has been modified to a linear model through a novel modeling technique. The proposed modeling technique is not based on the linearization of a set of nonlinear equations around an operating point. Instead, the power balance equation and a nonlinear input transformation are used to derive a linear model independent of the operating point. This model acts as the basis for the design of a decoupled state-feedback controller. The proposed STATCOM has been simulated using the PSCAD/EMTDC package. The simulation results show that a CSC-based STATCOM can result in excellent current and voltage waveforms as well as very short response time while operating at a low switching frequency. This makes the proposed scheme suitable for high power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]