Optimal placement and sizing of multi-type facts devices using PSO and HSA

Abstract

Voltage stability is an important issue in power system operation. Flexible AC transmission systems, so-called FACTS devices, help to improve voltage stability and minimize real power losses. The effectiveness of FACTS devices depend on their proper location and rating. This paper presents a method, based on line flow sensitivity factors such as bus voltage stability index and line voltage stability index, to find suitable locations of multi-type FACTS devices. Also this paper proposes an application of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and harmony search algorithm (HSA) in optimizing the rating of FACTS devices. The proposed approaches are evaluated with three different objective functions namely, minimization of real power loss, improvement of voltage profile and enhancement of voltage stability. The performance of proposed methods is analyzed on IEEE 14 bus system by implementing FACTS devices such as static var compensator (SVC), thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) and unified power flow controller (UPFC).The analysis shows that there is a reduction in real power loss and improvement in voltage stability and voltage profile of the system after employing FACTS devices. It also shows that both real power loss and bus voltage stability index (BVSI) have been reduced more with FACTS ratings obtained from PSO than with that from HSA.