Transmission Loss Minimization and UPFC Installation Cost using Evolutionary Computation for Improvement of Voltage Stability

A critical factor effecting power transmission systems today is power flow control. The increment of load variation in a power transmission system can lead to potential failure on the entire system as the system has to work under a stressed condition. Thus, the Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) are integrated in power system to control the power flow in specific lines and improve the security of transmission line. This paper presents Evolutionary Programming (EP) techniques for solving reactive power problem incorporating Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). The objective of the study is to employ EP optimization technique for loss minimization along with installation cost calculation and voltage profile monitoring. The optimizations are made based on two parameters: the location of the devices and it sizes. The UPFC devices are installed in the system in order to enhance the system security; performed on the IEEE 30-bus RTS for several loading conditions. The simulations results are compared with those obtained from the Artificial Immune System (AIS) technique in the attempt to highlight its merit. Index Terms UPFC; Loss Minimization; Evolutionary Programming; Artificial Immune System; Installation Cost.