Optimal Location and Parameter Settings of Multiple TCSCs for Increasing Power System Loadability Based on GA and PSO Techniques

Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems, called FACTS, got in the recent years a well-known term for higher controllability in power systems by means of power electronic devices. FACTS-devices can effectively control the load flow distribution, improve the usage of existing system installations by increasing transmission capability, compensate reactive power, improve power quality, and improve stabilities of the power network. However, the location of these devices in the system plays a significant role to achieve such benefits. This paper presents the application of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) techniques for finding out the optimal number, the optimal locations, and the optimal parameter settings of multiple Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) devices to achieve a maximum system loadability in the system with minimum installation cost of these device. The thermal limits of the lines and the voltage limits for the buses are taken as constraints during the optimization. Simulations are performed on IEEE 6-bus and IEEE 14-bus power systems. The obtained results are encouraging, and show that TCSC is one of the most effective series compensation devices that can significantly increase the system loadability. Also the results indicate that both GA and PSO techniques can easily and successfully find out the optimal variables, but PSO is faster than GA from the time perspective.