Optimal Reactive Power Planning and Compensation Effects on Transmission Loss Components

The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the classical constrained optimal power flow based reactive power planning, switching and dispatch problem. The extent to which transmission lines can be secured with appropriate reactive power compensation has been established by determining minimum feasible line limits. Further, the dependence of overall system transmission losses on reactive power flow was quantified by segregating the losses in two components- one due to real power flows and the other due to reactive power flows over the transmission network. The effect of reactive power support on these components was also assessed. The work presented may be useful to study the impact of variation of transmission loss components on reactive power planning and costing during the peak load hours, in a competitive electricity market environment.