PSO algorithm-based optimal tuning of STATCOM for voltage control in a wind farm integrated system

In this paper a method based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is presented for tuning static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) parameters. STATCOM is used for voltage and reactive power control in a wind farm integrated power system in both steady state and contingency situations. Doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is used as the wind generator model. In order to investigate the proposed performance, the method is applied to the IEEE-14 bus test system. Simulations are implemented in Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT) and MATLAB. The main purpose of the approach is to keep to voltage at the wind farm connection bus in reference value and to minimize the voltage deviations immediately after a heavy loaded line outage which is connected to the wind farm. Simulation results prove the capability of the PSO technique in optimal tuning of STATCOM for voltage control.