Analysing the effects of different types of FACTS devices on the steady-state performance of the Hydro-Qu??bec network

Hydro-Québec´s electrical transmission system is an extensive, international grid located in Québec, Canada with extensions into the northeastern United States of America. For large power systems such as this, one of the major issues is to maintain the steady-state performance of the network. From this point of view, flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices could be effective tools to improve power system security by reducing the power flow on overloaded lines, which in turn would result in an increased loadability of the power system, reduced transmission line losses, improved stability and security and, ultimately, a more energy-efficient transmission system. Therefore in this study, the authors will present the effects of different types of FACTS devices on the performance of Hydro-Québec´s power system. The optimal locations and rating of these FACTS controllers will be determined with a view to improving network security using an optimisation algorithm based on a genetic algorithm. The effects of six different FACTS devices including static VAR compensator (SVC), thyristor-controlled series capacitor (TCSC), thyristor-controlled voltage regulator (TCVR), thyristor-controlled phase-shifting transformer (TCPST), unified power flow controller (UPFC) and static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) with energy storage are compared. Using the presented results, the effects of different types of FACTS devices on the Hydro-Québec network will be analysed and compared with those of a STATCOM equipped with energy storage from the viewpoints of static loadability and losses.