Static Var Compensator Assisted Load Flow in Power Systems using Fixed Capacitor-Thyristor Controlled Reactor Method

Abstract

A highly reliable and efficient system strives to meet load demand more robustly. It is therefore necessary to build and maintain a system capable of delivering customer satisfaction. In doing this, a power system of nine 11 kV feeders was used to implement load flows in the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software with and without static var compensators to ascertain the stability, transfer, and loading capability of the system. The fixed capacitor-thyristor-controlled reactor method was used to connect the static var compensators, thereby ensuring a more stable and efficient power system. The study was conducted in two scenarios, with and without static var compensators. The branch losses report shows a percentage drop in voltage magnitude improvement from 0.66% to 0.15% on the transmission line and 8.26%, 8.13%, and 7.62% to 2.03%, 2.08%, and 1.89%, respectively, on the transformers as Static Var Compensators (SVCs) were incorporated at the appropriate buses based on the principles of fixed capacitor-thyristor controlled reactor. The method kept the line voltage at 100.2% and improved bus voltage from 91.1%, 91.2%, and 91.7% to 98.1%, 98.1%, and 98.3% on T1A, T2A, and T3A, respectively, with increased loading from 68.3%, 67.3%, and 66.5% to 72.2%, 72.5%, and 74.3% on T1A, T2A, and T3A, respectively. Voltage improvement from the inclusion of static var compensators enabled efficient power transfer in the system. This scenario has effectively supported efficient load flow in the power system, satisfying the IEEE 519 Equation and the conditions for optimal power transfer.