Abstract-This paper presents an algorithm for solving the multi-objective reactive power dispatch problem in a power system. Modal analysis of the system is used for static voltage stability assessment. Loss minimization and maximization of voltage stability margin are taken as the objectives. Generator terminal voltages, reactive power generation of the capacitor banks and tap changing transformer setting are taken as the optimization variables. An improved genetic algorithm which permits the control variables to be represented in their natural form is proposed to solve this combinatorial optimization problem. For effective genetic operation, crossover and mutation operators which can directly operate on floating point number and integers are used. The proposed method has been tested on IEEE 30 bus system and has resulted in loss which is less than the value reported earlier and is well suited for solving the mixed integer optimization problem.Index Terms-Modal analysis, optimal reactive power dispatch, loss minimization, genetic algorithm. I. INTRODUCTIONOptimal reactive power dispatch problem is one of the difficult optimization problems in power systems. The sources of the reactive power are the generators, synchronous condensers, capacitors, static compensators and tap changing transformers. The problem that has to be solved in a reactive power optimization is to determine the required reactive generation at various locations so as to optimize the objective function. Here the reactive power dispatch problem involves best utilization of the existing generator bus voltage magnitudes, transformer tap setting and the output of reactive power sources so as to minimize the loss and to enhance the voltage stability of the system. It involves a non linear optimization problem. Various mathematical techniques have been adopted to solve this optimal reactive power dispatch problem. These include the gradient method [1-2], Newton method [3] and linear programming [4][5][6][7].The gradient and Newton methods suffer from the difficulty in handling inequality constraints. To apply linear programming, the input-output function is to be expressed as a set of linear P. Aruna Jeyanthy is with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, N.I. College of Engineering Kanyakumari District, India (corresponding author to provide phone: 91 9443174253. email: arunadarwin@yahoo.com) D.Devaraj is with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Kalasalingam University, Srivilliputhur, India.functions which may lead to loss of accuracy. Recently global optimization techniques such as genetic algorithms have been proposed to solve the reactive power flow problem [8,9]. A genetic algorithm is a stochastic search technique based on the mechanics of natural selection. In this paper, genetic algorithm is used to solve the voltage constrained reactive power dispatch problem. The proposed algorithm identifies the optimal values of generation bus voltage magnitudes, transformer tap setting and the output of the reactive p...

No abstract

The high penetration level of solar photovoltaic (SPV) generation systems imposes a major challenge to the secure operation of power systems. SPV generation systems are connected to the power grid via power converters. During a fault on the grid side; overvoltage can occur at the direct current link (DCL) due to the power imbalance between the SPV and the grid sides. Subsequently; the SPV inverter is disconnected; which reduces the grid reliability. DC-link voltage control is an important task during low voltage ride-through (LVRT) for SPV generation systems. By properly controlling the power converters; we can enhance the LVRT capability of a grid-connected SPV system according to the grid code (GC) requirements. This study proposes a novel DCL voltage control scheme for a DC–DC converter to enhance the LVRT capability of the two-stage grid-connected SPV system. The control scheme includes a “control without maximum power point tracking (MPPT)” controller; which is activated when the DCL voltage exceeds its nominal value; otherwise, the MPPT control is activated. Compared to the existing LVRT schemes the proposed method is economical as it is achieved by connecting the proposed controller to the existing MPPT controller without additional hardware or changes in the software. In this approach, although the SPV system will not operate at the maximum power point and the inverter will not face any over current challenge it can still provide reactive power support in response to a grid fault. A comprehensive simulation was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme for enhancing the LVRT capability and stability margin of an interconnected SPV generation system under symmetrical and asymmetrical grid faults.

No abstract

No abstract