Line utilisation factor‐based optimal allocation of IPFC and sizing using firefly algorithm for congestion management

Abstract

As a consequence of privatisation and deregulation of the electric power market, there is a marked increase of scheduled power that flows in the transmission line and also the spontaneous power exchanges leading to complex power transmission congestion problems. The proper placement of interline power flow controller (IPFC) can improve the transmission line congestion problem to a great extent. This study proposes a method for optimal placement of IPFC based on disparity line utilisation factor (DLUF) and firefly algorithm (FA)‐based optimal tuning for a multi‐objective function to control the congestion in transmission lines. DLUF determines the difference between the percentages mega voltage ampere (MVA) utilisation of each line connected to the same bus. The IPFC is placed in the lines with maximum DLUF. This method has been implemented on an IEEE 30‐bus system and the results have been presented and analysed. Optimal tuning of IPFC at the proposed location is carried out using FA for a multi‐objective function consisting of active power loss, total voltage deviations, security margin and capacity of the installed IPFC. The tuning of IPFC is also carried out using genetic algorithm. The results obtained have been compared with that of FA for different loading conditions.