Binary differential evolution applied to the optimization of the voltage stability margin through the selection of corrective control sets

Author(s)

Silva, Rafael Martini ; Castoldi, Marcelo Favoretto ; Goedtel, Alessandro ; Sanches, Danilo Sipoli ; Ramos, Rodrigo Andrade

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SOFT COMPUTING; v. N/A, p. 27-pg., 2023-08-16.

Abstract

The electric power system must supply energy with quality, security, and reliability. However, the system can operate close to its critical limits due to environmental or economic reasons. Under these circumstances, voltage instability problems, which have been the cause of several significant blackouts worldwide in the last two decades, are prone to happen due to increasing power demand. For this reason, guaranteeing an acceptable voltage security margin is crucial for a safe and reliable power system operation. Over the years, many studies have been made to identify and control voltage instability problems, where voltage stability margin is a parameter used to identify these problems, calculated through continuation power flow. Besides that, to prevent or correct these problems, preventive or corrective controls may be used, such as capacitor switching, for example. Within this context, this paper proposes a method capable of defining a list of capacitor sets that mitigate the criticality of a set of contingencies and maximize the voltage stability margin of the power system under analysis as its main contribution. A continuation power flow embedded in a binary differential evolution algorithm calculates the voltage stability margin. This margin is optimized by selecting capacitor banks to be switched on/off after the contingency. The output of the method can be presented in a suitable format to the system operator, enabling fast choices of corrective control actions after detecting a contingency in real-time operation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20104-9 - Wide-area monitoring, dynamic security analysis and control of modern power system networks
• Grantee: Luís Fernando Costa Alberto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants