International Journal of Electrical and

Electronics Engineering Research (IJEEER)

ISSN(P): 2250-155X; ISSN(E): 2278-943X
Vol. 4, Issue 4, Aug 2014, 147-154
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

A NOVEL BACTERIAL FORAGING OPTIMIZATION APPROACH (BFOA) FOR

OPTIMAL PLACEMENT OF FACTS DEVICES TO ENHANCE ATC UNDER DYNAMIC
CONDITIONS
P. RAMANJANEYULU1 & V. C. VEERA REDDY2
1

Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, KITS, Ramachandrapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
2

Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SVUCE, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT
Infrastructure to transmit power is under extreme stress due to a variety of reasons; capacity addition coupled with
load growth has put tremendous pressure on the existing systems and spurred the need for new infrastructure.
Maximizing the utilization of existing infrastructure is very essential especially in regard to transmission lines to relieve the
system of congestion and to meet the demand. Enhancing the Available Transmission Capability (ATC) is one such
important strategy to utilize the existing system to their maximum operational limits. This paper determines optimal
location and controlling parameter of TCSC, SVC and UPFC to maximize Available Transfer Capability (ATC) and
improve Contingency simultaneously using Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm (BFOA) as the optimization tool.
The suitability of location of the FACTS device under dynamic conditions to enhance ATC is studied and presented.

KEYWORDS: TCSC, SVC, UPFC, (BFOA)

INTRODUCTION
Ever increasing demand for energy has emphasized the need for better utilization of available resources. This is
true in the case of transmission lines and systems. New transmission lines and system are expensive in terms of both the
capital cost involved and the time cost. Meeting the excess demand through available resources is a very challenging task.
Increasing the capacity of the existing line by controlling the current through a line through FACTS devices has the
potential to augment capacity addition through a reasonable cost. The use of FACTS devices allow corresponding power to
flow through the line both under normal and other contingency scenarios. Several studies [1-3] have concluded that use of
FACTS devices not only increases transmission capacity and relieve in existing transmission lines; they also increase the
Available Transfer Capability (ATC). The optimum location of FACTS devices presents a complicated combinatorial
optimization problem. The primary objective of the proposed work is to implement a technique that can optimally locate
FACTS devices to enhance ATC. The transmission lines contain several operational limitations in terms of thermal and
voltage stability [1] and the inter-area power transfer has to be increased without encroaching on the system security [2]
The Available Transfer Capability denotes that capability of a transmission network that is unexploited for transfer of
power for further commercial activity. ATC is computed from Total Transfer Capability (TTC) considering other factors
like the Transmission Reliability Margin (TRM), existing transmission commitments and Capacity Benefit Margin (CBM)
[3-5]. Use of FACTS devices enhances the power system and can control the power flow over a certain transmission lines
[6-7]. Also, FACTS devices are competent in controlling the voltage magnitude, phase angle, and circuit reactance [6].
Different FACTS technology has evolved over a period of time. They include Static Var Compensator (SVC),
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Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC), and Unified Power Flow
Controller (UPFC) [8]. UPFC is one of the most adaptable and intricate FACTS devices, combining the features of the
STATCOM and SSSC [9-10].
Problem Definition
Optimal Placement of FACTS device has remained an active area of research ever since the inception of FACTS.
The primary objective of this paper is to identify the optimum location and type of FACTS devices using Bacterial
Foraging Optimization Algorithm to enhance the Available Transfer Capacity (ATC). The idea is to test the suitability of
the location in view of faults and other dynamic varying parameters like variation in generation speed.
FACTS and ATC
FACTS technology has proved its mettle in the safe and reliable operations of the power systems around the
world. With numerous applications FACTS has always delivered results at a reasonable costs. FACTS devices tend to
augment the capacity of the existing transmission lines by controlling the control flow through the line. It also ensures
plow flow through the line under normal as well as under conditions of contingency.
Static VAR Compensator (SVC ) are a quick and reliable means of controlling voltage on transmission lines.
With average response times ranging from 30 to 40 ms, SVCs are much faster than conventional mechanically switched
reactors and capacitors (100 to 150 ms) and can also be used to actively damp power oscillations. When system voltage is
low, the SVC generates capacitive reactive power. When system voltage is high, it absorbs inductive reactive power.
The reactive power is changed by switching on three-phase capacitor and reactor banks connected to the secondary side of
the transformer. Each capacitor bank is switched on and off by thyristor valves (TSC). Reactors can be either switched
(TSR) or controlled (TCR).

Figure 1: Block Diagram of 500 KV Transmission Line with SVC

Figure 2: Operational Diagram of SVC

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9638

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

A Novel Bacterial Foraging Optimization Approach (BFOA) for Optimal

Placement of Facts Devices to Enhance ATC under Dynamic Conditions

149

Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) Reactive power compensation by means of thyristor controlled
series capacitors (TCSCs) can be adapted to a wide range of operating conditions. It is also possible to control the current
and thus the load flow in parallel transmission lines, which simultaneously improves system stability. Further applications
for TCSCs include load oscillation damping and the mitigation of Subsynchronous Resonance (SSR).

Figure 3: Operating Range of TCSC

By variation of the firing angle alfa, the effective impedance of a TCSC can be varied. With alfa = 180, the
TCSC impedance equals the capacitor impedance, at about 148, it is three times the capacitor impedance. With firing at
alfa = 90 and higher, the TCSC provides an inductive impedance.
The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) consists of two branches. The series branch consists of a voltage
source converter, which injects a voltage in series through a transformer. The inverter at the input end of the UPFC is
connected in shunt to the AC power system and the inverter at the input end of the UPFC is connected in series with the
AC transmission circuit. Since the series branch of the UPFC can inject a voltage with variable magnitude and phase angle
it can exchange real power with the transmission line. However the UPFC as a whole cannot supply or absorb real power
in steady state (except for the power drawn to compensate for the losses) unless it has a power source at its DC terminal

Figure 4: Schematic of UPFC

Optimization Using BFOA
Evolutionary algorithms influenced by the law of natural selection have solved many real world optimization
problems. All the evolutionary algorithms have almost three things in common like the process involves initialization,
selection and reproduction. A fitness function generally used to rank the health of each population and based on which
appropriate selections are made. After this selection the unhealthy population those having low fitness function are
eliminated and new population is formed for further evaluation and selection. One such evolutionary algorithm based on
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swarm behavior is Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm (BFOA). This algorithm as proposed by Passino in the year
2002 [19], he was inspired by the foraging properties of the E- Coli bacteria and proposed an algorithm mimicking their
behavior in choosing nutrients for their survival. The prime concept behind the BFOA is the movement of the bacteria
towards the nutrients through a process referred to as chemotaxis[19]. This movement if classified in to two steps namely if
the movement is in forward direction referred to as swimming and if is in reverse direction referred to as tumbling.
Swimming and tumbling occurs alternately in a bacterias search for nutrients. The nutrients represent the solution in the
case of optimization problems.

Figure 5: Flow Chart for Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm (BFOA)

In BFOA a reproduction step is induced after all the possible chemotaxtic steps are exhausted. Now a new
population of bacteria is generated through the process of elimination and dispersion. This evolutionary process ensures the
diversity of the individual population and in better delivery and convergence for an optimization problem. In BFOA,
bacteria are eliminated with a probability of ped. In order to keeping the number of bacteria in the population constant, if a
bacterium is eliminated; simply disperse one to a random location on the optimization domain [19].
Case Studies and Results
A two are power system model from (17) is used to implement the proposed method. The PSAT (18) tool box, a
matlab based tool for power system analysis is used for analyzing and calculating the ATC. The optimal location of
FACTS devices are also checked using this toolbox. The model is a 11 bus system, 8 lines with 4 generators,
4 Transformers and 2 Loads. The simulink model of system used is given in the figure (3). The system is proposed to be
analysed for dynamic conditions such as occurrence of fault and variation of generator speed. The system response is
studied under such condition in presence of FACTS device and absence of FACTS device.

Figure 6: Simulink Model of the 2 Area Power Systems

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9638

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

A Novel Bacterial Foraging Optimization Approach (BFOA) for Optimal

Placement of Facts Devices to Enhance ATC under Dynamic Conditions

151

The below figure gives voltage profile of the above system when no FACTS device is placed

Figure 7: Voltage Magnitude Profile without FACTS

Figure (8) Depicts voltage profile of the above system when SVC is placed.

Figure 8: Voltage Magnitude Profile with SVC

Figure (9) depicts the voltage profile of the system when TCSC is placed.

Figure 9: Voltage Magnitude Profile with TCSC

Bacterial Foraging Optimisation algorithm is implemented using Matlab. UPFC is tested for its response under
dynamic conditions of varying fault and reduction generator speed. The results are presented below.

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P. Ramanjaneyulu & V. C. Veera Reddy

Figure 10: Variation of Generator Speed under Fault with No UPFC

Figure 11: Variation of Generator Speed under Fault in the Presence of UPFC

Figure 12: Plot of Voltages at Buses under No Fault Condition

Figure 13: Plot of Voltages at Buses under Fault without UPFC

Figure 14: Plot of Voltages at Buses under Fault with UPFC

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9638

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

153

A Novel Bacterial Foraging Optimization Approach (BFOA) for Optimal

Placement of Facts Devices to Enhance ATC under Dynamic Conditions

Figure 15: Voltage Magnitude Profile with UPFC

Table 1: ATCs and Contingencies without and with FACTS Devices
State
No FACTS
With SVC
With TCSC
With UPFC

Location
Bus-8
Bus-8
Bus -8

ATC Value
1.42
1.49
1.44
1.52

Contingency
319.13
318.6
317.6
316.5

CONCLUSIONS
In this paper a novel approach for optimal placement of FACTS devices based on Bacterial Foraging
Optimization (BFOA) algorithm is presented. Simulation of different scenarios shows that the placement of FACTS
devices leads to improve in voltage stability margin of power system and reduce losses and enhance the ATC under
dynamically varying conditions. It is also observed that the BFOA algorithm converges quickly consuming less number of
iterations compared to genetic algorithm.

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Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9638

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0