Pigeon-inspired optimization for reactive power planning with multitype FACTS devices

Abstract In this present work, pigeon inspired optimization (PIO) technique was applied for the optimal coordination of multi-type FACTS devices with the different VAr sources already existed in a connected power network. The purpose of the work was to minimize the active power loss of a connected power network by optimal reactive power planning. This work may be considered as a problem of reactive power optimization where the main objective was to propose a loss minimum configuration of an interconnected power network. In doing so, total system operational cost, which is the summation of the cost of energy loss along with the installation cost of the FACTS devices was also minimized. For this purpose, IEEE 57 bus was chosen as the standard test network. The current study was intended to determine the effectiveness of the suggested algorithm for the optimum installations of the various kinds of FACTS devices and as well the optimum use of the VAr sources those are already present in the test network. Static VAr compensators (SVC), thyristor-controlled series compensators (TCSC), and unified power flow controllers (UPFC) were the three types of FACTS devices used here. Optimal sizing of generators VAr generations, shunt capacitors VAr generations and the optimal setting of OLTC’s positions were effected along with the optimal allocation of the different kinds of FACTS devices as mentioned. The placement locations of the FACTS devices were determined by the power flow analysis (PFA) method. Crow search algorithm (CSA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are the other two algorithms were also used to attain the same goal. The outcomes of those two algorithms were compared with the PIO-based optimization method and the superiority of the PIO-based technique can evidently be observed from the results obtained.