Novel Optimization-Based Algorithms For A Substation Voltage Controller Using Local Pmu Measurements

This paper presents a developed version of a local voltage controller for a transmission substation with available phasor measurement unit (PMU), through optimal usage of its reactive (VAr) control resources, i.e., shunt reactive devices and transformer taps. Two optimization formulations with different objectives are introduced based on various operating criteria in electric utilities. The first approach aims to minimize the required reactive power injection such that it corrects the substation bus voltages between the determined limits and as close as possible to the optimal values. The second one minimizes number of switching actions, that correct the voltages in the same way mentioned above. Genetic algorithm (GA) is used for solving these discrete optimization problems. Performance of the proposed formulations is tested and analyzed through simulations, for a typical substation in Southern California transmission network. Finally, comparison of the obtained results from the two approaches are presented and discussed.