Solution of Reactive Power Planning with TCSC and UPFC Using Improved Krill Herd Algorithm

Reactive Power Problem (RPP) in power systems has been addressed using an effective bio-inspired meta-heuristic method called the Improved Krill Herd Algorithm (IKHA), in this paper. The IKHA improves upon the original Krill Herd (KH) algorithm by incorporating an elitism framework and a new levy flight distribution, enabling faster convergence rates without sacrificing effectiveness. The approach considers traditional control parameters, such as transformer tap ratio and generator’s reactive power output, as well as Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices like Thyristor-Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) and Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). The objective function combines energy loss and operating costs that has to be minimized. The proposed IKHA is evaluated on IEEE-30 and IEEE-57 bus test systems, demonstrating superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods, including the original KH algorithm, in solving the RPP with FACTS devices in power systems.