Available transfer capability enhancement using series FACTS devices in a designed multi-machine power system

Series FACTS devices have been successfully used for many years in order to enhance the stability and loadability of high voltage transmission networks. The principle is to compensate the inductive voltage drop in the line by an inserted capacitive voltage or in other words to reduce the effective reactance of the transmission line to enhance available transfer capability (ATC) in the network. ATC accurately reflects the physical realities of the transmission network, all system conditions, uses, and limits in a consistent manner. It depends on other parameters namely total transfer capability (TTC), capacity benefit margin (CBM), transmission reliability margin (TRM), and existing transmission commitments (ETC) that are described in this study thoroughly. This paper investigates the optimized use of FACTS devices and mainly thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) to improve ATC and maximize total transfer capability generally defined as the maximum power transfer transaction between a specific power-seller and a power-buyer in a two area designed power system. The case study has been implemented on a 13-bus multi-machine test system using PowerWorld Simulator version 12.0. Furthermore, static linear analysis methods have been taken into account in calculating ATC and the impact on various factors has been defined clearly.