IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF POWER SUPPLY IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK USING A GENETIC-BASED STATIC VAR COMPENSATOR

This paper presents improving the quality of power supply in a distribution network using a genetic-based SVC. The research methodologies used in this study were experimental and simulation approaches. The study focused on the Onuiyi-Nsukka 30 Bus, 7.5MVA, 33/11KV distribution network, which some the bus did not satisfy the requirements of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of 1.0000pu (+5%). To address this issue, a genetic algorithm was employed to identify all the unstable chromosomes (bus) using a fitness test. The researchers used a 300Mvar rated SVC to stabilize the buses by injecting reactive power from a 94Mvar Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC) and absorbing excess reactive power by a 109Mvar Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR) when necessary. The system was implemented at the secondary side of the 33/11KV distribution network using the power system toolbox, optimization toolbox, and Simulink. The Simulink model was tested with parameters obtained from the testbed during transient conditions. The results showed that the SVC was able to balance the voltage profile, meeting the NERC requirements for bus stability with an average voltage profile of 1.03859pu.