A Comparison of Generalized Unified Power Flow Controller and Load Tap Changing Transformer for Voltage Stability Enhancement in a Power System

The continuous increase in power demand and huge power losses in modern power systems have been a growing concern to power utilities. Such phenomenon often results in epileptic power supply, power system instability, supply fluctuations and security problems in many parts of the globe. Identification of suitable places for the installation of reactive power compensators to minimize voltage drop and system power losses in a power system becomes imperative. In this paper, the Newton-Raphson iterative method was used for the power flow solution of the 28 bus Nigerian 330KV grid system. The Generalized Unified Power flow Controller (GUPFC) is installed at identified weak load buses of the Nigerian 28-bus power system to reduce the losses and voltage drop of the system. A comparative analysis of the GUPFC with Load Tap Changing Transformers (LTCT) is also performed. Result obtained shows that the GUPFC can largely (effectively) improve the system power stability and selectively balance the power flow of multi-lines power flows when placed at identified weak buses compared with LTCT. Thus, GUPFC can be used to reduce overall power losses along transmission lines as well as improve stability overall reliability of the power grid system.