Power loss reduction and stability enhancement of power system through transmission network reconfiguration

Abstract

The power network faces several challenges as electricity usage rises and the frequency of partial and total grid disruptions is of great concern. This paper addresses the problem of voltage instability and high-power losses in transmission network, which threatens the stability of the power grid. The MATLAB R2023a/MATPOWER 5.0 is used to develop a model and analyze using the Newton-Raphson load flow method. The analysis reveals a marginal voltage violation at Bus 13 (below 0.95 p.u.). To enhance stability and efficiency, the network was reconfigured using a hybrid whale algorithm and particle swarm optimization (WAPSO) approach, incorporating new transmission lines (5-8 and 13-14) to improve connectivity and reduce congestion. The reconfiguration reduced active power losses by 29.5% (from 36.013 to 25.371 MW) and reactive power losses by 29.8% (from 301.30 to 211.59 MVAr). The system demonstrated first swing stability, with rotor angles remaining below π/2 (1.5669 rad maximum deviation) and fault clearance within the critical clearing time (0.2 s). Optimized exciter gains and a damping coefficient of 1.5 p.u. ensured effective oscillation suppression and stable generator voltages at 1.05 p.u. The hybrid WAPSO approach proved effective in optimizing voltage and rotor angle stability, enabling the network to meet a 24.086 p.u. load demand while enhancing overall grid reliability.