Determining optimal static var compensator location for voltage stability using multi-criteria decision making techniques

Blackouts in power systems cause approximately $80 billion in economic loss each year all over the world. Shunt compensators used in the network are the best option to increase the stability limit. For this purpose, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices used today are quite costly compared to conventional equipment, so finding the most efficient location and optimal size is very important. Considering the effects of the FACTS devices on the serious investment and energy costs, the value of the simulation studies to be carried out in this direction is clearly seen. There are many studies on choosing the appropriate location for FACTS devices and how much compensation should be done. However, the values calculated in some of the publications are to reduce losses, increase loadability, reduce costs, etc. In recent years, multi-criteria approaches have been developed for the optimum location of FACTS devices. Nevertheless, these methods may not always reach the minimum level of satisfaction between targets. Choosing appropriate weights to show the relative importance of different goals is another challenge. In the literature, the weight coefficients of the criteria were chosen as equal or close, and some values were obtained by trial and error method. In all these studies, decision makers determined the criterion weights according to their own importance but did not check its consistency. Therefore, it is clear that there is an important deficiency in the reliability of the results. In this study, firstly, information about smart grids, distributed generation, FACTS, voltage stability, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) and Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT) program is given. Later, IEEE's 14, 30 and 118 buses sample network models were designed, Static VAR Compensator (SVC) was added to the system as a FACTS device, and power flow and stability analyzes were made. After these, the details of the applications for the establishment of the objective function calculation infrastructure, the processing of the loading factor, voltage deviation and power losses obtained from the analysis, and determination of the most suitable position with the MCDM methods were explained. In order to achieve the targets determined for the most suitable location of the FACTS device, MCDM techniques, which have never been used before, have been applied in this area. Basically, with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, the voltage stability has been improved and the FACTS controller position has been optimized. With this method used, since the consistency of criterion weights can be tested, the problem of reliability of values is also solved. Then, a data fusion technique was proposed using nine more MCDM methods. These methods are chosen because they are simple and do not require any special software for calculations. Finally, in the thesis study, distributed generation facilities have been integrated into locations that will minimize network losses and the work has been repeated. The loading capability limit was increased with the shunt compensator used, and an improvement was observed in critical points where the system collapsed. It was ensured that resources are used ideally by using FACTS equipment at optimum capacity and minimizing error rate in calculations. It has been proven that MCDM methods can be used as a powerful tool to choose the most suitable location for FACTS devices. All outputs are comparable, measurable and can then be applied in real systems, as they are obtained with the simulation results of IEEE 14, 30 and 118 buses test systems. As a result, a positive contribution has been made to the effective management of electrical power systems.