Cat Swarm Optimization for optimal placement of multiple UPFC’s in voltage stability enhancement under contingency

• Cat Swarm Optimization which happens to be an advanced heuristic technique is implemented for voltage stability studies.
• UPFC, which is an advanced FACTS device, is utilized here to demonstrate the performance.
• Steady state voltage stability under contingency condition can be analyzed very easily for large scale power networks.

Voltage stability categorized under various classifications of power system stability is considered one of the important subjects in power systems stability studies. A power system, experiencing disturbances, is at risks of voltage instability. Main reason for the cause of voltage instability is the sag in reactive power at various locations due to circuit contingencies classified under large disturbance voltage stability. The aim of this paper is to identify the optimal location of Unified Power Flow Controller in an interconnected power system under N-1 contingency. As the size and the cost of the FACTS devices are high, an optimal location and size has to be identified before they are actually installed. We are trying to improve the voltage profile and Maximum Loading Parameter using Unified Power Flow Controller while determining their optimal location based upon Cat Swarm Optimization.